Category: ReFoReMo

ReFoReMo Day 23: Tracey M. Cox Listens to the Music

3/24/2015

by Tracey M. Cox

Rocking with the rhythm is something we think of with songs. Stories based on songs can carry the ebb and flow with their text. This helps pull the reader further into a story. A story can use a phrase or the beat of a song to guide the story. Here are some books that get my toes tapping.

Little Goblins Ten by Pamela Jane and Jane Manning
Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward and Steve Jenkins
Over In the Forest by Marianne Berkes and Jill Dubin
One Love by Cedella Marley and Vanessa Newton
Five Little Ducks by Anthony Lewis

Tracey M. Cox is involved in the kidlit community through SCBWI, KidLit.TV, blogging, and Books Love & Taters Book Festival. Her soon-to-be-published book, The Children at the Playground (Xist Publishing, May 2015), is based on The Wheels on the Bus.

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ReFoReMo Day 22: Paul Czajak Celebrates Beauty in Simplicity

3/23/2015

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You are in for another double feature today. After reading and commenting on Paul’s post today, travel over to Carrie On… Together and visit Illustrators The Brothers Hilts. The Czajak/Hilts team just celebrated SEAVER THE WEAVER's book birthday, a mentor text you will definitely want to check out. (Plus, there is a giveaway!)

by Paul Czajak

If there is one thing that I have gleaned from the great picture books that I lean toward it's the idea of simplicity. Simplicity in the topic, the arc and sometimes the writing itself. For me I love when an author can take nothing and turn it into something. The ability to write about the simplest topic and create an engaging story truly shows talent and for me, it is something that I strive for. Here are 5 books that seem simple on the surface but because of how they are written they are much more then just a story line.

I Want My Hat Back - Jon Klassen

This story might be the gold standard when it comes to simple. A Bear lost his hat and he wants it back. This story works because of the way it ends, an ending I didn't see coming. The shock value makes the simplicity of this story shine.

Stuck - Oliver Jeffers

I love this book. A boys kite is suck in a tree and he wants to get it back, let the insanity begin! This is a great example of how you can use the absurd to make a simple story sing.

The Dark - Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen

A boy, who is afraid of the dark, has his night light go out. What makes this simple story great is the writing. It's much more complicated then other stories that I have read. Snicket's ability to create a spooky atmosphere using the dark as an anthropomorphic entity is fantastic. So just because the story is simple doesn't mean the writing has to be.

The Dot - Peter Reynolds

This story hits the simplicity level on two fronts. The first is the subject, a girl thinks she can't draw but then finds out art can be anything. The second is what she draws, a dot. When it comes to creating art there isn't anything much simpler then jabbing your pen on a piece of paper. But what makes this story great is how profound it is. A simple story line doesn't mean a stupid story line.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole - Mac Barnett

The title says it all, two boys dig a hole in hopes to find something special. What makes this great is the interaction a child will have with this story. My kids actually yelled when Sam and Dave stopped digging in a particular direction only to miss that special thing by one shovel full. Allowing the reader to know more then the characters invites participation even in a simple story.

When writing your story try to keep it simple, that way it becomes more relatable to your audience. Use your creativity, your writing prowess to make that simple story line great. That is what will make you a great writer, not what you write about but how you write it.

Paul Czajak is the Authour of the award winning picture book series Monster&Me (Mighty Media). His newest title in the series Monster Needs A Party is to be released April 2015. Paul's first non-monster story, Seaver the Weaver (Mighty Media), released March 17.

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ReFoReMo Day 21: Ben Clanton Inspects Interplay

3/22/2015

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by Ben Clanton

One of my favorite things about picture books is the creative potential that comes with the interplay between text and illustrations. The five picture books I’ve selected to feature use this potential to great effect. In each case the illustrations augment the text and give new meaning to the words. Even if you are not an illustrator these books are great examples of how to setup unique interplay.

