tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131985482024-03-13T08:16:03.030-07:00Woven With Pixie Dust...The blog of Pam CalvertPam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-54330610428438413162020-05-25T08:22:00.002-07:002020-05-25T08:22:47.223-07:00New PBU video: Story Structure SECRETS and last day to enter for giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, everyone!</div>
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My newest video outlines the SECRET to picture book story structure. I give these details to all my mentees (if they need it) and my clients! Put your manuscript to the test! </div>
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Please share this, like, leave a comment on the video to help get the word out. The critique and picture book giveaway is on until midnight tonight CST!!! </div>
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I hope you learn a lot through the video!</div>
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Many hugs and happy writing!</div>
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Pam</div>
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Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-12539441616291449952020-05-22T14:33:00.001-07:002020-05-22T14:33:22.112-07:00New Friday Dine and WHINE is on!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, everyone!</div>
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My newest Friday Dine & Whine is out where I share the story of my WORST rejection and what happened afterwards that changed my writing life!</div>
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Please share this, like, leave a comment on the video to help get the word out. The critique and picture book giveaway is on until Monday, May 25th. </div>
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I hope this encourages you as you travel on this challenging publishing journey!</div>
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Many hugs and happy writing!</div>
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-72996277701930357562020-05-18T04:57:00.001-07:002020-05-18T05:12:50.675-07:00Picture Book University YouTube is LAUNCHED!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hooray! My first episode of Picture Book University workshop is published on YouTube where I outline the 6 top newbie writer mistakes I've been seeing in my mailbox lately. As a critique editor, picture book contest judge, RYS judge, as well as picture book mentor, I see A LOT of manuscripts through the year. Make sure your manuscript is not commiting any of these picture book crimes! ;)\</div>
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(Sorry the thumbnail is weird. I'm a newbie booktuber! 😜)</div>
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If you want to participate in getting the word out, please follow these guidelines below!</div>
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In order to get this project off the ground, I'm offering free critiques and my newest picture books giveaways! You'll have a chance to win a free critique or a picture book (I'm offering five critiques and five pb's so ten people can win!).</div>
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<b>What to do:</b></div>
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Subscribe to:</div>
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1. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwXDdLJTTOZpIOjIL8i8NCQ" style="color: #009eb8; display: inline; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;" target="_blank">Picture Book University YouTube channel</a></div>
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2. My instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pamcalvertbooks/" style="color: #009eb8; display: inline; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;" target="_blank">@PamCalvertbooks</a></div>
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3. My Twitter: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #009eb8; display: inline; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><span id="goog_2126192362"></span>@PammCalvert<span id="goog_2126192363"></span></a> (If you're already subscribed, just let me know with a PM)</div>
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If you do all three, you'll be entered five times.</div>
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<b>Your name will also be entered (again) if you share my announcement when the video uploads.</b> And if you make your own blog post, instagram post or tweet about the channel, I'll enter your name five times for each original post. Wow! You could have your name entered twenty or more times! </div>
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<b>Deadline is May 25th to enter!</b></div>
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<b>Also, if you like the content, make sure to like the video and subscribe and SHARE!</b></div>
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Thank you for your support, and I hope this will help you to break through the publishing barrier and realize your dreams!</div>
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Happy writing!</div>
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Pam </div>
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-5728670137396999022020-05-12T06:06:00.000-07:002020-05-12T17:40:08.814-07:00Picture Book University Coming to YouTube!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm so excited to announce something I've been working on for the past six months. <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">Picture Book University,</a> my free picture book workshop, is now going to be an interactive YouTube channel! I will post twice a week with tips on how you can realize your dream of becoming a picture book author. In addition to the in's and out's of writing a picture book, I'll also share with you exactly how to catch an editor or agent's eye, how to market your work, and most importantly, how to make children remember your writing and clamor for more!</div>
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On Mondays, I'll post a workshop video then on Fridays, it'll be our time for Dine and Whine where I'll share some stories about my rollercoaster ride of the ups and downs of the publishing industry. There will some funny (and sad) stories that happened to me, and I'll also answer any questions you might have specifically. </div>
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In order to get this project off the ground, I'm going to be offering free critiques and my newest picture books giveaways! You'll have a chance to win a free critique or a picture book (I'm offering five critiques and five pb's so ten people can win!).</div>
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<b>What to do:</b></div>
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Subscribe to:</div>
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1. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwXDdLJTTOZpIOjIL8i8NCQ" target="_blank">Picture Book University YouTube channel</a></div>
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2. My instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pamcalvertbooks/" target="_blank">@PamCalvertbooks</a></div>
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3. My Twitter: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_2126192362"></span>@PammCalvert<span id="goog_2126192363"></span></a> (If you're already subscribed, just let me know with a PM)</div>
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If you do all three, you'll be entered five times.</div>
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Your name will also be entered if you share my announcement when the video uploads. And if you make your own blog post, instagram post or tweet about the channel, I'll enter your name five times for each original post. Wow! You could have your name entered twenty or more times! </div>
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<b>Deadline is May 25th to enter!</b></div>
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Thank you for your support, and I hope this will help you to break through the publishing barrier and realize your dreams!</div>
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Happy writing!</div>
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Pam </div>
<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-47616511986310991332019-01-29T07:33:00.000-08:002019-01-29T07:58:51.684-08:00WEE OO WEE OO! ALERT! Flash: The Litle Fire Engine is ready for pre order!I'm excited to announce that my newest book, <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Little-Fire-Engine-Calvert/dp/1542041783/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">FLASH: THE LITTLE FIRE ENGINE </a></b>is already on amazon for pre-order.<br />
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The story follows Little Flash who's about to embark on his first day on the job. He's SOOOO excited! Will he be able to pitch in and save the day?<br />
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This is a character driven story made for boys and girls who love emergency vehicles. It's action packed with loads of sounds and a quick plot.<br />
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When I wrote this, it took a long time for me to figure out what was going to happen in it. I knew I wanted to write about a fire truck simply because there's tons of dump trucks, garbage trucks, backhoes, trains, etc, but not fire trucks! You must write about things that aren't already in the market if you want to sell.<br />
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Since I didn't know much about fire trucks, I did a lot of research for this story. My son-in-law helped me, too. (A family effort since my grandsons adore fire trucks.)<br />
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If you want to know more about how to write a character driven story, read my article here: <b><a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/2013/07/picture-book-university-character.html" target="_blank">CHARACTER DRIVEN PICTURE BOOKS.</a> </b>Also, if you're a budding picture book writer and need to learn more, grab my button on the side of this blog and join others in doing<b> </b>the free workshop, <b><a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PICTURE BOOK UNIVERSITY</a></b>. I will be posting extra lessons in the future (so follow this blog or follow via email so you won't miss them!)<br />
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Have a little fire fighter on your gift list? Give her/him this cute story! You can pre order or put it on your wish list as it comes just in time for next Christmas (Ahh! It'll be here before you know it. 😅)<br />
<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Little-Fire-Engine-Calvert/dp/1542041783/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR PRE ORDER</a></b>.<br />
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I'll leave you with a sneak peek inside (I'm so thrilled at what <b><a href="http://www.jentaylor.net/" target="_blank">Jen Taylor</a></b>, the illustrator did with Flash!):<br />
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Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-44069605901820481322018-11-15T14:15:00.000-08:002018-11-15T14:15:40.473-08:00Interview, free picture book critique and free picture books!<div>
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Are you a picture book writer and need some advice? Would you like a free paid critique or a chance to win Brianna Bright, Ballerina Knight? <div>
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You're in luck!</div>
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Children's writer, Justin Colon, has interviewed me on TONS of questions about the picture book biz from what makes a picture book stand out from the crowd to the obstacles facing picture book writers. If you want an inside look at all things picture books, take a look at this article: <a href="http://justincolonbooks.com/interview-and-giveaway-with-author-pam-calvert/?fbclid=IwAR3X5aMDHPjUU2ndS_F4XlLGdEOcYlXEkcf5Se3HKZ4q3KKoTjtTQgHAS6g" target="_blank">Interview and Give Away with Author, Pam Calvert.</a></div>
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Make sure to enter the give away at the end of the article! </div>
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And don't forget to reblog, repost and tweet it out to your picture book writing friends!</div>
Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-56627494343982272402018-05-23T20:13:00.000-07:002018-05-23T20:15:21.160-07:00Brianna Bright Book Giveaway on Goodreads!My publisher is offering 20 free hardcover copies of Brianna Bright on Goodreads. The giveaway is running until June 4th, so you have time.<br />
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Just click this link to sign up! So easy! <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/279863-brianna-bright-ballerina-knight" target="_blank"><b>BRIANNA BRIGHT BALLERINA KNIGHT giveaway</b></a><br />
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If you think someone might want the chance to win this book, please share!<br />
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Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-59940208082779729422018-01-18T08:00:00.000-08:002018-05-23T20:37:46.385-07:00Brianna Bright Ballerina Knight Coming June 5, 2018!<br />
