One of my earliest memories revolves around a read aloud of The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord and Janet Burroway. For those unfamiliar, this 1972 masterpiece is about a small village in the English countryside that is overrun by wasps. After lots of discussion, and many, many cups of tea, the villagers decide to create a giant jam sandwich to act as a sticky, sweet trojan horse: a treat that the wasp invaders will, no doubt, find irresistible and that will also ultimately lead to their demise. The book is wonderfully absurd, with illustrations and plot twists that must have delighted its creators as much as they did young readers like me. Indeed, my own memories of this book are punctuated by my mother's laughter. And although I can no longer ask her aboutThe Giant Jam Sandwich, it's a safe bet that my mother loved this preposterous tale, about working together to solve a big problem, as much as I did (and still do).
Enter Corinna Luyken's new picture book, The Arguers. It's not surprising that this book reminds me a great deal ofThe Giant Jam Sandwich. After all, both are fantastical tales that are practically overflowing with whimsy. However, The Arguers also differs from the Lord and Burroway classic in a few ways that are as notable as they are timely.
Let's start with the problem to be solved. It's true that both stories are about a community that comes together to protect itself from threat. However, while the villagers of Itching Down must out-clever the external threat of a hoard of mischievous wasps, the danger facing the titular arguers, in Luyken's story, stems from their own bad behavior. Put another way: the calls are coming from inside the house. Indeed, this is a community full of people who are addicted to arguing with one another. (Sound familiar?)
As the story begins, we learn that the first argument was, like a lot of scuffles, about something silly.
The first argument
was over a brush and a comb,
and which would be better
for taking a tangle
out of the king’s beard."
Over time, as these things do, the arguments grow - ballooning into a habit that is less about the thing being disputed and more about the arguing itself: who is right and, most importantly, who is wrong.
Eventually, some people begin to wonder if the arguing has gone a bit too far. Alas, however, those concerns don't stop the elaborately coiffed towns people from continuing to quibble. Lost for a solution, the King finally decides to hold a contest that will determine, once and for all, who the best arguer is.
Naturally, things don't go according to plan.
Which brings me to another important distinction between The Giant Jam Sandwich and The Arguers. While there's something deeply nostalgic about Luyken's illustrations, they are in an entirely different class from those created by Lord and Burroway. To be clear: I'm not (as the kids might say) throwing shade at the 1972 masterpiece. If it's not obvious already, I love The Giant Jam Sandwich and continue to get a lot of joy from its distinctly British illustrations. Still, it's undeniable that Luyken's talents are on a whole other level. Not only is the cast of The Arguers far more inclusive than the residents of Itching Down, but the intricate and unique story being told by their hair alone is utterly breathtaking. I live for all those glorious tangles, y'all. And as metaphors go, they are an absolute chef's kiss.
At this point, I need to give a quick shout out to Betsy Bird. In looking for some information about The Giant Jam Sandwich for this review, I came across this post from Betsy, in which she shares the following quote from John Vernon Lord .
Ideally a picture book for the very young child needs to fascinate the adult reader too, so that both parties can share the book with genuine conviction when they go through the book together."
In so many ways, these words capture precisely what makes Corinna Luyken's The Arguer's special. In her letter to booksellers, Luyken shares the following about struggling to find the right kind of ending for a tale that centers a world where the desire to argue outweighs all other community concerns.
I believe our children deserve our best questions. And I believe it is our responsibility not to answer the hardest questions for them. As an adult, I know there are no easy answers to some of the biggest arguments our world faces. I also know that when our conversations, our questions, and our solutions are overly simplistic, we all suffer."
Without giving too much away, I'll say that its ending is perhaps the most remarkable and necessary aspect of The Arguers. While The Giant Jam Sandwich has a decidedly happy ending, Luyken chooses to end The Arguers on a hopeful, but complex, note. To be sure, its youngest readers will, no doubt, be satisfied and reassured by how this modern fairy tale wraps up. However, more mature readers will find an ending that leaves them with both necessary questions and a healthy helping of responsibility. Happiness, hope, peace, and, yes, democracy... none of these things are guaranteed. They require work, commitment and an understanding that what happens to one of us, happens to all of us. In this way, and with the lightest of touches, The Arguers establishes itself as both a future classic and an important book for the times we are living in.
Obviously, I'm no John Vernon Lord, but I too believe that the very best picture books are those that manage to capture the hearts and imaginations of their youngest readers, while also speaking truth to those of who are little longer in the tooth. By that measure, and so many others, The Arguers is a triumph. I love this book, y'all. And I'm guessing many of the readers in your life will, too.
Here are a few other things that I love about The Arguers:
I love the end papers for this book! If you've been able to access a digital arc and think you've seen the end papers already, just you wait until physical copies become available. The end papers alone are worth the price of admission.
The case cover is a pure delight! I love books that offer a gift beneath the dust jacket!
This book is just plain silly! While I've emphasized some of the more serious, teacherly parts of the book for this review, make no mistake: The Arguers is a raucous good time full of absurd shenanigans!
My favorite spread in the book is the one that we see a nod to on the cover. I can't wait for y'all to see the whole thing!
ISBN: 9781984814425
Publisher: Rocky Pond Press
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
Audience: There are layers of meaning and humor in this book that will make it a joy for readers of ALL ages.
⭐️ BONUS CONTENT:
In addition to being one of the first guests on my podcast, The Reader's Heart, Corinna Luyken also drew the glorious illustration that serves as its logo. If you haven't listened to our conversation, now is the time! That said, I want to be clear that Corinna did not ask me to review The Arguers on my blog. Additionally, my relationship to her did not influence this review. I genuinely love this book and am excited to share it with you.
Finally, Corinna is offering a special pre-order campaign for The Arguers through Browser's Books in Olympia, WA. If you pre-order your copy from Browsers, you'll also receive a handmade bookmark from Corinna!
