Knock, Knock - Perfect Picture Book Friday #PPBF

     In a post last month I hinted at this treat!
     I met Bryan Collier at the PA SCBWI Fall Fest. I sat next to him in the audience and got a delightful shock when he introduced himself. If you aren't familiar with Mr. Collier's work, go find it NOW. He has illustrated more than twenty-five picture books, including the award-winning Dave the Potter and Fifty Cents and a Dream, won three Caldecott Honors and four Coretta Scott King Awards

     Lucky for those of us at the conference, Mr. Collier had copies of his newest project available for sale, before the official release date (December 17, 2013). The project was the illustration of actor, singer, writer, composer Daniel Beaty's first picture book, Knock Knock. If you are familiar with Mr. Beaty, you may have seen his Youtube recitation of a poem by the same name. The profoundly personal poem addresses Mr. Beaty's feelings of growing up with his father in prison. The picture book addresses the broader issue of growing up with an absentee parent, not necessarily one in prison. When I sat next to Mr. Collier and read this book for the first time, it brought tears to my eyes.

Title: Knock Knock
(I don't usually include a link to the title, but in this case
Mr. Beaty's other works using the same name come up pages before
the book if you search the title)
Author: Daniel Beaty

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Publisher: Little Brown and Company, 2013
FICTION

Themes: Absentee parents, loss, self-esteem

Audience: 3+ (note: serious subject matter)

Opening:

Every morning, I play a game with my father.

He goes knock knock on my door

and I pretend to be asleep

till he gets right next to the bed.

Synopsis: A young boy goes through feelings of loss and grief when his father is no longer in his life. A letter from his father helps the boy find strength in himself.

Why I like this book: I grew up from the age of five without a father and this book captures those emotions vividly. While this book's serious subject may not be everyone's choice for a holiday book, it is a work of poetry and art that transcends the subject matter. Mr. Beaty doesn't flinch from addressing hard emotions and Mr. Collier captures those emotions in his watercolors and collages where a boy's wish in a letter becomes a paper airplane flying over rooftops of faces and the image of a boy old enough to shave bubbles up from the child's outline beneath. I found myself discovering new layers of imagery each time I flipped the pages. The walls of a child's bedroom don't just hold up the ceiling, the structure of the room itself is an emotional mirror with catch-your-breath beauty. Although this topic could be depressing, the final message is an uplifting one about personal empowerment. Try to keep eyes dry when you read: "...for as long as you become your best, the best of me still lives in you."

Activities/Resources: Although this book isn't officially released until next week. Elizabeth Bird did an advance review in the School Library Journal during her Caldecott/Newbery predictions (yes, it's that good!). The Horn Book also reviewed the title on November 13, 2013. Teaching books.net has several author/illustrator resources, although nothing specific to this book. Little Brown and Company Books for young readers has the book posted on their site, but I didn't find any curriculum guides for it yet.
I believe this book is a perfect way to explore the topic of emotions--any emotions--through collage. Using a sheet of plain paper, glue and cut-out pictures from magazines, or just shapes torn from colored paper, a child can explore one way to express emotion non-verbally. Talk about other ways to express emotion (good ways and not so great ways like throwing things or yelling). And in the spirit of the holidays, perhaps go pick out a present for a local toy drive.

This review is part of Perfect Picture Book Friday where writers share their reviews of recommended picture books. Perfect Picture Book Friday was the brainchild of talented author/writing mentor Susanna Hill. Her blog keeps a list of the recommended titles.

Thanks for visiting. I'd love to know what you think in the comments. What other books have you seen on this topic?

Kali's Song - Perfect picture book Friday #PPBF

    What does this book have to do with Valentine's Day? Absolutely nothing, except that I loved it. Look to last week's post for the book I picked about a decidedly awkward pair of lovers.
     If you read and enjoyed David McPhail's Mole Music (which is one of my all time favs), the book I feature today is for you!
    
     Title: Kali's Song 

     Author/Illustrator: Jeanette Winter

     Publisher: Random House (Schwartz and Wade) 2012
     FICTION
   
     Audience: 4-8

     Themes: Art, Inspiration, Prehistoric people

     Opening Lines: "Thousands and thousands and thousands of years ago a boy watched his mother paint animals on a cave wall."

