Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Picture Book Marathon Day 1

Today's picture book--the first book in the PBM, is...


Do Your Chores, Kid Mercury!

Kid Mercury has a long list of chores to do every day. He has to run, jump and blast bad guys. He has to collect coins and heart pieces. He has to find hidden treasures and power-ups--he even has to rescue princesses. What a boring life. So many chores! If only he could spend more time doing his favorite things. Things like homework, cleaning his room and taking out the trash. He wishes he could do those things all day.

I've noticed there aren't many video game-themed picture books. And I haven't met many kids who weren't interested in video games. The general feeling I get from parents is that games are somehow anti-reading. I totally disagree, I grew up reading and playing games and enjoyed both equally. I still do today.

This guy, Kid Mercury, is a mix of a few of my favorites characters from the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Can you guess who?

9 comments:

craveVSworld said...

Nice role-reversal story in an environment familiar to both children and adults.

To answer your question...I'm guessing Mega Man and Kid Icarus? (I've never beaten a video game, therefore I lack in that department)

Jed Henry said...

Mega Man was just that - mega. I never knew that he would have just preferred to match socks from the laundry basket all day.

This is a funny switch, Nate. :) I really think there's something here.

The blatant video game reference may or may not appeal to editors.... but if after a bunch of submissions, they still don't get it, simply changing the hero from a game character, to a silver screen hero might work

Nathan said...

Wow! First ones out fo the gate. Kid Icarus and Mega Man it is!

Jed, this HAS to be about video games because of the chore-like nature of most games. Most games really are just a series of To Do lists. Besides--I'm way more into games than movies!

Ryan said...

I would like to testify of Nate's love of video games over movies...plus his love of Kid Icarus and Mega Man (which he always beat me in). I'm surprised there is no original Metroid in the mix.

Nathan said...

Ha ha. I'll work Metroid in there somehow. I had Kid Icarus, but you had Mega Man 2--easily the best of the Mega Man games. Such awesome music!

Ryan said...

Now I'm humming the music in my head.

DaNae said...

I can believe how many times I've woken up in the mornings and faced a monotonous list of turtles to jump over, and jewels to bounce off my head. When will I ever get to relax over a good toilet scrubbing?

Great idea.

Julie Olson said...

Fun idea! good luck with the marathon. Here's mine.

http://jujubeeillustrations.blogspot.com

Diantha French said...

This one's still my favorite:) Good job!