Category: May Pitch Pick

Would You Read It Wednesday – Nothing But Pitch Picks (February, March, April, and May!)

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Ready for a fun-filled Wednesday, everyone?

There’s no new pitch today, so we’re going to devote ourselves entirely to chocolate and pitch picks galore!

Let’s jump right in, shall we?

There are 4 Pitch Picks with a poll for each. Please read through each group of pitches (3 for Late Feb/Early March, 3 for Late March, 4 for April, and 4 for May), decide which one in each group that you think is best and most deserving of a read and comments from editor Erin Molta, and vote for it in the poll that follows that pitch group! And let’s try to get the voting done by Sunday June 13 at 9PM Eastern so it’s out of the way before next week’s new Mix ‘n’ Match challenge prompt! 😊

Late February/Early March

#1 – Deborah – The Bitter Tastebud (PB 4-8)

Amargo is a bitter tastebud who can’t stand to take another sweet, salty, or lip-puckering bite. But he is outnumbered and so is his vote on the CRAV-O-METER. Amargo must figure out how to change the vote or continue eating the food he detests.

#2 – Bru – THE STORY OF CITRONELLA (PLEASE HOLD YOUR NOSE) (PB 4-8)

In the Stinkbug Kingdom, Bee-utiful Citronella, an orphan worker bee, doesn’t smell which starts the stinky stepsister feud. She has choices; unveil who she is (Hard), go incognito lacking an invitation to meet the prince (Harder), or stay with the smelly stepsisters, Burnbetta & Rottina forever (Really?) With the stench of a wise-cracking fairy godfather, Citronella herself overcomes her fear of smelling different and learns certain odors (or lack of) do have their advantages.

#3 – Robin – But When She Opens the Door… (PB 4-8)

On an Irish March day, Katie O’Shea and her feline assistant, Shamrock, are surprised by the fickle weather shifting dramatically each time she opens the door. In rollicking read aloud rhyme, Katie keeps changing clothes until a look at the calendar reveals the perfect outfit!

Vote for the pitch you like best!

Late March

#1 – Sally – Broccol-trees And Mac & Cheese (PB/Toddler Board Book 3-6)

Broccol-trees and Mac & Cheese is a rhythmic romp of playful poetry for manic and messy mealtimes! With sixteen silly scenes, it is a complete menu of mushy appetizers, flying entrees, dancing vegetables and dessert designs on tables and trays. This book serves as a reminder for parents to giggle, not grimace, when their little one gives them a chocolate pudding grin and promptly puts the bowl on his or her head.

Full of love, laughter and foodie fun, this can be read as a smorgasbord of silliness or served up a la carte to read the same delicious poem over and over again. It’s sure to please parents’ palates and tickle toddlers’ funny bones and bellies!

#2 – Diana – Wait For Cate (PB 5-8)

Cate promised her team she’d finally be on time for the championship kickball game. But when she encounters the new girl in her class, stuck in the sand on the playground in her wheelchair, she has to make a BIG decision. Should she help or hurry on by? The clock’s ticking.

#3 – Jamie – Goldilocks: A Very Tired Tale (PB 4-8)

Goldilocks is exhausted and knows deep down there is a solution, but she can’t quite put her finger on it. Mares? Pears? Stairs? Hijinks ensue as Goldilocks puts her quest for rest to the test in this fractured fairy tale.

Vote for the pitch you like best!

Let’s take a break for a little Something Chocolate! Twix Cookies look like a good choice, don’t they? I mean, what could be better than a combination Twix bar and cookie?

Recipe HERE at Spaceships & Laser Beams

Mmmmm-mmmmmm! Scrumptious! Perfect for dunking in coffee (hot or iced!) or a tall cold glass of milk! Please! Help yourself to as many as you like and let’s keep reading and voting!

April

#1 – Carol – Princess Lucille’s Castle (PB 3-5)

Princess Lucille gives you a tour of her castle beginning at the moat and drawbridge and takes you through each room to the exit where you can buy princesses souvenirs.