     Synopsis: His parents think Kali is preparing for his first hunt, but Kali has found another use for his hunting bow, creating sounds that bring his world to a standstill.

     What I like about this book: The use of long sentences in a brief text fits this book's quiet but strong message. Even though hunting is a necessary and revered part of prehistoric society, this book imagines a child whose status is elevated above hunter by his ability to charm the world with his music. The torn edges of the handmade paper used in the background of the illustrations give the book the feel of a scrapbook, recounting a real time in history. The figures in the illustrations have a spare, cave-like feeling that keeps the focus with the story. The combined package pulled me in and I connected with the story and characters.

     Activities/resources: Mr. Schu has gathered his own interview and several reviews on his blog. Ms. Winter doesn't appear to have a website, but as the author of 50 books, she does have a web presence if you search her name. This book is the perfect jumping off point for making your own instruments with simple directions on Kinderart and more complex instruments featured in Pinterest tutorials. After reading, children can also make their own cave paintings with instructions from Ann Arbor News (my personal favorite!)
For older readers, this story is a jumping off point for a discussion of what it means to be "powerful." This calm, quiet text nails it. It isn't the muscles or the weapons that had the biggest impact.

  This review is part of PPBF (perfect picture book Friday) where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's site. Along with tons of writing wisdom, she keeps an ever-growing list of Perfect Picture Books. #PPBF

How many of you have read this book already? If it's new to you, it's the kind to find and treasure.

Perfect Picture Book Friday - Bridget's Beret by Tom Lichtenheld

Perfect Picture Book Friday- Bridget’s Beret

Author/Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Christy Ottaviano Books, 2010

Intended for ages 4 and up

Themes: Self-confidence, Artistic expression

Opening: Bridget was drawn to drawing. She liked to draw as much as other kids liked ice cream.

When the beret that Bridget believes gives her artistic talent blows away, Bridget has a crisis in confidence. Throughout the text, Lichtenheld pays homage to a host of famous artists. And in the end, our heroine gets her mojo back.

When the experts say that this book is for ages 4 and up, I’ll endorse the up! It’s a great story for anyone who occasionally suffers from artist’s/writer’s block. Good advice for finding your way back to anything you really love.

Bridget’s Beret is a 40 page picture book, but doesn’t feel over long. It was a 2011 Bank Street – Best Children’s Book of the Year.

I love the bright colors in this book. I have a purple beret in the drawer somewhere--I think it's time to break it out!

Thanks for stopping by...

Handling an Author's Appearance - Debbie Dadey

On Saturday, January 27^th, I went to an author appearance at the Doylestown Library. The library’s presentations often focus on authors of books for adults. I wanted to attend because Debbie Dadey is an amazing writer for children. She has authored 154 books, and counting!

I also wanted to attend to see how a seasoned children’s author handled a non-school audience. There were no sign-ups for the event, so there was no way to know who would show up. Here’s the low down—

When I got there the Pearl Buck Room was set up with about thirty chairs in a semi-circle. In the center of the circle was Debbie and her four-foot-long radio controlled inflated flying shark. As kids came in, Debbie offered each of them the chance to “drive” (fly? swim?) the shark. Talk about a kid pleaser!

Before long the organizers had to set up another row of chairs. Then another. By the time Debbie’s presentation began, there was a crowd of approximately seventy in attendance. It was about half adults and half children. I was surprised to see that of the children, about half were boys. 

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. Although Debbie’s newest publication (released earlier this week) is part of her Mermaid Tales series for Simon & Schuster, she is perhaps best known as co-author of The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series, a series with loads of boy appeal.

Debbie talked about her path to publication-including her “never give up” message for adults and children. Then she talked about her newest book, Danger in the Deep Blue Sea. 

Debbie asked the kids to guess what a mermaid’s worse enemy is. Apparently, sharks are the mermaids’ worst enemies. Humans are the mermaids’ second. She explained that this is why mermaids live at the very bottom of the deepest parts of the sea. Sharks swim nearer the surface and mermaids want to stay away from them. Who knew? 

The Friends of the Library made sea-themed cookies!

She was very convincing. 

Next, the kids were enthusiastic participants during Debbie’s shark trivia session. Then, as the noise level grew, Debbie turned to a short reading from her book. Finally, she turned them loose on the remaining refreshments and a cute craft (making an open shark’s mouth from a folded paper plate). She had talked for about twenty-five minutes.

