Category: Nonfiction Picture Books

ReFoReMo Day 25: Editor Brett Duquette Voices his Viewpoint on Voice

3/25/2016

By Brett Duquette
Editor
Sterling Children's Books
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

Voice in writing always seems to be a tough concept to nail down. But strong voice, at its core, is what unifies the point of view of a book and all the other elements (characters, plot, language, art) within. When one of these things is out of sync with the others, that’s when voice falls apart. For example, if a character is totally, completely, overwhelmingly happy with her 4th birthday party, she should be noticing brightly colored balloons, birds chirping in the sky, the mouthwatering smell of her grandmother’s homemade icing. Not, that the balloons are causing too many static shocks, the chirping birds are shrill and too loud, or that the icing is too goopy or wet. That second set of examples would be a girl who is UNHAPPY with her 4th birthday party, and would be a totally different book. That is all probably very obvious, but it illustrates the point. To have strong voice means that the components of a story are selected carefully and aligned with the point of view the book (or character) is trying to get across. Here are some examples:

Last Stop on Market Street
By Matt de La Peña, pictures by Christian Robinson
To witness strong voice, pay attention to what CJ wants. These desires are stated, examined, and then satisfied (in unexpected ways). That refrain is consistent and logical. What he wants, what he sees, how he communicates… it’s all in harmony. This interior logic, or voice, makes the message of the book clear.

Open this Little Book
By Jesse Klausmeier, illustrated by Suzy lee
This beautiful picture book lets the format be very involved in the voice. Could you imagine what this book would be like if the pages themselves didn’t get smaller and smaller? Even if they were outlined in black ink, and the view of image was continuously shrinking, it wouldn’t work nearly the same way or with the same incredible charm. Though there aren’t many words here, this book is a great example of voice. Its interior logic is perfect!

The Snowy Day
By Ezra Jack Keats
The enjoyment of snow is described and illustrated so perfectly and consistently with not a word out of place. The path that takes Peter from one situation to another is clear and logical. Nothing feels forced or pushed.

Good Question: Which Way to Freedom? And Other Questions about the Underground Railroad
By Mary Kay Carson
Voice in non-fiction picture books is also very tricky. What I love about this particular book is that despite the complexity of certain situations, the tone does not shift. Mary Kay Carson expertly maintains a clear and even voice throughout.

The Curious Garden
By Peter Brown
I could have picked anything by Peter Brown, but I will always be in awe of The Curious Garden. Brown is a master of making sure every piece of his work is aligned which makes the voice of his works unwavering.

Brett Duquette is an editor at Sterling Publishing in New York. His list includes middle grade fiction, picture books, and non-fiction. He doesn’t like sweets, but he loves donuts.

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ReFoReMo Day 10: Jennifer Swanson Livens Up Language

3/10/2016

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By Jennifer Swanson

Looking to spice up your manuscript? Try spicing up your words! When I’m writing science books, my goal is to not just pick a unique and interesting topic, but also to make my words exciting and electrifying. Here are a few picture books that I feel did just that. Take a look at their lively use of language!

Jen is giving away a copy of her book Uninvited Guests! Thanks, Jen! To be eligible for this prize, you must be fully registered, comment on every post, read daily, and keep a record of your progress.

Jennifer Swanson is the award-winning author of over 25 books for kids. She is the author of Brain Games (NGKids) and the forthcoming SUPER GEAR: Nanotechnology and Sports Team Up (Charlesbridge, June 2016). You can find her at www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com

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ReFoReMo Day 2: Marcie Flinchum Atkins Reveals Back Matter as a Matter of Fact

3/2/2016

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I wrote a poetic nonfiction book that needed back matter, but I wasn’t sure which direction to take. How could I make the back matter stand out and add an extra hook to my book? I turned to mentor texts.
Back matter is the information in the back, offered beyond the main text.
I originally started with as many recent nonfiction mentor texts that I could find. I found lots of biographies with fascinating back matter, but since my book wasn’t a biography, I wanted to closely study books that had similar characteristics to mine.

I had several criteria for the main text of the book:

1) Low word count
2) Lyrical language
3) Science related
4) Stellar quality nonfiction

Many of these texts are poems, and the back matter explains each part of the poem and the science behind it. In Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt, a narrative text with poetic language, the back matter explains each animal mentioned in the book and how it is beneficial to the garden. In all of the books, the added layers of information in the back matter help the text work at many age levels.

Some books included a list of books or websites for further reading. A Rock Can Be and In the Canyon both contain a glossary. A few of the authors included an “author’s note” explaining their personal connection to the story. Flowers are Calling and Tree of Wonder include ways that students can take action.

As a teacher-librarian, I appreciated the fact that these books’ back matter tied into curricular needs. It helps “sell” the book to teachers who need to use books for double duty.