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I'm thrilled to announce that my strong girl picture book is about to be here! <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brianna-Bright-Ballerina-Knight-Calvert/dp/1503951014/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516291100&sr=8-1&keywords=brianna+bright" target="_blank">Brianna Bright, Ballerina Knight</a></b> will come to doorsteps all over the US on June 5th, 2018! You may preorder it now!</div>
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I'd originally gotten this idea for a ballerina knight when my editor asked for a book targeted for girls. Being a champion of alternative girl books, I was already working on a strong ballerina book. But I was also reading The Game of Thrones. In one of the books, Arya Stark, a princess of one of the noble houses, was being taught how to use a sword. Her teacher called it water dancing. I thought, wouldn't that be fun if my ballerina could also be a knight and so, Brianna Bright was born!</div>
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Liana Hee, my illustrator did such a beautiful job throughout. I love her style which is reminiscent of the 1950's with a modern twist. You should check out all her other artwork on her instagram here: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lianahee/?hl=en" target="_blank">Liana Hee </a>and her etsy site here: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LianaHee#items" target="_blank">The Art of Lianna Hee</a>. </div>
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Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-42783072521471870402016-03-03T07:52:00.001-08:002016-03-03T07:52:41.111-08:00Princess Peepers Picks a Pet Nominated for Iowa's State Award!<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elUrYUgq5SA/VthdDxjlqxI/AAAAAAAABzQ/0DPXYZFWVoU/s1600/10339446_10206156263610935_8879704670312349070_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elUrYUgq5SA/VthdDxjlqxI/AAAAAAAABzQ/0DPXYZFWVoU/s320/10339446_10206156263610935_8879704670312349070_o.jpg" width="240" /></a>I'm beyond excited to share that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Peepers-Picks-Pet-Calvert/dp/1477810676/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457020248&sr=1-1&keywords=princess+peepers+picks+a+pet" target="_blank">Princess Peepers Picks a Pet </a>was nominated for the <a href="http://www.iasl-ia.org/p/2015-2016-goldfinch-award-master-list.html" target="_blank">Iowa State Goldfinch Award</a>. That means librarians got together and made a master list of the best books for ages K-3rd. The children will read them all and then vote on their favorite. I am thrilled librarians thought so highly of my book!<br />
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What makes <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Peepers-Paperback-Pam-Calvert/dp/0761459898/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457020285&sr=8-1&keywords=princess+peepers" target="_blank">Princess Peepers</a> a character that children love to read about? For one thing, she really wants to please other people and although the other princesses are mean to her, she doesn't retaliate. In the end, she always does her own thing and that's the message of the book.<br />
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There will be a new Princess Peepers coming out. I'm so excited to share about this. But I can't reveal it yet. In this one, Princess Peepers will be taking a stand for true beauty on the inside!<br />
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If you want to learn more about how to write books like Princess Peepers Picks a Pet, check out my article on <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/2013/07/picture-book-university-character.html" target="_blank">character driven stories</a>. These are the types of books editors want to see!<br />
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Happy Reading and Writing!Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-71205053017999082282015-04-21T10:05:00.003-07:002023-06-07T07:55:10.163-07:00Picture Book University EXTRA! Take a Children's Writing Course<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hope all of you are busy writing outside on these beautiful spring days! As it happens, I've just had the wonderful experience of participating as a judge for a picture book contest. I read about 100 manuscripts and it gave me some ideas for new blog posts. :-) PBU Extra! is supplemental material for those that might need a bit of specific advice.<br />
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I've had many people come to me, asking for advice--from friends to friends of friends to my critique clients. I can tell by the first page whether someone has just decided to venture into this business sight unseen--meaning with no training at all. I want to make it clear that <b>writing picture books, although seemingly simple, is anything but easy</b>. In fact, I had been published in Highlights for Children and I still couldn't break into picture books. Why? Because I'd had no training in writing them! I didn't know how to set them up, even though I'd read a lot of them.<br />
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<b>If you want to get published, you will have to invest in this as a career. </b>If you don't want to be bothered with extra education, then you really need to think of something else to do. I mean, if you're a professional, didn't you go to college to learn your trade? A doctor goes to med school, a lawyer goes to law school, a business person gets their business degree. Why in the world wouldn't a picture book author learn the art of picture book writing? Yet time and time again, I see picture books written by people who obviously have never taken a class about writing for children.<br />
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Is this you?<br />
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Are you writing and writing and writing, sending out manuscript after manuscript and either getting silence or rejection? Or are you the person who on a whim has this funny joke or idea and thinks kids will like it? So you write it out and feel it must get published. Your kids laughed after all!<br />
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If you think you don't need training, I will wish you great good luck and send you on your way. But if you just didn't realize there were classes out there, and you really want to succeed, then I have some great advice for you!<br />
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1. <b>Take <a href="https://www.instituteforwriters.com/writing-for-children-and-teens/" target="_blank">Institute for Children's Literature</a></b>--I cannot be any more clear or loud about this school. It <br />
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will teach you everything you need to know about writing for children. I say start here because if you don't, your learning curve will be high and long. They will pair you up with a published author that will mentor you through many manuscripts and you will start "seeing" like a child and therefore, write better for them. I was published in a children's magazine only 9 months after taking this course! But I couldn't write picture books well, so if you want to write those...you will need even more education.<br />
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2. <b>Do my free <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PBU workshop</a></b>--This is a great start for you and it won't cost you a cent! I would advise doing the lessons one at a time and at the end of each lesson, do the assignment. They can be done at your own pace, but DO THEM! By the time you're finished, you will have a better understanding of how to set one up. And you will have read and studied over 80 picture books! After you're done with this...you STILL need more help! (Sorry...but you will...)<br />
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3. <b>Take a picture book class</b>--The one I can endorse is <a href="https://asuen.com/picture-book/" target="_blank">Anastasia Suen's Intensive Picture Book Workshop</a><span id="goog_598742901"></span><span id="goog_598742902"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>. She will go through one of your manuscripts with this intense class while you and seven others critique as well. It's amazing how she can fine tune a manuscript. I put <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Peepers-Paperback-Pam-Calvert/dp/0761459898" target="_blank">PRINCESS PEEPERS</a> through her second workshop and sold it! I would never have been able to write that manuscript if I hadn't taken the first course, though.<br />
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4. <b>Other classes</b>--I've heard from around the blogosphere of other picture book classes. I cannot vouch for them, but I know good things about the teachers themselves and they are either editors or highly accredited authors. So I will list them here:<br />
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<a href="https://www.childrensbookacademy.com" target="_blank">Picture Book Academy</a>--Many different authors participate as mentors.<br />
<br /><a href="https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writing-a-childrens-picture-book">W</a><a href="https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/writing-a-childrens-picture-book" target="_blank">riting a children's picture book</a>--taught by author David O'Connell. Check to find availability.<br />
<br />Extensive page on picture book classes: <a href="https://www.topcreativewritingcourses.com/blog/childrens-book-writing-courses-online" target="_blank">PICTURE BOOK WORKSHOPS</a><br />
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5. <b>Join a critique group</b>--Only after you've done all that, NOW you are ready for a critique group. You have to get the basics down first before others can even start making your work better. A great way to get a group is in Anastasia Suen's class. It's set up like a critique group and in my class, we started one. ALL of my fellow critique group members became published: <a href="http://www.katherinerollins.blogspot.com/2014/08/minnies-green-book-is-out-today.html" target="_blank">Katherine Rollins</a>, <a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/barbara-kanninen/482954/" target="_blank">Barbara Kaninnen</a>, <a href="https://diannewrites.com" target="_blank">Dianne White</a>. How's that for rate of return?<br />
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6. <b>Get a professional critique</b>--I only advise this if you've done all of the above yet you still can't get an agent and you still can't get published. Having a professional look at your work is amazingly better than having someone on your writing level review it. A GREAT way to find out if you have a good story is to join <a href="https://www.rateyourstory.org" target="_blank">Rate Your Story</a>. For a minimal annual fee, you can have one manuscript a month reviewed by a professional. If you score a 6 or better, I'd say your manuscript is worth paying a professional to help you.<br />
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I happen to offer a <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/pb-critiques.html" target="_blank">professional critique service</a>. I must say that all those who do pay for my service are well on their way to achieving their dream. Why, you say? Because people who are not ready to invest in their work are not ready to succeed. I can say I'm very proud of all of my clients. They really are a cut above the rest! It's fun being the mentor to these talented writers. :)<br />
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I hope this post is helpful to you. I can honestly say that over the years, those who don't give up do get published. They keep honing their craft, keep learning, and one day...they get that fabulous call.<br />
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Someone wants to publish your work!<br />
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Crack open the celebratory libations! HOORAY!<br />
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Happy writing,<br />
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-82815270741052184372015-03-19T11:46:00.002-07:002015-03-19T11:54:43.044-07:00Rate Your Story Contest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's a cool contest out there I wanted to let you know about from <a href="http://rateyourstory.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">RATE YOUR STORY</a>. If you don't know about this awesome, informational website and tool, you should check it out. They have a wonderful newsletter jammed with insider information as well as the ability for you to get your stories rated by professional authors--every month!<br />
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I am one of the authors who participates in rating these stories--for free! So, if you have a wonderful manuscript just waiting out there, send it in! A win in a contest like this will get you noticed as having something that an agent/editor might want.<br />
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If you'd like to check it out, go here: <a href="http://rateyourstory.blogspot.com/p/writing-contest.html" target="_blank">RATE YOUR STORY WRITING CONTEST</a><br />
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Some of the things a judge will look for:<br />
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1. Marketability--is it unique? Will children love it?<br />
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2. Emotional connection--did it make them feel something? Laugh? Cry? Bond with the characters?<br />
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3. Understanding of how to write picture books--meaning, the author thinks in pictures and the story will be enhanced by illustrations. In fact, without pictures, it wouldn't be a whole package.<br />
