Kid's Art of the Month
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How To...

Hey Kids!
This is a classic Little Lulu story, and a terrific example of sequential art by master storyteller John Stanley. The story is told in six panels and the punch line is hilarious, but did it start out that way?

The original story idea is this:

1. Tubby (black jacket) and Willy (white jacket) are building a snowman.
2. Tubby goes into the house and gets a lady's hat.
3. Tubby puts the lady's hat on the snowman and they both laugh.
4. Tubby and Willy go inside the house and have some lunch.
5. Lulu sees the snowman.
6. Lulu reaches down to the snow.
7. Lulu makes a snow baby, then another, then another, etc.
8. Lulu walks away.
9. Tubby and Wilbur come out of the house to see Lulu's work.

It's a very simple story, but John Stanley knew what was really important for the joke to work, and decided to show only what was necessary to communicate his idea.

The finished story:

1. Tubby (black jacket) and Willy (white jacket) are building a snowman.
2. Tubby goes into the house and gets a lady's hat.
3. Tubby puts the lady's hat on the snowman and they both laugh.
4. Tubby and Willy go inside the house and have some lunch.
5. Lulu sees the snowman.
6. Lulu reaches down to the snow.
7. Lulu makes a snow baby, then another, then another, etc.
8. Lulu walks away.
9. Tubby and Willy come out of the house to see Lulu's work.

Tubby taking the Lady's hat and the boys having lunch inside has nothing to do with the joke in the story and its cut out. The same is true for Lulu making multiple little snow babies. John Stanley told a funny story in six panels and knew the exact information he had to put in to make it funny. (Notice that there is no dialog - good sequential art can tell a story without a single word, and still have everyone understand and enjoy it.)

All artists edit their work. It's a very important part of the storytelling process whether you're a cartoonist, novelist, screenwriter, journalist, or any other kind of writer.

Sometimes, what you decide not to show, or leave out in a story is as important as what you put in.