#2 – Marta – OH NO SCORPIONS!! (PB 5 – 8)

Roz and her Mom have planned the Best Most Special Mom-Daughter Holiday Ever in Mexico—until the hotel manager announces they have scorpions! Petrified, Roz is so convinced the tiny terrors could be hiding anywhere she “sees” them everywhere, from the beach to her shoes! Her shrieks of alarm leave hotel staff and guests in an uproar and the holiday close to ruin. To save it, Roz must conquer her fears, not just for herself but ultimately for her Mom.

#3 – Angela – Buddy And The Blue Crew (PB 3-8)

On Buddy’s first day at school, all he really wants to do is to just blend in.  But the problem is, he seems to be the only Blue-Footed-Booby in town!  And it doesn’t take long before the other kids start to notice.  When Buddy meets Bill – a kid with an even crazier feature – will Buddy be able to convince the other children, and ultimately himself, that there’s so much more to him than his bright, blue feet? 

#4 – Diane – Stop! Stop! (PB 4-7)

Friend’s, Sumaya Seahorse, Polly Puffer Fish and Delphin Dolphin each find themselves tangled, caught or trapped in a ghost net, a plastic ring and a sunken bottle. To escape they rely on each other and the handy help of Charlie Crab, Sally Swordfish, her seven sisters and Harriet Hag Fish. Together they must come up with a creative recycling solution to tidy their ocean home from the unwanted waste. 

Vote for the pitch you like best!

May

#1 – Patricia – TY’S TREASURES (PB 4-7)

A crystal.  A marble.  A feather.  Ty growing collection of treasures is causing problems for his family.  But  where can he stash them?   Not in the toybox. Not in the closet. Not in the bed.  Mom wants them outside. In his search for a worthy spot, Ty observes birds, squirrels, even his dog hanging on to their treasures.  But a visit with his grandma helps Ty discover the difference between a treasure and a memor,y and that there is a place for both.

#2 – Katie – FRIENDS ‘ROUND THE BEND (PB 4-8)

After friends laugh at his stinky bouquet, Prairie Pup Pip faces the fact that he has a no-good nose. His journey for a cure takes him from the prairie to the forest, encountering other misfit critters. His spunky spirit inspires his new friends, but his trailblazing days may be finished when he is unable to smell his way home.

#3 – Sandy – Simon Soars (PB 7-11)

Simon, a timid turkey vulture at Aviary Academy, eats formerly living earth creatures (F.L.E.C.) to the dismay of his classmates.  When the jawing jays begin to tease and taunt, even Simon’s impeccable sense of smell and much hooted-over accomplishments won’t help.  Simon hatches a plan to teach his classmates that rank fetid funkiness isn’t something to cry foul over.  Suddenly FLEC is no longer BLECH! 

#4 – Caitlin – Lucy And The Fearful Monsters (PB 4-7)

Lucy longs to participate in the fun happening around her, but her fears keep getting in the way. She clings to the edge of the pool, holds tight to the first monkey bar, and hangs back at the petting zoo. Lucy takes to art and draws her fears as monsters. When her monsters start showing up in real life trembling with fright and begging for her help, Lucy must help them cope with the very same anxieties she faces herself.

Vote for the pitch you like best!

Thank you all for reading and voting – I know that was a lot all at once! You are all wonderful and the pitchers and I appreciate you so! ❤️

All the pitch participants are looking forward to seeing how the votes come out!  I am looking forward to that too!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 😊

Would You Read It Wednesday #256 – Oscar’s Noggin (PB) PLUS The May Pitch Pick!!!

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Howdy, Friends!

Big doings in our bustling metropolis (population about 200 plus some bears and bobcats and a lot of deer.)  My sister is coming to visit!!!

So now that I’ve updated you on what will probably be the entire year’s worth of news here in Busy Town 🙂 let’s get down to business, starting with the May Pitch Pick!

Behold the contenders:

#1 Gabrielle – Follow In My Footsteps (PB ages 4-8)

When his dad is injured on a winter hike, Zach must find help. Without a cell phone or map, he worries he won’t find the way home in time until his father’s words echo in his head, “Just follow in my footsteps.”

