by Ariel Bernstein 

One of my favorite parts of the writing process is wondering which line will lead my friend and critique partner, the author Ali Bovis, to comment that a character is ‘a piece of work.’ She doesn’t quite mean it in the same way as Merriam-Webster’s definition of ‘a complicated, difficult, or eccentric person.’ She means it in the kidlit way of saying THIS is a kid character (human, animal or other), the good and the bad. Because there is nothing I love better in a book than seeing a kid character reflect young readers on their level, accepting them for who they are.

The first time I remember seeing a piece of work character was in that most iconic of children’s books, Maurice Sendak’s WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. Many people understandably comment on the Caldecott-winning art and the indelible images of the wild things as reasons for why the book has endured for each new generation of readers. But I think what children most respond to is the subtle message that Max, who acts badly and never actually apologizes, is not seen as a ‘bad child’ but as a child who is still learning about lashing out and seemingly unfair consequences and above all, is a child who is still deserving of love (and what is love but a parent who leaves their child a hot supper after a tantrum).

In my new early reader, OLIVE & OSCAR: THE FAVORITE HAT, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal, I knew Olive would be the “piece of work” character. Her first act is actually kind as she gifts her friend Oscar the aforementioned hat. But as the day goes on and the friends find themselves in need of objects (something to dig sand with, something to hold groceries when a bag breaks, etc.), Olive volunteers Oscar’s new hat without hesitation and without much thought as to whether it’s an appropriate use of Oscar’s hat or if Oscar himself wants to use his new hat for such purposes. Some people (adults) would recognize this behavior as less than ideal as Olive is being rather presumptuous. But at a kid level through a kid lens, it makes sense. If you don’t have a shovel for sand, why not use a hat? It’s there. Why should a kid be expected to think first of the consequences of a sand filled hat? Just because Olive is making a bad decision doesn’t mean she’s a bad kid. She’s just a kid. A work-in-progress kid. Who also happens to be a “piece of work.”

Of course not every children’s book needs a piece of work character, and I would say most children’s books don’t have one at all. But when a book has one and it works, it can create a story full of understanding, humor, endearment and emotional resonance.

Some more of my favorite books with such wonderful characters include Kelly DiPucchio and illustrator Greg Pizzoli’s DRAGON WAS TERRIBLE, Ryan T. Higgins’ WE DON’T EAT OUR CLASSMATES, and Katrina Moore and illustrator Zoe Si’s TEENY HOUDINI series.

I would add my picture book MABEL WANTS A FRIEND, also illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. It was suggested that I remove the scene where Mabel stole a child’s toy in case it made Mabel too unlikeable. I decided to keep the scene because I felt the reader needed to see who Mabel truly was, warts and all, before a friendship helped changed her desires and priorities. Mabel did a particularly bad thing, and while she deserved her friend Chester’s condemnation, she also deserved a chance to learn and grow from her mistake.

These piece of work characters of course can and should learn from their mistakes as kids eventually do. Max decides to leave the wild things and return home. Olive offers to replace Oscar’s ruined hat. They haven’t suddenly become different characters and the expectation isn’t that they will never make a bad decision again. But they’ve learned a little and understand a little more. The fact that they were seen and accepted—the mom still loves Max and Oscar still loves Olive—make it easier for these characters to grow at their own pace. And a young reader can see that when they too make a mistake, they should also still be loved and understood.

My writing prompt for you is this:

Create a character and then think…what it is about them that makes them a “piece of work”?

  • Is there a scene where they are impulsive, presumptuous, angry, greedy, overwhelmed, bossy?
  • How do you make these traits into something relatable to a young reader?
  • How do you make the readers feel seen through your character rather than judged?

Ariel Bernstein is an author of picture books including WE LOVE FISHING! (starred review Publisher’s Weekly), YOU GO FIRST (starred review Kirkus Reviews), and MABEL WANTS A FRIEND (starred reviews Kirkus Reviews and Publisher’s Weekly), all illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. She also wrote the WARREN & DRAGON chapter book series, illustrated by Mike Malbrough. Honors include a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of 2024, Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, Junior Library Guild Gold Selections, CCBC Choices, and Bank Street College Best Book of the Year. Ariel lives in New Jersey with her family and you can find her online at arielbernsteinbooks.com.