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4. Under 600 words. This is not a hard and fast rule, but I've found in rating lots of stories and through my own critique service that if a story goes over 600-650 words, usually, it needs to be cut or the story needs to be restructured.<br />
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5. Style elements. How does the author use these to delight their readers? Are they cleverly used? If you're not sure what I'm talking about, please read my post about style elements here: <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/2013/08/picture-book-university-style-elements.html" target="_blank">PBU Style Elements.</a><br />
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6. A unique, twist ending--something that surprises the reader, makes them say, awww, or just knocks it out of the park!<br />
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If you want examples of stories I think would help you and are wonderful to study, go through my <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PBU workshop</a> and see the picture books I highlight. All of them are masterpieces in my opinion.<br />
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<b>You have until March 31st to get your entries in!</b><br />
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Happy writing and...<br />
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GOOD LUCK!Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-63474365893200692202015-03-01T17:38:00.001-08:002016-02-05T04:43:26.408-08:00SOLD! My New Character Driven series!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just wanted to share that I will be having a brand new princess series coming by <a href="https://www.apub.com/imprint-detail?imprint=11" target="_blank">Two Lions</a>! We finally decided on the name--don't get hung up on a character's name. Over the many picture books I've written, only one actually has the name I came up with in the beginning (Princess Peepers). </div>
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So, it's entitled, BRIANNA BRIGHT, BALLERINA KNIGHT! It's about a spunky princess who's searching for her talent.Through lots of trial and error (re: much slapstick), she ends up with TWO! </div>
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How did I get a new series? By holding onto the tenets I found by studying these types of books. I knew publishers needed them, and I set out to find a story that hasn't been written. UNIQUENESS is key! Plus humor helps. My spunky princess is funny and my editor wants more adventures. </div>
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If you want to write a character driven story, please read my lesson on this topic and do the assignment! <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/2013/07/picture-book-university-character.html" target="_blank">Character Driven Picture Book</a>s. Study these types of books!</div>
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And NEVER GIVE UP!</div>
<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-85473550056996885432014-07-30T10:30:00.001-07:002020-05-12T06:46:18.749-07:00Picture Book University: Kid Focus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you've done all my lessons up to now, you should have a pretty good grasp of how to write a picture book. You've read at least 85 picture books--right? If not, go back and <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com.es/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">do the lessons you missed</a>. ;-)<br />
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Now I want to draw your attention to your latest WIP (work in progress). I've noticed the new writer often forgets who their audience is--KIDS! Sometimes, a grandmother will write about characters suffering from arthritis or the plot will focus around adults and adult wants and needs. Or the jokes will be funny only to grown ups. That has no place in children's literature. Sure, you'll see the double entendre here and there just for adults (even the ending of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Peepers-Pam-Calvert/dp/0761459898/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406741674&sr=1-1&keywords=princess+peepers" target="_blank">Princess Peepers</a> has a pun specifically for adults), but the focus is always kid centered. I think of it as a camera lens. Is your camera on yourself? The parent? The grandparent? If so, bring the lens down...keep going...yes, there! To that kindergartner running around your house. See the world the way they see it. If your manuscript doesn't pass the kindergartner test, you need to go back and revise.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8zFVy8dRMU/U9kd6LU4S_I/AAAAAAAAA6w/cKBi68iP2OY/s1600/lilyspurse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8zFVy8dRMU/U9kd6LU4S_I/AAAAAAAAA6w/cKBi68iP2OY/s1600/lilyspurse.jpg" /></a>If you don't have a child to study, I suggest you get one. Rent a kid! Ha! Well, not really, but maybe you could go out with your friend and ask to bring along their kindergartner/first grader. Volunteer at church to teach Sunday school for the K-2 crowd. My youngest child is 13 now and I no longer have elementary kids around, but I've always taught K-3rd graders at church. In fact, I teach K-3rd on Wednesdays and 4th-6th on Sundays--I know my audience. I watch and observe them. I know how they think. Don't have a church? Volunteer at a local library for reading time on the weekends (or weekdays if you don't have a 9-5 job). It's important for you to understand what's important to your audience. Otherwise, you have no business writing for them.<br />
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The best example of an author who really gets the mind of a child is Kevin Henkes. He's a great author to study for kid centered stories. One of my favorite picture books is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lillys-Purple-Plastic-Purse-Henkes/dp/0688128971/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406737785&sr=8-1&keywords=lily%27s+plastic+purse" target="_blank">Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse</a>. It's a wonderful book to study for other elements, too, such as rhythm, plot, etc., but for our purposes here, I'm going to show you how Henkes makes sure his camera is on the child.<br />
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<b>Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse</b> by Kevin Henkes<br />
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<b>Genre: </b>Character driven, humor<br />
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<b>Synopsis:</b> Lily loves a lot of things, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger. That is until he takes away her favorite purse. In order to seek revenge, Lily draws nasty pictures of her teacher, but her teacher, in turn, writes a sweet note which makes Lily feel bad. In the end, she apologizes, making everything better.<br />
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I'm not going to go over plot and style elements but I'd advise you to do that! You could learn a lot about rhythm and repetition from this story.<br />
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<b>Kid Centered Elements:</b><br />
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<li>Lilly loves things a child would love--school, pointy pencils, squeaky chalk, shiny hallways, etc. and her teacher. We don't see her loving things like a massage of her sore hands. If you have a character that needs a massage--please revise this. Children are like rubber. They don't get aching muscles!</li>
<li>Lilly describes her teacher as a child would--about things a child would like--his interesting glasses and shirts, how he greets the class, the inviting way he arranges the classroom, and the snacks! </li>
<li>Lilly pretends to be her teacher--she plays with her brother--exactly what a child would do at that age.</li>
<li>Lilly liked to draw--and the drawings are very much like what a child this age would do.</li>
<li>She rides the bus, and raises her hand and volunteers in the classroom</li>
<li>Lilly gets a wonderful, musical purse that she adores. This is so much like what a kid would care about and become obsessed over.</li>
<li>Lilly indeed obsesses over this prized object and gets in trouble with her beloved teacher. She can't wait for show and tell to show off her purse.</li>
<li>Lilly is embarrassed, but after she loses her beloved purse, she almost cries and then she gets angry exactly how a child would. I know. I've taken up things from children before and if it's special, it's hard for them not to cry and get upset.</li>
<li>Lilly seeks revenge like a child would--Lilly loved to draw pictures of her teacher--so she drew a mean one that called him a big fat mean Mr. Stealing Teacher. All the things she writes shows her emotions--she deals with her anger and grief exactly the way a 5 year old would. </li>
<li>Even though the teacher is nice to her when he gives her back the purse, she's still angry and tells him so by saying she doesn't want to be a teacher when she grows up (when earlier she wanted to be like him.)</li>
<li>But when Lilly gets a sweet note from her teacher, she feels bad just like a child would when they thought about their actions.</li>
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I'm not going to go through the whole thing, but my biggest suggestion to you is if you haven't read this book, please do. Unfortunately, these days, editors are not wanting books of this length. I think it's sad because the character can't be shown eloquently enough without many scenes and words like this. Oh well! I can't change the system. Keep your stories to 500 words or less and keep them KID CENTERED.</div>
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<b>Assignment 9: </b></div>
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<li>Check out ten books at the library. Some great authors to look at for kid centered perfection are <a href="http://www.kevinhenkes.com/" target="_blank">Kevin Henkes</a>, <a href="http://www.tomlichtenheld.com/" target="_blank">Tom Lichtenheld</a>,<a href="http://www.milkmonitor.com/" target="_blank"> Lauren Child</a>, <a href="http://www.doreencronin.com/" target="_blank">Doreen Cronin</a>, <a href="http://www.kellydipucchio.com/home.html" target="_blank">Kelly DiPucchio</a>,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G7XCatHziSA/U9ksOb5ETVI/AAAAAAAAA7I/NEn-ixOl_6Q/s1600/crafty+chloe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G7XCatHziSA/U9ksOb5ETVI/AAAAAAAAA7I/NEn-ixOl_6Q/s1600/crafty+chloe.jpg" /></a></div>
and <a href="http://www.katemcmullan.com/" target="_blank">Kate McMullan</a>. </li>
<li>Write a plot synopsis for each one and identify how the author's camera lens is focused on the child.</li>
<li>Write elements which are very kids centered. Are there some that are not? Can you think of reasons why the adult-like element might have been allowed? (Usually there are good reasons.)</li>
<li>Take a look at your WIP. Is it kid focused? Are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, little old lady from down the street overwhelming the story? Can you replace a parent with a sibling to take the story down to a more kid centered focus? Are you truly looking through a child's camera lens? Are parents making jokes and not the child?</li>
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If you know some stand out kid centered picture books,
please post them below. This might help your fellow picture book writers pick
out some great examples!<o:p></o:p></div>
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As always, if you like this post, please hit the like button
below or the twitter bird! Share!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Do you want to see other PBU posts? Click here: <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PBU</a></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Happy reading and writing!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-7825933099850032062014-04-02T10:02:00.003-07:002014-04-02T10:33:05.301-07:00Picture Book Analysis: Daddies Do It Different by Alan Lawrence Sitomer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In honor of rhyming Wednesday, I've decided to do a picture book analysis of a non-rhymer that has rhythm--so much so that it can be classified as poetry. And if you want to write something like this, you need to do it well, so let's see why I think this book is so great structurally.<br />
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Today's book is entitled, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daddies-Different-Alan-Lawrence-Sitomer/dp/1423133153/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" target="_blank">Daddies Do It Different</a></i> by Alan Lawrence Sitomer.<br />
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<b>SPOILER ALERT! My picture book analyses will reveal the
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Genre: Journey, Cycle of the Day, Rhythmic text<o:p></o:p></div>
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Synopsis: A child relates all the things Daddy does differently than Mommy throughout the day but there's one thing they do exactly the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Plot elements: A Cycle of the Day story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<li>In the morning, getting dressed--ways Daddy is different from Mommy</li>
<li>breakfast time</li>
<li>going shopping</li>
<li>making lunch</li>
<li>going to the park</li>
<li>birthday parties</li>
<li>playing dress up</li>
<li>bath time</li>
<li>bed time</li>
<li>hugs and kisses</li>
