Children’s Series

Tone

This series is great fun. It’s whimsical, humorous, and like our hero, wonderfully inventive. In each episode, we’ll learn a bit about the specific animal whose features Izzy has magically acquired, but the central focus is Izzy’s indomitably joyful spirit and the creative play that results as Lucy, Mrs. P., Nate, Izzy’s friends, and eventually, the townspeople, rally around her.

Tonally, Izzy has a similar feel to Bluey—it’s imaginative and playful, but also relatable in its depiction of familial and social dynamics, which makes it enjoyable for both kids and adults alike. But whereas Bluey’s parents often participate in the children’s games, Izzy experiences a more complex family life, and her parents and uncle are rarely in on the fun. And while Mother isn’t a villain—this is important to stress—she does have trouble accepting her daughter for who she’s become, and this sometimes affects our young hero as she navigates the usual ups and downs of childhood while learning to make the most of her unusual situation.

I believe it’s important we don’t shy away from these more delicate moments. The author didn’t, even though he initially had trouble publishing his manuscript because it was “too quirky” and “too redolent of family matters no one wanted to talk about in a children’s book.” I’d argue that showing these family matters is one of the reasons his books resonate so powerfully, and that it will make this series resonate powerfully as well.