#2 Joanna – Princess Ickybelle (PB ages 4-8)

When messy and mucky Princess Ickybelle needs a bath, the fed-up Queen calls for help. Queen Granny arrives with some terrific tricks up her sleeve but Princess Ickybelle leads Granny on a wild goose chase around the castle, determined to foil Granny’s perfect plans. When the Princess finally succumbs to a scrubbing, she discovers that some Princesses aren’t meant to stay spotless for long.

#3 Erin – Colors Want To Play (PB ages 3-6)

In COLORS WANT TO PLAY, colors (and maybe you) unravel in a fun-filled journey of demanding direction from the hues themselves. One color is missing and needs some coaxing to join the others. Readers learn the ride can be just as much fun as the destination. Don’t forget comfortable shoes!

#4 Suzie – Gracie Gopher IT Specialist (PB ages 4-8)

Gracie Gopher is an Infrastructure Tunnel (IT) Specialist for Ground City. She is helping Ground City set up and build its tunnel infrastructure. When water blocks the drainage tunnel, Gracie goes down to debug the system. The problem is more difficult than anticipated, so Gracie will have to think fast and come up with a solution on the fly!

#5 Cortney – Olive Hills (PB ages 4-8)

Elle’s mind drifts through an olive grove as she tries to keep memories of her grandma alive. She surprisingly finds herself with a familiar, yet forgetful brontosaurus. The two set out to retrace their footprints in hope to relive fading memories. When they reach the giant tree where Elle’s grandma used to sit and reflect, they discover love ones will always be with you no matter where they are.

Please read and evaluate these 5 lovely pitches and vote in the poll below by Sunday June 18 at 5 PM Eastern for the one you think is best and most deserves a read and comments by editor Erin Molta!

As a reward for all that hard work, we shall now have Something Chocolate.  And okay.  I’m just not even going to pretend health food today.  This is cream cheese and sugar and chocolate!  Enjoy! 🙂

Something Chocolate: No Bake Brownie Batter Cheesecake

Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Chambrae who says, “My name is Chambrae Griffith. I studied political science in college and am trying my best to use my education to effectively govern the four little dictators currently running my house hold. I have a love for reading and running, all though I don’t recommend doing them at the same time. Treadmills and page turns don’t mix well. I have always wanted to write and since my youngest has started school I figured no time is as good as the present!”

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Oscar’s Noggin

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

The Pitch: Oscar has an extraordinary noggin! He can decode any dilemma, unravel any riddle and obliterate the most overwhelming obstacles – except one. Oscar must go to school and school is simply not nogginey enough for a kid with such big ideas. When his teacher tires of Oscar’s disastrous attempts to make school more stimulating and hires a substitute, Oscar’s noggin starts to spin. Has he finally found a way to finagle his freedom?

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 Chambrae 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 July, so you have a little time to polish your pitch before putting it up for helpful feedback and have a chance to have it read by editor Erin Molta!

Chambrae is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to spending a week with my sister and her family!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

 

Oh, and P.S. – if anyone has a question for the July 3 Oh Susanna, please send it in!!!

 

Would You Read It Wednesday #218 Breakdance Bertie- PLUS The May Pitch Pick

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Happy Wednesday, Folks!  And Happy Summer!  Because now it officially is 🙂

I tell you, it’s a miracle I even got this post written!  Yesterday was every kind of crazy!  First, the junk guy showed up so we could clear out our basement (you know, to make it easier to paddle the canoe when it rains and the basement floods 🙂 ).  This involved removing the protective tarp from the bulkhead doors (vain attempt NOT to have basement floods 🙂 ).  Luckily, there were no snakes in the bulkhead stairway… but you never know until you open it and look in!  So you get the thrill of that I-may-suffer-palpitations-at-any-moment feeling 🙂

However, fussing around with the bulkhead stairway brought us in close proximity to the newly installed propane regulator… which allowed us to smell gas… which we should NOT… so we had to call about having it checked.  They wanted us to call the Fire Department!  LOOOOOONG “discussion” about whether that was really necessary culminating in the gas company guy showing up unannounced at 9 PM… only to say that he’d be back tomorrow to check it out properly!  So we got the additional thrill of that the-house-may-explode-at-any-moment feeling!

