text copyright Julia Durango 2017, illustration copyright Bianca Diaz 2017, Charlesbridge Publishing
Opening: “‘One day,’ said Wilson, ‘I will paint your house orange and yellow like the sun.’ Gigi smiled. ‘I will like that. But today, you are all the sunshine I need,’ she said.”
Brief Synopsis: Gigi’s house needs fixing up, and Wilson wants to help make it cozy, safe, and beautiful – a nice place for his beloved grandmother to live. But he can’t do it alone.
text copyright Julia Durango 2017, illustration copyright Bianca Diaz 2017, Charlesbridge Publishing
Links To Resources: the back of the book has an Author’s Note about ways to help in your community including Labor of Love, Habitat For Humanity, and United Way, encouraging children who want to do something to reach out and find things that they can do, from smiling or saying hello to helping repair someone’s home; Little Ways Kids Can Make A Big Difference In Their Community; 10 Fun Community Giving Ideas (includes both “kitchen table” suggestions and “out in the community”)
text copyright Julia Durango 2017, illustration copyright Bianca Diaz 2017, Charlesbridge Publishing
Why I Like This Book: This story is lovely on so many levels. Wilson has a loving and generous heart and wants so much to make his Gigi’s home a better place for her to live, from painting it a cheerful color, to keeping her safe and warm, to making sure she can have a friend, and beauty, and music. He doesn’t let the fact that he is one young boy get in the way of his plans. A poster for “Build Up Neighbors” catches his eye and he gets him thinking. Gigi, meanwhile, is ever appreciative of Wilson’s ideas, but always grateful for what she has, never expressing any kind of dissatisfaction. I like that idea, she always says, but always follows it with, you are all the sunshine, or company, or warmth I need. Wilson shares his ideas with other members of the community – the ice cream man, passing neighbors, the librarian etc. – and they are all encouraging and supportive. No one tells him it’s too much for a boy to do. The art is warm and engaging, and includes such things as Wilson’s calculations for boards and nails needed, a diagram for how he thinks he can clean out the chimney, and what he’ll need to tune the piano. And of course he gets a stack of books from the library to aid his research. When Wilson is finally able to follow through with his plans, all the people from earlier in the book are present. This is a real feel-good story that showcases all the best things about people and community, and that models the concept that even little kids can do a lot to help out. A treasure for home, classroom, or library, and an empowering story kids will enjoy!
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog 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!
For my first choice of 2022, I have a wonderful book to share about being yourself and celebrating your own uniqueness. I think it’s a great story for kids, and also one we, as writers, can take to heart as we begin a brand new year of writing. After all, it’s who we are that gives our writing the uniqueness that will set it apart and help us tell stories in ways they’ve never been told before.
Title: Sweety
Written & Illustrated By: Andrea Zuill
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade, March 2019
Suitable For Ages: 3-7
Themes/Topics: being yourself/individuality, self-acceptance and appreciation
text and illustration copyright Andrea Zuill 2019, Schwartz&Wade
Opening: “Sweety was awkward. Even for a naked mole rat.”
Brief Synopsis: Sweety is awkward, even for a naked mole rat. She has a hard time fitting in, and her classmates don’t always get her. But surely there must be someone out there who shares her love of fungus and interpretive dance! With a little help from her cool Aunt Ruth– Sweety begins to understand that being Sweety is actually pretty awesome and learns to embrace the things that make her who she is.
text and illustration copyright Andrea Zuill 2019, Schwartz&Wade
Links To Resources: 6 Great Ways To Help Kids Celebrate Individuality; All About Me Preschool Activities Theme; discuss what are some ways you are like others? what are some ways you are different? what do you think makes you special? are there some things about you that make you worry others will think you’re weird? do you think other people feel like that too?
text and illustration copyright Andrea Zuill 2019, Schwartz&Wade
Why I Like This Book: Sweety is such an endearing character! “A little square peg” as her grandma tells her. A bit of an oddball. But interesting, original, unusual and fun. This story of learning to appreciate the unique qualities that make you who you are and to not just accept yourself but celebrate yourself is one that so many kids can benefit from. Who among us hasn’t felt like an oddball from time to time? And isn’t it nice to know you’re not the only one! With charming art, humor and heart, this book is one young readers are sure to love.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog 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!
Now. Take a moment to think about what makes YOU amazing and special and then go forth and start writing something new and different to kick off this brand new year!
This is no time for play! This is no time for fun! This is no time for games! There is voting to be done! (just go with it and pretend voting is only one syllable 😊) or There are prizes to be won! (no, that doesn’t work either, although it’s true!)
