Welcome to Would You Read It Wednesday!
It’s nice that some things stay the same in spite of the crazy times we’re living in, isn’t it?
This past weekend should have been the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival – an all around delightful event that I have attended every year since CAN’T SLEEP WITHOUT SHEEP came out in 2010 – 10 years! – and this year for all the reasons you know so well they weren’t able to hold it.
Merritt Bookstore did a virtual version, and lots of us who are usually there in person, including fellow kidlit folks Nancy Shaw and Iza Trapani, did little videos. There were still signed books for sale. But it wasn’t the same. 😞
Hopefully next year things will be back to normal!
Meanwhile, at least some things are the way they should be as we’re here for Would You Read It Wednesday!
I think we need Something Chocolate immediately to bolster our spirits and get us in the mood. For today’s delicacy, I have chosen a cake with the longest name ever! 😊
Sour Cream Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze
Recipe HERE at Barefeet In The Kitchen
I think this is really a case where a picture (or two) is worth a thousand words. Just look at that beautiful creation! If that doesn’t make your mouth water, no amount of words will entice you more 😊 So dig into that lusciousness and let’s get to pitching!
Today’s pitch comes to us from Katie whom you will remember from last month and her MG pitch for Winx Thinks Dinosaurs. Katie writes stories and learning resources to engage young minds with big ideas. Happy to leave her desk for family fun and sports Katie is fueled by faith, laughter, and ice cream. She lives in Maryland where one of her favorite runs is the ~10 miles to the Washington Monument in D.C. Her website is here and she’s on Twitter @KTOEngen
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Imagine That: The Lion, Maria, and Brindy
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Brindy spends hours each day imagining worlds packed with amazing characters. So, reading alone is never lonely for Brindy. But being with other kids is. On the school bus, at the park, or during swim practice, Brindy can’t imagine making even just one real friend. Until the books conspire… After Maria and the Lion visit, the unimaginable becomes possible. Brindy finds her own way to sing with confidence and speechify with courage – and make a friend.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Katie improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above. There are openings in January, so you have time to polish your pitch before putting it up for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Katie is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to getting a bag (ok, probably 2 or 3 bags 😊) of miniature Halloween chocolate bars – you know, the kind that are so tiny they have no calories 😊 They’re not called Fun Size for nothing! Snickers, Twix, and KitKats, here I come!
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Hi Katie,
You have written a wonderful pitch! The story sounds engaging:)
Would you consider making it a little bit shorter?
Any illustrator will have a delightful time with this!
Happy writing:)
P.S. Can’t wait for Susanna’s next recipe!
I would definitely read this. I love a making friends book and know plenty of kids who would benefit from seeing that they’re not alone. My question is – Does Brindy sing and speechify when she’s alone? I felt like that part of her story came from nowhere. I think I’d like to know she was capable of doing it alone which would give us another facet of her personality. Good luck with this one.
Yes! I love the imagined coming to life. I would agree that it needs to be much shorter for a pitch. I believe you should start here…
Brindy can’t imagine making even just one real friend. Until the books conspire… After Maria and the Lion visit, the unimaginable becomes possible. Brindy finds her own way to sing with confidence and speechify with courage – and make a friend.
I might also find a different word for “speechify”
It sounds like a great story!
This sounds like a cute story! I agree with the above comment, about the end of the pitch kind of coming out of nowhere. It seems like it might be more important to the story, maybe you can work it in a little earlier?
I would definitely read this. I think a lot of kids can see themselves in this story ! I agree with the others that it can be shorter. I’m wondering if you have to mention Maria and the lion. Maybe until bookish visitors arrive and help Brindy find confidence and a friend. Just playing around here. You’ve got this!
Yes! This book sounds very interesting, but I agree that the pitch needs to be condensed. I like the suggestion above from Diana. You could also start with something like “Brindy has always found friends in the pages of her imagination, but what would it be like to have one real friend?”
I’m not sure “the books conspire” fits, because isn’t it the characters who conspire? Good luck with your revisions!
Yes!
I LOVE the title and the concept here! I agree with some of the other comments that it could be shortened – you have some powerful hooks (reading, being shy, feeling lonely) and they can do a lot of heavy lifting in a pitch.
I love the made-up word “speechify,” and it makes me think this story will have more made-up words which would be a unique and imaginative aspect. I wonder if another made-up word could be added somewhere in the pitch to highlight that strength?
I was certainly taken with this concept. Stories that help kids understand they aren’t alone in their struggles in making friends are so wonderful and this sounds like such a fun read.
Yes , I would read this PB. The concept is very good. 🙂
Katie, I like your concept of a shy child learning to find friendship through books. I agree with some of the other comments above, though, that the pitch can be tightened.
Susanna, attending the Sheep & Wool Festival has been on my bucket list! Thanks for the heads up to check for virtual highlights!
Yes, I’d read it. …reading alone is never lonely…was my favorite line. I think many kids will identify with this theme.