ReFoReMo Day 24: Russ Cox Focuses on Characters

3/24/2016

Each book on this list is character driven and from that, I learned the importance of having a strong, but sometimes delightfully flawed, central character. The stories are also very simple and beautifully written but with complex and very deep subplots. From each of them, I learned that less is more and never boring.

Russ is giving away these amazing sketches! The bookmark is perfect for any bookworm! Thank you Russ!

To be eligible, you must be a fully registered participant, comment on this post, read daily, and keep records of your progress.

Russ Cox writes and illustrates children’s books from his studio in Maine. He lives with his wife and 4 very opinionated cats, who serve as art directors and rule the rest of the house while constantly screaming for food. He's represented by Danielle Smith at Red Fox Literary.

173 Comments

Karla Valenti

3/24/2016 04:53:22 am

Crafting a complex character in a PB is a real skill and one of the things that I believe makes writing PBs that much more challenging (and frankly, exciting) than writing other kinds of kidlit. Thank you for these great mentor text recommendations!

Katelyn Aronson

3/24/2016 05:26:15 am

True, these titles are great examples of characterization, the driving force behind pbs these days. Your illustrations are particularly full of character, too! Great fun. Thank you, Russ!

Tina Cho link

3/24/2016 05:32:30 am

Great book suggestions! I've read all of them but one. I think it's every writer's dream to make a great character that everyone will love.

Deborah Allmand

3/24/2016 05:33:33 am

Russ, thanks for great mentor texts where a strong character with less words is accomplished. Thanks for the great post and fabulous prize!

Joy Main

3/24/2016 05:57:42 am

Thank you Russ, fantastic characters in these books and I love the idea that even (or especially) in a short book, characterisation is so important.
PS Poor hungry cats 😉

Sharon Giltrow

3/24/2016 06:03:07 am

Thanks Russ for these great suggestions and introducing us to great characters.

Laura Purdie Salas link

3/24/2016 06:16:33 am

Thanks for the reading suggestions. Interesting that 3 of the 5 are by author-illustrators, and 1 of them was written with the two collaborating (or at least communicating). So only 1 is the traditional text submitted and then illustrated separately (assuming Ivan was done that way, anyway). Less is more is so much easier when you're an a-i! Or maybe that's just my jealousy showing:>) Looking forward to re-reading these with an eye specifically on character development. Thanks, Russ--fun sketches!

carole calladine

3/24/2016 06:19:52 am

Character driven picture books are works of an imagination gone wild. Such fun choices! Thanks for sharing. I'd never seen Battle Bunny before.

MD Knabb

3/24/2016 06:34:27 am

I'm searching for those I haven't read. Thanks for recommending these examples of less is more.

Lori Gravley link

3/24/2016 06:40:19 am

Thank you for this interesting and inspiring list!!

Andrea Mack link

3/24/2016 06:49:18 am

Thanks for some great examples of character-driven books!

Melissa Stoller link

3/24/2016 07:08:07 am

Thanks, Russ! It is amazing to see deep characters with flaws that the reader cares about created with an economy of words. These are wonderful mentor texts.

Terri DeGezelle link

3/24/2016 07:10:27 am

Laura I could not agree more I have noticed over the last few weeks an author-illustrator usually creates a deeper story focusing on the illustrations because their skills are usually stronger as an illustrator while an author illustrator team usually has a deeper story using words. please keep in mind these observations are coming from someone who can't draw a crooked line. Ivan is one of my favorite stories of all times. Rules of summer makes me long for summer.

Donna L Martin link

3/24/2016 07:11:45 am

Writing character driven stories is exactly what engages me as a writer to my readers. I would a bookmar like that one, Russ, cuz it's AWESOME! ;-)

Kathy Halsey

3/24/2016 07:14:28 am

Russ, I'd love to win the sketches! You make good points for us to remember - less is more, but with great emotion, depth, and am working toward the :flawed" part in my MC. Thanks, Russ.

