Category: Matthew Winner

ReFoReMo Day 14: Matthew Winner THINKS Like a Reader

3/15/2016

By Matthew Winner

Nothing makes writing stronger than reading a bunch of stellar books. Especially when those books challenge the way you think about writing. Here are five I love to think about because they challenge the reader to think about themselves and reveal something to the reader about themselves that they may not have noticed or thought about prior to picking up the book.

1. A NEED for COMPANIONSHIP
Lenny & Lucy by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

2. ACCEPTANCE of CIRCUMSTANCE
Little Tree by Loren Long

3. POETIC HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
Swan by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Julie Morstad

4. WHIMSY and REALISM HAND-IN-HAND
Home by Carson Ellis

5. PERSEVERANCE of CHARACTER
Max the Brave by Ed Vere

Happy reading! May you be inspired in myriad ways to create wonder for our readers!

Matthew is giving away a picture book critique to 3 lucky winners! Thanks, Matthew! To be eligible for this prize, you must be fully registered, comment on every post, read daily, and keep a record of your progress.

Matthew Winner is an elementary school teacher librarian in Elkridge, MD. He's the host of Let's Get Busy, a weekly kidlit podcast , and The Best Book Ever [this week], a weekly kidlit book review podcast. Matthew is represented by Danielle Smith of Red Fox Literary. Follow Matthew on Twitter at @MatthewWinner or visit www.allthewonders.com.

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ReFoReMo Day 24: Matthew Winner Reads & Reflects

3/24/2015

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by Matthew Winner

Congratulations on reaching the home stretch of ReFoReMo! You've done lots of reading already this month and I'm sure you've read a ton of superb picture books. Here are five more you may not have seen yet. Each of these books has taken up home in my subconscious for the very best reasons.

1. Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton

This is a perfect picture book as evidenced by how well it reads aloud and how readily young listeners take up the book's refrain of "Ready one. Ready two. Ready three. GO!" I think: Does my manuscript entice my readers to join in telling the story?

2. Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo

Lauren's story mirrors itself, repeating the same structure in the first and second half of the arch, but viewing the setting from a new perspective. I think: Have I given myself permission to revisit scenes so that my characters can see them from a new light?

3. Hug Machine by Scott Campbell

"My hugs can make the biggest feel small, and the smallest feel big!" Sentiments like this, so simply stated, speak to the universality of the human experience. They also put adult and child readers on the same level, which is great at just-the-right time. I think: Do my words reach beyond the manuscript?

4. Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Kelly's title character doesn't fit in with the rest of his family, but rather than telling the reader why, this story shows the reader twice, explicitly inviting a second and closer look. I think: Am I leaving room in my manuscript for the illustrations to do some of the heavy lifting?

5. Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

A character doesn't have to be likable on the surface for a reader to connect with him or her. And this story's payoff transcends punchline to become something of a truth barometer to the reader. I think: Am I allowing my character to tell me who he or she wants to be?

Happy reading and best of luck in your time spent with mentor texts. I hope these selections keep you good company as you continue writing great stories for our readers!

Matthew Winner is an elementary school teacher librarian in Elkridge, MD. He is the author of the Busy Librarian blog and host of Let's Get Busy, a weekly podcast with authors, illustrators, kidlit notables, and everyone in between. Follow Matthew on Twitter at @MatthewWinner or visit www.busylibrarian.com.

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ReFoReMo Day 14: Matthew Winner THINKS Like a Reader

ReFoReMo Day 24: Matthew Winner Reads & Reflects

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