The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers
Cheetah Can’t Lose by Bob Shea
Battle Bunny by Jon Sciescka and Mac Barnett Pictures by Matthew Myers
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Ben Clanton is the author/illustrator of such picture books as Something Extraordinary (June 2015), Rex Wrecks It!, and Mo's Mustache. To learn about about Ben and his other books, visit http://www.benclanton.com/.

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ReFoReMo Day 20: Kristen Remenar Elicits Engaging Nonfiction

3/21/2015

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by Kristen Remenar

Good nonfiction won’t sound like an encyclopedia excerpt. Informational picture books like these pull in young readers with rich, interesting vocabulary and beautiful art. Teachers and librarians are looking for books with engaging topics for all levels of readers, especially the youngest ones. Study these to see how to make nonfiction irresistible.

Bone by Bone by Sara Levine Illustrated by T.S. Spookytooth
Seed by Seed by Esme Roji Codell Iluustrated by Lynne Raye Perkins
Parrots Over Puerto Rico By Susan L. Roth; Cindy Trumbore; Susan L. Roth
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre

Kristen Remenar is a children’s librarian, author, teacher, and a national speaker on literacy. Her first picture book, GROUNDHOG'S DILEMMA, will be published by Charlesbridge in 2015, and illustrated by Matt Faulkner, award-winning author/illustrator (and Kristen’s beloved husband).

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ReFoReMo Day 19: Carol Gordon Ekster Values the Perfect Blend

3/20/2015

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by Carol Gordon Ekster

Five star picture books shout, “I’m the perfect blend of words and pictures.” I also wish I wrote them! They have emotional weight and when read aloud the words sing. They are books kids and parents will love, and teachers can use in some capacity whether to help readers fall for books or be used as mentor texts. Picking just five was not easy!

This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers

100 Snowmen by Jennifer Arena

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

Railroad Hank by Lisa Moser

Xander’s Panda Party by Linda Sue Park

Carol Gordon Ekster was a passionate elementary school teacher for 35 years. Her first book came out in 2008 and her newest picture book released January 1, 2015. Carol now spends time in critique groups, doing exercise and yoga, and working on her books. Find out more about Carol and her growing list of books at www.carolgordonekster.com

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ReFoReMo Day 18: Penny Klostermann Highlights the Opening Act

3/19/2015

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by Penny Klostermann

I’ve chosen to share picture books with brilliant opening lines. In just a few sentences they offer an irresistible invitation to continue turning pages. Strong opening lines hold up as they prove their relevance throughout the story. I strive for these kinds of opening lines in my stories—lines that invite and delight.

MR. TIGER GOES WILD By Peter Brown
SOPHIE’S SQUASH By Pat Zietlow Miller, Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf
ONE BIG PAIR OF UNDERWEAR By Laura Gehl, Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
THE MONSTORE by Tara Lazar, Illustrated by James Burks
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS By Mo Willems

Prize Alert
Penny is offering a picture book critique to one lucky winner at the conclusion of ReFoReMo. To be eligible, you must be a fully registered participant, comment on this post, read daily, and keep records of your progress.

Penny Parker Klostermann is a hugger of picture books. She is the author of THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT (August 2015), and A COOKED-UP FAIRY TALE (2016), both forthcoming from Random House. Visit Penny HERE.

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ReFoReMo Day 17: Mira Reisberg Applauds Biographies with Voice

3/18/2015

187 Comments

by Dr. Mira Reisberg

As a people-person and a lifelong learner, I’m a huge biography fan. I especially love the new approach to biography that reads like fabulous fiction. Each of these books has a wonderfully distinctive author’s voice along with individual character voices through how the language is used. Try reading these together to track how the authors use language for voice.

Wangari Maathai:The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees Written by: Frank Prévot, Illustrated by: Aurélia Fronty

Hello, I’m Johnny Cash Written by: G. Neri, Illustrated by: A.G. Ford

When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky: Two Artists, Their Ballet, and One Extraordinary Riot By Lauren Stringer

Bon Appétit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child By Jessie Hartland

Noah Webster & His Words Written by: Jeri Chase Ferris, Illustrated by: Vincent X. Kirsch

Prize Alert
Mira is donating one illustration course, Home School Hero's Art Journey, at the conclusion of ReFoReMo. The lucky winner will learn to access their inner visual artist and make creative personal, and professional breakthroughs. To be eligible for this prize, you must be fully registered, comment on this post, read daily, and keep a record of your progress.

