Perfect Picture Book Friday – Happy Groundhog Day!

21 Comments

Woohoo!

It’s Groundhog Day!

And you know what that means!!! 🙂

Punxsutawney Phyllis herself will be up and at ’em as soon as it’s light to make her prediction about whether we’ll have 6 more weeks of winter or an early spring!  (Fingers, toes, eyes, paws, etc. crossed for the latter! 🙂 )

As it happens, however, Phyllis and I are off to an all-day school visit the second she’s made her prediction, so you’ll have to wait to find out what she says!  And we are not here to participate actively in PPBF…

…so at the risk of tooting our own horn, Phyllis and I would like to direct you to Beth Stilborn’s Perfect Picture Book blog post on Punxsutawney Phyllis for today’s Perfect Picture Book.

punxsutawney_phyllis_cover-b

We hope you will read Beth’s post and then enjoy our book with all your friends and relations, human and groundhog!

Also, Phyllis being Phyllis, she would love fan mail in the comments, so feel free to write to her 🙂

I’m skipping most of the PPBF categories because they’re on Beth’s post, just making sure everyone sees the accompanying resources!

Links To Resources: coloring pages and activities (scroll down to Punxsutawney Phyllis to make your selection); classroom guides (scroll down to Punxsutawney Phyllis to make your selection); Groundhog Day Cupcakes

Why I Like This Book: I think I’m probably too biased to answer that question 🙂  See what Beth has to say 🙂

I hope you enjoy it as much as Phyllis and I do 🙂

Before we go, Groundhog Day Cupcakes, anyone???!!!

Groundhog Day Cupcakes

Recipe HERE at Bakerella

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!

Happy Groundhog Day, enjoy the cupcakes, and have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #273 – The Troublesome And Unpleasant Adventures Of Murphy The Reluctant Potato (PB) PLUS Straight From The Editor X 3!!!

38 Comments

Boy, do we have an action-packed day today, folks!

I’m not going to waste one single second telling you what the dogs found in the woods or what creative concoction I baked or what the scuttlebutt down at the post office was.  Nosireebob!  We’re going to get right down to it today!

First (your favorite and mine!) we have a thrilling triple episode of Straight From The Editor!

For September:  You will recall Katie’s pitch:
Katie – Pirate For Hire (PB ages 4-8)
Patch loves being a pirate. The beards! The singing! The treasure! There’s only one problem…he gets seasick. When his shipmates begin poking fun at him, Patch looks for a new gig and a new crew who understand him, but where to work? Patch fumbles as a barber, flounders and a singer, and fails as a jeweler before finding a place perfect for a pirate.

And here are Erin’s comments:
This is cute. Though it might garner more interest if you went slightly more active and specific—even the end. Something more along the lines of: Patch loves being a pirate. “Yohoho! The shiny gold coins! The beards! There’s only one problem…he gets seasick. When his shipmates poke fun of him, Patch looks for a new gig. But where to work? What to do? He fumbles as a barber, flounders as a singer, and can’t tell a diamond from a pearl—before finding the perfect place for a pirate –((and I would say what it is)).

For October:  Laura’s pitch:
Laura – Gustavo’s Big Idea (PB ages 4-9)
Aliana’s little brother Gustavo wants to be in charge for the day. Knowing she’s really the boss, Aliana agrees to play along. Now Gustavo needs to come up with a BIG idea to impress his sister! As they head out to explore the woods near their Rocky Mountain home, Gustavo searches for inspiration, finding his idea in the clouds. The power of observation combined with imagination show both siblings new ways to take pride in their discoveries. Easy-to-follow hands on science project for home or school included.

And here are Erin’s thoughts:
I love the concept of this pitch, but I wish you gave an example because I have no idea what the big idea is and how that correlates to being in charge. You need to make that connection for the reader, especially when you mention a science project included. An editor will be confused—is this a picture book about little brother finally being in charge or a book of scientific observation?

Essentially, you just need to provide some more information.

And last but not least, for November: Candace’s pitch:
Candace – Cock-A-Doodle WHAT? (PB ages 2-4)
Clarence Rooster is pacing around the barnyard. He is the smallest rooster at the farm and tomorrow morning will be his first turn at waking up Farmer Judy. What if he’s not loud enough and she sleeps right through his crowing? He decides to hold a practice session behind the barn. Clarence invites his friends to come listen. Each one has a bit of advice for him. Now, he must figure out whose idea is the best.