Jaclyn Kruzie

3/24/2016 07:28:06 am

I struggle with subtlety. I'm always nervous no one will "get" my book of I don't spell it out. Thanks for the mentor text so I can learn from the best 😊

Gabrielle Schoeffield

3/24/2016 07:35:18 am

Love your insights...

Shelley Kinder

3/24/2016 07:35:39 am

Simple, yet complex...love it. Thank you for these book recommendations. I've only read Beekle. The rest look amazing.

Lucky Jo Boscarino

3/24/2016 07:49:40 am

Rules of Summer was so bizarre yet fascinating, I wonder what language it was originally written in.

Sherry Howard link

3/24/2016 07:58:26 am

I'm happy to have recommendations that are identified as character driven. Four hungry cats, no wonder the illustrations by Russ are so fun!

Manju Howard

3/24/2016 08:02:04 am

Thanks, Russ! I love the humor in your illustrations. Adding Rules of Summer to my list.

Nancy Ramsey

3/24/2016 08:06:52 am

These are incredible mentor texts! Thanks very much for highlighting them!

Mary Boehmer

3/24/2016 08:09:22 am

Thank you for sharing with us! For me Russ characters are what moves the story :) great suggested mentor texts! I have to admit that Battle Bunny took me by surprise! I had never seen anything like it before :) Happy Reading!

Sharon Putnam

3/24/2016 08:12:09 am

Thank you Russ for giving us wonderful examples of character driven picture books.

LOL four cats…you don’t know what I’M HUNGRY means until you have 23 of them weaving in and out between your legs and meowing as loud as they can. You'd think that they were starving

PatHaap

3/24/2016 08:17:01 am

Great mentor books - I really need to study these. Thanks!

Laura Renauld

3/24/2016 08:17:28 am

These mentor texts are terrific. The components of creating a vibrant mc in few words is certainly worth studying.

Mary Worley

3/24/2016 08:21:55 am

You've convinced me to take another look at these ones. I'm going to pay particular attention to the subplots and how to keep the text sparse. Love that bookmark!

Alice Fulgione

3/24/2016 08:35:02 am

I've read some of your suggested books and I'm looking forward to reading the others. Love the bookmarks!

joanne sher link

3/24/2016 08:46:21 am

Amazed by the sparseness of text and depth of character in these. THIS is what I want to write. Thanks so much for these amazing recommendations!

Chana Stiefel link

3/24/2016 08:48:25 am

Great suggestions. Great characters!

Linda Chavez

3/24/2016 08:48:57 am

Less IS more! I believe! Thank You! :-)

Amy Murrell

3/24/2016 08:49:23 am

I've only been able to read one of these so far (Beekle) and I'm very much loozing forward to reading the others as one of my WIPs is highly character driven. Thanks for the suggestions, Russ. - Amy

Denise Engle

3/24/2016 08:51:33 am

Love the deep subplots, especially in Beekle and Louise Loves Art!!! Thanks for this blog post!

Traci Bold link

3/24/2016 08:55:44 am

Hello Russ! You are so right about writing strong characters with fewer words. Less is more, especially in these mentor texts you shared. More would have detracted from the plight of the character and been less meaningful to the reader. And the illustrations sent the books to home plate. Thank you for the thoughtful post and fresh perspectives.

Rosie Pova

3/24/2016 09:10:06 am

I love researching strong characters! Thanks for sharing.

Val McCammon

3/24/2016 09:13:56 am

Can't wait to read the ones I haven't yet -- I'm a total fan of Rules of Summer and its depth in few words. Thanks, Russ.

Linda Schueler

3/24/2016 09:16:06 am

I like that: "less is more and never boring."

Sue Heavenrich

3/24/2016 09:17:31 am

I got a kick out of Battle Bunny - the invisible character drawing the story... thinking that next library book sale I'll look for old EZ reader that I can have some similar fun with.

Lisa Connors link

3/24/2016 09:20:02 am

Thanks for these mentor text suggestions Russ.

Beverly Marsh

3/24/2016 09:20:20 am

Thanks Russ for the reminder that less is more. Sounds easy, but it's oh so difficult at times. Look forward to studying your mentor texts.

