William Is A Weirdo

If you were like me growing up, weird was a way of life. Then again, children are weird. We develop quirks and interests that aren’t quite the norm. And sometimes, we grow out of those eccentricities and go on to be considered somewhat normal. But what about those who continue to embrace their weirdness and let that proverbial flag fly? For William, this seems to be the case. Written by Kyle Creek and illustrated by Christopher Creek, William Is A Weirdo reminds us all that it is way cooler not to fit in and think outside the box.

William is not your ordinary kid. He dresses in mismatched clothing, walks his pet squid, has an extensive wardrobe full of imagination and marches to the beat of his own drum. But to the world outside of his own, William is someone who simply does not fit in. Instead, William is deemed to be an outsider. Yet every day William aspires to think big and let his imagination run wild while everyone else views him with a cautious lens. However, even by the end of a day at school, William is reminded that we’re not meant to be like everyone else. And that in standing out, it’s way cooler than fitting in.

Kyle Creek’s work is always known to be humorous, insightful and (for the most part) for an adult audience. After all, he is “The Captain.” His foray into the world of children’s literature pays off with William Is A Weirdo as he weaves a story that many of us who don’t quite fit inside the box can understand. Creek has found a way to bring that wit and humor to a children’s audience with the ease he writes for his older readers. It’s almost as though he’s been writing children’s stories for years.

One of my favorite moments in the book is when William finds himself walking home from school and happening upon a garden gnome. Despite William’s best efforts to be himself, he still feels sad that he wasn’t able to make any new friends that day. But the gnome reminds him that while he wasn’t able to find someone who he can relate to today, there is always tomorrow…and there are people out there who will appreciate William for his authentic self instead of a compromised version. Someday, someone will love that William enjoys drawing maps and can probably rock a sweet air guitar…not just expect him to be just like them.

William’s character is indicative of all of us who sought to dream beyond what we are taught to be, not just what we are taught is socially acceptable. And the message that William delivers in continuing to let his imagination and thoughts roam is representative of many young children today. William Is A Weirdo is a must-read for all children who need to remember that it’s okay not to fit in. We’re all a little weird sometimes and it’s about time us weirdos got the chance to shine.