Maybe we should go with:
Every writer in Bookville liked contests a lot. . . But the judges who judged all the entries did NOT! (although to be fair, we love the contests and we love reading the entries, we just hate having to cut them to get down to 12!)
The point is, we have done our valiant best to come up with 12 finalists (and let me tell you, it was a Herculean task!) and the time has come for you to read the entries that made the finals, choose your favorite, and vote for it!
Normally, I’d waste a little time with tomfoolery, but it’s been a desperate few days (and nights) of entry judging, which means not always paying as close attention to the puppy as I should, which means there is carpet steam-cleaning to be done. (Maybe I should have found a way to finish up my little stanza with that!)
So let’s just get right to it!
I know these entries are a little longer than the Halloweensie ones, so I truly thank you for taking the time to read through them and vote for your favorite. You won’t be sorry. They are all fabulous and I know you’ll enjoy them!
I will say THANK YOU to everyone who wrote an entry, took time to read other people’s entries and leave supportive comments, shared the contest with friends and family so that all our talented writers could get more readers, is taking the time now to read and vote, and who generally helped to make the contest so much fun, but I’m going to skip reiterating the judging criteria (you can check for it HERE) and save all my usual difficulty-of-choosing stuff for the winners post on Friday so you can get right to the entries!
Please read through the following 12 entries and vote for your favorite in the poll below by Thursday December 16 at 7PM Eastern so I can announce the winners on Friday! As always, I encourage you to share today’s link everywhere you want so that as many people as possible can read these stories and vote, but please do not attempt to influence the voting in any way. It is supposed to be based on merit, not on who can get the most people to come vote for their entry because they’re your friends and relations or they owe you for that time you babysat their kids 😊 If you’re a finalist, please don’t broadcast that on social media – just ask people to come read all the entries and vote for their favorite.
So here we go! Your 12 Finalists for
The11th Annual Holiday Writing Contest
~ for children’s writers ~
1 –
2 – Phoebe’s Snowperson
Outside the city library, a flier flits in the wind. “Snowperson Contest!” it announces, catching Phoebe’s eye. She reads:
Kids, let’s spread a little cheer and deck the library halls with handmade “snow”-people who won’t melt like snowballs!
The prize? Free popsicles at the pool this summer.
“Yes, please!” Phoebe exclaims.
Phoebe hurries toward home, her imagination firing with every step. What can she use to build a snowman? Perhaps she should create a snowgirl? How much glitter does she have? Is there any white paint in the garage?
“Hi, Mom! Bye, Mom!” Phoebe yells and dashes to her room. It might be December, but she can practically taste the watermelon-cherry-coconut flavors of summertime.
But when Phoebe starts to gather materials, she feels doubtful. She looks at the pillows scattered about and wonders how she’ll make a snowperson that stands up—and stands out.
Phoebe starts to hum an old song about a snowman who came to life. “He had a magical hat!” she recalls and races to her closet.
Then she remembers a story about snowmen’s nighttime adventures and another about a silly snowman in a hot tub. She smiles.
“The snowmen are in my books. What if my books are my snowman?”
Phoebe lays a chapter book flat with the pages facing out. She stacks on a fat collection of fairy tales and then some tattered picture books. Before long, a snowman built out of stories stares back at her.
“Perfection,” Phoebe whispers.
3 – A CHRISTMAS PICKLE STORY
Sentimental ornaments trim our tree high to low, but Christmas Eve tradition calls for one to steal the show.
Dad dons a scruffy Santa hat and gathers us around. “I’ve picked the pickle’s hiding spot! It’s waiting to be found.”
“Dance! Prance! Blitz and dash! All may search until the finder claims the first gift and the title of ‘Big Dill’.”
Grammy prods each shimmery bough. Mom browses round and through. Baby pulls off ornaments (to get a better view).
I snug myself beneath a branch to peer up from the bottom. A glint of green. A clumpy curve. Yes! I think. I got ’em.
I pluck the pickle from its place, eager to claim my prize, then notice Dad off to the side with sparkle in his eyes.
His festive fuss for all of us makes everybody grin. It doesn’t seem to bother him that he will never win.
I put the pickle back, but shift it where no one will see. Then grumble, “Oh by golly, there’s no pickle on this tree!”
“Ho ho, oh? Check near the stump–” That’s when Dad’s eyes meet mine. I toss a wink and, in a blink, Dad’s rummaging through pine.
He tugs back on a tree skirt bump revealing what I’d done. The pickle found, I quickly cheer, “Gosh, Dad, looks like you’ve won!”