Nancy Rimar

3/24/2016 09:20:48 am

Thanks for the great examples of character-driven books. I'm looking forward to reading them.

Marianne Kuzujanakis link

3/24/2016 09:23:31 am

Great examples of character-driven PBs! Off to the library to re-read them. Thanks, Russ!

Angela Turner

3/24/2016 09:26:34 am

I struggle with character development so these mentor texts are really helpful. I appreciate having a nonfiction example (Ivan). I just read it and it is beautifully done. Thanks for the opportunity to win sketches. Children's PB art is awesome!

Ellen Leventhal

3/24/2016 09:29:46 am

Great examples of great characters. For me, the character is as important as the story. I love reading about flawed characters who change....but maybe not completely. :) Thank you!

Stephanie Gray

3/24/2016 09:33:49 am

I agree that these titles all have great characters. In particular, I loved Beekle, Louise, and Ivan.

Unrelated to the theme of character, my almost 4-year-old seemed to find the pictures in "Rules of Summer" less scary than I did. As for "Battle Bunny," it's a funny concept but I found it somewhat hard to read aloud.

Annette Bay Pimentel link

3/24/2016 09:34:57 am

I loved that Rules of Summer masquerade as a list book but through the illustrations developed a complicated, layered relationship.

debra daugherty

3/24/2016 09:42:17 am

Thanks, Russ, for these great examples of character-driven stories.

Lori Dubbin

3/24/2016 09:47:50 am

Your cats sound like great characters! Thanks for these wonderful mentor text recommendations. I haven't read RULES OF SUMMER yet. I'm looking forward to reading it and rereading the others!

Debbie McCue

3/24/2016 09:51:22 am

Great list, Russ. I just finished reading RULES OF SUMMER and want to thank you for that suggestion. It is incredible! There's a lot I can glean from that book alone. I'm patiently waiting for copies of BATTLE BUNNY and IVAN-- can't wait to read them.

Carol Nelson

3/24/2016 09:56:07 am

Developing character with few words is always a challenge for me.

Rebecca Colby

3/24/2016 09:58:46 am

Thanks for these great recommendations, and for the generous prize! I need to do more study on character-driven stories so these are very timely for me.

Monique Wakefield

3/24/2016 10:07:52 am

Thanks Russ. I'm taking this into consideration with my own MS. I'm still using more words than I need to.

Linda Thomas

3/24/2016 10:10:27 am

I love your illustrations, Russ! So much fun. Thank you for your insights and recommendations for books with strong characters. And subplots! I look forward to studying them.

Natalie Rompella link

3/24/2016 10:11:48 am

Ivan is quite a character. I never think of the character development involved with pbs. Thanks!

Anne Appert link

3/24/2016 10:16:42 am

Thanks for the suggestions. I love Beekle, and I can't wait to read the other stories!

Mary Jo Wagner

3/24/2016 10:20:09 am

Character driven PBs are my kind of book. I have several characters who regularly shout at me from backstage but they just aren't ready yet for a starring role. I'm looking forward to further inspiration from these stars.

Karen Condit

3/24/2016 10:32:12 am

Character-driven stories are some of the best in my opinion. Thanks for these examples—all so different!

Sydney O'Neill

3/24/2016 10:35:08 am

Thanks for these recommendations!

Heidi Yates

3/24/2016 10:36:45 am

Great examples of character driven stories. Thank you Russ. :)

Juliana Lee link

3/24/2016 10:37:28 am

Some of my best friends are picture book characters! I also love the characters in Faraway Friends. Looking forward to making many more friends this year.

Bev Baird

3/24/2016 10:38:26 am

Thanks Russ for some great mentor texts. Such interesting characters for sure.

Holly Samson Hall

3/24/2016 10:38:38 am

I'm currently struggling my own very character driven PB manuscript. The problem I'm having is that I have two main characters, so it's a real juggling act. I'm looking forward to digging into these mentor texts to see what I can learn. Thank you!