And Erin’s advice:
This is very cute. Everybody likes an underdog 🙂  However, it would liven it up a tad if you added more specifics. Draws the reader in. So, if you say something like, Cow says stand still to maximize loudness.. Goat says kick your feet when you crow. OR if different Roosters are giving him the advice, then include their different opinions—two maybe—just to add some color.

As always, I find Erin’s thoughts very insightful, interesting, and helpful, and I hope her words help all of you to strengthen your pitches!

Gosh!  All that awesome pitching advice has left me a mite peckish!  How about you?  I think we should refuel with Something Chocolate before we go on to today’s pitch.  As you can see, I’m on a Valentine-themed roll the last couple weeks – very fitting for this time of year 🙂  This looks easy and delicious!

Valentines Day Marbled Graham Cracker Toffee

Graham-Cracker-Toffee

Recipe (including helpful video!) HERE at The Country Cook

I personally am not a fan of sprinkles on anything – they interfere with texture to my way of thinking.  So I’ll probably make my toffee with colored sugar instead.  But you guys feel free to sprinkle to your heart’s content 🙂  (Or use “jimmies” if that’s what you call them in your neck of the woods!)

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Tim who writes under a pseudonym (Francis S. Poesy) and says, “Francis S. Poesy was born on Slipshod Island off the northwest coast of Ireland in 1961. He attended the St. Blathmac Monastary School which was well known for producing many great Slipshod writers, until the island was reclaimed by the sea in 1969.

Francis is also entirely a figment of Tim Canny’s imagination, which many have characterized as “over-active”. Tim currently writes under the pseudonym Francis S. Poesy as he always thought an author should have a much more interesting back story than growing up in the Mid-west and writing technical manuals for a living. Tim is an unpublished writer and is currently working on a presentable version of his second children’s book manuscript. His website is http://www.mulberryandbliss.com.”

Find him on the web at
www.mulberryandbliss.com

Here is his pitch:

Working Title:  The Troublesome And Unpleasant Adventures Of Murphy The Reluctant Potato

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)

The Pitch:  Murphy isn’t like all those other potatoes. He doesn’t dream of becoming delicious French fries; of making beautiful art that gets displayed on the fridge; or of winning ribbons as a science fair project. No, Murphy is very happy kicking back in Farmer McCubbin’s cozy little garden. He has no plans for going on any “potato adventures” thank you very much. But that all changes the day a shovel turns his world upside down and getting back to the garden turns into the biggest potato adventure of all.

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 Tim improve his 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 March, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Tim is looking forward to your thoughts on his pitch!  I am looking forward to Friday, which as you may know is Groundhog Day – a big favorite around here! 🙂  Phyllis is all set to get her furry brown self outside at the crack of dawn to let us know if spring will come early!  Fingers crossed…!!! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

 

BIC, Writers! It’s Time For The 2018 Valentiny Contest Guildelines!!!

42 Comments

I know!

It’s Saturday!

You’re lazing in bed with the comics before getting up to make pancakes with the littles!

What on earth am I doing infringing on your weekend time?!

Well, I’ll tell you 🙂

Two years ago, a bunch of folks asked for a contest to cheer them out of the winter doldrums!

The result?

The First Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Writing Contest!

(Valentiny because, like the Halloweensie Contest, it’s not very long and it’s for little people 🙂 )

We had so much fun that we went ahead with the 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Writing Contest!  And that was so much fun that it seems like a good idea to continue the tradition!  I mean, winter doldrums are winter doldrums and must be conquered 🙂

So here we are!  The reason I’m interrupting your Saturday!

Announcing . . .

The 3rd Annual Valentiny Writing Contest!!!

Valentiny Writing Contest 2018

 

The Contest:  since writing for children is all about “big emotion for little people” (I forget who said that, but someone did so I put it in quotes!) and Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone is hopeful!  Your someone can hope for something good or something bad.  Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone hopeful (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines Day 🙂  You can go under the word count but not over! (Title is not included in the word count.)  If you are so inclined, you are welcome to enter more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself 🙂  No illustration notes please!

