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Mentor Text Author Study: PETER BROWN, Author/Illustrator

7/3/2015

27 Comments

 
by Carrie Charley Brown
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Do you know what it's like to walk a few hours in Peter Brown's shoes? I'd like to say I do. After all, Aaron Reynolds MADE me act and dress like Peter Brown during the 2014 NTX SCBWI Conference. Okay, so maybe that does not qualify me to REALLY walk in his shoes, but I have tried his picture books on for size, and they have taught me some valuable lessons about writing.
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In preparation for the insight that Peter is bound to share at the first-ever online picture book conference, Picture Book Summit 2015, I decided to dig deeper with some intensive mentor text research. Would you like to join me? Let's examine the books he has both authored and illustrated, and see if we begin to grasp the it-factor he so boldly possesses.
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Peter Brown: INTERPLAY COUNSELOR
Even in Peter's first releases, you will find perfect examples of leaving room for the illustration.

What you read in FLIGHT OF THE DODO's text (2005):
“Inventing a flying machine wasn’t easy, and the Waddlers tried one lousy idea… after another. But after months of slaving away, they finally came up with something they thought just might work. They called it the Dodo. The Waddlers said goodbye to the ground for the first time in their lives, and climbed in.”

What we actually see in the pictures:
The birds attempt to pump each other up with an air pump and try to launch into flight using ventilation fans. They create an invention that looks similar to a simplified hot air balloon. They pack their suitcases and prepare to take off.

Peter didn’t come right out and say, “They pumped each other up with hot air.” Just the hint of “one lousy idea after another” leaves lots of room for humorous illustrations. It MAKES the reader stop to take in the details of the illustrations. Art and words do si do for an unsquare dance that is outside of the box.

What you read in CHOWDER's text (2006):
“Chowder had always been different. His owners liked to think of him as quirky, but most people thought he was just plain weird.”

What we actually see in the picture:
Chowder the dog is sitting on the toilet seat doing his business.

Peter didn’t come right out and say, “Chowder was so different that he even used a toilet like humans do.”
Peter's approach allows the reader to feel slightly more like a family member that can chuckle at Chowder's quirkiness, than an outsider thinking he is "just plain weird." Right then, we are vested in the story. We become part of it. Peter's interplay not only corralled the words and art, but us, too!
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Peter Brown: MESSAGE MASTER
Peter builds on themes that kids really relate to, and he does it without shoving a lesson down their throats. The magic behind his method is linking us directly to a character’s heart and experience.

THE CURIOUS GARDEN (2009)-
Underlying Theme: When we care enough about something, we can prompt change.
Liam is a curious, thoughtful child who transforms a dull, gray city into a lush, cooperative environment. We relate to Liam's innocence and think, “If he can do it, so can I.” Liam’s efforts change the hearts of the characters around him. We see a community coming together before our eyes, not even realizing that we have become one of the team members, too.

YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND! (2011)-
Underlying Theme: When you are genuine, friendship will find you at just the right time.
Lucy is an eager, excitable bear who desires to make a new friend. Mom shows her support of Lucy’s goal, and then Lucy takes it upon herself to initiate contact and deal with her failed friendships throughout the rest of the story. Through Lucy’s words and actions, it is evident that Peter Brown had a real grasp on the social interactions of young children. The child reader will think, “That has happened to me!” Instant relatability turns into rereadability. Without realizing it, the rereading creates learning and confident kids who are ready to tackle the ups and downs of friendship on their own. Genius. 

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Peter Brown: CONCEPT KING
Peter excels at flipping ideas on their heads, which results in original concepts.

CHILDREN MAKE TERRIBLE PETS (2010)- 
Peter doesn’t just write a book about a child wanting a pet.  Instead, a bear wants to keep a child as a pet.

MR. TIGER GOES WILD (2013)-

Peter doesn’t just write about a child who wants to break out of the acceptable social standards. Instead, a humanized tiger desires to let lose and be a wild animal.

MY TEACHER IS A MONSTER (NO, I AM NOT.) (2014)-

Peter doesn’t just write about a mean teacher. Instead, the teacher is portrayed as an actual monster.

When an idea is turned inside out, the door is open for humor to waltz right in. Wouldn’t you like to learn from an interplay counselor, message master, and concept king? You can start by checking out Peter’s books. As you study, keep in mind that sometimes it takes 3-5 reads of a story to fully appreciate and grasp everything that is happening. Reading for research is a slow process of deep thinking and dissection.  Enjoy the process, and when you are done, you might even consider joining me as an online attendee at the Picture Book Summit. I can't wait to learn directly from Peter, and I am so pumped that I can do that from the comfort of my own home.

