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Revealing ReFoReMo: Jen Garrett Explores the Evolution of Picture Books

4/7/2015

33 Comments

 
Over 400 people followed the first annual Reading for Research Month (ReFoReMo) journey in March.  Participants discovered how mentor texts and research methods could enhance their picture book writing experience.  The goal of the ReFoReMo Blog is to continue supporting your journey with picture books as mentor texts. We will strive to follow this schedule until next February when ReFoReMo kicks into gear again:

1st Tuesday- Revealing ReFoReMo, Featured Participant 
2nd Tuesday- Featured Author-Educators (2)
3rd Tuesday- Writing Challenge Check-In, Monthly PB Recommendations + Ask Carrie
4th Thursday- Ask Carrie Answers, plus bonus picture book links

And now...Revealing ReFoReMo!

by Jen Garrett

ReFoReMo encouraged us to become better writers through reading picture books. We learned great insights from countless blog posters and commenters on how to glean techniques on structure, plot, character, voice, and page turns (plus a boatload more!)


Today, (now that it’s over), I want to play Guest Poster and give you one thing that really struck me as I researched.

Noting Publishing Trends


Picture Books have evolved as publishing trends and readership tastes have changed. Here are some examples:

2nd Person POV  

THEN (1985):
Please Try to Remember the First of Octember

Picture
Versus

NOW (2014):
How to Babysit a Grandpa or Grandma

Picture
Picture
These three books are told in 2nd person POV, and they each have a character illustrating the “you,” but they have a subtle significant difference. The narrator in Dr. Seuss’s book seems to be an adult - or at least someone outside of the book - while in the books by Jean Reagan and Lee Wildish, the narrator seems to be talking directly to the reader, not the character. This demonstrates a trend to engage the reader more in picture books today.

Word Choice

THEN
(1996):
The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash

Picture
Versus

NOW
(2012):
Dragons Love Tacos

Picture
I’ve heard a rumor that word count is trending down. That’s why I was surprised to find that Dragons Love Tacos has a HIGHER word count than The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash. How can that be? Jimmy’s Boa seems so much longer. The reason, I think, is word choice. In today’s books, sentence structure tends to be simpler and there are less “filler’ words allowed. Also, illustrations in past books do enhance the story, but today they seem to carry more of the main story weight. Books today tend to invite the young listener to interact with the story more as it is read aloud. 

Fairytale Retellings


THEN (2009):
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Picture
Versus

NOW (2013):
The Three Ninja Pigs

Picture
Fun twists on old fairytales is not new by any stretch of the imagination, but what has changed is the characterization. Even when the main characters are grownups (how else can you spend years learning to be a ninja?), they tend to look and act more youthful in fairytale retellings of today.

Nonfiction Biographies

THEN (1979):
The Value of Believing in Yourself: The Story of Louis Pasteur

Picture
Versus

NOW (2012):
Those Rebels, John and Tom

Picture
In addition to language, word choice, and illustration differences, these two books demonstrate a shift in how nonfiction biographies are told. Biographies today tend to be less plot-driven, and more character driven. Rather than telling how the character recognizes and solves the problem, picture books today tell how the character developed to be just the right person for the problem.

Thank you to all the ReFoReMo bloggers who introduced me to the NOW books of this post (plus tons more).


Thank you for sharing your revelations, Jen!
 
Did YOU participate in ReFoReMo?  Perhaps you found a particular research method helpful or made significant discoveries? YOU are also eligible to submit an article for the Revealing ReFoReMo series.  Submission guidelines are posted here. 


Picture
JEN Garrett writes for, about, and around children all day. But sometimes she finds time to do the dishes at her home in Northern California. She also finds time to participate in SCBWI, facilitate The Writers Bloc at her local library, query agents, and read mountains of books. How? We don’t know.
33 Comments
Juliana Lee link
4/6/2015 04:28:31 pm

Excellent insights, Jen! You did a great job of comparing books published recently to those published many years ago. Knowing the trends is so important!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/6/2015 05:33:09 pm

Thanks, Juliana! I had so much fun and learned so much during ReFoReMo, that it was hard to narrow it down.

Reply
Maria Marshall
4/6/2015 05:51:23 pm

Nice comparisons! Hard to believe that we are old enough for 1996 (let alone 2009) to be considered "then." Fascinating take on NF - spurs me to go do even more research. Thanks.