Post your story on your blog between 12:00 AM EDT Saturday February 10th and Wednesday February 14th by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list that will accompany my February 10th post.  There will be no Would You Read It that week, and no PPBF, so the post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy.  If you don’t have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section of that post once it’s up. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I’ll post it for you! Please copy and paste your entry into the body of the email – no attachments! And please do not submit emailed entries until the contest begins on Feb. 10!)  Please only post your entry ONCE! Either on your blog and the associated link list, or in the comment section of my post!  Otherwise it gets confusing 🙂

The Judging: over the next several days, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 6-10 top choices depending on number and quality of entries (hee hee hee – you know how much trouble I have with the narrowing, so we’ll see) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday February 19th (or possibly Tuesday February 20th if the judges need extra time.)   The winner will be announced by Friday February 23rd. (And there will be no WYRI or PPBF that week either so that everyone will have time to read and vote and so that we don’t confuse PPBF with announcing winners.)  The dates of the judging/voting/winner announcements are subject to finagling depending on how much time the judges actually end up needing!

Judging criteria will include:

  1. Kid-appeal/Kid-friendliness – remember, this is a story for kids!
  2. Creativity in using hopefulness and success in making us feel the hopefulness!
  3. Valentine’s Day appropriateness – this is a VALENTINE story!
  4. Quality of story – we will look for basic story elements and a true story arc
  5. Quality of writing – use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it.
  6. Originality – surprise us with something new and different! 🙂

The Prizes:  Oh, boy, do we have some GREAT prizes!  Get ready!

So far prizes will include:

– a PB manuscript read and critique from Nikki Garcia, assistant editor at Little, Brown!

Nikki-Garcia

Nikki Garcia

– a PB manuscript read and phone call critique with Nicole Otto, assistant editor at MacMillan Children’s Publishing!

Nicole Otto

Nicole Otto

 

– a PB manuscript critique from the superb multi-published award-winning author/illustrator Iza Trapani

Iza 2014          Old MacDonald
Iza Trapani was born in Poland and moved to the US at age seven.  Her relatives gave her a large Mother Goose Treasury, and she began learning English through those rhymes.  Little did she know that someday her dream would come true and she would become a children’s book author and illustrator.
    Iza’s best selling nursery rhyme extensions, including The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Shoo Fly and Row, Row Row Your Boat are widely used in schools and libraries across the U.S. and abroad. Old MacDonald Had a…Zoo?  is Iza’s latest release. She is currently at work on her 27th picture book, as well as a childhood memoir.
You can learn more about Iza and her books at:

http://izatrapani.com/blog
Facebook
Twitter

– a PB manuscript critique (ms not to exceed 800 words please) along with a follow-up phone call if the author is interested from the lovely and talented Katey Howes, author of Grandmother Thorn (Ripple Grove Press 2017) and Magnolia Mudd and the Super Jumptastic Launcher Deluxe (Sterling Children’s Books 2018)

KathrynHeadshots-20 (2)               Magnolia Mudd cover art

– a PB manuscript critique from the fantastic Lynne Marie, author of Hedgehog Goes to Kindergarten – illustrated by Anne Kennedy (Scholastic, 2011), Hedgehog’s 100th Day of School – illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Scholastic, January 2017), The Star of the Christmas Play — illustrated by Lorna Hussey (Sparkhouse Family, 2018) and Moldilocks and the 3 Scares (Sterling, pending) . Her stories, poems, folk tales and crafts have appeared in many magazine markets, including Family Fun, Highlights, High Five, Spider, Baby Bug and more. She was a first-round panelis for 2016 Cybils Awards and again, in 2017. In addition, she’s an on-staff writer for Jon and Laura Bard’s Children’s Book Insider and a book reviewer. She lives on a lake in South Florida with her daughter and Anakin, their little Schipperke, as well as several resident water birds. She has offers both critiques and mentorships for writers. You can learn more about her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com

Lynne          HH100th

– a PB manuscript critique (non-rhyming please) from the wonderful and amazing Melissa Stoller, author of The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection: Return To Coney Island (Spork 2017)

Melissa Stoller               Return To Coney Island

– a signed copy of Charlie Takes His Shot: How Charlie Sifford Broke The Color Barrier In Golf (Albert Whitman 2018) from fabulous author Nancy Churnin accompanied by a terrific Teacher’s Guide (created by Marcie Colleen)

Nancy Churnin               Charlie Takes His Shot

– a signed copy of Twinderella from Corey Rosen Schwartz AND a signed copy of The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection: Return To Coney Island from Melissa Stoller

Twinderella          Return To Coney Island

– a copy of Laura Purdie Salas’s brand new book Making A Living Writing Books For Kids

Making A Living

– a copy of the 2018 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market (it’s only February – still very useful!)