But being outside at 9 PM I heard noise and saw lights at our neighbor’s house… which is for sale and supposed to be empty… and it sounded more like a party than a poltergeist… which had to be investigated…and though by the time I got there the party was over, circumstances were such that the sheriff still had to be called… resulting eventually in the thrill of realizing I have become Gladys Kravitz (Bewitched) and Mrs. Rachel Lynde (Anne of Green Gables) and every other nosy-busy-body-crotchety-old-neighborhood-spy-wannabe rolled into one!

So.  Like I said.  Miracle right here! 🙂

Let’s get to it, shall we?

First, the May Pitch Pick.  Please read through the superb revised pitches below and then vote for your favorite.

#1 Susan – Bossy Bird (Picture Book ages 3-8)
Bossy Bird is the largest, loudest and bossiest bird of the bunch.  When the fed up flock sends him away, they lose their lookout and leave themselves open to the hungry neighborhood cat.  With danger crouching around the corner, Bossy Bird will discover that being the boss is not as important as being a friend and the others will learn that getting along is part of being a team.

#2 Sherry – Squirrelly Curly (Picture Book ages 4-8)
Three squirrel brothers need a home for the winter, but while Mo and Larry build nests, Curly pelts them with acorns and snatches nesting materials for his snow sports. When varmints and weather destroy their nests, it’s up to Curly to lead them to the safety of a nest and the scrumptious acorn feast he’s squirreled away for hard times. In this Three Little Pigs re-telling, varmints and an ice storm replace the wolf.

#3 Melissa – Walking With Memphis: Inspired By A Real Dog (Nonfiction Picture Book ages 3-8)
When Memphis becomes paralyzed and loses his wag, he must learn to walk with a wheelchair. He worries his dog days will never be the same, but he digs up the courage to embark on an adventurous discovery of all that he is capable of and what it means to be a lucky dog.

#4 Shae – Avocado Desperado (Picture Book ages 4-8)
Roll with the other avocados? Avocado Desperado? Ha, never! Until he realizes not every problem can be solved alone, especially those that start with guaca and end with mole.

Please vote in the poll below for the pitch you think is best and most deserves a read an comments from editor Erin Molta!  Please cast your vote by Sunday June 26 at 5 PM EDT, and I’ll announce the winner next week!

Now then, for today’s Something Chocolate, how about Strawberry Shortcake?  I know… technically it’s not chocolate 🙂  But the strawberries are SO GOOD in June it seems a shame not to take advantage of them.  And strawberries make for a VERY healthy breakfast.  And you can always put some chocolate sauce on your strawberry shortcake! 🙂

Gluten-Free-No-Bake-Strawberry-Shortcake-Icebox-Cake-iowagirleats-01

Strawberry Shortcake recipe HERE at Iowa Girl Eats

Don’t you feel healthful and virtuous after that exceptionally nutritious breakfast-y type snack? 🙂

Alrighty then!  Onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Lindsay who says, “When I’m not cleaning up the unsavory messes of my two little boys, Cavalier King Charles pup and two cats, you can find me writing picture books. I’m a former newspaper and magazine editor, so it makes sense that I love to revise and critique. Here is for the manuscript I developed in Susanna’s excellent course, Making Picture Book Magic. This is my first submission for Would You Read It Wednesday!”

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Breakdance Bertie

Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-8 )

The Pitch: Bertie the emu can’t help but wiggle to the beat blaring through the barnyard. When her human friend Jeannie tells her about an online breakdancing competition, Bertie decides to go for the grand-prize pool. She tries to practice her hops and drops Monday through Friday, but Jeannie and the boom box aren’t always around, and the other animals lose patience when Bertie’s hops flop. Calamity sends Jeannie running just before deadline and leaves Bertie and the animals to build their own beat.

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 Lindsay 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 October, so you’ve got a little time to tweak your pitch to perfection and then get it up for some helpful feedback and a chance to have it read by editor Erin Molta!