He wraps us all up in a hug and whispers in my ear, “You can have the first gift because I’ve got mine right here.”
4 – SIMPLY THE BEST
Christmas was Maise’s favorite time of year. Awe-inspiring. Wonderful. Magical. Simply the best. Maise wanted to be awe-inspiring, wonderful and magical, too.
Maise entered the Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. Her house had icing and gumdrops! Sprinkles and sparkles! It even had an entire reindeer family reunion! “It’s very…. creative,” said the judges. But, Catalina won with a classic design. “Awe-inspiring,” Maise told her.
Maise entered the Holiday Baking Contest. Peppermint sticks! Mocha melts! Orange and ginger shortbread! “Quite the variety,” observed the judges. But Lester won with his Yule Log cake. “Wonderful,” said Maise, licking her lips.
Maise entered the Ice Skating Contest. Wearing a very sparkly leotard, she skated forward! And backward! She even did a twirl! But Jozef had a routine that was…well… “Magical,” admired Maise.
Maise smiled. She hadn’t won any ribbons but it had still been a delightful day.
“We have one last ribbon to award,” announced the judges. “The award for the Most Holiday Spirit goes to… Maise!” “Awesome,” said Catalina. “Wonderful,” said Lester. “Magical,” smiled Jozef. And to Maise, it was simply the best.
5 – SO YOU THINK YOU CAN PRANCE
“Places, Rudolph. Jump in line.” (That’s me! Contestant #9.)
“Welcome back to North Pole Live: ‘So You Think You Can Prance,’ season five. I’m your host, the famous Prancer. Please welcome back our champion dancer! He’s shimmied chimneys—Seoul to Atlanta: the man, the myth, the legend—SANTA!”
Santa’s back? Last season’s best! His reindeer too? I should’ve guessed. Dasher coasts. Dancer whirls. (Prancer hosts.) Vixen twirls. Comet? She was born a star. Cupid is on point, so far. Donner brings the beat, the boom. Blitzen’s jig ignites the room. Maybe I’ll sit out this year. With four left hooves, I’m bottom tier.
Eight contestants soar. I sink. They float. I flail. They curve. I kink. They sway. I swoop. They strut. I stop. They spring. I sprawl. They dip. I drop. Showing off, they’re busting moves, I spin and— SPLAT. I’ve busted hooves!
“Oh, DEAR!” I hear. Yes, I’m aware— my spill was broadcast on the air. The crimson of my well-known nose extends until my body glows. Someone whispers, “not a dancer.” Reindeer snicker—even Prancer! “Can klutzy caribous compete?” My antlers shrink. My legs retreat.
Halfway out the door, I hear, “Rudolph! I need YOU this year! Ho-ho-ho! That grit! That glow! Prancer, change my choreo’: Substitute those samba mixes. No more formal foxtrot fixes. Rudi’s riffs will spark my set— a glow-in-the-dark-breakdance duet!”
*North Pole Live rewrote its jingle to feature Ru’ and Kris-Kross-Kringle, the prime-time prancing pair sensation, who tours one eve—to every nation.
6 – Cinder-Latke
Cinder-Latke puts down her scrub brush and reads a letter on the kitchen table.
—EVERYONE INVITED TO ROYAL PALACE HANUKKAH PARTY—
—Prince Nudnik Will Wed Latke-Making Contest Winner—
Cinder-Latke sighs. “I wish I could go like Pishka and Kishka, my stepsisters—”
Pink lightning FLASHES—
A puff of smoke morphs into Fairy-Godmother Yenta. “—and you will!”
Yenta waves her wand—
Cinder-Latke rides in a gold carriage wearing a sparkling diamond-studded gown.
“The spell ends at midnight.” Yenta grins. “Have fun!”
At the palace, all the princess-wannabes cook potato-pancakes like crazy.
Finally, Prince Nudnik tastes Cinder-Latke’s latke. “It’s perfection—I love you!”
The tower clock chimes midnight—Cinder-Latke flees.
Next morning, Prince Nudnik searches every house in the kingdom.
“Ugh!” He spits out Pishka’s latke and gags on Kishka’s. “One’s heavier than lead and the other tastes like moldy sweat-socks.”
An irresistible aroma tickles Prince Nudnik’s nose, luring him into the kitchen.
Cinder-Latke flips her latke onto a dish. “I knew you’d come.”
Prince Nudnik, drooling, bites into the latke. “Heavenly—” He sinks to one knee and whips out a ring with a gleaming latke-sized diamond. “Please, be my Latke-Princess!”
Cinder-Latke and Prince Nudnik wed on the eighth night of Hanukkah and dance the hora around the menorah.