In some older nonfiction books, lengthy back matter offered interesting facts aimed at the teacher. The books on this list had back matter ranging from 1 to 7 pages. Every single one of them was designed to be kid-friendly, appealing, and interesting to read.

.While this list was a careful self-selection of a particular kind of book that I’m writing, I also found it interesting that Chronicle and Beach Lane books came up more than once. Some of my favorite back matter was in Water is Water, which was published by Roaring Brook. As a writer, this is something that I note when researching publishers.

Back matter can be as fascinating as the main text, and it should offer another layer to your book. Analyzing back matter and taking notes helped me begin brainstorming layers I could add to my own book.

How have you tackled back matter?

Marcie is giving away a free download of her e-book, Mentor Texts for Writers. This book is perfect for ReFoReMo participants! Thank you, Marcie! To be eligible, you must be a fully registered participant, comment on this post, read daily, and keep records of your progress.

Marcie Flinchum Atkins is an elementary librarian by day and writes for children in the wee hours of the morning. Her books include Ancient China (ABDO, 2015), Mentor Text Tips, and Mentor Texts for Writers. She also holds an MA and MFA in children's literature from Hollins University. She blogs about mentor texts at www.marcieatkins.com.

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PreReFoReMo Day 3: Emily Arrow Supports through Song

3/1/2016

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As our research boats drift out to sea, let's carry Emily Arrow's words and song with us as motivation.

Carrie:
What inspired you to start writing songs to accompany picture books?

Emily:
To me, picture books have an inherent tune, tone, and rhythm. During my time as an elementary music teacher, I used books in my classroom often. Each one invoked such a musical response in me that I began writing songs about my favorite stories. I love weaving each book's narrative into a rhymed, interactive song and I use the illustrations as inspiration for the chords and sound palette.

Wow. Keep that in mind as you write and illustrate! Are your stories in perfect harmony?

Your literary lives will be enriched by following Emily! Every time I watch one of her literary tributes, an overwhelming amount of joy and love fill me up. I encourage you to subscribe to her You Tube channel, where you can find so many more songs that celebrate this amazing form we call picture books. Like the authors and illustrators featured above, we are thrilled to have her gift of song to support our efforts. Thank you, Emily!

Emily Arrow creates literature inspired music for children, cultivating an appreciation and love for singing, songwriting, literature, and art. Winner of the 2015 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Emily is currently recording her debut children’s album, “Storytime Singalong” that will be released in January 2016. She has collaborated with awardwinning authors including Peter Brown of THE CURIOUS GARDEN, Peter H. Reynolds of THE DOT, and Kelly Light of LOUISE LOVES ART to name a few. Emily is based in Los Angeles and regularly performs at children’s literature festivals, schools, and libraries sharing her love for music and literature.

Follow Emily at these Social Media links:
You Tube, Twitter: @helloemilyarrow, Facebook,
and on her site at www.EmilyArrow.com.

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October Author: Yvonne Mes Talks Mentor Texts

10/13/2015

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Interview By Carrie Charley Brown

Photo credit: Ozan Tortop

Welcome to Part Two of Yvonne Mes's author interview. If you have not yet read Part One, you can find it HERE. You won't want to miss the complete look into Yvonne's personal writing world.

Do you utilize picture books as mentor texts? If so, how?

For about two years I visited two local libraries almost each week and got extra library cards for each of my sons, this allowed me to read about 80 picture books per week. This helped me to understand what worked well, what didn’t and why. I think the writing seeped in my subconscious and studying writing at the same time heightened my awareness.

I read a lot of biographical picture books in amongst the fiction picture books at this time. When I was asked to write MEET SIDNEY NOLAN, I closely studied the previous books in the series. I also studied word count and voice. I borrowed many books from the library, bought local ones and ordered some in from overseas (USA). I didn’t call them mentor texts at the time, to me it was research. I have listed some texts that I found particularly interesting and turned into mentor texts on the way.

Were there any particular mentor texts that inspired you in the creation of your two debut picture books, Sidney Nolan and Oliver's Grumbles?

There were many, but here are some favorites:

For Meet Sidney Nolan:

Queen Victoria’s Underpants - Jacqui French illustrated by Bruce Whatley
Simpson and his Donkey (in the USA known as The Donkey of Gallipoli: A True Story of Courage in World War I) – Mark Greenwood illustrated by Frane Lessac.
Minette’s Feast – The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat by Susanna Reich, illustrated by Amy Bates
On a Beam of Light – A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

For Oliver’s Grumbles:

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge and Possum Magic- by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas
Tanglewood – Margaret Wild, illustrated by Vivienne Goodman
Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak

A BIG thanks to Yvonne for being with us in this two-part interview! If you haven't read Part One yet, slide on over to Carrie On... Together!

