Imogene wakes up on a Thursday morning to find she has grown antlers overnight. Her family, and even the school principal, don't know what to make of it! They bring in a doctor, who finds nothing wrong. They bring in a milliner to try to hide the antlers, but nothing helps. But while her family tries to change the situation, Imogene embraces her new look. With the help of a few friends, she even learns to put her antlers to good use.
You can read into this story and find messages of being yourself and embracing the things that make you different, but as a kid I just loved the silliness of it all. I think maybe that's what makes this story so brilliant and makes it stand the test of time.
David Small is the author and illustrator of this amazing little book. He has many collaborations with his wife, Sarah Stewart, such as The Library and The Gardener, for which he earned his first Caldecott Honor in 1997. He is also the winner of the 2001 Caldecott Medal for So You Want To Be President?, written by Judith St. George, and a 2013 Caldecott Honor for One Cool Friend, written by Toni Buzzeo.
In 2013, I had the honor of meeting David Small at ALA in Chicago. Not only did I get a copy of One Cool Friend signed by him and Toni Buzzeo, but I also took with me a copy of Imogene's Antlers. But not just any copy of Imogene's Antlers. I had recently dropped in on the Helen Keller Public Library and purchased the same old copy that I had checked out so many times as a kid. As soon as I handed it to him, he started flipping through it and quietly said "Where did you get this?" It was pretty obvious that this was an old book. At this point, the people around us had all turned to see what was happening. I explained that it was my favorite as a kid and that I'd bought this copy off my hometown library. He told me this was a first edition and even pointed out a few differences from the way they print them now. He drew an antler with a sign hanging from it. In the sign, he wrote "For Callie Ann" and then signed it. I got a picture taken with him and as I left I said thank you and he put his hand on my shoulder and said "No. Thank you."
I can't say for certain, but I like to believe that moment was just as meaningful for David Small as it was for me. I will definitely never forget it. I will cherish this book and this memory forever.
So thank you, David Small. For making little Callie Ann love stories. And for making grown-up Callie Ann love passing that love on to kids today.