After the honeymoon, they open a restaurant—
—PRINCESS CINDER-LATKE’S LATKE PALACE—
—and dine on latkes happily ever after!
(Pishka and Kishka become fabulously wealthy businesswomen selling their latkes as cannonballs and bug-repellent.)
7 – Christmas…by a Nose
Newspapers trumpeted! Radios blared! Cable news cried in alarm! BIG CARROT SHORTAGE REPORTED TODAY: CHAOS ERUPTS ON CLAUS FARM
And, indeed, Claus was troubled. Perplexed, some might say. To friends, he appeared worried sick. (This was Sam Claus, who harvested just up the way from his jollier brother, Old Nick.)
Christmas was coming, And, with it, Claus knew, The first of the season’s big snows. But if carrots were lacking, Joy would fade quick… For no snowman could count on a nose!
Assistance was needed— “A contest!” Claus thought. No sense in lazing about. “A trophy” he called. “To the barnyard friend here Who can find the best substitute snout!”
“An apple!” said Horse. (Goat and Donkey agreed.) “It’s festive and rosy to boot.” “But it’s round,” Claus reminded, “And, also, it’s red. A not-at-all carrot-like fruit.”
“Maybe corn?” piped up Chicken. “Oh, yes!” Pig enthused. “I’ve got a few corncobs right here.” “Not bad,” Claus conceded. “A veggie, it’s true. But we need a good nose, not an ear.”
“’Wait, wait!” squeaked a voice. “Down here, take a look! May I share my idea with you, please? You need something pointy and orange-ish, and so… Why not try wedges of cheese?”
“Yes, CHEESE!” Claus applauded. “A trophy for Mouse! Or perhaps a large crumb would be better. And while we’re addressing the subject of snacks: …do we know if the reindeer like cheddar?”
8 – TREE NUMBER NINE
Sofie could barely contain her excitement. Today was Noel Knob’s first ever Christmas Tree Decorating Contest!
She had been gathering decorations for weeks —
Berries from the holly bush next door.
Strings of garland strung with white, fluffy popcorn.
Bows made from leftover ribbon.
She packed everything in her backpack and headed to the town square.
There, evergreen trees lined the lawn. The smell of fir, spruce, and pine tickled her nose.
At the sign-in table, Sofie was assigned tree number 9.
She got right to work — a bow here, berries there, garland wrapped around and around, and a big pinecone right on top!
Proudly, she stood beside her tree. But soon her shoulders sagged.
Around her, trees twinkled with tiny lights, dazzled with store-bought decorations, and on top of each tree was a shining star.
She glanced at the ceramic teapot on the prize table and felt her hopes evaporating like steam.
Zipping up her bag, Sofie headed home.
Behind her, the judges were ready to announce the winners.
“Third place goes to… Tree 21, for most decorations!”
Everyone clapped. Sofie kept walking.
“Second place goes to… Tree 7 for most sparkly!”
Everyone cheered. Sofie kept walking.
“And first place goes to… Tree 9 for most creative!”
Everyone celebrated. Stunned, Sofie hurried to the stage.
“Which prize would you like?”
“The teapot, please.”
When she got home, Sofie carefully wrapped the teapot in red and green paper.
Then, she filled out the gift tag —
To Mom From Sofie MERRY CHRISTMAS!
9 – A CREATURE WAS STIRRING
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, Every creature was stirring, including, Wee Mouse. Stirring and blending, creating sweet treats for a contest to see which ones Santa will eat. “Don’t even bother,” said Pup. “He’ll choose mine.” “I don’t think so,” purred Kit. “Because mine are divine.” But Wee Mouse said nothing. Her movements were nimble as she tossed her ingredients into a thimble. She had flour in her whiskers, some dough on her nose, and a drop of molasses had dripped on two toes. She placed all her cookies in a minuscule sack, climbed up to the table then…UH OH! Fell back! The cookies all crumbled except for one bite. “I’ve barely a taste for Santa tonight!” Wee Mouse dried her tears, climbed back up to the platter, feeling her one little morsel must matter. “It’s totally tiny,” said Pup. “Not ornate. Santa will think it’s a crumb on the plate. Mine have fun sprinkles on top of red icing.” Kit purred, “That brown dot? Well, it’s just not enticing.” Wee Mouse ignored them and went straight to bed, exhausted yet hopeful for what lay ahead. Christmas morning she woke to a gift and a note. She opened it up to see what Santa wrote: “Dear Wee Mouse, My thanks for your cookie so sweet. It was far and away my favorite treat. And the thing that I think set it so far above all the rest was your secret ingredient—LOVE!”
