Get Your Work Critiqued! #PBCritiqueFest

Special thanks to Picture Book Spotlight’s Mr. Brian Gehrlein for sponsoring the FUNTASTICALLY KIND AND FREE #PBCritiqueFest. There’s no trick to this Halloween treat. Simply fill out the Google survey and you’re eligible to receive ONE of THIRTY-ONE critiques from some of the industry’s finest wordsmiths, artists, and agents.

The clock is ticking, you have until October 31st to enter!!!

My uber talented critique group partner Ms. Cheryl Johnson won last year and HIGHLY recommends the experience to one and all!!!

Picture Books Read in 2021 #301-350

Thankfully I’ve been falling into many new picture books this autumn. Emphasis was placed on Halloween-ish titles, with diversions built around talented imaginators such as Helen Ketteman, Ethan Long, Gabby Dawnay, and Kes Gray.

In this assortment of books, the following receive the coveted 5-star treatment:

• Fright Club by Ethan Long
• Oi Dog! – written by Kes Gray, illustrated by Jim Field

Picture Books Read in 2021 #251-300

The reading train may have slowed over the summer months, but we still arrived at stop 300! It’s always a joy to discover a new book, especially those helmed by imaginators Joseph Kuefler and Jacqueline Davies.

In this assortment of books, the following receive the coveted 5-star treatment:

• The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau – by Jon Agee
• I Want a Dog – by Jon Agee
• No Pirates Allowed Said Library Lou – written by Rhonda Gowler Greene, illustrated by Brian Ajhar
• Pig the Monster – by Aaron Blabey

Picture Books Read in 2021 #201-250

Howdy folks. We’ve reached 250 picture books read in 2021. Woohoo! Such a pleasure to be treated to a plethora of wonderful stories. I discovered the visual storytelling brilliance of Suzy Lee thanks to Kait Feldmann’s list of favorite books. In this assortment of books, the following receive the coveted 5-star treatment:

• A is for Apple, Unless . . . – written by Tom Llewellyn, illustrated by Mark Hoffman
• Sir Simon: Super Scarer – by Cale Atkinson
• Poor Louie – by Tony Fucile
• The Book of Mistakes – by Corinna Luyken

2021 Movies Watched #26-50

Books are my medium for growth and learning. Given the short time investment, movies though remain my preferred means to feel. Each year, I aim to view (hopefully, experience) 100 films I have never seen before.

Here are 2021’s movies #26-50. Among these wonderful films, The Sunlit Night, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, and Our Friend each earned five coveted stars (in my subjective opinion).

2021 Movies Watched #1-25

Books are my medium for growth and learning. Given the short time investment, movies still remain my preferred means to feel. Each year, I aim to view (hopefully, experience) 100 films I have never seen before.

Here are 2021’s movies #1-25. Among the lot, quality throughout the two dozen plus films, and the two to earn five coveted stars are S#I%house and Teen Titans Go! vs Teen Titans. Hey we all have our own tastes. 🙂

Picture Books Read in 2021 #151-200

The picture book parade picked up its pace in order to reach number 200. The majority of the reads came recommended from #PBCHAT’s 2021 mentors, while others were favorited by agents/writers as must read BIPOC, nonfiction, and Asian American books. Favorite new creators discovered in this batch include Elise Parsley, and Julie Fogliano. Of this lot of 50 books, the following were my personal favorite 5-star books:

How to Catch a Clover Thief – by Elise Parsley

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don’t! – by Elise Parsley

A House That Once Was – written by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Lane Smith

The 13 Nights of Halloween – by Guy Vasilovich

Outside, Inside – by LeUyen Pham

Picture Books Read in 2021 #101-150

The picture book parade trudges along nicely. While a little behind on the big goal, it’s refreshing see that after four months, I’ve already read more picture books than in 2020. Many of the books were stupendous comp titles for my own projects, and one carries sentimental value (There Goes Patti McGee), since it’s written by a member of the Critical Friends (my critique group). Many of the reads came recommended from #PBCHAT’s 2021 mentors. Favorite new creators discovered in this batch include Vera Brosgol, Fred Blunt, Mark Pett, Mike Boldt, and Sarah Lynne Ruel. Of this lot of 50 books, the following were my personal favorite 5-star books:

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackwell

Hungry Jim written by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Chuck Groenink

Picture Books Read in 2021: #51-100

The picture book parade continues to stomp through the year. Normally it would have taken me an entire year to read through 100 of these dazzling masterpieces, but now with a clear goal of at least one picture book per day, I’m roaring above expectations. There are so many great books out there, and we’re fortunate that the creators persisted long enough to bring them to us. Many from this collection cemented my love for the medium, rekindled my affection for Beach Lane Books, and helped me discover new favorite creators in Bob Shea, Kelly Dipucchio, Minh Lê, and Jessie Sima. Of the lot, the following were my personal favorite 5-star books:

• Zombie in Love written by Kelly Dipucchio, illustrated by Scott Campbell
• The Ugly Doodles by Valeria Wicker
• Mootilda’s Bad Mood written by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call, illustrated Claudia Ranucci
• Spencer’s New Pet by Jessie Sima
• Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

StoryStorm Success