Yvonne Mes is a children’s author, illustrator and devourer of books. She writes short stories, picture books and junior novels. Yvonne coordinates Write Links, the Brisbane children's writers and illustrators group, and is vice president of Book Links QLD (Inc.) She reviews for Buzz Words Magazine and occasionally for the CBCA QLD newsletter. You can also follow her journey on her blogsite Picture a Book and on Twitter @YvonneCMes.

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Mentor Text Author Study- Andrea Davis Pinkney

7/28/2015

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by Carrie Charley Brown

Normally, when I attempt to reserve books on my library’s website, I usually find only a few of those books available. Sometimes none. Imagine my surprise to find ALL of the books I wanted by Andrea Davis Pinkney! Wow…Rare. So, what is it about her books that cause a library to stock them all? Besides incredible writing, I think it boils down to a big R: Relatability; for kids, parents, and educators alike.

Nonfiction picture books, especially biographies, have to be written masterfully to help young children stay engaged and relate to what is happening.

Little, Brown Books, 2013

“Martin wasn’t old enough to be a preacher, but even as a boy, he had a big way of speaking. He learned this from watching his father address the congregation.” -MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG

In just the right words, Andrea paints a picture of Martin as a young boy. We learn that he is motivated and perhaps brave, that he admires his father, has big shoes to fill and his own ideals. We also infer that he is expected to attend church regularly. Many children experience the same feelings and situations, whether they relate to other kids that are like this or they are that kid.

She also reveals a problem early on that people are emotionally connected to.

“But in the South, where Martin and Mahalia lived, Jim Crow laws made sure things were not free. These laws said: Black folks here. White folks there. That’s how life was for young Martin and Mahalia. Separate but nowhere near equal.” -MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG
This causes a child to root for Martin and Mahalia to succeed. We care about what happens to them.

HarperCollins (Amistad) 2008

Little, Brown Books 2010

Hyperion Books, 2009

Andrea implements rhythmic repetitive language patterns to keep young children engaged.

“Martin spoke the gospel. Prayed the gospel. Sought the gospel. Taught the gospel.”
-MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG

“Walked to work, we did. Walked to school, we did. Walked to church, we did. Yes we did, child. Yes we did.”
-BOYCOTT BLUES: HOW ROSA PARKS INSPIRED A NATION

“The students sat still and proud. And waited. And wanted. A doughnut and coffee, with cream on the side.”
-SIT-IN: HOW FOUR FRIENDS STOOD UP BY SITTING DOWN
This particular reference to a doughnut and coffee with cream on the side is repeated 6.5 times in the book. That SHOWS the main characters endurance and patience through standing up for what is right.

Andrea uses figurative language that rocks your emotions to the core.

“At first they were treated like the hole in the doughnut—invisible.”
-SIT-IN: HOW FOUR FRIENDS STOOD UP BY SITTING DOWN

“Mahalia’s voice was brass and butter.”
-MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG

“She fled like tomorrow wasn’t ever gonna come.”
“Sojourner put one big-black-beautiful foot in front of the other and she stomped on the floorboards of ignorance that were underneath.”
-SOJOURNER TRUTH’S STEP-STOMP STRIDE, 2009

Andrea Davis Pinkney: PASSION PRINCESS
If a picture book is written well, its heart will shine through. We can feel Andrea’s passion pumping through our own veins. Her passion becomes ours. We leave as changed readers.

Andrea Davis Pinkney: DIVERSITY DIVA
Every character pictured in the fourteen books sprawled in front of me feature African American characters. Integrate those with other shelved books and we see the need to paint a better picture of our diverse world. It’s like giving children library cards that truly belong to them. All of them!

And the characters? A well-represented assembly of many different walks of life.

Hyperion, 2002

Hyperion, 1997

Harcourt, 1996

Gulver Books, 1994

Hyperion, 1993

Andrea writes beyond the books mentioned here to also include fiction picture books, novels, narrative nonfiction, and anthologies. I feel blessed to be able to learn from her during the online Picture Book Summit this fall. I have learned so much already just from studying her books. I hope you will join me in this author study. If you missed the last study of Peter Brown's books, you can find it HERE. Hope to see you at Summit, too!

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ReFoReMo Day 28: Renée M. LaTulippe Illuminates Poetic Techniques in Prose

3/29/2015

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As we round the corner to our last ReFoReMo weekend together, we are very lucky to have two valuable lessons on poetic techniques. Monday, you will learn where ReFoReMo goes from here, and finish strong will celebration and giveaways on Tuesday. The giveaways will only be open for one day: 12 am CST March 31 to 12am CST on April 1, so be sure to follow these last few days carefully for instruction and qualification. Enjoy the remaining lessons and feel free to revisit them often.

by Renee M. LaTulippe

Those who write rhyming picture books already know how important poetic techniques are to their stories, but prose writers have just as much to gain from closely examining how poetic techniques can enhance the readability of their manuscripts.