10 – BEAR’S CHRISTMAS COOKIE
Of all the holiday traditions, Bear’s favourite was the cookie decorating contest. Hedgehog always won. This year Bear was determined to beat him. He’d been planning his cookie for months.
The animals lined up with their cookies displayed. The crows approached. They were notoriously picky judges. They started with Rabbit.
Rabbit had decorated his cookie with a garden of sugar spun carrots and roses.
Badger had created a glittering forest of silver and gold gumdrops and candy cane stars.
Hedgehog had outdone himself. On his cookie, he’d crafted a miniature ice-rink with tiny skaters, each holding cups of hot cocoa. You could even see the marshmallows.
Bear was last. The Crows approached his cookie. Their black eyes widened. Towering above them was layer upon layer of icing, chocolate, candy cane, marshmallows, toffee, sprinkles, sugar plums, and whipped cream. At the top, they could just make out a Christmas angel spinning in the wind.
“Did I win?” asked Bear.
Suddenly the cookie began to wobble. It leaned one way. It leaned the other.
“Look out!” cried the judges.
SPAAAALOOSH!!!!
Every inch of fur, feathers, and forest was drenched in icing, chocolate, whipped cream, and candy. The angel landed on someone’s head. Badger licked sprinkles off his coat. Rabbit brushed marshmallows from his nose into his mouth. Hedgehog wiped icing out of his eyes. He licked his paws with gusto.
“Actually,” he said, “I think we all won!” And that day they all enjoyed the most glorious candy feast, thanks to Bear.
11 – A Miscalculation
*Attention all children! Come out in the snow And bring all your shovels and gear Join in the sport, And build your best fort For the holiday contest this year!*
We dig and we pat We scoop and we splat To build the best fortress of all No torrent of snow, No, nothing they throw Will knock down our unyielding wall!
Two towering turrets Three tactical windows Four bunkers built into the floor Snowballs piled high, Stacked up to the sky There must be two hundred or more!
We hold up a finger So that we can tell Which direction the cold wind is blowing We take up our stance, They don’t stand a chance Let’s get this tournament going!
Whoosh, whoosh, THUD, THUD Oh no, wait a minute! We should have seen this from the start The snowballs we chuck Don’t have any luck— Our snow forts are too far apart!
12 –
WOW!
Now YOU get to enjoy the agony of decision as you try to choose which of those amazing entries to vote for!
Please vote for the entry you feel deserves to win in the poll below by 7PM EST Thursday December 16th.
Tune in Friday December 17th to see THE WINNERS!!! – same bat time, same bat station 😊
Thank you all so much for taking the time to write (if you did), read, and vote! These contests simply wouldn’t be what they are without all of you!
I truly cannot wait to see who you choose as the winner! Good luck!!! 😊
⭐️Deck the Halls! ⭐️ Light the menorah! ⭐️ Fill the Kikombe cha Umoja! ⭐️
It’s time for . . .
The11th Annual Holiday Writing Contest
~ for children’s writers ~
The Contest: Write a children’s holiday story (children here defined as age 12 and under) about a Holiday Contest!
Your contest can be anything you want! Baking, wrapping, decorating (tree or home), raising money or collecting gifts for those in need, ice skating, sledding, caroling, fancy dress, snowman or fort building. . . sky’s the limit! But it must be about a holiday contest!
Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s or whatever you celebrate during the Holiday Season, but is not to exceed 250 words (I know! So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest 😊 ) (It can be as short as you like (the judges will be grateful 😊 , you are welcome and encouraged to write shorter, but no more than 250! Title not included in word count.) The field is wide open! Have fun! The more creative the better! No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you’re competing against yourself!)
Post: Your entry should be posted between right now this very second and Thursday December 9th at 11:59 PM EST, and must be posted below in the comment section of this post. All entries should include a title, byline (people always ask what this is – it means who the entry was written by, so, by Suzy Q. Writer or whoever 😊) and word count. You are welcome to also post your entries on your own blogs and include your blog address with your entry here if you’d like to encourage people to come visit your blog, but your entry must be posted in the comment section of this post or it will not be counted because we won’t see it. This post will remain up for your reading pleasure until I post the finalists. There will be no regular posts (Tuesday Debut, Would You Read It, or Perfect Picture Book) for the duration of the contest so everyone will have plenty of time to visit and enjoy. If you have trouble commenting, you can email your entry to me and I will post it for you. Please copy and paste your entry with word count and byline into the body of the email – NO ATTACHMENTS please.
