There is nothing easy about writing a really good children’s book. The rules are fairly simple: be concise, be unique, be imaginative. The implementation is extremely difficult, however, and the ultimate goal is agonizingly elusive: captivate the child. As a bonus, make the eager young reader laugh at least once. Perhaps most important of all, make the words and the artwork play together in a piece with perfect harmony. In his children’s book The Devious Mr. Mischievious, Scott Schafer has created a marvelously unique and artful story designed to engage and enthrall his young fans, and he does offer up that most evasive of elusive products: a good children’s book.

In The Devious Mr. Mischievious, Scott Schafer’s artwork is noticeably superior to his rhymes, which are amusing and entertaining, if sometimes a little forced beyond a perfectly rhythmic meter. While enjoying these simple poetic waves, however, a child will become more absorbed by the wonderful details of Mr. Schafer’s intriguing pictures. These simple pictures truly are marvelous depictions showing the life of a very odd and eccentric man. There is much here to make the child smile, and even laugh at the craziness going on, especially as the deeds of Mr. Mischievious the artist literally spill over onto the minor characters – one of which, by the way, has pupils in its eyes. You will have to see why that is most unusual. The plot winds down with a final joke meant more to worry presupposing parents than to titillate their less worldly-minded kids, who will probably miss it altogether. And a tiny, tiny spoiler: the dog kind of steals the show.

The Devious Mr. Mischievious is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Scott Schafer. No one in town really knew very much about Mr. Mischievious. He lived by himself with his little dog, and basically minded his own business. One day, however, he decided that he needed a change. He was tired of doing his odd little things just in his house and keeping himself to himself. He was going to go out into the world, well, into the neighborhood actually, and start doing things outside. He got really busy, painting mailboxes, grass, flowers, and just about anything one could imagine. He started pruning bushes and trees, and putting patterns into things. Suddenly, the neighborhood was awash in colors and shapes such as no one had ever seen before. And when his neighbors did come home, they weren't at all pleased with what they were seeing. They couldn't believe their eyes! They were going to make the reclusive Mr. Mischievious sorry he'd ever decided to do what he did.

Scott Schafer's children's picture book, The Devious Mr. Mischievious, is disarming, clever, and very very funny. Adults who are all too often bored with their selection of reading material for story time will probably find themselves suggesting this book whenever it's their turn to tell a story. Mr. Mischievious is filled with zany and silly ideas on how to decorate the neighborhood, and I couldn’t wait to see what he came up with next -- even if I did cringe a bit when he dumped that paint into the swimming pool. Schafer's verse has a rhythm reminiscent of rhyming limericks, complete with the same quirky flavor, but none of the off-color humor. Instead, he imbues the classic verse form with brightly colorful humor as he celebrates the imagination and the magic of play. The Devious Mr. Mischievious offers readers an entirely new way of looking at the everyday world, and it's a grand place to visit. It's also a marvelous introduction to art and the imagination for children, and is an excellent primer for new readers. This inspirational and enjoyable picture book is most highly recommended.