Children's Writer's & Illustrators 2018

… and as usual I’m still working on the prizes 🙂  so feel free to chime in in the comments if there’s something you’d particularly like to win! 🙂  Or if you have clout with anyone who could offer a good prize please contact me at once! 🙂

I can’t thank these authors and other industry professionals enough for their incredible generosity!  Please visit their sites, buy and recommend their books and services to your writer friends and/or friends with kids, write them nice reviews on Amazon, GoodReads etc if you’ve read and liked their books, and show your appreciation to them in any way you can!

Now then!  Aren’t you feeling inspired to write the best Valentiny Story you can so you can win one of these awesome prizes?  And aren’t you glad now that I interrupted you on Saturday when you can send the kids to Grandma’s for a couple hours and write write write?! 🙂

Set the scene:

Nice hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate? Check!

Plate of delicious Valentiny sugar cookies?  Check!

Computer or paper and writing implement?  Check!

Butt in chair?  I certainly hope so!

Ready, set, WRITE!

I so look forward to reading your stories in a couple weeks!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Bagel In Love

17 Comments

Woohoo!  It’s PPBF!  Come join the fun and share your books!

Speaking of sharing books, have you ever heard of Bookroo?

I hadn’t, but it’s a really cool kids book club subscription where the books arrive wrapped up like presents to make them even more fun.  They were kind enough to feature WHEN YOUR ELEPHANT HAS THE SNIFFLES in their January Board Book Boxes, and to interview me on their blog, and I know they’d appreciate some visitors.  They use recycled and recyclable packaging and help kids who don’t have access to enough books through Reach Out And Read – very cool.  So if you have a sec, hop over and check them out – especially if you have a little person in your life who might enjoy belonging to the book club!

My PPBF pick for the week is tons of fun 🙂  I love bagels.  Also donuts and cupcakes.  This book has them all!  And they dance!  What’s not to love? 🙂

Bagel In Love

Title: Bagel In Love

Written By:  Natasha Wing

Illustrated By: Helen Dardik

Sterling Children’s Books, January 2018, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: language fun (puns and word play), perseverance, dancing

Opening: “Bagel loved to dance.  It made him happier than a birthday cake!  He never felt plain when he was spinning and swirling, tapping and twirling.  But he didn’t have a partner, so he couldn’t enter the dance contest.”

Brief Synopsis: (From the jacket): “Bagel loved to dance. It made him happier than a birthday cake! And more than anything, he wants a partner who will spin and swirl, tap and twirl with him in the Cherry Jubilee dance contest. But Pretzel sniffs that he doesn’t cut the mustard, Croissant thinks his moves are stale, and Doughnut’s eyes just glaze over. Can a cute cupcake save the day for our would-be Fred Éclair? Witty and pun-filled, this picture book really takes the cake.”

Links To Resources: 5 Fun Dance Games For Kids; Easy, Healthy Breakfast and Lunch Bagel Ideas for Kids; Word Play For Kids

Why I Like This Book: How can you not love a dancing bagel? 🙂  Bagel is so sincere in his desire to dance in the contest, and he tries so hard to find a partner.  Even though one after another leaves him disappointed, he keeps trying.  You’ve got to admire his perseverance and dedication to his mission!  In the end, his determination pays off in even better ways than he could have imagined.  Although some of the word play may be lost on younger readers, there’s lots of it and it’s fun and can provide a platform for discussion of puns.  The art is bright and engaging.  An enjoyable read!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂  Go trip the light fantastic!  And then have some bagels for Sunday breakfast 🙂  AND (this is important!) tune in tomorrow (Saturday!) for a special post you writers will NOT want to miss!!!  I’m serious! 🙂

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #272 – Training Your Human (PB)

58 Comments

I know you all woke up this morning ready to celebrate because. . .

dun dun dun…

it’s Neil Diamond’s birthday!

Neil is a very famous singer/songwriter known for such meaningful lyrics as “and no one heard at all, not even the chair.”

I don’t know about you, but at my house getting the chairs to listen is something I struggle with on a daily basis.  It is uphill work, let me tell you!

Neil was also in The Jazz Singer, a movie that my BFF Caroline and I saw (more than once) in 1980 which is described as “a critical flop”… but somehow we knew every word to every song 🙂  In fact, if pressed, we might still be able to sing a lot of them.  Please don’t tell anyone.

