I've been thinking about my ReFoReMo family a lot lately. How are your mentor text efforts going? If you are like Suzy Leopold, your stack looks like this. Goooo Suzy! (Check out Suzy's post on how she uses mentor texts over at Marcie Atkin's blog.) I haven't seen too many stack pictures coming in to the Facebook group lately, but I know you are still reading. At least, I hope you are. It will keep your fire burning and fuel your writing support.
New Challenge
I feel as if the Diversity Challenge should definitely be an ongoing goal for us, and I am thankful for those of you who took me up on the challenge during ReFoReMo. (View the original challenge and follow-up recommendations and posts.) I hope your efforts are soaring. Mine are on simmer for now, so I thought I would present a NEW challenge, as well. I love it when a picture book involves the reader so much that they interact and feel like they are part of the story. Therefore, my new challenge to you will be to research exactly how picture books invite interaction in different ways. Hopefully, it will lead you to amp up the interaction in your own picture book manuscripts, as well.
Sometimes one sentence can be so powerful. Check out these two examples in the following mentor texts. Then feel free to list your favorite interactive lines and texts below in the comments.
New Challenge
I feel as if the Diversity Challenge should definitely be an ongoing goal for us, and I am thankful for those of you who took me up on the challenge during ReFoReMo. (View the original challenge and follow-up recommendations and posts.) I hope your efforts are soaring. Mine are on simmer for now, so I thought I would present a NEW challenge, as well. I love it when a picture book involves the reader so much that they interact and feel like they are part of the story. Therefore, my new challenge to you will be to research exactly how picture books invite interaction in different ways. Hopefully, it will lead you to amp up the interaction in your own picture book manuscripts, as well.
Sometimes one sentence can be so powerful. Check out these two examples in the following mentor texts. Then feel free to list your favorite interactive lines and texts below in the comments.
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Chris Haughton’s Oh, No George!
Main character: George, a well-intended dog that gravitates toward trouble
Interaction Invitation: “What will George do?”
Oh, you're asking me? Cool! The reader is directly invited for their opinion and minds start buzzing with mischievous vs. obedient predictions.
Melanie Watt’s You’re Finally Here
Main character: A very frank, talk-your-ear-off bunny
Interaction Invitation: “You’re finally here!”
But, it doesn’t stop there. This book character converses with the reader. Or should I say lectures. As the bunny addresses the reader, he bounces from direct and confrontational to celebratory and grateful. This is a classic example of metafiction.
Keep in mind, books do not have to be metafiction to be interactive.
So tell me: Are you up for the Interactive Challenge? What are you reading that invites interaction?
Two Reminders Before I Sign Off Today
-Ask Carrie: Feel free to leave a mentor text question for me in the comments below and I will choose one or two to answer in next Thursday's post.
-Call for Submissions: Revealing ReFoReMo (first Tues of each month) is open to submissions from all 2015 ReFoReMo participants. The submission guidelines are posted HERE. We've had wonderful posts from Jen Garrett and Juli Caveny already. Romelle Broas is up next month and then it could be YOU! Consider sharing what you have learned. It's a great way to give back to the kidlit community.
Bonus: For a QUICK peek inside Pat Zietlow Miller's mind and newest mentor text WHEREVER YOU GO, visit HERE to THINK QUICK.
Main character: George, a well-intended dog that gravitates toward trouble
Interaction Invitation: “What will George do?”
Oh, you're asking me? Cool! The reader is directly invited for their opinion and minds start buzzing with mischievous vs. obedient predictions.
Melanie Watt’s You’re Finally Here
Main character: A very frank, talk-your-ear-off bunny
Interaction Invitation: “You’re finally here!”
But, it doesn’t stop there. This book character converses with the reader. Or should I say lectures. As the bunny addresses the reader, he bounces from direct and confrontational to celebratory and grateful. This is a classic example of metafiction.
Keep in mind, books do not have to be metafiction to be interactive.
So tell me: Are you up for the Interactive Challenge? What are you reading that invites interaction?
Two Reminders Before I Sign Off Today
-Ask Carrie: Feel free to leave a mentor text question for me in the comments below and I will choose one or two to answer in next Thursday's post.
-Call for Submissions: Revealing ReFoReMo (first Tues of each month) is open to submissions from all 2015 ReFoReMo participants. The submission guidelines are posted HERE. We've had wonderful posts from Jen Garrett and Juli Caveny already. Romelle Broas is up next month and then it could be YOU! Consider sharing what you have learned. It's a great way to give back to the kidlit community.
Bonus: For a QUICK peek inside Pat Zietlow Miller's mind and newest mentor text WHEREVER YOU GO, visit HERE to THINK QUICK.
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