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27 Comments
Maria Marshall
6/29/2015 08:05:22 pm

Thank you Carrie. I love Peter Brown, too, and am very excited for the opportunity to learn from him at the PB Summit.

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:10:56 pm

Yay, Maria!!!! You are welcome. :)

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Kirsti Call
6/30/2015 12:21:53 am

Wow! I love love loved this post, Carrie! And I adore Peter Brown, too...

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:11:23 pm

Thanks, Kirsti!

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Manju Howard
6/30/2015 01:58:10 am

I appreciate your post, Carrie! Peter Brown has a great imagination and illustration style.

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:12:14 pm

You are welcome, Manju. :) It's amazing how much rereading a text and truly studying it can help.

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Julie Hedlund link
6/30/2015 04:21:17 am

Wow, Carrie! Now I'm going to go back to all these books and take a fresh look at them and re-study. Thanks for this amazing post! Can't wait to learn from Peter at the PB Summit too! :-)

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:13:39 pm

Rereading and study helps so much! Enjoy! You are welcome...I am also so excited to learn from Peter at the PB Summit! Thanks for all the effort you put into prepping such an amazing event. (Thanks to all of you!)

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rupali
6/30/2015 04:38:37 am

I had only read the 'Creepy Carrots' with his illustrations. I am so glad of this post now off to get these mentor texts!!! Yeyyyyyyy.

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:15:54 pm

I love your enthusiasm, Rupali! Best wishes researching!

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danielle @ this picture book life link
6/30/2015 05:06:29 am

Wonderful insight and examples!

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:16:24 pm

Thank you, Danielle!

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Romelle Broas link
6/30/2015 07:39:21 am

Love, love Peter Brown! Thanks for walking us through the study of these great books. Looks like a fun SCBWI conference you went to.

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:17:47 pm

You are welcome, Romelle! Have fun restudying them. The NTX Conference intensive with Aaron Reynolds and Sylvie Frank from Simon & Schuster was great!

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Jilanne Hoffmann
6/30/2015 08:04:47 am

Great post, Carrie! So much to learn. It's also interesting to see his growth from book to book.

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:18:37 pm

I agree, Jilanne. I love watching authors grow and change from book to book. Author studies are worth it!

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Laura Jenkins link
6/30/2015 08:06:46 am

Personally, I think that being an author/illustrator helps when "leaving room for the illustration," since he knows what the illustrations are going to be or at least has an idea of what they are going to be.

Peter Brown is awesome!

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:20:47 pm

I agree that it would be nice to be able to draw exactly what we visualize, Laura. Dummying and taking visual notes really helps when we are not filling both roles. If you didn't see last week's Ask Carrie post, I covered that very topic. I hope it helps!

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Charlotte Dixon link
6/30/2015 08:20:48 am

Great Post-love peter Brown!

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:21:05 pm

Thanks, Charlotte!

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Carol Gordon Ekster link
6/30/2015 12:49:26 pm

As a retired teacher, and a strict one, I particularly loved, My Teacher Is a Monster! It's brilliant! Thanks for this post, Carrie.

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 01:22:50 pm

Thanks, Carol! I agree that My Teacher is a Monster is brilliant. It is so true, too. Many young kids think their teachers live at school, so to see them outside of class is both strange and a real treat. :)

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Kristen Schroeder
6/30/2015 04:23:15 pm

Amazing post with great analysis, Carrie. I've requested all of the books from the library for research. p.s. hope this wasn't the lost post you had to rewrite!

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Carrie Charley Brown
6/30/2015 05:07:32 pm

Have fun researching, Kristen! (This is the one- lost my entire Message Master section! But, it is what it is now, and hopefully still helpful. :) I'm just thankful for the writing community, you included. We all need a shoulder to cry on every now and then. :)

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Debra Pehrson Haun link
7/1/2015 04:26:17 am

Thanks Carrie for your wonderful insight into Peter Brown and how he is a master at connecting us to the characters and story!

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Vivian Kirkfield link
7/1/2015 04:55:32 pm

"When an idea is turned inside out, the door is open for humor to waltz right in."
I love that, Carrie...that is exactly what I need to learn to do with my stories.
Thank you for an exceptional post on a favorite of mine. ;)

Reply
Mary Worley
7/8/2015 06:17:18 am

Love this author study. I had forgotten that he did the Chowder books. It's hard to find the balance between leaving enough room for the illustrator and including enough detail to move the story forward. So rewarding when it happens, and always helpful to see examples. Thanks!

Reply



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