SOUND DEVICES make music of your words, rendering them more fun to read aloud. Listen to how the simple assonance and alliteration — never overdone — enhance the beauty of these lines from COME ON, RAIN! by Karen Hesse:

Mamma lifts a listless vine and sighs.
***
…fling off their shoes,
skim off their hose,
tossing streamers of stockings over their shoulders.

IMAGERY creates concrete pictures in your readers’ heads. The more specific the image, the more effective it is. Consider the exquisite opening line of BARN by Debby Atwell:

I was raised in coastal fog so thick the crows had to walk to the cornfield that morning.

REPETITION and REFRAINS make your story interactive, giving children the chance to participate and “read” along. They also help escalate the drama, as in CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE by Doreen Cronin:

Farmer brown has a problem.
His cows like to type.
All day long he hears
Click, clack, moo.
Click, clack, moo.
Clickety, clack, moo.

RHYTHM carries your reader from word to word and page to page, giving your prose a forward momentum that makes your book impossible to put down. Consider the rhythm (and the repetition of the color word, gray) in this passage from YESTERDAY I HAD THE BLUES by Jeron Ashford Frame:
Daddy says he got the grays.
The straight shoelaces,
coffee in the car grays.
The lines between his eyes,
lookin’ at his watch grays.
The don’t ask for a new skateboard
till tomorrow grays.
Poor Daddy.

DICTION — the exact right word in the exact right spot — while particularly essential in poetry, is of course important in any type of writing. In prose, diction isn’t just about finding the best verbs; it’s about finding the words that support and enhance your plot, setting, tone, and characters. Consider this excerpt from THIS MOOSE BELONGS TO ME by Oliver Jeffers:

Wilfred was dumbstruck.
This moose was Marcel, not Rodrigo.
The old lady was mistaken and
Wilfred thought it only proper
that he correct her.

The names, adjectives, and verbs in this passage do double duty to underscore the book’s humor and tone, and are authentic to the character of Wilfred, who is no ordinary boy.

Prize Alert
Renée is offering a 30-minute Skype consultation/critique on a prose or rhyming picture book or a poetry collection. To be eligible, you must be a fully registered participant, comment on this post, read daily, and keep records of your progress.

Renée M. LaTulippe is a poet and editor who has co-authored nine award-winning leveled readers and a collection of poetry. She has poems published in several anthologies, including the forthcoming National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry (ed. J. Patrick Lewis) and One Minute Till Bedtime (ed. Kenn Nesbitt; Little, Brown). Renée teaches the five-week online course The Lyrical Language Lab: Punching Up Prose with Poetry and blogs on children’s poetry at No Water River.

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ReFoReMo Day 25: Suzy Leopold Presents Fresh, Engaging Nonfiction

3/26/2015

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by Suzy Leopold

Many nonfiction books are written with facts and information. The nonfiction books that guide my writing are fresh and engaging. Sometimes referred to as creative nonfiction, these books capture and hook the reader telling a story. Back matter is a special feature: Author Notes, Resources, Facts, and Bibliographies. This fresh look is based on education reforms known as Common Core.

On a Beam of Light A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne Pictures by Vladimir Radunsky
The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H Joseph Hopkins Illustrated by Jill Mc Elmurry
Looking at Lincoln By Maira Kalman Design by Marikka Tamura
Beneath the Sun By Melissa Stewart Illustrated by Constance R. Bergum
As an Oak Tree Grows Author and Illustrator G. Brian Karas

Prize Alert
Suzy is offering two handmade writing journals 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.

Suzy Leopold is a wife to Perry, a Momma to five boys and Oma Sue to seven grands. Suzy is a reader, a writer, a creator of acrylic and watercolor paintings, an educator, and a cyclist on a pink Marin Portofina. Find more from Suzy at the GROG.

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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 9: Pat Miller Interviews Historical Figures

3/10/2015

142 Comments

by Pat Miller

I’m writing about a famous historical figure and his unsung female cousin. These titles revealed: What parts of their separate lives were told? How did they come together? What resulted from their “togetherness”?

Benny Goodman & Teddy Wilson: Taking the Stage as the First Black-and-White Jazz Band in History by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrated by James E. Ransome

George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer

Those Rebels John & Tom by Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library exemplified use of sidebars.

Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by John O'Brien

The heroine of Uncommon Traveler was similar to my book’s cousin, and pinpointed what to include (and leave out).

Uncommon Traveler: Mary Kingsley in Africa by Don Brown

Lucky Pat Miller was a school librarian and teacher (so many books!) Her books include a biography: The Hole Story of the Doughnut (Spring 2016, HMH). Pat is also the organizer of NF 4 NF Children’s Nonfiction Writer’s Conference.