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Twist: All through the book, Daddy does everything differently but in the end, Mommy and Daddy both love the child just the same. A touching, sweet ending! If you get your audience to say ah...usually, you'll have a winner.</div>
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Throughout the book, there is a repeating phrase of "But daddies do it different." Which binds the text together and children love to be able to join in this repeating phrase. Although this isn't a rhymer, the text is rhythmic: "When I leave the house with Mommy, she packs a tasty snack, brings a bit of juice, and takes an extra sweater." Can you feel the rhythm here? And then the next line leads into the repeating phrase: "But daddies do it different..."</div>
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Style Elements:</div>
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<li>Lines have catchy beats.</li>
<li>visual humor throughout (in the scene above, daddy is putting bananas up his nose to make the child laugh.)</li>
<li>Use of active, interesting verbs: jingles, gargles, whup</li>
<li>Visually interesting--there's an active, fun picture on every page, (eg; Daddy has bubbles on his head in a room full of bubbles in the tub with the dog joining in the fun).</li>
<li>Use of made-up words for rhythm, (eg. "He tickles me so much, I get crazy-hyper-nuts")</li>
<li>Use of similes/metaphors, (eg, "we jump like kangaroos; make a fort of waffles, drives like a race car, etc.)</li>
<li>Sweet, twist ending</li>
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If you can think of a catchy repeating phrase and can do a rhythmic story line with lots of action on a subject that hasn't been done, you'll have a winning picture book every time. </div>
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If you like these posts, feel free to click the like button
below or tweet it to your friends. Next up, I will start back with Picture Book University, lesson 9. My school visit schedule is winding down--only two more to go this season, so stay tuned!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-38080813625989178092013-10-31T10:32:00.002-07:002014-08-05T14:15:07.303-07:00New Rumpelstiltskin Puppet and School Visit Tip!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BLOTF4HE_Tw/UnKQ2oieKtI/AAAAAAAAA5s/t00gIo6KqhE/s1600/MM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BLOTF4HE_Tw/UnKQ2oieKtI/AAAAAAAAA5s/t00gIo6KqhE/s1600/MM.jpg" /></a>Sorry I've been out of the loop. It's school visit season and I'm BUSY! But I will do two more<a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.ca/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank"> PBU </a>posts to finish out the workshop this month, and then I'll do some PBU tips until next summer where we'll have a PBU 2.<br />
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Anyway, I just wanted to share my newest excitement and a tip for you pros out there doing school visits. I had the privilege of seeing a Mother Goose puppeteer at work at a school where they contracted five authors for one big day of reading for their students. I always wanted to have a presentation that wowed the K-2nd grade set with my math books, and although I am dynamic in my presentation where I act out the part of Rumpelstiltskin to them, I noticed how mesmerized kindergartners were with Mother Goose. Why? Because she had...PUPPETS! Her words weren't unique or even inspiring, but the puppets amazed the kids.<br />
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A huge light bulb exploded above my head. HA! That's when I knew I needed puppets to enhance my performances for the younger set.<br />
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In my math performance, I teach 1st-3rd grade how to multiply by using a funny part in my book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Multiplying-Menace-Revenge-Rumpelstiltskin-Adventure/dp/1570918902/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383240539&sr=8-1&keywords=multiplying+menace" target="_blank">Multiplying Menace</a>. In order to teach multiplication, I now use finger puppets so they can see the concepts. After we finish reading the book, I give each child a worksheet (could be up to 150 kids--teachers help with this), that has a face without a nose on the sheet--and I tell them this is their face and they are to draw hair on it. THEN I tell them that Rumpelstiltskin is going to visit their school. Usually, they'll squeal with delight until I ask them do they REALLY want Rumpelstiltskin to visit? Their squeals turn to scared giggles. At this point, I whip out my Rumpelstiltskin puppet, and he wreaks havoc on the children's noses using his multiplication stick. They LOVE this! We do the multiplication on a document camera where they figure out how many noses he's multiplied on their face. I also use students to be Rumpelstiltskin's minions. It's so much fun!<br />
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Here's a few pictures of my puppet. He was pricey as I used a puppet artist who used to work for Jim Henson, but it's worth it. Four days worth of school visits will pay for the puppet, but the puppet has already helped me book more new visits for next year! Worth every cent!!!<br />
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If you're interested in getting a puppet for your book, here are some worthy creators to check out:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.russwalko.com/" target="_blank">Russ Walko</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lunaspuppets.com/" target="_blank">Luna's Puppets</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.axtell.com/custom.html" target="_blank">Axtell Expressions</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pavlovspuppets.com/for.htm" target="_blank">Pavlov's Puppets</a></li>
<li><a href="http://jameskemppuppets.com/" target="_blank">James Kemp Puppet Building</a></li>
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My creator took around 5 months to complete--he was from <a href="http://creatureclones.com/" target="_blank">Creature Clones</a> (the artist did the professional photos for me) and he has a year wait time, mostly. Other makers might not be that inundated with work, so you may want to check with them if you're in a hurry.<br />
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If you have any questions about school visits, feel free to post!<br />
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-56935473100683541572013-09-10T09:36:00.004-07:002020-05-12T06:45:41.218-07:00Picture Book University: Creative Nonfiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I'm going to go over a genre that allowed me to receive that first picture book contract, and it's something my agent has said editors want--creative nonfiction. Because of the new <a href="http://www.corestandards.org/" target="_blank">Common Core Standards</a> that most states have adopted, teachers are now clamoring for books in science and history that can be taught using literature. Science is a biggie since in the Common Core, any science in the elementary grades will be taught through the reading program. History/social studies will be taught that way as well, so this could be a huge boon for publishers who are smart enough to produce books that help teach those subjects. And that means, YOU, dear author, can also start writing books that will help educate our little ones.<br />
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But what if you're like me and the thought of writing a nonfiction book leaves your mouth dry like a piece of moldy toast? That's where CREATIVE nonfiction can actually fulfill your need to write something with pizzazz AND also reward you with that coveted picture book contract. If you're smart, you'll do some digging on what exactly you'd like to "teach" creatively.<br />
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What is creative nonfiction exactly? It's a nonfiction subject that is told or shown in a creative way. In order to discuss this further, I'll show some categories and examples to get your juices flowing.<br />
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<ul><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4ZV7-JHh8Y/Ui9GA5ItDzI/AAAAAAAAA34/MV3EBbfIRCs/s1600/keyboard+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4ZV7-JHh8Y/Ui9GA5ItDzI/AAAAAAAAA34/MV3EBbfIRCs/s1600/keyboard+family.jpg" /></a>
<li><b>Teaching a nonfiction topic through a fictional story</b>--The focus here is on a fiction tale that hones in on the nonfiction subject--and the nonfiction subject must be the star of the book. In Charlesbridge's <a href="http://www.charlesbridge.com/showproducts.cfm?FullCat=144" target="_blank">math adventure line</a>, highly sophisticated math subject matter is conveyed through exciting stories. When I set out to write a math adventure, I studied all of their books to get the idea. Math had to not just be a bunch of set problems--it had to be almost a character in itself. For my first book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Multiplying-Menace-Revenge-Rumpelstiltskin-Adventure/dp/1570918902/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378829710&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Multiplying Menace</a>, the magic in the story WAS the math! One author to check out for creative nonfiction titles is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trisha-Speed-Shaskan/e/B001JS43P0/ref=lp_B001JS43P0_pg_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB001JS43P0&page=2&ie=UTF8&qid=1378827681" target="_blank">Trisha Speed Shaskan</a>. Her music families series titles are genius. She tells a story of a certain "type" of instrument family all the while teaching about the different musical instruments and sounds. This kind of story could be done on any subject. She also has other creative nonfiction books. Check them out! </li>
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<li><b>Teaching a nonfiction topic through a surprising format</b>--Apart from the hum drum, this type of book uses an idea and runs with it creatively. One example is the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-Youre-Expecting-Larvae/dp/0761358587" target="_blank">What to Expect When You're Expecting Larvae</a>. It's told as a self help book for expecting bug parents. Within the pages conveys a lot of buggy facts that makes this <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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topic funny, accessible, and entertaining. Another series of books that's told in a surprising way is the <i>If You Were a _____ </i>(fill in the blank). Some examples of these books are I<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_18?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=if%20you%20were%20a%20quadrilateral&sprefix=if+you+were+a+quad%2Cstripbooks%2C197&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Aif%20you%20were%20a%20quadrilateral" target="_blank">f You Were a Quadrilateral, If You were a Fraction, If You Were a Compound Word</a>, etc. These books creatively use the child as the star and has them imagine themselves as the actual nonfiction topic. Very clever. Another knock out surprising format is using a parody--Lane Smith's, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/John-Paul-George-Lane-Smith/dp/0786848936/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378829654&sr=1-7" target="_blank">John, Paul, George & Ben</a>, nails the creative nonfiction genre. He uses the Beatles as an underpinning analogy to our United States founding fathers. Parents are pleased with the references and kids are pleased by the silliness. That's a great one to check out.</li>
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<ul><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p0vHXeFmPKU/Ui9G0PRiW_I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/1LK6N9Kvnx8/s1600/hornbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p0vHXeFmPKU/Ui9G0PRiW_I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/1LK6N9Kvnx8/s1600/hornbooks.jpg" /></a>
<li><b>Teaching a nonfiction subject through rhyme/meter</b>--This is a favorite in the trade/school market. If you can use great meter or rhyme to teach a subject, then it will sell. Some glorious classic examples are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Math-Curse-Jon-Scieszka/dp/0670861944/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378830055&sr=1-1&keywords=math+curse" target="_blank">Math Curse</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Science-Golden-Awards-Picture-Awards/dp/0670910570/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y" target="_blank">Science Verse </a>by Jon Sciescka, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grapes-Math-Greg-Tang/dp/0439598400/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378830111&sr=1-1&keywords=grapes+of+math" target="_blank">Grapes of Math</a> series by Greg Tang, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=verla%20kay&sprefix=verla%2Cstripbooks&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Averla%20kay" target="_blank">Verla Kay's </a> metered verse history books. One of my critique partners just sold a book that was told in rhyme that highlighted a historical parade. You never know! If you can think up a great subject and you can write rhyme well, go for it!</li>
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Assignment 8:<br />
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<li>Go to the library and see if some of these examples are there. Are they in the nonfiction section or fiction? I've found librarians don't know where to place them. My books are often in both, but usually in nonfiction so teachers and students will have access to them when finding a subject. Ask your librarian if they know of other examples. Some other authors to look up are Robin Pulver, Loreen Leedy, and Brian P. Cleary. </li>