Anyway, feel free to share your favorite Neil song in the comments today 🙂

Today is also my brother-in-law’s birthday – Happy Birthday, Dan!  Luckily he doesn’t seem to have any trouble getting his chairs to pay attention 🙂

Now, because it’s the third week of January and I’m extremely tired of winter already and in these parts it’s going to drag on for months yet, I think we need an extremely cheering Something Chocolate to get us through the day.  How do you feel about French Silk Brownies?  They just sound good, don’t they?

Also they look good!

And I think if we get to work on that recipe, boy will they taste good!

Smooth and creamy and chocolatey and delicious… I feel more fortified to face winter already 🙂

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Kari who is an employee by day, mommy, wife, and storytelling superhero by night. She has a master’s degree in business administration, as there was no degree available for pizza connoisseur. She lives in California with her husband, two tiny humans, and three ridiculous cats.

Visit her at her Blog

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Training Your Human

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)

The Pitch:  Brownie and his human pup Jax are the best of friends, but training is proving to be Ruuuff. Does this dog have what it takes to train his pup, or will his first lesson end in disaster?

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 Kari 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 March, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Kari is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to finding a few minutes to re-watch The Jazz Singer, which I have not seen since I was 15, and which Caroline promises me (based on the fact that she re-watched it recently) is really awful 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Brobarians

26 Comments

It’s Friday!

And you know what that means. . .

Perfect Picture Books!

I don’t know about where you live, but where I live the weather has been most uncooperative!  Long spells of frigid temperatures topped off with snow and ice.  It’s too cold to stay outside for more than about 14 seconds, and even if you dare go out, you have to wade through snow or pick your way carefully over ice.  (Don’t get me wrong – I like winter activities as much as the next person – but getting groceries has turned into an Olympic sport! 🙂 )

The result?

Cabin fever and barbarian behavior!

So I have the Perfect Picture Book for today 🙂

Brobarians

Title: Brobarians

Written & Illustrated By: Lindsay Ward

Two Lions, March 2017, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 3-7

Themes/Topics: siblings, sibling rivalry, conflict resolution, humor

Opening: “In the beginning,
a great warrior laid claim to the land.
Feared by all, his reign was steadfast.

But soon another arrived
and his influence spread quickly.
This fierce rival challenged the great warrior.

Two seekers of high adventure,
Their strength and courage became that of legend.

This is the tale of the mighty Brobarians. . .”

Brief Synopsis: Otto and Iggy, two warriors once at peace, end up at odds when they blame each other for spilling the cookies and then Iggy commandeers Otto’s army guys and Otto strikes back by taking Iggy’s bottle 🙂  How can the problem be resolved with two such fierce contenders at war?

Links To Resources: video of how to make your own cardboard sword; video of how to make your own cardboard shield; recipe for Viking Bread

Screen Shot 2018-01-18 at 6.45.22 PM

text and illustration copyright Lindsay Ward 2017

Why I Like This Book: The book is written like a knightly quest tale of old (or maybe it has more of a Viking flavor 🙂 )  All is well in the kingdom until the brothers start fighting over their belongings.  Anyone who has spent time around siblings will appreciate the story!  When the clash between the two reaches an unbearable level, who should step in to referee but Mamabarian! 🙂  The two brothers, sent off in shame, end up friends again when they’re both sentenced to the “dungeon of seclusion” (the bathtub) – partners in crime 🙂  A fun, entertaining story that all Brobarians and Mamabarians will get a kick out of 🙂

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!

Ski, sled, skate, and come in and get warm with a cozy fire, a mug of hot chocolate, and a stack of picture books!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #271 – Stoyanovich In Paris (MG) PLUS A Plethora of Pitch Winners!

22 Comments

 

Good Wednesday, Everyone!

It’s snowing at my house.

The dogs are asleep on the couch, the birds are busy at the feeder, and the llama horde and I are practicing hairdos on each other and making up picture book stories.  Although all of theirs are about llamas… 🙂

Screen Shot 2018-01-16 at 6.59.43 PM

illustration copyright Daniel Wiseman 2018

 

 

How do we look? 🙂

If you’re having a snow day at your house and need something fun to do, you can read WHEN YOUR LLAMA NEEDS A HAIRCUT and then set up your own styling salon with hairbrush and comb, pony tail holders, ribbons and barrettes, hair gel, etc and go to town 🙂  (Though I’d recommend hiding the scissors!)  You can also do hairstyling in the bathtub with bubbles – TOTALLY fun! 🙂

If you don’t have anyone to practice hairdos with it’s okay, because we’ve got all kinds of fun happening here!

