First-Person PB

Hey, guys. I've read in more than one place that editors tend to shy away from PB told in first person, although I have read quite a number of them, both new and old. Anyone know what the rationale is behind this?

Being that most young children are the most self-centered, selfiish little creatures on earth, I would think a book abounding in personal pronouns would be a big hit.

Of course my brain goes blank when put on the spot.

However, Lauren Childs writes in first person. She has a couple of books narrated by a boy telling stories about his little sister, Nola. She also has a book, THAT PESKY RAT, which is told in first person from the rat's POV.

Mary Ann Hoberman's AND TO THINK THAT WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD NEVER BE FRIENDS is first person.

Jane Yolen's OWL MOON is first person.

There are tons more, even more recent publications than my truncated list, but I just can't think of them off the top of my head. Yet whenever I pick one up, either in the library or the store, I mentally note the rule that first person doesn't go over well with young children, and yet I keep running across them.

"My two year old still refers to HIMSELF in the third person."

Wow! Now that's interesting.

Oh, and I just remembered. Mo Willems' pigeon books are also first person.