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<li>Check out as many as you can of various subjects that inspire you. Can you find different formats? One of each (story, surprising format, rhyming text)?</li>
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<li>Next, brainstorm at least three new ideas in your writing journal. If one calls to you, start your research and then write!</li>
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<b>Did you find a book that didn't fit my definitions or know of a great book to check out? If so, please share!</b><br />
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If this post helped you, please share by clicking the twitter bird, fb like, or google plus!<br />
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<b>Missed a few PBU posts? Click here: <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PBU</a></b><br />
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-38535535005217775442013-09-03T12:13:00.000-07:002013-09-03T12:17:46.069-07:00Picture Book Analysis: Kohola: King of the Whales by Vince DaubenspeckBecause of Labor Day, I'm a bit behind this week. I don't want to shortchange you, so I'll post the next installment of PBU next week! Because I don't want to leave you hanging, I figured I'd do another picture book analysis of an awesome new picture book that would be a GREAT, AMAZING gift for not only a child but a family as well. It's entitled, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kohola-King-Whales-Vince-Daubenspeck/dp/1617101958/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378234887&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Kohola: King of the Whales</a>. Written as a folktale from the Hawaiian islands, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vince-Daubenspeck/e/B002FRDVLQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">Vince Daubenspeck</a> masterfully weaves a tale of the journey of a young humpback whale from lonely outcast to magnificent hero that underscores the theme of being yourself and never giving up.<br />
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The book's illustrations are breathtaking throughout which matches the beautiful words. It's a piece of art through and through!<br />
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Okay, can you tell I'm in love with this book? Onto the analysis.<br />
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Genre: Original folktale (the author made it up--but you can't tell it's not an actual legend because it's so well done.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Synopsis: A loving grandfather tells his grandson the tale of Kohola: King of the Whales. Kohola is born with unusually large fins and is rejected by his peers, so he takes to exploring the deep ocean by himself. When his overly protective parents tell Kohola not jump out of the water because it's too dangerous, Kohola tries his best to obey, but his curiosity gets in the way. He uses his large fins to literally sail out of the water and soon he's a master jumper. But when some dangerous killer whales threaten his life and the lives of his clan, he uses his skill to crash down on the animals and scare them away. He tries to teach other whales how to jump out of the water, but no whale could soar the way Kohola, king of the whales could to this day even though you can see them trying.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<li>Intro: The story opens with a child seeing a whale jump out of the water. His grandfather tells him the tale of Kohola to explain why they do this.</li>
<li>Problem: Kohola is born with extra large fins and is an outcast.</li>
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<li>Escalating problem: Because of Kohola's large fins and athleticism, he dives very deep into the ocean causing alarm among his clan.</li>
<li>More problems: Kohola decides to dive deep then rise out of the water which his parents forbade because it's dangerous. He goes against his parents' wishes and becomes an expert jumper.</li>
<li>Climax--Dangerous killer whales threaten Kohola's life.</li>
<li>Solution--Kohola uses his skill of jumping out of the water to frighten them away.</li>
<li>Ending--Kohola protects his clan and teaches them the skill thereby gaining the respect of all whales.</li>
<li>Folktale connection--This is why you see all whales trying to jump out of the water. They want to be like Kohola, king of the whales.</li>
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Folktales usually tell of a legend about why you see certain things as they are. I've re-written many folktales and some have been published by magazines. In every one, there is a larger than life reason why you might see animals with different feathers or coats of fur or even why an island is shaped the way it is. This tale is no different except that the author made it up himself, mirroring the style of a typical legend. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B0IkdSf4ChY/UiY0YqeJz_I/AAAAAAAAA3o/TIZtYhNfflU/s1600/kohola5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B0IkdSf4ChY/UiY0YqeJz_I/AAAAAAAAA3o/TIZtYhNfflU/s320/kohola5.jpg" width="267" /></a>Style elements:</div>
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<li>Folktale narration: Told from a third person omniscient format, this story feels old and yet not too distant so a child would be interested.</li>
<li>Vivid language: sparkling sea, flashing storm clouds, clear shining light, crashing waves, long, clumsy fins, etc.</li>
<li>Kid connection: The story opens with a child's question. In the middle, you see the child wanting to act like Kohola--you can feel the excitement and are emotionally attached to the story at this point as seen through the child's eyes.</li>
<li>Great use of imagery: the killer whales are not named as such since this is told from the perspective of the whale. They are called, "dark lights" since they blot out the light when their large dark bodies swim in front of the sun, streaming through the water. He uses language like "waves of fear" as a nod to the water but also gives you the foreboding feeling.</li>
<li>Circularity: The story closes as it opens with the child and the grandfather. You get a sense of completeness when you see the child look again at a whale rising out of the water.</li>
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If you want to rewrite an existing folktale, or better yet, write your own, this would be a great book to study as well have in your own library.</div>
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-19048061466065044012013-08-28T10:33:00.000-07:002013-08-28T14:09:38.970-07:00Chieu Urban's book winners!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PISAzsDCG_k/UdGMn225huI/AAAAAAAAAvY/1cDfg_52i3Q/s1600/Away+We+Go%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PISAzsDCG_k/UdGMn225huI/AAAAAAAAAvY/1cDfg_52i3Q/s200/Away+We+Go%2521.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I'm pleased to be able to announce the winners of Chieu Urban's wonderful book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Away-We-Go-Shape-Seek/dp/0545461790/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1377711112&sr=8-4&keywords=away+we+go" target="_blank">AWAY WE GO</a>!<br />
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Drumroll please....<br />
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TADA!<br />
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Just email me at <a href="mailto:pam@pamcalvert.com">pam@pamcalvert.com</a> and I'll give you instructions on how to receive your book!<br />
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Hooray and congratulations! Thank you to all who participated!<br />
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-31354144891707499882013-08-27T10:26:00.000-07:002020-05-12T06:44:59.334-07:00Picture Book University: Picture Books for Preschoolers, Toddlers, and Infants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I'm going to highlight a picture book that some editors are saying they're looking for: picture books for very young children--preschoolers, toddlers, infants. This particular book, when analyzed, comes in many different types, but all are simple. So simple, in fact, that it boggles the mind. And because of this, it makes them VERY hard to write and even harder to sell (if you're not an amazing illustrator as well as writer.)<br />
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SO, why am I going to talk about them? Because they are needed in the marketplace. And if you hit on a great idea, you very well could have a series potential on your hands.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZRfMhCRm7s/UdGcY-2Ua-I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/3-RsZauKUTk/s1600/my+pup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tZRfMhCRm7s/UdGcY-2Ua-I/AAAAAAAAAwQ/3-RsZauKUTk/s1600/my+pup.jpg" /></a>Last week, I interviewed a board book author/illustrator, <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/2013/08/im-on-vacation-this-week-so-picture.html" target="_blank">Chieu Urban</a>. If you haven't read it, check it out! In this interview, she revealed that if you aren't an illustrator, you should write a straight picture book first and then it may have a chance to become a board book later. This has happened to one of my friends, Margaret O Hair with her book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Pup-ebook/dp/B009DOOOYW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377623276&sr=1-1&keywords=my+pup" target="_blank">MY PUP</a>. It first came out as a picture book and then went to board later. In her latest book, it came out as a board transitional--I highlight what that is in my picture book analysis : <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/2013/06/picture-book-analysis-sweet-baby-feet.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20WovenWithPixieDust%20%28Woven%20With%20Pixie%20Dust...%29" target="_blank">SWEET BABY FEET</a>. Check it out if you haven't already. In both cases, she set out to write picture books--but they were for a very young child--ages 3 and under.<br />
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So what makes these young books tick? It's all about what it's all about. LOL! Yes! The world of an infant/toddler/preschooler is close to home. Very close. Their world is usually what they see every morning, noon and night, so that's what the story should be about. Also, concept books are perfect for this age. I highlight what a concept book is in <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/2013/07/picture-book-university-picture-book.html" target="_blank">lesson 1</a>. ABC books, counting books and question/answer books are also good for this age. Because those books are fairly easy to look up, but not easy to sell, I won't be highlighting them.<br />
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Since this is a full blown picture book story, you still have to think in terms of sixteen spreads, but you'll need to keep your word count down to between 150-300 words. Now that's not a lot of words to work with, I know. But the way to get around this is to tell your story in rhyme! Yes! Rhyme! Rhyme has been tossed around as a dirty word by editors and agents alike but I have soooo many friends who sell tons of picture books in rhyme. They sell them because they know how to write them. If your meter is just a tiny speck off, you CANNOT SELL this. I've received tons of rhyming stories for critique and let me just say, almost every author has allowed one or two lines of bad meter because they wanted it to fit, but that just won't work and you'll get a rejection.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5AjvAKmvE20/UhzeEO48zmI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/JR53AwQLUrY/s1600/robots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5AjvAKmvE20/UhzeEO48zmI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/JR53AwQLUrY/s200/robots.jpg" width="200" /></a>Another way to get around the word count is to use rhythm in a cycle story. In Karen Baicker's story, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Can-Too-Handprint-Books-ebook/dp/B005F5AV7M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377623441&sr=1-1&keywords=i+can+do+it+too" target="_blank">I CAN DO IT TOO!</a>, she uses a repetitive line plus lots of rhythm that follows a little girl going about her day. What sets this apart are her word choices and rhythm.<br />
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Another writer to study is <a href="http://www.suefliess.com/" target="_blank">Sue Fliess</a>. She's sold half a dozen books in the span of a few months. What's her<br />
secret? RHYME! RHYTHM! CYCLE! Get my point? I'm going to analyze the first book that sold that launched her very lucrative career as a preschool author. She actually started writing YA's of all things, but didn't sell a book until she shifted her focus onto one of her talents--rhyme. (Probably because everyone always says not to rhyme!)<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>SPOILER
ALERT! My picture book analyses will reveal the climax/ending to every story.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shoes-For-Me-ebook/dp/B008K43M1C/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377623490&sr=1-3&keywords=sue+fliess" target="_blank">SHOES FOR ME </a>by Sue Fliess</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Genre:
Preschool/toddler, Concept, Rhyming text<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Synopsis:
A little girl needs some shoes. But what to buy? There's way too many to choose from until her mom says they have to go and she finds the very perfect shoes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Plot
elements: A journey story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Problem/opener: The little girl has grown out of her shoes. She needs new ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Major story problem: Lots of choices</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Minor story problems: Makes wrong choices; shoes too tight; doesn't like some; (rule of three!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Climax: Too many shoes to choose from! Hopeless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Resolution/twist: The last pair to try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ending: Perfect fit, perfect for her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Style
Elements:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perfect
meter and unforced rhyme scheme--"Feet got bigger/heel to toe./ Time for new shoes./Off we go!" This
meter and scheme is the same throughout. It's what we call an ABCB scheme and
the meter is catchy and upbeat. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Funny or
active pictures--Even though Sue didn't think of a cute hippopotamus as her main character, the darling anthropomorphism works. All the shoes and the activity of the little girl makes for fun pictures. The girl tiptoes, hops, taps, etc.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Use of active verbs, adjectives and onomatopoeia throughout--for example, shoes clip, slip, flip, snap, sparkle, tap, etc.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Use of
metaphor and humor--for example, "Fuzzy, furry/shoes that quack?/I'm no duck./Please put those back."</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nice rhythm that will keep kids entertained--you can feel the girl actually trying on all these wonderful shoes and see her doing the activities that the shoes would employ such as splash in a puddle.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cyclical--the ending uses the same line as the beginning and it became the title--"Shoes for me!" If you can come up with something catchy like this, you've got a winner! </span></li>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Np4TfMZKCOk/Uhze80YEhrI/AAAAAAAAA2w/2hOcsC3lhu4/s1600/dressforme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Np4TfMZKCOk/Uhze80YEhrI/AAAAAAAAA2w/2hOcsC3lhu4/s1600/dressforme.jpg" /></span></a><br />
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Because of the book's sales, Sue ended up selling more to the publisher and now has a series with this cute hippopotamus. She also has a line of books with Golden Books, too, all with her catchy rhyme scheme and all about things pres</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">choolers love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Assignment 7:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out at least ten books meant for preschoolers. These should be concept books or journey books or simple stories (Max and Ruby books come to mind) that don't have intricate plots and are about the world or things preschoolers/babies love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After reading these stories, brainstorm five ideas that might be translatable into a preschooler book. Maybe it could be told in rhyme. Remember! A rhyming story is usually best if it focuses on a journey or concept. Trying to tell an intricate story in rhyme just doesn't usually work. Pick a simple rhyme scheme and stick with it. If you can't do this, use rhythm and a repetitive catchy phrase to drive your story. And don't forget the twist or surprise or cyclical ending! </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tomorrow, I will announce the winners of Chieu Urban's books, so stay tuned!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As always, please let others know about this post by clicking the twitter bird, fb, or g buttons!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Do you want to see more PBU posts?</span><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span><a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">Click here</a><span style="color: #741b47;">.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy writing for preschoolers!</span></div>
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Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-3831673049186211542013-08-20T06:21:00.000-07:002013-08-27T10:42:30.217-07:00Picture Book Author Interview: Chieu UrbanI'm on vacation this week, so Picture Book University will resume next week. And to get you in the mood for the topic, I am excited to be able to share with you an interview by board book illustrator and author, <br />
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Chieu Urban! She is also offering some wonderful surprises at the end of the interview, so don't miss it!!!<br />
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Next week, I'll be doing the topic of board books and books for young children ages 3 and under. Editors have been calling for these books, so if you're not familiar with them, you might learn something new! </div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-548a0ab3-9bd1-3148-3938-03018bb60c33"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hi, Chieu!</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-548a0ab3-9bd1-3148-3938-03018bb60c33"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm so glad to be able to interview you! Board books are something I'd like to highlight, so it was providence!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are my questions:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What made you decide to become a picture book writer? How did you discover board books as a genre? </span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My true niche is in novelty books, which are highly visual, and include interactive elements. I have a background in graphic design, and love creating playful books that offers fun exploration for our youngest readers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are your favorite picture books you've written? (Even if they aren't published yet!) </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Definitely </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Away-We-Go-Shape-Seek/dp/0545461790/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377004682&sr=1-1&keywords=away+we+go" target="_blank">Away We Go! A Shape and Seek Book</a></span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which was released this June. It’s a search-and-find concept book, and introduces shapes and transportation modes. I’m really pleased with how the illustrations and die-cuts work together to make a fun shape-and-seek game for kids. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are your favorite picture books that have inspired you? What makes them special?</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love many of Eric Carle’s book. I find his illustrations very captivating. They are simple, clean, and bold, and </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hungry Caterpillar</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has been a favorite with all my girls. Salina Yoon’s books are clever and fun. Have you seen </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pinwheel-Salina-Yoon/dp/0316221767/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377004630&sr=1-1&keywords=pinwheel" target="_blank">Pinwheel</a></span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? It’s beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How long did it take for you to get published in picture books?</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It took about six years for my debut novelty book, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Raindrops-Shower-Chieu-Anh-Urban/dp/1402769008/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377004727&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Raindrops: A Shower of Colors</a></span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to be published. During that time, I sketched out many ideas, attended SCBWI conferences, and learned as much as I could about the publishing world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You write for ages 2-5. What makes board books different from other picture books, and what advice can you give in writing one? Can you give good examples to analyze?</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Board books are a child’s first book. They can play with it, and chew on it. These books are sturdier, and have less spreads with fewer words than picture books. A board book has a higher chance of getting published if it is created by an author/illustrator. <b><i>I’ve read that if you are an author with a board book idea, it’s best to submit it as a picture book</i>. </b>Many successful picture books are later printed in board book editions. If you have a great novelty idea, create a comprehensive dummy showing how the elements work, and research publishers that specifically publish novelty. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are there any tips or tricks you've used in your work that made your writing stand out? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think having my graphic design skills has helped my artwork stand out. It especially plays a large part in the design and layout of the novelty elements, and how they are incorporated into the story to provide a more interactive and fun book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have an agent? Why or why not?</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, I am represent by Ronnie Ann Herman at the Herman Agency. I enjoy creating books, but not so much with working on the business end of publishing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are you working on now?</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just wrapped up a new concept dummy about shapes and the alphabet, and am very excited about this one. I’m pleased with how the illustrations came together, and the silly, sing-song story line. This dummy is fun and incorporates die-cuts throughout. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9. </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What's your newest title about? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Away We Go! A Shape and Seek Book (Sc</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">holastic Cartwheel) introduces basic shapes and transportation modes, that are brightly illustrated with bold, colorful geometric shapes. Die-cuts of shapes are layered throughout each page, for a fun shape-and seek-game. The challenge is to find the vehicles in the shapes and the shapes in the vehicles. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to learn more about Chieu, visit her <a href="http://www.chieuurban.com/" target="_blank">website</a>! She has amazing <a href="http://chieuurban.blogspot.com/2013/06/away-we-go-shapes-and-transportation.html" target="_blank">printables</a> that go along with her books, too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>NOW for the surprise! She is offering TWO of her books for a drawing for two lucky winners! Sign your name here on this post and I'll enter you for a drawing. Announce her book on facebook, twitter, and your blog, you'll receive three entries! Let me know below!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As always, if you like this post, click the twitter, fb, and share!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy writing!</span></div>
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Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-10596822599485598002013-08-13T12:39:00.001-07:002020-05-11T12:18:07.038-07:00Picture Book University: Thinking in Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to the sixth lesson! Today, I'm going to focus on something very specific to picture books. If you get a handle on this, you'll see writing picture books in a whole new way! Many times I hear new writers often ask what is the difference between writing a picture book and a short story. I've seen this in the submissions for critiques as well. Instead of submitting a real picture book, they've written a short story because it's text/dialog heavy and the story develops in one place or two. <br />
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A picture book must be very visual. Even though you're not an illustrator, you still must visualize your story throughout its conception. There must be AT LEAST 16 different scene changes throughout your story. And when I mean scene changes, I mean the story isn't in one room and the main character is doing something different--I mean the scenery around your character must change! Have you ever picked up a book and the scenery is the same on every page? Have you ever read a book like that to a child? They become bored and antsy. The words are not enough to keep them attracted. That's the whole concept of a picture book--the child needs to be stimulated as they are listening to the words.<br />