First, we have THREE awesome pitch pick winners!!!

The winner of the September Pitch Pick is Katie with Pirate For Hire, the winner of October is Laura with Gustavo’s Big Idea, and the winner of November is Candace with Cock-A-Doodle WHAT?  Woohoo!  Congratulations to all of you for your great pitches!  They are all on their way to editor Erin Molta for her comments and thoughts!

Congratulations also to all the other writers who worked hard to put together pitches for great stories, bravely shared them here, and revised and improved their pitches based on your helpful feedback.  They are all winners because, thanks to you, they all have stronger pitches than they started with, which will hopefully earn them an agent or editor read at some point!

Now then, since we are having a snow day, it’s a perfect time to create delicious things in the kitchen, so for today’s Something Chocolate, we’re going to roll up our sleeves.  I think the old “10,000 hours to mastery” applies to sweets as well… the more times you make something, the better it gets 🙂  Valentines Day is approaching, so no time like the present to practice up on making Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Valentine Hearts!  This allows for plenty of advance taste-testing to be sure you’ve got it just exactly right before sharing with your better half… or your kids and their classmates… or possibly not sharing 🙂

YUM!  We did good, don’t you think?

But I agree… we’d better make more just to be sure… 🙂

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Erik.  Erik is a middle-aged dad who never completely grew up, but somehow managed to raise a human being anyway. He is currently hard at work procrastinating on submitting his first manuscript and writing the second.

Follow him on Twitter @duttonerik

Here is his pitch:

Working Title: Stoyanovich In Paris

Age/Genre: MG Historical Fantasy

The Pitch:  Nikolai Stoyanovich Krisayev is the last of a long line of Russian rat nobility, living in exile in 1880’s Paris. When he rescues a visiting mouse princess from armed kidnappers, he is thrust into the midst of a silent war being waged secretly in the streets and sewers of the city.

With only his wits, his father’s sword, and the aid of a shadowy figure who may or may not be on their side, he will have to fight to save both the princess and the city he loves.

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 Erik improve his 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 March, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!

Erik is looking forward to your thoughts on his pitch!  I am looking forward to writing something fun today!  What should it be about?  The llama horde is pushing for another llama story,

IMG_5151

but I’m thinking about snowmen…

SNOW LLAMAS!

No.

Or maybe, atronauts…

SPACE LLAMAS!

No!

Or the Olympics are coming… maybe an exciting sports story…

SKI JUMP LLAMAS!

LUGE LLAMAS!

LLAMAS ON ICE!

No! NO! NOOO!!!

Sigh.

See what I’m dealing with here?

Here’s hoping Phyllis keeps napping or there’s going to be a knock-down-drag-out over whether today’s story is about llamas or groundhogs! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Gabe And Goon

13 Comments

Guess what today is, everyone?

It is the birthday of my dear friend, talented author/illustrator, Iza Trapani!!!

Happy Birthday, Iza!

And what better way to celebrate than by sharing one of her amazing books with you?!

But first, let’s have some cake 🙂

(And as long as we’re celebrating birthdays with cake, let me take this opportunity to wish Happy Birthday to my Brown Dog who will be 11 tomorrow!)

Isn’t it lovely to have birthdays and cake? 🙂

But now, to Iza’s wonderful book!  Not her newest, which I shared back in the fall, but one of my favorites!

Gabe and Goon

Title: Gabe and Goon

Written & Illustrated By: Iza Trapani

Charlesbridge, July 2016, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-6

Themes/Topics: monsters, friendship, humor, language fun (rhyme)

Opening: “Gabe wasn’t scared of monsters.
He hoped to see one soon.
Well, hiding in his closet
Was a real live monster, Goon.”

Brief Synopsis: Gabe is not afraid of monsters.  In fact, he longs to meet one.  Goon lives in Gabe’s closet, but he is terrified of children!  When they meet, Goon does his best to scare Gabe away but nothing works.  But though he’s unsuccessful as a scary monster, he makes a great friend when something comes along that does scare Gabe.