Lindsay is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to seeing who wins the Pitch Pick!  It’s going to be a tough choice! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #177 – The Sun, The Moon, And Eve (PB) PLUS The May Pitch Pick!

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Now that the Illustration Contest has been announced, I’m all excited to see what our talented illustrator friends are going to come up with!  How, oh how!, will we wait 3+ whole weeks?

But they don’t call me Clever Sus for nothing!  Nosireebob!  I am a master of distraction technique!

For starters, we can distract ourselves by voting for our favorite pitches in the May Pitch Pick.

Our intrepid pitchers have taken all your good advice to heart and reworked their pitches so that I fear you’re going to have quite a job picking a favorite to vote for!

Here they are:

#1 Zainab – A Case Of Cane-Syrupy-Sugar-A-Bitus (PB ages 4-8)

Samantha’s dream of becoming THE pirouetting star of the school talent show may be shattered when she contracts a case of cane-syrup-a-bitus (a.k.a. the Sugar Bug). Will Samantha be able to rid herself of this high fructose bug or will she be sent home and miss her moment on stage?

#2 Linda – Poindexter’s Particular Procedure For Cold Feet (PB ages )

Poindexter’s Particular Procedure for Cold Feet.  This play on the letter “P” pops the story along as it addresses two-year-old Evan’s problem of cold feet.  Evan is befuddled as his mother puts his socks on, yet no shoes.  Of course he promptly takes the socks off.  Only after consulting Poindexter’s Purple Book of Particular Procedures for Peculiar Problems does the mysterious solution produce toasty warm feet.

#3 Kirk – When Your Best Friend Wants To Be Your Girlfriend and Other Horror Stories (MG)

12-year-old Jared Hoover and Cassie Arnold have been friends since they ate sand together. They’ve attended the same schools, shared family camping trips and even visited Disneyland. Inseparable friends forever, right? Maybe not when Cassie begins experiencing “changes” Jared doesn’t understand. Jared can’t figure out if she hates his guts or (gulp) might actually “like” him in a weird way. Who knew girls were so complicated?

#4 Jason – Barnabas Is NOT A Ninja (PB ages 4-8)

Barnabas is not a ninja.  He wears buccaneer boots, sings sea shanties, and shouts “avast!” at passing strangers. So when his parents enroll him in Ninjagarten, he must contend with a shushing sensei, 19 know it all ninjalings, and an uncontrollable urge to raise a ruckus.  After recruiting the other students to join his pirate crew, Barnabas leads them in a mutiny.  Either he will conquer the classroom, or his first day of Ninjagarten will be his last.

Please vote for the pitch you think most deserves a read by editor Erin Molta in the poll below by Sunday June 7 at 5 PM EDT.  Many thanks!


Next, we can indulge in Something Chocolate which will surely take our minds off the Illustration Contest at least while our mouths are full…!  Since it’s breakfast time, and breakfast is the most important meal of the day, how about some chocolate waffles???!!!

Mmmm!  Great idea!  Not only chocolate!  Not only delicious!  But we’ve got the basic food groups covered: chocolate, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and fruit (for you breakfast purists out there :)).  Yum-MY!

And now, we can focus on today’s pitch which comes to us from Lavanya whom you will remember from last July with her pitch for Sophie vs. The Monster.  She says, “I’m a software engineer by day, and an avid reader of fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and literature by night. I’m also mother to a young girl who has just discovered the magical ability to make meaning out of the printed word. I started putting my own words down on paper last November, and when I went to my regional SCBWI conference in April, I confirmed a suspicion that I had long harbored – writers are the nicest people in the world, and I want to be one of them. :-)”

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Sun, The Moon, And Eve
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: In the dawn of the world, a child called Eve sings out her love for her siblings, the Sun and the Moon. But when Eve’s songs reveal her favorite, the Sun and the Moon unleash their fury. Eve must dispel the terrible shadow that follows, and restore their harmony.