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When I approach writing a new picture book, I always start with pictures to facilitate ideas. If my story isn't visual, then I abandon it. I use a storyboard pad in order to draw pictures. Here's a link to a page you can just print out on your own: <a href="http://j.b5z.net/i/u/2075798/f/storyboard.pdf" target="_blank">Storyboard Pad</a> or you can buy some here: <a href="http://www.levenger.com/special-request-storyboard--unpunched-ltr-core-8106.aspx" target="_blank">Levenger storyboard pads</a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WK4oGEHZ7M4/UgqCcPpNX-I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/fX8a_4NkyIM/s1600/peepers+storyboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WK4oGEHZ7M4/UgqCcPpNX-I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/fX8a_4NkyIM/s400/peepers+storyboard.jpg" width="290" /></a>Here's a picture of how I started <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Peepers-Picks-Pet-ebook/dp/B0083LF13E/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1376422710" target="_blank">PRINCESS PEEPERS PICKS A PET</a>. Notice how absolutely AWFUL I am as an illustrator. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm thinking of scenes visually.</div>
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In every single picture book that I write, I always use this pad. I didn't always have this tool--in fact, my first two books were written without the pad and it was very hard coming up with some of the funny scenarios because I only had my mind and my words. The storyboard pad opened up a whole new world to me! And as a math writer, I really needed that since I work out story math problems with my characters.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3lph5BWUpVY/UgqFtBrwCiI/AAAAAAAAA1g/UUMRAuiSz0Q/s1600/pamkittens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3lph5BWUpVY/UgqFtBrwCiI/AAAAAAAAA1g/UUMRAuiSz0Q/s320/pamkittens.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
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Here's a picture from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Multiplying-Menace-Divides-Math-Adventures/dp/1570917825/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376422747&sr=1-2" target="_blank">MULTIPLYING MENACE DIVIDES </a>where I work out the way the division math would work. I had to think in fractions. Here’s one page example when I had to show how the division
magic worked with dividing twelve kittens. I brainstormed some ways I could
show this on the storyboard paper:<br />
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Next is how it ended up looking like in the book:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJJ_LXj14e8/UgqFz1ZsOGI/AAAAAAAAA1o/SEzQXFMHwqk/s1600/pamkittensbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJJ_LXj14e8/UgqFz1ZsOGI/AAAAAAAAA1o/SEzQXFMHwqk/s320/pamkittensbook.jpg" width="280" /></a><br />
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I could never have figured out the math without my storyboard pad that encouraged pictures.<br />
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Now, I never brainstorm a story without this pad. Here's one of my newest manuscripts. It's very visual and the whole story depends on how visually appealing it is--in words.<br />
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My daughter found my pad and started drawing her own version of the character, too!<br />
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Assignment 6:<br />
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Check out at least five picture books that are in the same genre as your current work-in-progress. How did the author think in pictures throughout? Did they do a good job on making the pictures interesting? (And even though you're not the illustrator, your story will create the pictures surrounding it. It's pretty amazing to see this happen when you get the illustrations back from the publisher.)<br />
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Now look at your manuscript. Are there at least 16 or more different scenes? If not, how can you create new places for your story to go? Can you focus on your story's character? Make them do something zany? Something visually funny or charming or interesting?<br />
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If you like this post, please post it on twitter or like on Facebook.<br />
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New to PBU? Don't miss a lesson. Go here for the archives: <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PBU</a><br />
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Have a great writing day!<br />
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-24694947450162953432013-08-08T10:14:00.000-07:002020-05-11T12:15:51.286-07:00Picture Book University: Style Elements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I'm back! Sorry I'm a bit late--we had a household emergency yesterday. That's what happens when you leave for more than a week. :-)</div>
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Today, I'm going to be talking about something that can elevate a ho hum manuscript into a publishable piece: Style elements. Now, I won't be going over things you should already know such as using the five senses or metaphors and similes or even voice or POV. Those things should be second nature to you and if they aren't, I'd advise you to take a children's literature course. I talk about different courses on my website here: <a href="http://www.pamcalvert.com/for_children_s_writers" target="_blank">children's writing</a>. </div>
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These style elements are specific to picture books (fiction and nonfiction alike) and it's what sets picture books apart from other types of writing. If you pay attention to placing some of these in your manuscript, you will transform it (and maybe even your creative thinking!) These are not all the elements you could use, but they are the most important to pay attention to, in my opinion. </div>
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1. Rhythm--This is usually overlooked in newbie manuscripts. Often, people will write without regard to this<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-27ZMc12LXUs/UgPAZ7vk5zI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/R7dpQzfCaSQ/s1600/owen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-27ZMc12LXUs/UgPAZ7vk5zI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/R7dpQzfCaSQ/s1600/owen.jpg" /></a> because, hey! They're not writing a rhyming story. If you look closely at the best books, they will often have a rhythmic line or two within the text. Often, they'll have a bunch. What is rhythm? It's a metered pattern of words. They sound poetic and have a beat. For example, in Kevin Henkes' book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Owen-Caldecott-Honor-Kevin-Henkes/dp/0688114490/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375977731&sr=1-1&keywords=owen" target="_blank">OWEN</a>, he uses a lot of rhythm throughout. After Owen proclaims his blankie, Fuzzy, goes where he goes, Henkes writes where it goes: <i>Upstairs, downstairs, in-between/Inside, outside, up-side-down. </i>Notice it doesn't rhyme, but has a nice beat. On the next page, Henkes describes how the blankie likes what the child likes: <i>Orange juice, grape juice, chocolate milk/Ice cream, peanut butter, applesauce cake.</i> See the rhythm? It's important for your manuscript to have this even if you don't rhyme. I always try to place some rhythm in my manuscripts--fiction or nonfiction.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaTAsSMYcvs/UgPD5GbP69I/AAAAAAAAA0g/GMs_1UXsjVI/s1600/chicken+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaTAsSMYcvs/UgPD5GbP69I/AAAAAAAAA0g/GMs_1UXsjVI/s1600/chicken+soup.jpg" /></a>2. Repetition--This can come in the form of repeated lines, words, or even sentences. It gives a rhythm to your story that's important, but also is fun for a child to say over and over. Children love repetition and that's </div>
why after you read a story for the twentieth time, they want it read AGAIN! In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Jean-Van-Leeuwen/dp/0810983265/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375978347&sr=1-1&keywords=chicken+soup+by+jean+van+leeuwen" target="_blank">CHICKEN SOUP</a> by Jean Van Leeuwen, the story begins with repetition: <i>Pssst! Cow told Sheep. Pssst! Sheep told Pig. Pssst! Pig told Goose. Goose told all the chickens! Pssst! </i>The rest of the book doesn't use this, but it's a great way to open a story. She also uses repetition with onomatopoeia. <i>CLOMP! CLOMP! CLOMP!</i> is used throughout as a repeating line that helps give dramatic tension as the farm animals are all worried the farmer is about to make chicken soup and the chickens are in danger. This repeating line is the sound of the farmer's boots. Children will love to yell this line as a parent or teacher is reading to them. See if you can use this in your manuscript--one repeating phrase or line throughout. We can all remember the line from CLICK CLACK MOO! by Doreen Cronin. It's what made that book famous. <br />
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3. Puns--this is when you use a word that has a double meaning that's meant to be funny. Editors love puns. Not all manuscripts have them, but if your manuscript has the right tone, a pun can really make your story sparkle and add even more humor. In Dian Curtis Regan's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Barnyard-Slam-Dian-Curtis-Regan/dp/082341907X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375979241&sr=1-1&keywords=barnyard+slam" target="_blank">BARNYARD SLAM</a>, the use of pun is over-the-top and actually at the center of her story. Every page has some form of pun on it from the ducks being a bunch of quacks all the way to the goose dancing Swan Lake. Many of these puns are only ones adults could understand, but that's okay. Adults are the ones who are buying and reading these stories, so if you have a few puns for the older folks, editors will still like it (but not too much! Always think like a child when writing stories.) I'll never forget a workshop I attended that was taught by an editor from Chronicle. She showed how the manuscript went through 17 revisions and with each revision, they put more and more puns within it. That led to the many puns I put in my manuscripts including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Peepers-Pam-Calvert/dp/0761459898/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375979282&sr=1-1&keywords=princess+peepers" target="_blank">PRINCESS PEEPERS</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Multiplying-Menace-Divides-Math-Adventures/dp/1570917825/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1375979859&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=multiplying+menace+divides" target="_blank">MULTIPLYING MENACE DIVIDES</a>.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JdKGl8Mzc14/UgPLzbYc7fI/AAAAAAAAA0w/kMUu_Ym-3_E/s1600/mars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JdKGl8Mzc14/UgPLzbYc7fI/AAAAAAAAA0w/kMUu_Ym-3_E/s1600/mars.jpg" /></a><br />
4. Circularity--this is where the beginning and ending are either similar or the exactly the same. The story completes a full circle. This can either give closure to the manuscript or even surprise the reader because the <br />
story seems to be starting all over again which will give little ones a reason to read it AGAIN! In Chris Gall's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Theres-Nothing-Mars-Chris-Gall/dp/0316166847/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375980444&sr=1-1&keywords=there%27s+nothing+to+do+on+mars" target="_blank">THERE'S NOTHING TO DO ON MARS</a>, the book opens as the title suggests, a little boy who lives on Mars is bored--there's nothing to do. Throughout the journey (as this is a journey book), there's TONS to do and yes, he learns something until he ends up on Saturn and guess what? There's nothing to do on Saturn. The ending is full circle--although it's not exactly how it opens, it's very similar (and it could set up a sequel...one never knows!)<br />
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5. Onomatopoeia--now I wouldn't put this down if it weren't SOOOO important in picture books. You should have learned about this from 5th grade language class. But I'm going to put it out there that almost every picture book should have some form of this in their story or manuscript (nonfiction, too!!!) Why? Because kids LOVE to say these words and they give sound and vibrancy to a book. Also, it's FUN for the art director to place HUGE text of these sound words within a story. I'll never forget when I put in <i>WHOOSH</i> in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Peepers-Picks-Pet-ebook/dp/B0083LF13E/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1375981622" target="_blank">PRINCESS PEEPERS PICKS A PET</a> how that one word made such a difference in the page spread. Kids love this.<br />
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Assignment 5:<br />
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I'd love for you to get your hands on the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Animals-Dont-So-I-Wont/dp/159702029X/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1375981716&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=animals+won%27t+so+i+won%27t" target="_blank">ANIMALS DON'T, SO I WON'T</a> by David G. Derrick, Jr. He has almost every element I talked about today and the story is very cute--one you should study. He's a DreamWorks storyboard artist and knows what he's doing to delight children.<br />
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For this week:<br />
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<li>Check out ten different books, either nonfiction or fiction or both and see if you can spot some of these elements. Are there other elements that the author used to set it apart? Beautiful language, rhyme, alliteration, etc.? </li>