Some of the kids made the craft, some left, and others got in line for the book signing. Along with a sampling of some of her older books, Debbie was fortunate to get her newest book from the publisher two days before its official release. I waited my turn and got my copy after the kids. :))

Last week, Cynthia Leitich Smith also posted about a book launch event with author appearances by one picture book and one YA author. Refreshments apparently are key!
If you have any tips for a great author appearance, please share them in the comments!

A Kernel of Writing Advice

While it is a wonderful to get caught up in the heat of writing, the words flowing from a pen (or onto a computer screen) unbidden—the fact is that the words ultimately need to make sense to an audience. 

One of the best pieces of writing advice I’ve received was that a scene I wrote didn’t have to be true—readers had to believe that it was true. This advice works on two levels. 

First, if you’re writing something that is based on events or emotions that really transpired, unless you are writing nonfiction and are in essence telling the reader “this happened,” it doesn’t matter that it’s true if it isn’t believable. Conversely, if something is believable, it doesn’t matter if it’s the biggest whopper or scientific impossibility on the planet.

Writing for kids is especially fun because kids embrace the absurd. But within the parameters of a story, the absurdity still has to make some sense. In recent Caldecott winner  Jon Klassen’s “I Want My Hat Back,” because the rest of the plot makes sense, no reader stops to ask—why was a bear wearing a hat in the first place? Mo Willems makes us believe that a pigeon really could drive a bus if we only gave it the chance. In the subtle interplay between the believable and the absurd we can see these authors’ craft.

Last month I was fortunate to attend an SCBWI picture book workshop with Christopher Cheng. Next month I’m heading to the MD/DE/WV SCBWI conference. I’ve found that attending workshops is an investment in craft that repays itself many times over.

What’s one piece of writing advice that has helped you?

Find a Conference and GO!

Last weekend I attended the MD/DE/WV SCBWI conference. That’s a mouthful. A tasty morsel of writing goodness.

Author/Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette on left

I had never been to one of their chapter events before, but it ran like clockwork. These folks are on the ball. By the time I checked back to their website on Monday, it was updated and the event was gone. Luckily, I took notes.

However, I don’t really need notes because the minutiae of what each speaker said isn’t the point of this post (although I will give those of you who weren’t fortunate to attend a brief run down!). The point is—it was wonderful to spend time meeting other writers and writing professionals. I even had a face-to-face with an online writing friend I’d never met in person. It was a tremendous mini-vacation. For twenty-four hours, I didn’t have to think about what anyone else needed. It was all about me and writing. The next time someone asks you what you want for your birthday or any other holiday involving gift-giving, instead of “stuff,” think of asking to go to a conference. 

T.A. Barron spoke first about the necessity for joy and heroism in stories, and how he weaves these elements into his own work. I guess other listeners were as impressed as I was because by the time I got to the “bookstore” they set up at the conference all of Mr. Barron’s books were gone.

Editor Jill Santopolo was the second speaker. For her, character is the hook that draws her into a story. She advised everyone to put an interesting, imperfect character in a challenging situation and have the character show an element of likeability in the first chapter—if not on the first page. I had to leave ten minutes before the end of her presentation for my critique while she was still using book examples to illustrate what she meant. I’m the kind of learner who needs to “see” something, so the examples were enormously helpful.

My critique with Mr. Stephen Mooser was stellar. Yes, the man who co-founded the SCBWI was there in person, giving encouragement and advice. He has a knack for not just pointing out problems, but also brainstorming solutions. He is a true critique rock star.

Ammi-Joan Paquette was speaking while I had my critique, so if someone who was able to hear her wants to chime in below in the comments, that would be great!

The last speaker before lunch was Mr. Mooser. Talking about the digital age and using quotes from Daniel Nayeri, Mr. Mooser noted the overwhelming number of books being published and advised authors to be sure their work was both as good as traditionally published books AND that they have a way to drive readers to find their work before they go a non-traditional publishing route. Classclownacademy.com is Mr. Mooser’s new interactive website for his self-published book of the same name. He advised writers to think in terms of this sort of additional content before going the self-publishing route with children’s books.

Mr. Zelinsky signing, and signing...