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 Lavanya 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in October so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Lavanya is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to the Illustration Contest!  Aarrgghh!  There I go undoing all that fabulous distraction, putting the contest right back in your minds!  Oops! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #140 – Escalators Don’t Bite! A Little Traveler’s Guide To Airports (PB) PLUS The May Pitch Pick

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Golly how time doth fly!

Second time in a row it’s been a whole week since I posted!  How are you all doing?  Having good summers so far, I hope?

Let’s see… What have I been up to this week…?  I went to the NJ SCBWI Conference which was fabulous!  It would have been great just for the speakers and workshops etc, but it was over-the-top great because I got to meet so many people in real life that I’ve known online for a long time.  I hate to make a list because I inevitably forget someone and then feel bad for leaving them out when of course I didn’t mean to, so suffice to say, you all know who you are and it was AWESOME to meet you! 🙂  I also went to Pennsylvania on a college visit and seriously saw the most unbelievable amount of tire material on the side of Interstates 84 and 81 that it made me worry for Princess Blue Kitty, but so far she appears unscathed 🙂  All that traveling took up most of the week.  So I feel like I’ve been very unproductive! 🙂

I had a great plan for today’s Something Chocolate.  The lovely Lauri, whom I met at NJ SCBWI, so very kindly brought me a present!  It was meltable white chocolate wafers and a mold with all kinds of sheep in it so I can make white chocolate sheep to go with Can’t Sleep Without Sheep!  Isn’t she amazing and thoughtful???!!!  I’m so excited to try it, and I was going to do it and share with you for today’s Something Chocolate.  But it turns out that I cannot drive to Pennsylvania and make chocolate sheep at the same time, so it’s going to have to wait for another week.  In the meantime, we shall make do with something summery and chocolate: White Chocolate Strawberry Muffins (because it’s so late while I’m writing this that it’s practically breakfast time and my thoughts are turning fondly to muffins :))

So, it appears in the craziness of June that we somehow never got around to the May Pitch Pick, so here it is today.  Our brave and talented May pitchers have worked hard to revise their pitches based on your feedback and here they are:

#1 Vivian – The Long Wait For Mom – PB (ages 5 and up)
Sophie finds a huge hole in her life and an ache in her heart after Mom is deployed. Trying to speed up time by keeping busy, Sophie jumps rope, writes letters and bakes cookies. But when she involves her community in a project to bake cookies for soldiers who don’t have families, Sophie discovers that helping others is the best way to help yourself while waiting for the ones you love.

#2 Todd – Orville Wright’s Final Flight – NF PB (ages 7-12)
Orville Wright may be best remembered for his first flight, but it was his final flight 41 years later would completely change the world of aviation.  

#3 Linda – I Know What I’m Doing – Picture Book (ages 3-7)

Lizzie likes to explore her world all by herself. When her parents caution her about trying something new, her reply is always, I know what I’m doing!  Each day of the week, Lizzie gets herself into some kind of minor trouble, until Saturday, when she gets stuck in a tree and has to finally admit she doesn’t always know what she’s doing. Does Lizzie learn to ask for help from now on?


#4 Steve – Princess Petulia’s Problem – PB (ages 5-8)
Princess Petulia had the longest hair you ever saw. It was long, it was luscious, it was glossy and glamorous and Princess Petulia … hated it. Children stood on it, birds made nests in it, but the Kings number one rule was NO HAIRCUTS  and kings can’t be disobeyed. Fortunately, when she bumped in to the old gardener with the pruning shears and the shaky hands, Princess Petulia saw the perfect solution to her problem.

Please vote for the one you think most deserves a read and comment by editor Erin Molta in the poll below by Sunday July 6 at 5 PM.  I’ll announce the winner next week.


Today’s pitch comes to us from Michelle who is a mom, a teacher, and a writer.  She blogs at http://amomnextdoor.wordpress.com/about/

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Escalators Don’t Bite! A Little Traveler’s Guide To Airports
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 2-7)
The Pitch: Serious Salim wants to be sure his family makes their flight to visit Grandma and Grandpa, but he’s worried about his little sister, Malika. It’s her first time at the airport, and he knows how much trouble she can be. His Little Travelers’ Guide to Airports is just the ticket to make sure everyone gets to the gate on time!