<li>Take a look at your work-in-progress. Is there a way you can infuse at least two of these elements within it? Can you try to use all five? See what happens! You might be amazed where these could take your manuscript!</li>
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If you're new to PBU, check out the first four assignments here: <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PBU</a>. They don't have to be done in order and there's no set time limit! That's the beauty of a free workshop. It's always here for you. </div>
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Happy writing!</div>
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<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-25939334454979245792013-08-03T07:46:00.000-07:002013-08-03T07:46:41.616-07:00PBU Returns Next Week...Just wanted to pop in to tell you that Picture Book University will be back next week. I'm on vacation in Colorado this week. I'll be posting on Wednesday, July 6. <span id="goog_1070810975"></span><br />
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See you then!Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-48759113457924898282013-07-23T07:59:00.001-07:002013-07-23T08:01:21.533-07:00PBU Critique Giveaway Winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TgIMmO626n8/Ue6YgkCZ5OI/AAAAAAAAAzw/SaioXyzwhr8/s1600/PBU+winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TgIMmO626n8/Ue6YgkCZ5OI/AAAAAAAAAzw/SaioXyzwhr8/s400/PBU+winner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I'm excited to announce the winner of the PBU critique giveaway! Thank you to all who participated. The traffic to my blog has been phenomenal and I'm so glad my posts have been beneficial!<br />
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So, let's all slap our knees for a drumroll....<br />
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The winner is...<br />
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You may email me at<a href="mailto:pam@pamcalvert.com" target="_blank"> pam@pamcalvert.com</a> and I'll give you instructions on how to submit your manuscript. If you're not ready to receive the critique just yet, please let me know you saw this posting. If you don't respond in a week, I will do the drawing again.<br />
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Thank you, everyone! I'm on vacation next week, so I won't be posting, but I will be doing another picture book analysis this week.<br />
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Happy writing!Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13198548.post-24835917953469111162013-07-22T13:13:00.002-07:002020-05-12T06:43:40.771-07:00Picture Book University: Nontraditional Storytelling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome back! I hope you almost feel like a picture book expert by now. Through the last three weeks, you should have read no less 40 picture books. That's amazing, isn't it? If you've missed the previous lessons, just click here: <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PBU Lessons</a>.<br />
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This week, I'll be highlighting different ways to tell your story. I'm going to be honest here--illustrators (who are also writers) can normally get away with these types of books as well as very established picture book authors. Since you are straying away from the "traditional" and what editors say they're looking for (which by and large is character driven, funny, quirky books with a surprising twist!), you must have a spectacular idea to turn their heads.. (This can happen, so I don't want to discourage you.)<br />
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If you've studied the market at all, you may have noticed some extremely successful books that are told in a surprising way. I'm going to list a few different "types" of books and their examples. This is definitely not exhaustive. I will try to give author only examples as much as I can. Usually, they will be author/illustrator.<br />
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1. Cycle Stories: These stories follow the main character along throughout the day. Normally, they're told from when the child gets up and ends when he goes to sleep, but not always. It can also be told through seasons. Normally, it ends the way it began. Any story can have a cyclical element where the opener mimics the ending. This is a style element, though, not a cycle story. A few examples include <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Me-You-Kristy-Dempsey/dp/0399250174/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522550&sr=1-3&keywords=kristy+dempsey" target="_blank">Me With You</a> by Kristy Dempsey, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pajama-Pirates-Andrew-Kramer/dp/0061251941/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374520547&sr=8-1&keywords=pajama+pirates" target="_blank">Pajama Pirates</a> by Andrew Kramer, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Lee-Harper/dp/1416984542/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374522027&sr=8-1&keywords=snow+snow+snow" target="_blank">Snow! Snow! Snow!</a> by Lee Harper, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-White-Boom-Lee-Wardlaw/dp/0805090657/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522089&sr=1-1&keywords=red+white+boom" target="_blank">Red, White, BOOM!</a> by Lee Wardlaw.<br />
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2. Journey Stories: This is similar to a cycle story in that there isn't a beginning main problem. The story follows the main character through a series of events. There is a big beginning and there are things that happen throughout the story and there is even a climactic event with the story ending in the journey's end (which often times is a surprising twist), but the traditional story arc is not there. What is intriguing about a story like this is the journey itself. Beautiful language or rhyme can enhance this type of story as well. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Something-Happy-Before-Sleep-board/dp/0547940599/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522682&sr=1-1&keywords=tell+me+something+happy+before+i+go+to+sleep" target="_blank">Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep</a> by Joyce Dunbar,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Squeak-Rumble-Whomp-Sonic-Adventure/dp/0763639915/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522712&sr=1-1&keywords=squeak+rumble+whomp+whomp+whomp" target="_blank"> Squeak, Rumble, WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP!</a> by Wynston Marsalis, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Catkin-Janet-Lord/dp/1561455237/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522853&sr=1-1&keywords=where+is+catkin" target="_blank">Where is Catkin</a> by Janet Lord.<br />
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3. Poetry: This is a story told in poetic form. It can either be describing a concept through a series of poems or telling a tale in rhyme. It can also be one large poem. Always there needs to be a good beginning with a climactic surge at the end and a twist or satisfying ending. Poetic language is key to selling this type of story. Examples include <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Twice-Picture-Book/dp/B0057DCYNQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522118&sr=1-1&keywords=once+upon+a+twice" target="_blank">Once Upon a Twice</a> by Denise Doyen, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Atlantic-G-Brian-Karas/dp/0142400270/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522161&sr=1-2&keywords=atlantic" target="_blank">Atlantic</a> by G. Brian Karas, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Book-Reversible-Verse/dp/0525479015/ref=pd_sim_b_3" target="_blank">Mirror Mirror</a>: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Butterfly-Poems-Other-Nature/dp/1590786203/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522377&sr=1-1&keywords=pumpkin+butterfly" target="_blank">Pumpkin Butterfly</a> by Heidi Mordhorst.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqn1dTXDqTY/Ue2SE9LNsSI/AAAAAAAAAzY/d81x9TXYGJ0/s1600/earth+to+clunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqn1dTXDqTY/Ue2SE9LNsSI/AAAAAAAAAzY/d81x9TXYGJ0/s1600/earth+to+clunk.jpg" /></a>4. Cumulative stories: This is where a story is told building upon itself until it gets to a surprising twist ending or it can end in a cyclical way--back to the beginning. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dog-Stephen-Shaskan/dp/0811878961/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522889&sr=1-1&keywords=a+dog+is+a+dog" target="_blank">A Dog is a Dog</a> by Stephen Shaskan, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Do-Dinosaurs-Say-Goodnight/dp/0590316818/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522923&sr=1-1&keywords=how+do+dinosaurs+say+goodnight" target="_blank">How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight</a> series by Jane Yolen, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Give-Mouse-Cookie-Give/dp/0060245867/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522948&sr=1-1&keywords=if+you+give+a+mouse+a+cookie" target="_blank">If You Give a Mouse a Cookie</a> series by Laura Numeroff.<br />
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5. Journal entries or diary format: Popular almost ten years ago, many authors have been successful writing these and kids love them. This is a story told through a series of diary entries or letters or journal notes. Examples include <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Worm-Doreen-Cronin/dp/006000150X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522977&sr=1-1&keywords=diary+of+a+worm" target="_blank">Diary of a Worm </a>series by Doreen Cronin, Dear Mrs. LaRue series by Mark Teague, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Wombat-Jackie-French/dp/054707669X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374522994&sr=1-1&keywords=diary+of+a+wombat" target="_blank">Diary of a Wombat </a>by Jackie French, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Goldfish-Devin-Scillian/dp/1585365076/ref=pd_sim_b_2" target="_blank">Memoirs of a Goldfish</a> by Devin Scillina, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Help-Me-Mr-Mutt-Problems/dp/0152046283/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374523066&sr=1-1&keywords=help+me+mr+mutt" target="_blank">Help Me, MR. MUTT!</a> by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. Another take on this that doesn't show only letters but is about correspondence between an alien and a human boy is the delightful <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Clunk-Pam-Smallcomb/dp/0803734395/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374523101&sr=1-1&keywords=earth+to+clunk" target="_blank">Earth to Clunk</a> by Pam Smallcomb.<br />
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6. Funny spoofs of classics: This is where an author takes a well known book and puts his/her own twist or spin on it. Many new revisionists include <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Goon-Petrifying-Michael-Rex/dp/B004R96U7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374523137&sr=1-1&keywords=goodnight+goon" target="_blank">Goodnight Goon</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Mummy-Petrifying-Michael-Rex/dp/B004Q3Q3QW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374523170&sr=1-1&keywords=runaway+mummy" target="_blank">Runaway Mummy</a> by Michael Rex,The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Very-Hungry-Zombie-Parody/dp/1620871823/ref=pd_sim_b_7" target="_blank">Very Hungry Zombie</a> by Michael Teitelbaum, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creature-Stirring-Clement-Clarke-Moore/dp/0689863993/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374523537&sr=1-1&keywords=a+creature+was+stirring" target="_blank">A Creature Was Stirring: One Boy's Night Before Christmas</a> by Carter Goodrich, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Rick-Walton/dp/0312553668/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374523217&sr=1-14&keywords=frankenstein" target="_blank">Frankenstein</a> by Rick Walton that spoofs the Madeline series.<br />
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Assignment 4: Go to a bookstore and peruse the newest titles. Try to find at least one of each of these types of books. Are they written by an author/illustrator or an author only? Any by new authors? What types of trends in picture book storytelling do you see?<br />
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If you don't have access to a bookstore, go to your library and check out 2-3 of each type. Which type do you like the best? Is there a type you think you'd like to try? Go for it!<br />
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If you like these posts, please don't forget to tell your friends by hitting the twitter bird and liking it on Facebook. A blog mention is always welcome!<br />
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Don't forget, I'll be drawing names for my free picture book critique tomorrow. If you want to find out details, click this link: <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/2013/07/pbu-participant-button-and-critique.html" target="_blank">PBU Critique Give Away</a><br />
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<b><span style="color: #741b47;">Do you want to see other PBU posts? Click here: <a href="http://wwwpamcalvert.blogspot.com/p/picture-book-university.html" target="_blank">PBU</a></span></b><br />
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Happy perusing!<br />
<br />Pam Calverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151206882952379974noreply@blogger.com6