Links To Resources: draw a monster you would like to meet; write a story about what you would do if you met a monster; 25 Crazy Monster Crafts for Kids; 20 Monster Recipes & Snacks For Kids

Why I Like This Book: this is such a fun twist on the idea of kids being afraid of monsters, since in this story it’s the other way around.  Poor Goon does his best to be scary and all Gabe does is laugh.  Gabe wants to be friends but is unintentionally terrifying Goon with his nose-blowing and sneezing (he has a cold.)  But when Goon realizes that Gabe isn’t so brave about everything, it bolsters his confidence a bit and the two become friends.  The art is warm and cozy and inviting.  Goon is an adorable monster.  There is plenty of humor.  Written in Iza’s trademark engaging rhyme which makes for a great read-aloud, this is a fun read kids will love!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday – A Plethora Of Pitch Picks!

15 Comments

Good Morning, Dear Friends!

Boy are you going to love today!

It’s all about sharing your opinions and letting your voice be heard!

Your vote matters!

Because today we have not one, not two, but THREE pitch picks for you to weigh in on!

(And in case you’re wondering, of course I planned this on purpose to be fun for you and give you a little lift in the dead of frigid winter, and three pitches in one day posted weeks after they should have been has nothing at ALL to do with being swamped with holding writing contests and meeting editorial deadlines and taking trips to Brazil and the holidays and visiting family and poor sick daughters who need company during Say Yes To The Dress marathons to recover from their terrible coughs!  No sirree Bob!  This was a matter of careful planning… 🙂 )

To fuel you for your voting marathon, here is Something Chocolate – and Something Perfect for these cold, cold January days!

The World’s Best Hot Chocolate!

hot choc

Recipe HERE at AshleeMarie

Ah!  Isn’t that delicious?  So hot and creamy and chocolatey?!  Feel free to add extra whipped cream (we all need calcium, right?! 🙂 )

Alrighty, then!  Let’s Pitch Pick!

Please read through the groups of pitches below and vote for your favorite in each month (there are 3 separate polls.)  Whichever of these wonderful pitches win will be sent to editor Erin Molta for her professional feedback!

Please place your votes by Sunday January 14 at 5PM EST.  Winners will be posted next week, good lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise! 🙂

September Pitch Pick:

#1 – Maureen – Kit, Not Kitty (PB ages 4-8)
For as long as Kit can remember remembering, she has felt more like fetching a ball and less like laying on a laptop. But how can she convince her family that it’s nothing to take puuuuurrsonally, it’s just that how she feels on the inside does not match how she looks on the outside.

#2 – Katie – Pirate For Hire (PB ages 4-8)
Patch loves being a pirate. The beards! The singing! The treasure! There’s only one problem…he gets seasick. When his shipmates begin poking fun at him, Patch looks for a new gig and a new crew who understand him, but where to work? Patch fumbles as a barber, flounders and a singer, and fails as a jeweler before finding a place perfect for a pirate.

#3 – Leonie – I’m Hungry Mummy (PB ages 2-6)
I’m hungry, but so is Mommy… She pretends to ‘eat you all up’, but there are some problems I make her overcome first!

October Pitch Pick:

#4 – Corine – The Puffin That Couldn’t Fly (PB ages 5-8)
When Paolo the penguin adopts a friendly puffin colony he doesn’t understand why he can´t fly like his friends—until he follows his gut into the deep sea where his flippers lead him to his family and true identity.

#5 – Kim – Belly Button Piranhas (PB ages 4-8)
Olivia is a gullible eight year old girl that must come to terms with her Dad’s explanation of the origin of the holes in her favorite shirt. With the help of her friends and her dog Rowdy, they will cure the infestation of the belly button piranhas.

#6 – Leonie – The Magician’s Apprentice (PB ages 4-8)
The boys are preparing for a show, but Sam keeps forgetting his costume! An outfit disappears and they need to find who stole it!

#7 – Laura – Gustavo’s Big Idea (PB ages 4-9)
Aliana’s little brother Gustavo wants to be in charge for the day. Knowing she’s really the boss, Aliana agrees to play along. Now Gustavo needs to come up with a BIG idea to impress his sister! As they head out to explore the woods near their Rocky Mountain home, Gustavo searches for inspiration, finding his idea in the clouds. The power of observation combined with imagination show both siblings new ways to take pride in their discoveries. Easy-to-follow hands on science project for home or school included.

November Pitch Pick:

#8 – Jennifer – Dewey Drops (PB ages 4-7)
Dewey wants the chance to make someone’s day, but that will never happen if keeps raining on playgrounds and parades. Plus, the next drop zone will be the worst one yet! There’s no way he’ll see a smile now, all he can do is hope not to land on the cake.