The Judging: My lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to approximately 12 finalists. In the interest of finishing up the contest in a timely fashion so everyone can go about their holidays, we will do our best to post the finalists here by Tuesday December 14th for you to vote on for a winner. (But it almost always seems to end up taking us longer. . . so it might be a day or two later.) The vote will be closed on Thursday December 16th at 5 PM EST. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to twelfth place (or wherever we place to), and the winners will be announced on Friday December 17th. (These dates are subject to adjustment if it takes the judges longer than we anticipate to get the judging completed.)
Judging criteria will be as follows:
1. Kid-appeal! – These stories are intended for a young audience (ages 12 and under), so we’re looking for stories that children will enjoy and relate to.
2. Holiday Contest! – the rules state a Holiday Contest story, so it must be crystal clear that the story is about a contest that in some way relates to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s, or whatever seasonal winter holiday you choose. The story must center on the contest – the contest must not be just an offhand mention/reference in a story about something else.
3. Quality of story – entries must tell a story, including a main character of some kind and a true story arc even if it’s tiny 😊 Entries must not be merely descriptions or mood pieces.
4. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 😊 Overall writing quality and use of language are also important. Please proofread!
5. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
6. PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS! Large numbers of entries make it easy to cut entries that haven’t been entered as we asked.
The Prizes!: Oh! Such wonderful prizes! All I can say is, how lucky are we to be part of such a talented and generous community that offers such amazing prizes!
Please join me in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for birthday, holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, or anywhere else if you like them, recommending them for school and library visits, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming or Non-rhyming, Fiction or Nonfiction) with a recording of first read-through by children’s author and poet Sarah Meade, contributor to HOP TO IT: POEMS TO GET YOU MOVING (Pomelo Books, 2020!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming) PLUS Zoom Chat from developmental editor Lou Piccolo! Lou studied English Literature, creative writing and teaching at university in South Africa. After working as an EFL teacher in France for twenty years, she studied proofreading and editing before becoming a developmental editor of children’s and young adult’s literature for independent authors. She is a graduate of Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab – Punching Up Prose With Poetry course and Making Picture Book Magic, the in-house writer for Editions Entrefilet’s language-learning magazine ‘Go English Kids’ for children of 8-12 in France, and a traditionally published author of MG and YA fiction with Burlington Books.
Developmental Editor, Lou Piccolo
⭐️ Connecting With School Librarians!Fabulous Opportunity for published or soon to be published authors! Winner’s Choice of either a Zoom or phone chat about how to connect with school librarians and get their ear or an Ask Me Anything Zoom or phone chat about K-8th grade author visits from a librarian’s POV from Kathy Halsey. Kathy Halsey is Storyteller Academy’s Community Manager and Ambassador. She enjoys writing picture books, humor, and nonfiction. Kathy’s active in SCBWI and blogs with other kid lit writers on the GROG. She serves on the Choose to Read Ohio Advisory Council and speaks at educational and literary conferences. Kathy’s a former K-12 school librarian and children’s bookseller. She writes monthly author studies for the Reading for Research Month along with Keila Dawson.
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique(written) PLUS 15 minute Zoom Chat (no nonfiction) from Cindy Williams Schrauben author of THIS COULD BE YOU (Cardinal Rule Press, April 1, 2022)!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Heather Gale, author of HO’ONANI: HULA WARRIOR (Tundra Books, 2019) which was one of the New York Public Library’s Best Books for Kids 2019, one of the Ontario Library Association’s 2019 Top Ten Titles, Featured on the 2020 Rainbow Book List, Featured on the 2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, and received a Booklist Starred Review!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Maria Marshall! Maria is a children’s author, blogger, and poet passionate about making nature fun for children. She’s a judge for the Cybils Awards and the #50PreciousWords competition. Four of her poems are published in The Best Of Today’s Little Ditty anthologies. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. The Picture Book BuzzWebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram
Maria Marshall
⭐️ A Reversible Handmade Christmas Stocking or Other Winter or Holiday-Themed Gift Bag from Karen Gebbia PLUS a Personalized Signed Copy of CURIOSITY’S DISCOVERY by Nancy Derey Rileyto fill it!
a Personalized Signed Copy of eitherLISTEN (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books 2021) orTWO DOGS ON A TRIKE (Harry N. Abrams 2020) (Winner’s Choice!) by Gabi Snyder
With so many great prizes up for grabs I hope there will be a lot of entries – the more the merrier! And you’ve still got a couple days to write, so you can squeeze in under the wire if you haven’t written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well. And your reading friends – parents, teachers, etc. The more people who read and enjoy your stories, the better!!!
