In Billy Tartle in Say Cheese!, Michael Townsend uses manga-style cartoons to tell the story of Billy. Billy desperately wants his class picture to be exciting this year. His first idea is an exciting haircut, spikey and pink. When his mother chooses a sensible, normal haircut, Billy finds another way to add excitement to his class picture. The barber offers Billy a lollypop to cheer him up. Billy takes the whole jar to share on picture day. The class ends up with a rainbow of smiles for the picture.
Billy Tartle is laid out in a comic-strip format. The illustrations use bright, vibrant colors. The characters have eyes like Little Orphan Annie, just whites without pupils. The illustrations exude energy through the bold colors and use of motion. Billy rarely walks anywhere; he runs. This energy is also shown in the words. Most of the text is in black but there are occasional parts in red or green, usually when Billy is excited.
Billy is a relatable character. His imagination is featured at several points in the book. He imagines being a superhero with his new haircut. One the way to get his haircut he talks to everything in sight, such as the fire hydrant and the parking meter (8). The personification of objects is another trait to which the reader may be able to relate.
Billy Tartle in Say Cheese! presents a realistic story despite the format. Billy seems like a real child, and the adults around him react in typical ways. His mother is annoyed when he pretends to be a T-rex while waiting for his haircut (9). Billy’s teacher wants the boys to stop playing around while they wait for their picture to be taken (25). Billy Tartle in Say Cheese! would be a great book for readers from 4-8, either as a read aloud or read on their own. It may appeal especially to boys.
Billy Tartle in Say Cheese! won the 2008 Gryphon Award as well as was named a 2007 Blue Ribbon book by The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.
Townsend, Michael. Billy Tartle in Say Cheese!. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Print.
