I’m excited to tell you about a great idea that hopefully spreads to picture book lovers and students everywhere!
About two years ago, I received a group email sent by Carolyn Crimi, one of my favorite picture book authors (whose latest picture book JADEN NOTICED is awesome btw!) Carolyn was reaching out to a wide range of local folks to see if they would be interested in meeting regularly to talk about picture books.
The idea came from a spontaneous encounter at a local bookshop. In the children’s section with the store’s owner, Carolyn and a third person began pouring through bunches of current picture books. “It’s been hard to keep up with what’s being published now,” Carolyn says, “and it was so fun to talk about picture books, I wanted a way to keep the conversation going.”
I’ve heard the same complaint from many industry insiders (like book editors, marketers, and public relations folks). Before social media splintered, anyone interested in children’s books could follow a few trusted blogs or Kidlit Twitter to learn about the newest, buzziest picture books from educators, librarians, indie bookstores, and others who LOVED the genre (and were not being paid to promote certain books!) As social media changed and grew more heavily monetized, quality information about the newest books scattered. The information about current trends is no longer in one or two places, it’s in one or two hundred places!
After that first spontaneous conversation, Carolyn put together a regular group that she (with author Pamela Dell) started calling The PB Jammers! (PBJ and it’s kind of a jam session, get it?) It’s a group of up to twenty folks who attend a monthly picture book discussion at The Book Stall, a local independent bookstore; but the meeting is open and welcoming to anyone who shows up.
Here’s how the group works:
-Meetings are held monthly at a local bookshop for an hour. No pressure, attendance varies.
-At each meeting, a member volunteers to be the book chooser for the next meeting.
-That person brings in five CURRENT (or newish/unusual) picture books. These can come from bookshop purchases, personal collections, or a library.
-After 10-15 minutes of chit chat, the book chooser reads the first book.
-The group discusses what they noticed in both text and art, liked or didn’t like.
-Everyone laughs, thinks, and learns about new books (and each other!) The conversation often continues over dinner at a local restaurant.
That’s it. Sounds simple? It is! But like a picture book there are many layers at work here. First, it creates community among local picture book creators. Second, it provides opportunities to share information and advice with current books as models. Third, it keeps people aware of other perspectives. Fourth, it supports a local bookstore. And last, if you love picture books it IS super fun!
Travel and school visits have prevented me from attending often, but I recently stopped in and participated in a lively discussion with a group of published and pre-published writers (a few talented folks illustrate also). Here’s what they had to say about their participation:
“It slows down my reading,” said Leslie Johnson Piotrowski, debut picture book author of the upcoming, The Northbound Train, “and helps me analyze picture books in a new way.”
“I feel like newer books take more chances,” said veteran author Bev Patt whose latest book MORE THAN A THIEF takes on the legend of Lizzie Borden.
This group “shows me my own blind spots” commented author Zach von Zonk. His hilarious book OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM E-I-UF-O is out from Chronicle now!
In addition to reconnecting with local authors I’ve known for years, a new friend, Allison Souter, introduced me to some fiction picture books I may not have seen any other way:
“Cat Nap” by Brian Lies, Greenwillow Books
“The Dictionary Story” by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston, Candlewick
“A World of Kisses” by Marta Morros Serret and Mariona Tolosa Sisteré, Nubeocho
“The Humble Pie” by Jory John, HarperCollins
“I Go Quiet” by David Ouimet, Norton Young Readers
Talking about picture books is essential to writing them, illustrating them, or using them in the classroom. Is there a bookshop in your area with a children’s department? Is there a way you can meet on a video conferencing platform? Then I hope you grab a bunch of book buddies and ‘Jam’ about picture books on a regular basis!
THE WINNER of the March 3rd giveaway of HOUDINI’S LIBRARY is…Heather Fagan! CONGRATS to Heather, I’ll be sending a book out to you soon!