Contest Entrants, remember you MUST post your entry in the comment section below and include title, byline, and word count.
Eager Readers – just go along the list of links below, click on them (they’ll take you directly to whichever story you click on), and enjoy the stories!
It’s going to be the last PPBF for 2021, as the Holiday Contest (guidelines on that link if you’re interested in entering – lots of fantastic prizes!) opens next week and is going to keep us busy for the usable rest of December! Anyone who isn’t running a Holiday Contest and continues to post Perfect Picture Books for the next couple weeks is welcome to add their titles to today’s form or to the one I post in the first week of January! 😊
I love the book I’m sharing today for many reasons, not least of which is that I happen to have a newly adopted shelter puppy who is learning how to behave (although his challenge will be the Christmas tree, not the dreidel, menorah, and latkes 😊!)
Title: Latke, The Lucky Dog
Written By: Ellen Fischer
Illustrated By: Tiphanie Beeke
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing, August 2014, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 2-8
Themes/Topics: Holidays (Hanukkah), animal rescue, pets, family
text copyright Ellen Fischer 2014, illustration copyright Tiphanie Beeke 2014, Kar-Ben Publishing
Opening: “I am one lucky dog. Imagine a mutt like me, picked as a Hanukkah present. It happened one day in December when a family walked into the shelter. A mom, a dad, and two kids – Zoe and Zach.”
Brief Synopsis: (from Horn Book Magazine starred review) “On the first night of Hanukkah, a family adopts a little golden-brown dog and names it Latke. As the family celebrates the Festival of Lights, Latke joins in, thinking, ‘I am one lucky dog!’ But he has a lot to learn about how to behave.”
text copyright Ellen Fischer 2014, illustration copyright Tiphanie Beeke 2014, Kar-Ben Publishing
text copyright Ellen Fischer 2014, illustration copyright Tiphanie Beeke 2014, Kar-Ben Publishing
Why I Like This Book: This book gives a nice glimpse of a loving family and the traditions of Hanukkah from the point of view of a newly adopted shelter dog. Latke, the dog, has a lot to learn about how to behave. He helps himself to the sufganiyot (Hebrew for donuts), unwraps the gifts on the floor, chews the dreidel, knocks the applesauce off the table, chews the menorah candles, and slobbers all over the gelt (gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins), but luckily his new family is very understanding and they give him a Hanukkah gift of his own – a chew toy 😊 The story is warm, and the art a perfect accompaniment sensitively showing the dog as he tries to learn to do what is right. I love that not only does the reader get a sense of what Hanukkah is like, but is also shown that although a new animal family member might not behave perfectly at first, it is important to give everyone time to adjust and learn. A lovely story for all young readers/listeners!
text copyright Ellen Fischer 2014, illustration copyright Tiphanie Beeke 2014, Kar-Ben Publishing
text copyright Ellen Fischer 2014, illustration copyright Tiphanie Beeke 2014, Kar-Ben Publishing
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog 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!
Grab your hot cocoa, everyone! It’s time to gather ’round for Perfect Picture Book Friday!
Although winter (which is on its way if this morning’s temperature is anything to go by! Brrrr!) is not my favorite season, I do love snow! I love how cozy it feels to be indoors with a cup of hot cocoa while the snow falls silently outside the window. I love sledding and making snow-angels, snowman-building and fort-making, getting cold and wet and then coming inside to get warm and dry.
So when I saw this book, I had to read it immediately. And then I had to share it with you because it is so perfect!
Title: A Thing Called Snow
Written & Illustrated By: Yuval Zommer
Publisher: Doubleday Books For Young Readers, Nov. 2, 2021, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-7
Themes/Topics: snow, discovery, friendship
text and illustration copyright Yuval Zommer 2021, Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Opening: “Fox and Hare were born in the spring, grew up in the summer, and were the best of friends by autumn.”
Brief Synopsis: Fox and Hare have never seen snow. Wondering what it is like, they travel in search of answers, until at last they get to experience the magic of their first snow themselves.
text and illustration copyright Yuval Zommer 2021, Doubleday Books for Young Readers
text and illustration copyright Yuval Zommer 2021, Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Why I Like This Book: This story is so delightful! It has the feeling of an adventure, as Fox and Hare set off to find out what snow is. There is companionship and friendship, curiosity and discovery, and there are helpful folks along the way. There is the feeling of newness and wonder that kids experience often, since they are just learning about the world and there are so many firsts. Each animal that Fox and Hare encounter tells them one thing about snow which, on its own isn’t quite enough for them to identify it, but when at last they experience snow, both Fox and Hare and the reader can see how each of those things were true but had to be taken all together to understand snow. The art is soft and beautiful and just a perfect accompaniment to the text. All around a book that kids (and their adult readers) will all enjoy!