Picture book writer and illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky started us back after lunch. Using his own work, Mr. Zelinsky explained how he structured a picture book. Then he showed illustrators how he looked to museum paintings as inspiration. Finally, everyone got to see the “interior” of an interactive book featuring the work of a paper engineer. Making the images slide and glide isn’t as easy as it appears! Paper magician may be a more apt term for the engineer. We were treated to the hysterically funny Z is for Moose book trailer, with Mr. Zelinsky noting that he didn’t believe the trailer increased sales, but that teachers and librarians like to use them.

Editor Sylvie Frank explained why some picture books are too quiet and admitted that in today’s market she probably would have rejected the classic Goodnight Moon. She also advised writers to avoid formulaic manuscripts. Even though a particular story style worked before she wants to writers to push themselves to write something new and different. (Note: she has recently left Holiday House and joined the Paula Wiseman editorial team).

Agent Evelyn Fazio was the final speaker before the question and answer panel. Focusing on dialogue, peeves that she mentioned are unnecessary use of foreign speech patterns and interrupting dialogue with explanation. She advised writers to focus on setting up scenes before dialogue and make language relatable.

By the time the day finished, my notebook was full of notes for my own manuscripts and fresh ideas for new projects. Sure, the three to four hour drive each way was a drag but doable.

So what are you waiting for? Check your schedule then go find a conference in your area!

Writing Space - Part 2

As long as it’s quiet, I’m not too fussy about my actual physical writing space. But finding the quiet space, ah, there’s the rub.

If I’m at home and no one else is around, I prefer working on the kitchen table.. It meets three important criteria.

1.      It’s close to the range so I can make copious amounts of tea.

2.      It has good lighting.

3.      And I like to look out a window now and then.

But when I want to write and I’m not alone at home—I head to my “office.” That's what happens most of the time.

The space I call my office probably wasn’t intended to serve that purpose. You have to walk through the bedroom to get to it. I’m guessing that when the house was built, the space was meant for extra storage or a sitting area. But our family isn’t “sitting alone by ourselves” kind of people, so for the first year or so after we moved here the space was empty.

If you tried to walk around the perimeter of the room you would bonk your head because the walls angle in, following the roof line. But you don’t need all that much headroom if you’re seated!

My amazing husband took a sheet of plywood and laminated the top to make it smooth and pretty. Voila! A huge desk, perfect for the way I like to spread out and look at drafts while I revise (which I do a lot of). With the walls painted the both soothing and inspirational colors of the air/sea and jungle, I am happily settled in. Artwork make by my children is over my left shoulder.

The only problem with the space is that it’s over the unheated garage. Even though it has one heating vent, if any heat comes out of it, I have never felt it. A small space heater, parked directly behind my chair, solves this issue in the colder months.

I have to go downstairs to refill my mug, but that’s not altogether a bad thing. I don’t know if it’s the blood flow to my brain or the change of scenery but walking around often helps me find the right words when I’m stumped.

I’ve tried to write on a treadmill, but I’m not that coordinated. The treadmill I tried to work on wasn’t a fancy set-up intended for writing and I found I could either walk and hold the pad, or hold the pad and write, but every time I tried to hold the pad in place and write I ended up sliding precariously backwards. It’s okay. I can shoot a decent free throw. Writing while walking isn’t a necessary skill. 

I’ll bet a lot of people won’t agree with me here, but I believe that one extra bonus of the “office” is that our wireless network signal doesn’t reach there (yes, the router is ancient!). This means no cheating with peeks on the internet. When I need to do research, I have to come downstairs. And that’s a little inconvenient. But I’d rather have it this way. In my writing space there’s no email, no Facebook. Just me and my writing. 

And the best thing the office space has going for it compared to the kitchen is—I can leave it as messy as I want. If I’m mid-thought when I have to stop, it’s no problem. Paper can stay where I left it. I don’t have to constantly shuffle through the stack again, trying to find the places where I marked my notes. It’s a wonderful thing.

Do you have a special place where you get your best writing done?

Finally, the winner of the giveaway announced last week on my post about the 12x12 picture book group--drum roll, please--Everyone's a winner! When I pulled one name out of the hat, the other slips of paper looked so forlorn. And I know how excited I am when I get a new book to read. So, this time the only luck you needed was to have commented on that blog post during the one week period that ended today. I'll be contacting the winners later today to get mailing information.