I’ve found a new superhero to adore. His name? Superworm. His kooky rhyming story is written by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Most character-driven picture book stories follow a traditional format: a) Main character has a problem (or goal) b) Things happen, repeatedly, to keep him …
I love picture books that make me laugh. And those that make me cry. It’s nearly impossible, though, to find one book that does both. Nearly impossible. But then there’s this one: The Impossible Patriotism Project (2007), written by my friend Linda Skeers and illustrated by Ard Hoyt, is a …
So you’re reading a picture book to your kiddos or perusing the new pb shelf at the library or paging through new releases at the bookstore, and you’re blithely going along – yes, oh cute, uh-huh – when you come to a line that grabs you by the glottis. Whoa, …
This is a story-behind-the-story post, but it’s also for those of you who are waffling over attending a writing conference in 2015. Consider this your sign. Why? Because wondrous things happen at conferences, specifically SCBWI conferences. Just ask my friend Sarvinder Naberhaus, who submitted a stack of poems for an editorial …
I wanted to start this post with: I fell in love with Henry and Elliebelly the first time… But I feel like I start too many posts that way. Which in no way reflects a sad truth: I rarely fall in love with ANY book. I’m more often disappointed/disenchanted. So when …
Early in September, I stopped in at my local Barnes & Noble to peruse the New Picture Books shelves. Blocking my way was a special display holding dozens of copies of Keith Richards’ Gus & Me, The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar. My first thought? Ugh, another …
Even though hundreds of character-driven picture books are published every year, great ones are still a relatively rare thing. They need a likable/relatable main character, a compelling story, emotional resonance, a distinctive voice, etc., etc., etc. It’s only occasionally that lo, those many elements magically mesh to create something special. …
One of my favorite books of 2014 is Poor Doreen – A Fishy Tale, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by *Alexandra Boiger. Want a book with a superlative VOICE? This is it. When reading this story for the first time, I smiled all the way through. But then I heard …