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September Mentor Text Check-In and Challenge: Titles

9/15/2015

21 Comments

 
by Carrie Charley Brown

You are in the library, searching for a picture book on your “to-read” list when a neighboring title catches your eye. All you see is the spine, but there is something about the words. You can’t help but abandon your search for a moment to see what the catchy title is all about. Can you relate? Quite often, this process keeps me from leaving the library on time!  Here are two titles that stopped me when I tried to leave the library last time:

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After reading through a few pages, I discovered that it was not the first time I had pulled them off the shelf. There is power in a title! I tend to gravitate toward funny, quirky titles. Sometimes I find that the writing doesn’t match up to the title’s expectations. But guess what? I may not have looked at the book at all if it weren’t for the title. We can only see the amazing illustrations and stories that accompany these titles if we unwedge them from the shelf. The majority of available books are not face out at the bookstore and library. A title is a battle cry for attention in a world filled with millions of picture books. Think about each of these book spines smashed together and vying for recognition:
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It’s fun to just scan the shelves, looking for titles that pop out and pique your curiosity. I dare you to do just that for our challenge this month. It should not only help you learn a bit about how titles can snag new readers, but also what types of titles you are drawn to most.

After you perform the September task, take a look at your current works in progress. Do they have stand-out titles? If not, it's time for a heavy brainstorm! 


21 Comments
Jodi McKay link
9/15/2015 07:17:02 am

Titles, like first sentences, are so important! Thanks for giving some great examples of those that work!!

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 08:38:05 am

I'd love to hear what titles stop you in the library, Jodi. :) Just like everything else, it is subjective. But, there is also some genius marketing going on when a title alone stops us at all. :)

Reply
Lori Alexander
9/15/2015 12:27:12 pm

Great post, Carrie. Love these examples. I have trouble getting into a new PB writing project unless I've come up with a clever title from the get-go (not always an easy task!).

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 12:57:07 pm

Hi Lori! Quite often, titles come to me first, as well. :) They are my initial idea. I love it when that happens!

Reply
Jilanne Hoffmann
9/15/2015 12:44:30 pm

At the library yesterday, I spied "The Day the Babies Crawled Away." Now, if that doesn't make you pull the book off the shelf, I don't know what will! And the other ones I currently have on my desk:

This Book Just Ate My Dog
President Taft is Stuck in the Bath (ckecked out again)
Smelly Bill
Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem

Funny thing is, as much as I love titles, I'm not very good at making them up for my own books. I seem to do better when brainstorming for other peoples' books. Strange.

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 12:59:37 pm

Great titles, Jillanne! Do you take the time out to brainstorm alternatives for your workind titles when revising? Sometimes it just takes an extra few minutes of undivided attention to let the storm begin. And don't prejudge any of your ideas...just get them all on the page. :) Best wishes!

Reply
Kirsti Call
9/15/2015 02:39:44 pm

I love this post, Carrie. Some of my favorite titles are: Creepy Carrots, Wolfie the Bunny, Cock a Doodle oops!, The three Ninja Pigs, Little Red Gliding Hood...they really do make you want to read them!!!

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 10:10:54 pm

Thanks for sharing, Kirsti! Those titles (and stories) definitely draw me in, too, and the awesome storylines keep me coming back.

Reply
Derick Wilder
9/15/2015 03:15:11 pm

Wonderful post with some great examples, Carrie! I will often pick out a book just by the title.

My all-time favorite title (and there's a fun story behind it) is probably "I'd Really Like to Eat a Child!"

As I write this, my daughter is re-reading one that has just moved up my list of fun titles (it also has a sparse, yellow front cover - hmmmm...): "Help! The Wolf is Coming!" Simple, but effective.

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 10:13:34 pm

I love those titles, Derick! It's fun to take the library test and walk right up to the shelf to see what pops out at you. :) In both of your examples, kids will want to know if the main character survives. :) Hook!

Reply
Mercedes Ortiz link
9/15/2015 03:32:19 pm

I agree with Kristi. Some of my favorite titles are Corey Rosen Schwartz's, Tara Lazar's (like Monstore!) or Ame Dyckman's (like Tea Party Rules). Awesome post, Carrie! You rock!

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 10:14:20 pm

Thanks Mercedes! I love those titles, too! (And the stories!)

Reply
maria gianferrari link
9/15/2015 04:18:05 pm

So many great titles, Carrie. Thanks for the recommendations! I'll look forward to checking them out!

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 10:17:29 pm

My greatest recommendation is that you take the library challenge, Maria, and see which titles grab your attention. I'm sure I'll really have to twist your arm to get you to go to the library, huh? :)

Reply
Kathy Halsey
9/15/2015 05:53:38 pm

Titles pop into my head all the time. They may not have a story, but they just roll through my brain. I write the best down and start a draft. Titles are my mojo. TY for this fun post. My other dream job has always been to make up titles for ice cream flavors.

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 10:18:18 pm

Yummy (and fun) job idea, Kathy! :)

Reply
Carol Gordon Ekster link
9/15/2015 09:08:11 pm

Titles definitely draw you in. But then you have to keep readers interested with great story and terrific writing!

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 10:09:10 pm

Exactly, Carol! And while this post mainly tackles titles, there are definitely covers above that hit all the marks for me. :)

Reply
Charlotte Dixon
9/15/2015 10:05:11 pm

Thank you for sharing this post about titles. It is something that drives me crazy :)

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
9/15/2015 10:19:40 pm

A good crazy or a bad crazy, Charlotte? :) Get ye to the library and take the challenge! Arg! Titles beware!

Reply
Kathy Mazurowski
9/17/2015 01:43:19 pm

Titles get me everytime. My latest finds were,The Popcorn Astronauts,
The Burger and The Hot Dog, and Take Away the A. Works in progress titles are a challenge.

Reply



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