Rachel Hamby link

3/24/2016 10:41:22 am

Thanks Russ! It's been fun for me to really analyze art and text during this ReFoReMo.

Rita Lorraine Hubbard link

3/24/2016 10:45:14 am

Hi Russ,
Great list. I've read Battle Bunny, which I think is one of the most creative pb's ever. Can't wait to try out some of the other titles. :)

maria gianferrari link

3/24/2016 10:48:53 am

These are great choices, Russ, and all so different! Ivan both the PB and MG versions are such touching and heartfelt books. Love them! Thank you for sharing. I also love Shaun Tan's The Arrival--an amazing book!

Cecilia

3/24/2016 10:49:12 am

Thank you for the text suggestions. I'm looking forward to meeting these characters.

Lauren Kerstein link

3/24/2016 10:51:59 am

Thank you for the reminder that flaws make a character richer. These are terrific mentor text recommendations.

Marlene Rohr link

3/24/2016 10:52:57 am

Thanks for these character driven mentor texts; I have read most of these and am still thinking about each of the characters and how they were depicted in each book. Such a challenge to consider when developing a PB character that will make a lasting impression on each reader!

Angie Quantrell

3/24/2016 10:53:18 am

I love these books! I accidentally read Battle Bunny last night (a day early). Fantastic! So clever and complex and hysterically funny! Thanks so much for sharing these titles and this information with us!

Robin Currie link

3/24/2016 10:55:10 am

Flaws make them human like the reader. Thanks for the insight.

AJ Irving link

3/24/2016 10:55:46 am

Awesome mentor texts! Thank you, Russ!

Sue Poduska

3/24/2016 11:05:19 am

Perfect! Thank you!

Therese Nagi

3/24/2016 11:07:43 am

It's amazing these books achieve such telling stories in few words.

Sue Ganz-Schmitt link

3/24/2016 11:08:28 am

Thanks so much Russ. I loved every one of these mentor texts. Battle Bunny was so unexpected. At first I thought someone had written in the library book. Great characters!!

Meena

3/24/2016 11:14:46 am

Less is more and never boring - love that mix! Thanks for the great selection.

Mike Karg link

3/24/2016 11:23:16 am

Thanks, Russ!

Vicki Reinhardt

3/24/2016 11:23:32 am

"Less is more" has been something I've had to work hard at. But the more I read PBs and the more I re-write, it makes such great sense!

Charlotte Dixon

3/24/2016 11:30:13 am

Great titles with strong characters. Thank you for sharing, Russ :)

Anita Jones link

3/24/2016 11:31:16 am

I'm so glad that someone addressed "Character" driven picture books...I've really tried to broaden my horizons this month, but I've always seemed to focus my stories on character driven themes. I've read a couple of the books you suggested and will definately read the rest! I love my little characters!! Thanks Russ!!

Sandra Jenkins

3/24/2016 11:34:11 am

I love Beekle and look forward to meeting new characters to love.

Alan Elliott link

3/24/2016 12:01:31 pm

Loved Beekle... a real challenge to make sure characters are more than one flavor -- with something about them that the reader can relate to -- good or bad.

L. Michelle Quraishi link

3/24/2016 12:03:48 pm

The deeper story told in Rules of Summer--so much fun to discover and contemplate. It's the best kind of story, the kind that gets deeper the more you think about it.

Sheri Radovich

3/24/2016 12:17:07 pm

These were all interesting choices for me. I like Louise and Beekle and feel for Ivan. I don't get the other two. I would like to be an author/illustrator but lack the skill. I think sending a manuscript with few words and no illustration notes is like sailing a paper airplane and watching it crash.

JEN link

3/24/2016 12:20:45 pm

I love that bookmark! Great character-driven mentor text recommendations.

Tanya Konerman link

3/24/2016 12:22:40 pm

I've only read two of these...looking forward to the others. Thanks for the recommendations!

Sara Gentry

3/24/2016 12:27:40 pm

What a wonderfully diverse group of books! I especially got a kick out of Battle Bunny.

