To think I previously only journeyed through 100 picture books each year. I’ve now surpassed my goal of 365 picture books! This collection of books features Halloween and Thanksgiving themed stories with diversions built around talented imaginators such as Gris Grimly, Carolyn Crimi, and Michael Rex.
In this assortment of books, the following receive the coveted 5-star treatment:
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:
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
One hundred books read in 2020 is just not enough. This year, I aim to truly immerse myself within the wonderful pages of never-before-read picture books FOUR HUNDRED TIMES. Here are the first fifty books I was fortunate enough to encounter. Each one offered something special, and the following books were my personal favorites:
A writer reads. In my case… picture books. The pandemic put a halt on travel back to America, which is where I usually burrow in local libraries and Barnes & Nobles leafing through any picture book I’m lucky to come across. Nonetheless, I’ve been fortunate to make the acquaintance of many a fine book. Here are the first 25 pictures books (those I read for the first time) of 2020. Of all of the books, This Book is Gray is the lone honorary recipient of the coveted 5 star treatment!
StoryStorm, the brainchild of creative picture book penner Tara Lazar, is an inspiring challenge to writers of all inclinations to create 30 individual ideas for a story/plot/concept/book throughout the month of January. To further motivate, Lazar’s site provides a daily insightful guest blog from fellow writers/illustrators.
StoryStorm is the evolution of Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo), which centered exclusively on picture book ideas, and occurred during the hectic month of November (it clashed with National Novel Writing Month). Registration is free, just make sure to post a comment with your name on the registration post, and then you’ll be able to win a slew of cool kid lit related prizes, permitting you post a comment on each inspiration guest post. Be sure to also subscribe so your inbox will be filled with daily inspiration.
Both incarnations are widely popular with thousands of published and aspiring authors as well as classrooms of students participating to develop routine muse-filled habits while embracing their inner creator. In 2018, I decided to continue on my own with PiBoIdMo in November, but am also happy and encouraged to creatively ride out the ‘Storm in 2019!
I’m already one idea in with Wood You?, a meta picture book response to deforestation and both the liberal and conservative stances on protecting the earth’s trees. Think of it as the Lorax, but less furry and more direct and analytical. I certainly need to work on my pitches, as that book (from what I just wrote) sounds AWFUL!!!! 🙂
Now that we’ve filled our mouths with Halloween candy, allow that sweet sugar to muse our brains with 30 delicious ideas for picture books. If you haven’t already, please sign-up for the 6th Annual Picture Book Idea Month hosted by the lovely Tara Lazar. On a personal note, for the second year in a row, my 9th grade English honors students will participate for extra credit. I hope to share their creative ideas with you in the future!
Special thanks to Tara Lazar for hosting the fourth annual Picture Book Idea Month. My third venture with this global creativity party left me feeling less than “imaginative,” as you can see from my idea list below. This could be my gut saying, “it’s time. Revise and send out your existing stories, before you go mustering up more ideas.”
However, the true joy was seeing my talented ninth grade students generate ideas each and every day. I’m proud of their “imaginator” skills and look forward to guiding them as they turn one of their ideas into a genuine picture book manuscript. I just need to remember to add one student to my roster: ME!
Happy writing everyone. For those with a picture idea or three, I urge you to consider Picture Book Marathon in February.
Answer the call of the wild, well a caged wild, in this zoopendous imagicise! This session is all about enhancing your creative discovery while frolicking through a zoonderful world.
For those wishing to ‘tone’ their creative muscles, simply spend 5 minutes on each prompt. For those ‘bulking up’, spend an additional 5 minutes writing or follow the specific instructions with each prompt.
* For further directions on ‘Imagicise’ click here.
SAYING GOODBYE – TILL DEATH DO US WRITE
Day 1: Human Habitat
A world renowned zoo has decided to add a human habitat. You’ve been hired as the chief designer. You’re responsible for a main enclosure and four individual unisex indoor spaces. Describe your plans and explain the rationale behind your design.
Day 2: Speed Mating
Quickly write down 8 animal species. It’s time to imagine that these animals will be participating in a animal version of speed dating. Using the 8 animals you listed, make 4 pairs. For each pair write a 2 minute dialogue on what each animal may say during their brief “date” session. This is a great exercise for those wishing to hone their dialogue writing skills.
Day 3: Name that Zoo
A benefactor in your city has decided to open a new zoo. Though the city already has a zoo, and an original name must be devised for the new zoological park. Create a list of possible names. Examples: Wildlife World, Magical Menagerie, Animal Gardens. For those bulking up, select five of the names and write slogans for each one.
Day 4: Fantastical Menagerie
You’re the curator of a magical zoo. It’s full of extinct, mythical, and just plain weird animals. What animals will be in your collection? Feel free to experiment and mix and match different animals. Example could include: dodo birds; unicorns; Blue Flamingo, a pink flamingo injected with blue poison dart frogs to give it blue feathers; Horny Hippos, a hippopotamus with rhinoceros horns. For those bulking up, describe the enclosures for three of the animals.
Day 5: Escape Plan
List three of your favorite animals. Now select one of them. Pretend that you are a member of this species and currently reside in a zoo. However, the zookeeper forget to lock the cage door. You’ve escaped. Where will you go, what will you do? For those bulking up, devise another ‘escape plan’ for another animal species.
Crave Writing 