Me...Jane

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

2012 Caldecott Honor Award

Me...Jane is a wonderful book full of lovely, sweet paintings that reminds us that all great icons were once children who had a dream.  Patrick McConnell uses a combination of his own paintings (based upon Jane Goodall's recollections of her childhood), detailed nature plates and Goodall's own childhood nature drawings to bring alive the wonder of nature that sparked Goodall's lifelong passion.

Through the scale and composition of the paintings, nature is shown as real, immediate and an important feature of young Jane's life, not merely the backdrop of her life.  Jane is shown as approximately the same size as elements of nature such as animals, making nature and her seem equal and part of one whole.  It is clear that the natural world is truly Jane's life force from the earliest age.

The drawings of her beloved chimp doll, Jubilee, are particularly wonderful.  Jubilee is consistently shown as approximately the same size as Jane, with life-like expressions, showing that Jubilee is truly Jane's best companion and friends.  It reminds me of the Calvin & Hobbes cartoons, in which Hobbes only comes to life in Calvin's presence.  As with Calvin and Hobbes, Jubilee is as real to Jane as any human friend. This establishes for the reader Goodall's state of mind, in which she respects and connects to chimps in the way for which she became famous as an adult.


On one of the last pages, McDonnell very effectively switches from his paintings to a photo of young Goodall with chimp -- from fantasy to reality -- as if to say, dreams really can come true.

The text of the book is simple but effective.  Words such as "magical, joy, dreamed and curious" create a little girl full of love for the world and aspirations to live her life investigating its wonders.  One of my favorite parts is the section in which Jane "...would lay her cheek against its (tree) trunk and seem to feel the sap flowing beneath the bark.  Jane could feel her own heart beating, beating, beating." (pp 19-21)  It is as if Jane and the tree are part of the same life force.  As an adult reading this, it is remarkable to know that Goodall had this connection at such a young age.

I think that this would be appropriate for children in many ranges, from pre-school children who would appreciate the lovely paintings and sweet story, to older children who will not only appreciate the story, but will understand the theme about dreams coming true.