Suzy Leopold

3/24/2016 12:30:09 pm

Less is more is so true for many aspects of life. Thank you, Russ, for sharing excellent pb titles with strong characters.

Kristi Veitenheimer link

3/24/2016 12:46:14 pm

Love the recommendations!

Cathy Mealey

3/24/2016 12:48:24 pm

I've got to sneak "Rules of Summer" into the house eventually. My youngest would shriek "Not the eye book!" when I tried to check it out at the library. ;-D

Lynn Davidson link

3/24/2016 12:49:56 pm

I've read two of these and have two of the others ready to be read. :) I like your suggestions and thoughts, Russ. Thank you for adding to ReFoReMo.

Bethany Roberts link

3/24/2016 12:50:23 pm

Thanks for the list. Studying Louise Loves Art helped me think through a story I'm working on with a sub-plot told through the illustrations. Reading the right mentor text at the right time can make magic!

Sadee Schilling

3/24/2016 12:54:17 pm

Thanks for the great recommendations, Russ. Beekle and Louise are two of my favorite characters, and RULES OF SUMMER is strangely enthralling--my kids thought it was weird but still, we kept coming back for more.

Maria Marshall

3/24/2016 01:01:03 pm

Great examples Russ. I love Beekle and am looking forward to getting my hold on Rules of summer. Thanks.

Elizabeth Duncan link

3/24/2016 01:59:06 pm

Very thought provoking suggestions today. I thought Battle Bunny was brilliant and original- one of my favorites from the month, while Rules of Summer was one of my least favorite. I'd like to introduce by 5th grade students to Rules of Summer to see what they make of it. I loved the bookmark...

Michele Manning

3/24/2016 02:42:01 pm

Thank you for these wonderful suggestions! Looking forward to my reading today and meeting some new memorable characters!

sue twiggs

3/24/2016 03:10:54 pm

Russ,
I have a strong character in my MS and am hoping to find him a home with an editor. I loved Ivan and Beekle. both stay with you for a long time.

Mona Pease

3/24/2016 03:18:28 pm

Thanks Russ. Your mentor texts are good. Your illustrations are good and fun!!!

Ali Bovis

3/24/2016 03:19:01 pm

Thanks so much for the great post and mentor texts! Almost all my ideas are character driven PB concepts but I really need to work on the "less is more". Thanks again!!

Susan Zonca

3/24/2016 03:21:49 pm

Thanks, Russ, for some wonderful mentor text recommendations.

Brook Gideon link

3/24/2016 03:23:38 pm

WHAT...no SHARKS?? ;) Thanks for the wonderful post and fabulous mentor texts. Nice choices, already own three of them! The Battle Bunny book was fun!

Melissa Rutigliano

3/24/2016 03:39:31 pm

I had already read Beekle and Ivan-this one as a mentor text specifically for my WIP since it is based on the life of/inspired by a real dog. However, I MUST thank you for introducing me to the Birthday/Battle Bunny. How hilarious is this book!? And the dueling text and illustrations made my head spin in the most amusing way. What a sensational double sworded main character! I couldn't wait to get to the end to see how it would all pan out and if the stories would cross at all. This was just so much fun, and a new way to learn about where one can take a character and in what direction- even if it is 2 at the same time!

Claire Noland link

3/24/2016 03:44:35 pm

Thanks for sharing these mentor texts. I'm rereading them with an eye for what makes these characters so strong.

Emily Johnsen

3/24/2016 04:18:27 pm

Thank you Russ! I love the books you've recommended

Diane Asyre

3/24/2016 04:53:43 pm

Less is more and more difficult to write! Wonderful suggestions for mentor texts.

Judy Cooper link

3/24/2016 04:58:45 pm

Great book selection & topic. Thank you.

Suzanne Poulter Harris

3/24/2016 05:10:25 pm

I plan to study these carefully to help me create my own character driven picture book. It seems to be something all editors are looking for. Thanks for sharing these great mentor texts!

