If you write picture books, you’ll have the privilege of working with some of the finest artists in the world. You get the opportunity to guide these talented illustrators as they create a variety …
Love this post about how to allow illustrators to use their creativity to add humor to picture book texts. And I learned a new word – pulchritudinous. Try using that today!
by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
It Came in the Mail
By Ben Clanton
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016)
Who doesn’t love mail and wish for something exciting to show up in the mail box?
Liam does, that’s for sure. But, as he put it, after checking daily (and more), he got diddly-squat.
After an idea brainstorm, Liam decided he needed to write some mail in order to get some. So Liam wrote a letter to his mailbox and asked for something BIG.
The mailbox delivered.
And delivered. And delivered. Until finally, Liam had so much mail, he had a different problem to solve.
I love It Came in the Mail. Lots of wonderful illustrations filled in the blanks and added details for readers to enjoy. Liam and his buddy, Jamel, were fun characters. The common thread of a childhood wish (to get mail, just like a grown-up) was solved in a very inventive way!
Readers will love It Came in the Mail. Who knows? Maybe your child will even want to write a letter to the mailbox. Just be prepared for an answer.
KID KANDY:
Write a Letter
Materials: writing paper, pencil, crayons, envelope, stamp
1. Choose the person (friend, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, dad, mom, or the mailbox) for whom you want to write a letter.
2. Write a letter to that person.
3. Decorate the letter.
4. Fold the letter and place it in the envelope. Ask an adult to help you address the envelope and place the stamp in the correct place.
5. Mail the letter.
6. Wait.
7. Check the mailbox for an answer. Every day.
P.S. You can write more letters while you are waiting. Or draw pictures of what you think you will get in the mail. Or use your imagination to think of things you’d like to see come out of the mailbox.
Getting mail is so much fun! I’d love to hear what showed up in your mailbox!
Ever try to tell someone a story only to end up saying “I guess you had to be there” when they don’t respond with the emotion you want them to? Do you want to know why that is? It all comes down to…
Source: Brushing Up on “Show, Don’t Tell” by @marciecolleen1
This blog post gives several excellent examples of how to SHOW and not TELL when writing! Worth your read.
One of my grandma’s favorite sayings when an imminent disaster on our Indiana farm turned into a hilarious moment was, “Well, I just found a Shetland pony in that pile of poop.” Everyone would laug…
Source: Finding a Shetland Pony in a Pile of Poop by @rcpjallen plus a #Giveaway
#KidLitSummerSchool strikes again! Funny and helpful post for writers.
Author Josh Funk shares ten ways to support picture book authors and illustrators …
Source: How to Buy a Picture Book (without Buying a Picture Book)
This post contains a great list of ways to share books to spread the word!
One of the greatest misconceptions about children’s picture books is that these are books with pictures that are meant for children. This is simply not true. I would agree that, obviously, a signif…
Source: Slapstick and Subtlety: Yes, Please by @cordellmatthew
Whether your novel is humorous or serious, a bit of levity can add to a child’s reading enjoyment. Let your characters help you inject humor into the story, by giving them unexpected traits, such a…
Source: Unexpected Character Traits Bring In The Funny by @lauriewallmark and GIVEAWAY
I am learning so much this month at the #KidlitSummerSchool! Each day there has been an entertaining, informative, and interesting post about ways to put heart and humor into my writing. It is definitely worth my time.
When I was in elementary school, all the 4th-6th graders took part in a musical extravaganza called The Legend Train, where different narrators would ride around on this wooden train, pulled by the…
Source: Don’t Be Afraid to Be Embarrassed by Jo Whittemore
Use your embarrassing moments as humor in your writing. Great post!
Recently, I saw Penn & Teller live. It was a riveting show filled with mystical “ooohs,” enlightened “aaaahs,” and of course, plenty of laughs. The magician-entertainers are dubbed as a comedy …
Source: Tipping The Scales Between Heart And Humor by @leezaworks and GIVEAWAY
Do I have a secret for pulling on heartstrings? You bet. It’s furry, or feathery, or scaly, and it’s often my favorite character in my story. I give my child hero a pet. First, a disclaimer—I’m a f…
Excellent post about including pets as sidekicks. This post made me realize that I have a LIST. On that list are those books and movies in which a beloved pet (Hedwig, Old Yeller, etc.) or main character (almost any of the YA titles or the newest Star Wars – grrrr) die or are killed off. WHY?????? It’s like losing a family member!
But that is beside the point. Pets are perfect companions in almost any story. Great post!
Love, Laughter, and Life 