Mira Reisberg is the Director of the Children’s Book Academy and has helped many people get published, including multi-award winning self-publisher Kathryn Otoshi. Her new course with Jed Alexander will empower authors and illustrators to create professional print and e-books and get them into bookstores and children's hands with no financial risk. Learn more at http://bit.ly/CBAclass.

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ReFoReMo Day 16: Ame Dyckman Relies on Reminders

3/17/2015

76 Comments

by Ame Dyckman

For reminding me great characters need not be familiar. (Or alive.):

For reminding me adventures should be “BUT!”-less:

For reminding me how much fun two-character dialogue can be. (Especially when one of those characters is GRUMPY!):

For reminding me we don’t always know our narrator from the start:

For reminding me friends are found in the darndest places:

AME DYCKMAN loves picture books SO MUCH, it’s hard for her to stop reading to write them. But sometimes she manages: BOY + BOT, TEA PARTY RULES, WOLFIE THE BUNNY, and more on the way. Follow Ame on Twitter: @AmeDyckman.

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ReFoReMo Day 15: Aaron Reynolds Gleans Picture Book Gold

3/16/2015

86 Comments

by Aaron Reynolds

1. THE ADVENTURES OF BEEKLE: AN UNIMAGINARY FRIEND by Dan Santat

WHAT I GLEAN: Here is a great example of a story that keeps things TIGHT. Not a ton of words here, lots of room for the art to tell the story. Of course, in this case, Dan Santat was also the illustrator, so he knew what he wanted to draw, but we have to think that way as writers too.

2. THIS IS A MOOSE by Richard T. Morris, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

WHAT I GLEAN: So brilliant, so clever, so unexpected. That’s what we need to be writing…THE UNEXPECTED.

3. THIS IS NOT MY HAT by Jon Klassen

WHAT I GLEAN: Not afraid to be edgy and dark and sophisticated for a picture book audience. We too often keep things nicey nicey or safely about trucks and puppies and are afraid to tell BOLD stories. The picture book medium can handle so much more, and so can the kids!

4. MR. TIGER GOES WILD by Peter Brown

WHAT I GLEAN: Perfect STORY ARC with a SATISFYING ENDING. The character goes somewhere significant and you feel happy with the results, and he does it all without using 1000 or 2000 words to do it. An ideal picture book should be around 400 words, but NO MORE than 800.

5. EXCLAMATION MARK by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

Like THIS IS A MOOSE, this story is completely ORIGINAL AND UNEXPECTED. Who says inanimate objects can’t be characters? Or abstract concepts? Or punctuation?

Aaron Reynolds is a New York Times Bestselling Author and has written many highly acclaimed books for kids, including Here Comes Destructosaurus!, Carnivores, the Joey Fly – Private Eye graphic novel series, and the Caldecott Honor Medalist Creepy Carrots! He has a passion for kids’ books and seeing kids reading them. He regularly makes time to visit schools where his hilarious hands-on presentations keep kids spellbound. Find him at www.aaron-reynolds.com.

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ReFoReMo Day 14: Kirsti Call Discovers the Unexpected

3/15/2015

94 Comments

by Kirsti Call

Books like Mustache Baby, Dragons Love Tacos, Ninja Red Riding Hood, My Teacher is a Monster (No, I am not), and The Day the Crayons Quit, draw me in with just their titles. The magic of these books is in the unexpected, which creates humor and hooks me into reading the story repeatedly. After reading these books and writing or revising, you might surprise yourself with your own unexpected magic!

Kirsti Call's debut picture book is The Raindrop Who Couldn't Fall. She contributes to Writer's Rumpus, The Children's Book Academy, and Kids are Writers. If you visit her house, you’ll likely find her reading a book with her five children!

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