Cathy Breisacher

3/24/2016 05:14:42 pm

This is a great variety and range of character-driven mentor texts. Thanks for sharing!! These are great ones to study.

Mary Warth

3/24/2016 05:31:49 pm

Thanks for the great character driven examples!

Denise Benavides

3/24/2016 05:41:20 pm

Thanks for the learning texts on characters and simplicity.

Susan Deo

3/24/2016 06:00:08 pm

Thanks, Russ. I love "the importance of having a strong, but sometimes delightfully flawed, central character!"

Unique characters with unique problems are so fascinating to all of us humans. Thanks for the great mentor texts to read and think about how/why they work.

Lynne Marie link

3/24/2016 06:01:40 pm

Thanks for the mentor texts and for sharing your wonderful art! Much appreciated. Thanks to you and the others I am up to 50 books for the Month of March!

Julie Burchstead

3/24/2016 06:32:44 pm

Some great ones here. I love Battle Bunny. Surprised it hasn't caught on more. Great for talking revision with student writers too!

Jilanne Hoffmann

3/24/2016 06:37:32 pm

Oooh, Russ. You are soooo right! Less is more. I'm trying to learn this. The process is slow. I am an effusive, over-the-top person. Gotta put on the brakes. Ease into it. Pull back. Not run on and on and on and on.... :D

Pamela Courtney

3/24/2016 06:49:42 pm

The book recs are great. Each shows what taking risks in writing (once you've mastered the rules . . . can one really master kidlit rules, though) can produce. There is a level of sophistication in each piece. When I grow up, that's the kind of work I want to produce.

Trine

3/24/2016 08:05:03 pm

I have always been drawn to the flawed characters. I'm OK - You're OK - We're OK.

Noelle McBride

3/24/2016 08:14:57 pm

Thank you! These are great examples of strong characters.

Kathy Mazurowski

3/24/2016 08:16:02 pm

More books for my library list. Thanks

Linda Kujawski link

3/24/2016 08:18:39 pm

Russ, thank you so much for these simply beautiful mentor texts with character and heart! 😊

Jena Benton

3/24/2016 08:19:33 pm

Thank you for today's post. Cute art!

Jena

3/24/2016 08:20:31 pm

Oops! Wrong e-mail address registered on my last comment.

Heather Pierce Stigall link

3/24/2016 08:45:04 pm

Great suggestions -- thanks!

Lotus Ivak link

3/24/2016 09:01:00 pm

Hi Russ, this is great! Thanks much!

Megan Taraszkiewicz

3/24/2016 09:10:48 pm

Thank you for this post! Great selections-Beekle is so cute!

Lenne' Musarra

3/24/2016 09:41:47 pm

Thank you so much for focusing on character driven mentor texts. I grew in Tacoma and went to the B&I to see Ivan as a kid. I cried reading that book! All artist types have to see themselves in Louise Loves Art! Rules of Summer strikes a chord for all who have had someone else rule over them. Beekle's determined search for a friend is also a universal theme. Battle Bunny, I had no interest in finishing...I'll have to take a second look.

Carol Cole link

3/24/2016 09:42:10 pm

Great mentor texts. I especially love reading about Ivan. Building a strong character is so important yet so difficult.

DeLeon

3/24/2016 10:08:20 pm

Thanks for the suggestions

Kimberly Marcus link

3/24/2016 10:09:01 pm

Thank you for sharing these great mentor texts! I like that "delightfully flawed." Great way of thinking about our characters!!

Celeste Gerard

3/24/2016 10:14:38 pm

Good suggestions - thank you! Love Beekle!

Dee Leone link

3/24/2016 10:35:51 pm

Great mentor texts, Russ, and I got to meet two of the authors!

Gabrielle Snyder link

3/24/2016 10:41:08 pm

Sometimes less is more. Thanks, Russ, for these lovely examples of character-driven PBs.

