by Moe Zilla

Created on: February 24, 2010

It's a very simple rhyme - with some very funny illustrations. Maurice Sendak likes to add dark surprises into his books - even in a "counting book" about numbers. Every page contains a rhyme with a number, starting with one about a little boy named Johnny. I imagine that Maurice Sendak looked at what he'd written - "One was Johnny, who lived by himself" - and then felt like he had to add in a darker surprise.

"Two was a rat who jumped on his shelf."

The rhymes, of course, are the perfect pretense for creating some wild and unpredictible drawings. First there's Johnny smiling, sitting in a chair, proudly reading a book in a big empty room. Then there's Johnny, startled - turning to see the rat that's suddenly jumping through his window! Soon the shelf with the rat has a fierce cat in pursuit. And by the four page, a dog has entered the room - but it comes in through the front door.

"Four was a dog who came in and sat..."

Johnny winces when the cat arrives, and when the new dog stubbornly sits, Johnny puts a worried hand to his head. By page five page, a turtle has arrived, but the cat and the rat are still up on Johnny's shelf. And Johnny sinks his head into his hands when yet another animal barges into his house.

"Six was a monkey who brought in the mail."

The monkey's got a postman's cap, and he's carrying a bulging sack of letters. But all the other animals are still in the room. (The turtle and the dog are staring at each other with confusion, while the cat on the shelf arches its back with annoyance.) It's fun to watch Sendak is deploying all the magical powers of a children's book illustrator. Johnny's problem isn't some rules from his parents. It's the fact that suddenly showing up in his house are a bunch of wild animals!

Seven - a blackbird pecked poor Johnny's nose.  Eight was a tiger out selling old clothes. The room is very crowded now, and soon even a robber shows up. But Johnny - channeling Sendak? - comes up with the perfect solution.

"He stood on a chair, and said here's what I'll do.
I'll start to count backwards
and when I am through -

If this house isn't empty,
I'll eat all of you!"

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