After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again… We all know the nursery rhyme:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
and all the king’s horses
and all the king’s men
couln’t put Humpty together again.
But what if they did? And if Humpty was all put back together on the outside, would he ever really be the same inside? That’s the idea that Dan Santat spins off of in his new book After the Fall.
After the Fall begins when Humpty Dumpty leaves the King’s Men Hospital, his cracks all taped and bandaged. But on the inside, he’s changed. He used to be the only brave egg to climb the wall and watch the birds. And, no matter how much he misses them, he can’t even work up the courage to climb up into his bed, much less up to the top of the wall.
But that longing to be up with the birds never really goes away.
I don’t want to spoil this book for you. You really need to experience the resolution for yourself. But I will tell you that I got goosebumps when I saw what happens when Humpty Dumpty is forced to face his fear.
After the Fall is a book for anyone who’s ever been afraid, who’s ever failed, who’s ever taken a risk.
And I haven’t even told you about how delightful the illustrations are. There’s hidden humor, detail, and poignancy throughout the pages of this book within the illustrations. (My kids’ favorite part is the names of the cereals too high for him to reach).
This is one picture book you don’t want to miss, no matter what age your kids are.
Have you read After the Fall? What other picture book do you think everyone should read?