Natalie Lynn Tanner

3/24/2016 11:56:10 pm

Hi Russ!: I really enjoyed your book selections. These are WONDERFUL examples of how simple can be beautiful and still contain "complex and very deep subplots." I especially enjoyed the book recommendation, Ivan. Knowing the author was able to make the same story applicable to different age groups by writing one in novel length and the other in pic book form is a great example of how one story can be told in different ways -- and in different lengths, but still maintaining the integrity and heart of the story. THANK YOU!!!

Shelley Marshall

3/25/2016 03:56:53 am

Strong but sometimes delightfully flawed central character.....I like that description. Thanks so much.

Linda Hofke

3/25/2016 06:51:57 am

I love Battle Bunny. It is fun to read it twice-- once with the Battle Bunny story and the next with the Birthday Bunny story.

I haven't found Beekle yet. I am hoping to find that one.

Janet Smart link

3/25/2016 06:53:27 am

I love that bookmark! Characters are very important - in picture books and middle grade books. Off to check out these books. Thanks for the post.

darlene koppel

3/25/2016 08:09:01 am

Russ - Thank you for the recommendations. Love your art work!

Kathy Cornell Berman

3/25/2016 09:11:54 am

Thanks Russ. Characters are key to a successful book.

Jarm Del Boccio link

3/25/2016 09:57:54 am

Delightfully flawed. . .I love it, Russ! And I suspect our cats are kitten-cousins. ;-}

Anna Forrester link

3/25/2016 10:12:30 am

Great sections -- looking forward to revisiting them with an eye to character.
Thanks for the post.

Martin Segal

3/25/2016 10:19:39 am

Thanks for the mentor texts, Ross! I really enjoyed Beekle and Louise Loves Art, and I look forward to reading the rest!

Amanda Sincavage

3/25/2016 10:59:58 am

I adore Beekle! I cried with Ivan. I relate to Louise. And I love the unique formats and imagination of Rules of Summer and Battle Bunny. Thanks Russ!

Virginia Law Manning link

3/25/2016 11:33:12 am

What a wonderful bunch of strong and diverse characters! Thank you for this list of mentor texts. I've read these all before and now look forward to reading them again paying special attention to character development. Thank you!

Karen Bell

3/25/2016 12:25:26 pm

Loved Ivan but found Rules of Summer beyond strange. I like to think I am reasonable intelligent but was totally lost in Rules of Summer. I couldn't find the connection between the text and the illustrations. What was the story????

Karen Bell

3/25/2016 12:42:36 pm

I read some reviews of Rules of Summer to gain some insight. So it's about two brothers and their summer experiences. I reread the book. Didn't help...... I am smiling...........I am amazed that a children's picture book can be so complex that I don't get it!

Maria Johnson

3/25/2016 01:37:59 pm

Strong but delightfully flawed main characters definitely are never boring. Thanks for the reminder.

Valarie Giogas

3/25/2016 01:58:12 pm

Thanks, Russ. Great examples (very diverse) and very timely as it seems most editors want character driven PBs.

Lynn Alpert link

3/25/2016 02:00:12 pm

I love all these recommendations - thanks Russ. I would love to get my hands on that awesome bookmark!

Lydia Lukidis link

3/25/2016 03:22:38 pm

I have to say that character driven PBs are my favorite!! I love to read them, and I also love to write them!

Brenda Huante

3/25/2016 06:02:40 pm

Thank you for your post, Russ.

Lauri Meyers

3/25/2016 09:09:15 pm

Ah yes, "Less is more and never boring." Sometimes I feel like I'm stripping out interest, but really I'm stripping the words down to their emotional core.

Ashley Bankhead

3/25/2016 10:22:33 pm

Thank you! Great list.

Christine Rodenbour

3/26/2016 08:44:02 am

Less is more definitely rings true in this house filled with toddlers!

Patricia Nozell

3/26/2016 02:55:13 pm

less is more - how true! Thanks for sharing your insights.

Melanie Ellsworth

3/26/2016 03:45:34 pm

Enjoyed finally reading RULES OF SUMMER - love the authenticity of the relationship between brothers. Also seems to be a good mentor text for the give and take between text and illustrations.