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 Michelle 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in September so you’ve got a little time to polish up your pitches and send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Michelle is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to Fourth Of July Weekend!  And I hope you all have a great one!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, and Happy Fourth!!! 🙂

Would You Read It Wednesday #92 – The Cat Who Lived In The Flowerpot (PB) AND The May Pitch Pick!

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Happy Wednesday, Everyone!  I hope you are all having an excellent week so far!

We’ve got two things on the agenda today – the May Pitch Pick and today’s Would You Read It.  Luckily, we’ve got something delicious and chocolatey to fortify us 🙂

Yum!  Chocolate Cream Pie! 🙂

Please help yourselves to as many slices as necessary to fuel you for the morning 🙂

Now then.  Let’s start with the May Pitch Pick.  We had 5 terrific pitches.  The pitchers all took your generous counsel to heart and have revised their original offerings.  Please read the pitches below and then vote for the one you feel deserves a read by editor Erin Molta!

#1. Jesse
Daydreamer (YA/Sci-Fi)
Dr. Edwin Wallace has found the answer to one of science’s great mysteries – deja vu, revealing a clue to his visions. But as they fade with age, could the exceptionally gifted 17 year old Jackson Cooper unlock the answer to harness their premonitions for the good of mankind? When Jackson is taken by a secret military agency, he will need to rely on the bond of new found friends to help him fight his way back home.

#2. James
Story Bored (MG)

The narrator has a problem. Too many of the stories on his bookshelf have changed. Humpty Dumpty is not on his wall but in a recipe for chocolate cake. The old lady who lives in a shoe is now the old lady who lives in nice cozy house with a big screen TV. And the tortoise is missing. The hare has nobody to race against. But those problems are not as important as the narrator’s major concern. Where is the 8 year old writer who made all those story changes?
The narrator sighed ‘why are books so complicated?’


#3. Rita
Nobody Loves Roberto A. Tailbottom (PB)

Robbie Tailbottom is concerned only about his next meal, but when he finds out that other animals are in trouble this rat becomes a hero.

#4. Kimberly
Bonjour, Remy! (PB)
Six-year-old Remy loves adventure—just so long as it never leaves the garden. So she hesitates when her parents surprise her with a trip to Paris. How can she leave all of her favorite things? It might take some convincing, but if Remy will leap into the new and wonderful Parisian culture she might just learn that beauty and her favorite things can be found in many places. They just might have different names.

#5. Sian
The Word Thief (PB)
Benedict the Vampire likes nothing more than snacking on a tasty noun.  He’s on a rampage, gobbling up ‘words, whispers, songs and shouts’ until the city is silent.  Who can stop him?  Something furry lurking in the sewer could have the answer….

Please cast your vote for your favorite pitch by Saturday June 15 at 11:59PM EDT.


Now, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from the lovely Heather who says, “When people used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I answered, “A children’s book author and illustrator.”  As I grew older I thought that was too unrealistic so I majored in sociology and started working for a small business.  However, I recently decided to chase that childhood dream, and started writing!  Hopefully this dream comes true!”  

(And I just have to sneak in with my 2 cents and say I think she’s well on her way 🙂  She wrote a terrific entry for the In Just Spring Contest, and if you go to her blog you’ll get to see some of her fabulous art… including a picture of the cat who lived in the flowerpot :))

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: The Cat Who Lived In The Flowerpot
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-7)
The Pitch: Tristan the cat lives in the flowerpot between apartments 7 and 8.  He loves his human neighbors and they love him.  There was just one problem.  NO PETS ALLOWED!  One day the strict landlady swings by for a surprise visit and discovers Tristan.  He finds himself in danger of losing his flowerpot home and the neighbors 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 Heather 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in July so we’re about ready for some new pitches!  Send yours for your chance to be read by editor Erin Molta!

Heather is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to seeing who wins the May Pitch Pick.  I have a feeling it’s going to be another tight race!

Have a wonderful day, everyone! 🙂