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 04:33:23 am

Actually, that's the latest reprint year. The text on the "Then" books were first copyrighted several years before. Often what changed (if anything) were the illustrations.
Thanks for stopping by.

Reply
Kirsti Call
4/6/2015 11:17:01 pm

I loved your comparisons and insights! Thanks for the fantastic post, Jen!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 04:34:41 am

Glad you enjoyed it, Kristi! Thanks for reading.

Reply
Ariel Bernstein
4/7/2015 12:31:39 am

I loved reading this, Jen! Great book comparisons and it's really interesting to see how trends change!!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:00:33 am

Thanks, Ariel! I had fun writing it, and trying to pick just the right examples.

Reply
Lisa Connors link
4/7/2015 12:38:01 am

Great insight. Thank you for sharing!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:05:28 am

Thanks! I can't wait to see what insights others have to share.

Reply
Val McCammon
4/7/2015 12:43:37 am

Very interesting comparisons, Jen. Carrie, this new schedule sounds terrific.

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
4/7/2015 06:17:15 pm

Glad to hear it, Val!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:07:28 am

Thanks and ditto Val. I love that ReFoReMo doesn't have to end.

Reply
Mary McClellan
4/7/2015 02:25:21 am

CARRIE, glad ReFoReMo will continue. What a wealth of information!

JEN, thanks for sharing your insights. The more we share, the more we learn and I've already learned from you!

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
4/7/2015 06:18:55 pm

Thanks for following, Mary. I hope the ReFoRe blog will always have something to offer you.

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:03:13 am

Ditto to what Carrie said. I've learned from many in ReFoReMo, both the official posts, and the participants.

Reply
Sandy Perlic
4/7/2015 03:05:49 am

Very interesting observations! And so true, now that you mention it. I'll have to do more comparisons across time myself. Thanks, Jen!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:12:35 am

Glad you enjoyed the post. This type of research was inspired by a comment during ReFoReMo, where a timeline was posted about evolution of No Monkeys No Chocolate. As I read the sample "early drafts" I realized that the author's writing style changed over time, ultimately matching the publisher's tastes.

Reply
Suzy Leopold
4/7/2015 03:14:39 am

Your comparsions of long ago published to recently published books is so valuable. Thank you for sharing these publishing trends, Jen.

The Tuesday, Thursday ReFoReMo schedule is a great surprise as we continue to study mentor texts and discover what makes great picture books. Thank you. Carry on Carrie.

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
4/7/2015 06:19:44 pm

You are welcome, Suzy!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:14:11 am

Thanks Suzy. And Ditto. I'm ready to max out my library card (again).

Reply
Therese Nagi
4/7/2015 03:27:51 am

Jen thanks for sharing the evolution of children's books. Thanks for sharing the changing trends.

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:15:29 am

Thanks Therese for stopping by!

Reply
Nancy Ramsey
4/7/2015 03:35:16 am

Great post, Jen- So interesting to see these comparisons! I like the books you chose as well- I'm so glad the ReFoReMo blog will continue! Will look forward to future posts- Thanks, Carrie!

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
4/7/2015 06:20:32 pm

Great to have you with us, Nancy!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:18:02 am

Thanks, Nancy. I second your comment about the blog continuing. It's been a lovely community and I'm glad the "family" continues. Oh, yeah, Carrie, sing it. :)

Reply
Manju Howard link
4/7/2015 06:52:01 am

Carrie, I'm glad your ReFoReMo blog will "carry" on. And Jen, thanks for showing how PBs have changed.

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
4/7/2015 06:21:28 pm

Hi Manju! I hope the blog will continue to inspire you.

Reply
JEN Garrett link
4/8/2015 05:20:16 am

I agree! I'm happy to see the ReFoReMo fun continue. Thanks for reading my post.

Reply
Elaine Hillson
4/8/2015 11:38:23 pm

Nice comparisons and insights into the changing world of picture books. It helps me to focus on the way I should be writing. Thanks Jen.

Reply
JEN Garrett link
9/1/2015 05:43:36 pm

I'm glad you found it helpful, and sorry for taking so long to respond. :)

Reply
Jilanne Hoffmann
4/13/2015 07:37:10 am

Such a difference! This analysis is fascinating. Thanks for presenting such interesting comparisons. It really plays to the point that while we can learn from the past, we need to be writing for the present. Thanks!

Reply
JEN Garrett link
9/1/2015 05:45:09 pm

You're welcome! And that's very true.

Reply



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