Jennifer Cole Judd link

3/26/2016 06:25:13 pm

These are great suggestions. I struggle with the "less is more" for character stories, in particular. Thank you for this list where it works so well--love Beekle, in particular!

Donna Cangelosi link

3/26/2016 10:54:35 pm

What fun characters you've chosen, Russ! Thank you for the reminder that less is more.

Leah Heilman Schanke

3/26/2016 11:23:04 pm

There's a variety in the selections that I appreciate. Thank you for these great examples.

Tracey Brown

3/27/2016 12:41:01 am

Delightfully flawed characters are most interesting! Thanks for the great titles - Battle Bunny was hilarious!

Myrna Foster

3/27/2016 02:27:08 am

Battle Bunny was hilarious. Thanks for the fun recommendations!

Lisa Williams

3/27/2016 06:05:46 pm

The main character is so important. I appreciate that you also touched on the complex subplots. That's where I have the most trouble in my writing, I think. Thanks for your post and book recommendations!

Lisa Morgan

3/28/2016 09:55:18 am

Thank you. I am learning so much and appreciate the simplicity of a difficult idea that you keyed in on for us. Simple story, less is more, complex and deep subplots. If only it could be as easy as that. I enjoyed your recommendations.

Nadine Gamble link

3/28/2016 11:24:21 am

So true & so hard to do!

Cindy Cornwall

3/28/2016 11:28:11 am

Thanks Russ for your diverse selections. Battle Bunny is hilarious...makes me wish I had thought of it first. Ivan is so sweet and sad. Beekle, of course is a classic. Rules of Summer is surreal and worth revisiting. I hadn't noticed the birds on every page or the section of gray/black images (where he's jailed) until I reread the book.

Angela De Groot

3/28/2016 12:22:19 pm

Excellent mentor text selections and points to consider in your post. Thanks for sharing.

Anita Banks

3/28/2016 03:01:34 pm

Thank you for the suggestions.

Susie Sawyer link

3/29/2016 01:37:13 pm

A complex character, complete with flaws, is a joy to meet. It makes them so much more real, since human beings are wonderfully complex and flawed! Thank you!

Dina Ticas

3/29/2016 06:44:19 pm

Another "monster" slash imaginary friend finds his person. I love it! Beekle was a gift from my room mom this year--what a great story! I connected with Ivan (way back, actually), as he lived in the city I lived in for many years. Such a sad (and truly remarkable) story. The chapter book was a great read also. My kids enjoyed reading about him.

Kelly Rice Schmitt

3/29/2016 11:18:22 pm

Thank you, Russ, for this great list of character driven texts with simple yet elegant stories. Character driven stories are what's selling now and will always be in. A sharp character can't go wrong! I loved Beekle and Ivan, who's quirky awkwardness and loneliness make them so relatable and utterly loveable. And less is more is also always in!

Cheryl Kim

3/30/2016 12:26:55 pm

Great list. Thank you, Russ!

Christie Allred link

3/30/2016 06:07:45 pm

What fun sketches. Thank you for the chance to win them :)

Ann Magee

3/30/2016 08:55:55 pm

Thanks, Russ. I'm especially drawn to the flawed characters in fiction and nonfiction PBs.

Kristen Browning

3/30/2016 10:18:05 pm

Thanks for your thought-provoking post and suggestions. I hadn't read IVAN yet, and I really enjoyed it--loved the opening/closing lines. I'd love to read the chapter book now. I don't think I've ever read a PB like RULES OF SUMMER. Reading the inside flap helps to understand it, but I can't say I enjoyed it! Interesting to read different perspectives, though.

Carrie Pearson link

3/31/2016 07:01:13 am

Late to the party on this, Russ, but I have no doubt one of your books will be on reforemo lists in the near future. Your characters have such personality! From an artist's perspective, how do writers create a character that an illustrator can see?

Helen Dening link

4/1/2016 05:57:40 pm

Thanks, Russ. I'm not familiar with many of these. Eager to study them with eyes on strong, yet flawed characters.

ReFoReMo Day 24: Russ Cox Focuses on Characters

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