#9 – Candice – The Wildness In Mellie Feye (Upper Middle Grade Eco-Fairytale Retelling)
Mellie isn’t sure what her mom made her…half sea serpent? Peculiar mermaid? Water spirit? Or simple cursed?!

Fifteen-year-old Mellie wants to get back home to the magical isle of her two triplet sisters, but her mom’s curse keeps her away, stuck on a spit of land near Sand Blast Bay, FL. Apparently Mellie getting revenge on her dad wasn’t what her mom intended when she told the girls he was still alive. To break the curse, Mellie needs (what else?) true love’s kiss. She’d rather suck out scallop guts. Until her beloved bay turns septic and all the fish and oysters start dying off. It doesn’t look like she can return home to her sisters until she figures out how to restore the collapsing ecosystem. Her revenge is what caused it after all.

THE WILDNESS IN MELLIE FEYE is an upper middle grade fairytale retelling of the Melusine legend (the water spirit on your Starbuck’s cup) with an ecological twist.

#10 – Leonie – Sara Stole My Hiccups! (PB ages 4-8)
Tommy has a problem and Sara is here to help! Follow these two friends on their journey to solve Tommy’s problem – with a twist.

#11 – Candace – Cock-A-Doodle WHAT? (PB ages 2-4)
Clarence Rooster is pacing around the barnyard. He is the smallest rooster at the farm and tomorrow morning will be his first turn at waking up Farmer Judy. What if he’s not loud enough and she sleeps right through his crowing? He decides to hold a practice session behind the barn. Clarence invites his friends to come listen. Each one has a bit of advice for him. Now, he must figure out whose idea is the best.

Wow!  That was a lot of pitch picking!  I hope you had fun, and I hope you know how much I and the participating pitchers appreciate you taking the time to read and vote, and on regular WYRI Wednesdays give thoughtful feedback to help our pitchers improve and give all of us the chance to learn!

Now then.  One last thing before we all tootle off to our Wednesday appointed rounds.  I have realized that, due to the craziness that was October 1 – December 31, 2017, I failed to mention around the web that we need pitches for Would You Read It!  I actually currently have NONE!  So if you have a pitch that you need some help on and feel could benefit from the wisdom of your peers over here, please send it my way!  You could go as early as next week!  If no one sends any pitches, we’ll just have to eat chocolate and shoot the breeze (which wouldn’t be so bad – I love your company and I love chocolate 🙂 ) but really, we’re supposed to do something productive around here, so fire those pitches my way! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!  Read! Write! Eat chocolate! 🙂

Happy New Year!

46 Comments

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had spectacular holidays!

I was going to have a spectacular pitch pick today – two actually –  but I haven’t heard back from all the pitchers… so I’m either going to post that later or wait until next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, for the sake of filling today’s space (and not because I’ve been pushed into it by a headstrong llama who desperately needs a haircut!) there’s a new llama in town!

llama_needs_haircut_wide_cover

I am so excited about this book!  A lot of you are probably familiar with Daniel’s art from WHEN YOUR LION NEEDS A BATH and WHEN YOUR ELEPHANT HAS THE SNIFFLES, but he gets better with every book.  The art in this one is hilarious!  I just love the llama’s expressions 🙂

I owe this book a little attention, but I felt like I’d blog-toured myself and everyone else out last summer with LION, ELEPHANT and TRUCKS, and following so close on the holidays I didn’t want to impose on your good nature.  So maybe I’ll think up a little something at some point, but for now, I hope you’ll just all get a chance to enjoy the book somewhere!

Here’s a little sneak peek at some of the interior art:

llama 1st page screen shot

Screen Shot 2017-11-21 at 9.20.04 PM

Screen Shot 2017-08-12 at 3.21.09 PM

There’s a GoodReads giveaway for this book if you’re interested… and I think I still have a couple copies available if anyone wants one to read and review on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, their blog, etc…  Email me if you’d like one!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

When Your Llama Needs a Haircut by Susanna Leonard Hill

When Your Llama Needs a Haircut

by Susanna Leonard Hill

Giveaway ends January 23, 2018.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

And now you are all excused to go about your happy Wednesdays!  You’ll be the first to know if I end up posting pitch picks later 🙂

Have a wonderful day! 🙂