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog 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!
Wow! Aren’t we all so glad it’s Friday? Not only is the weekend so close you can taste it, we get a whole stack of Perfect Picture Books to start it off right!
And about time, too, as we missed a few weeks of PPBF for Halloweensie!
(Which reminds me, if you’ve been posting Perfect Picture Books during the weeks I couldn’t put up the list, please feel free to add your back titles to today’s list!)
I have a great book to share today, which I think is just perfect given that the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is only 6 days away! At this point it’s an oldie, and many of you may have read it, but it’s such a great book I’m sharing it in hopes of introducing it to folks who may not have been reading picture books back in 2011!
Title: Balloons Over Broadway Written and Illustrated By: Melissa Sweet Houghton Mifflin Books For Children, November, 2011, Non-Fiction Biography/History
Suitable For: ages 4-8
Themes/Topics: art, puppeteering, pursuing a dream, non-fiction, biography
Text and illustration copyright Melissa Sweet 2011, Houghton Mifflin
Opening and brief synopsis: “From the time he was a little boy, Tony Sarg loved to figure out how to make things move. He once said he became a marionette man when he was only six years old.” Melissa Sweet tells the true story of Tony Sarg, inventor of the huge balloons that are the trademark and centerpiece of the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
Links to resources: this story is perfect for a curriculum section that covers art, history, biography, or Thanksgiving, or just as a good story for children interested in where things come from and how they work. Balloons Over Broadway Activity Kit. (Please be patient – the activity kit loads slowly because of all the art but it’s well worth the wait!) There is also a spread of interesting and helpful back matter at the end of the book to expand your learning/lesson.
text and illustration copyright Melissa Sweet 2011, Houghton Mifflin
Why I like this book: this book is interesting, entertaining and educational. Tony Sarg is an inspiration because he had little or no formal art education and yet he went on to pursue his dreams and become world-renowned for his work. One of his apprentices, Bil Baird, created the “Lonely Goatherd” marionettes for The Sound Of Music, and one of Bil Baird’s apprentices was Jim Henson who invented The Muppets!
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog 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!
Sorry for the delay in posting finalists, everyone! So many great entries – it’s really hard to narrow the field and it’s taking us longer than expected. I will do my best to post them no later than Monday afternoon, sooner if I can. Thank you all so much for your patience, and have a great weekend!
Witch’s wart and wing of bat! It’s time for. . .
The 11th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest!!!
~ for children’s writers ~
THE CONTEST: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included in word count) using the words glow-in-the-dark, goosebumps, and goodies.
Your story can be poetry or prose, scary, funny, sweet, or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words. Get it? Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people 😊
You can go under the word count but not over!
Title is not included in the word count.
Also, being super clear for this year, glow-in-the-dark counts as 1 word (even though it looks like 4 😊)
You may use the words in any form i.e. glowed-in-the-dark, goosebumpley, goody (“Oh, goody!”, goody-two-shoes etc.), whathaveyou 😊
You are welcome to enter more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself 😊
No illustration notes please!
And yes, I know 100 words is short, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge! We got just shy of 300 fantastic entries last year, so I know you can do it!
POST: your story in the comment section below between right now this very second and Sunday October 31st at Midnight – the witching hour! Please include your title, word count, and byline with your entry so that if your posting handle is MomNeedsAVacation I’ll still be able to tell who wrote your entry 😊
For those of you who would also like to post on your blogs, please feel free to do so! You are welcome to include the link to your blog with your entry in the comment section below so that people can come visit your blog, but all entries must be posted in the comment section of This Post between now and Sunday October 31st at Midnight.
If you have difficulty posting your entry to the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I’ll post it for you! Contact button above or [susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com Please place your entry in the body of the email including your title and bylineat the top – NO ATTACHMENTS! They will not be opened.
I know how hard you all work on your entries, and how anxious you are to get them posted, but please try to be a little patient if your entry doesn’t show up immediately. Many comments have to be manually approved, and it sometimes takes me a little while to post entries that come in by email. I promise I will get to everything as soon as I can. I try never to leave my desk during contests, but sometimes it’s unavoidable 😊
Side Note: WordPress will not properly format entries written in the shape of a pumpkin (or anything else!) or with fancy or colored fonts or unusual spacing. No matter how great it looks in whatever program you compose it in, be forewarned that when you post it in the comment section it is going to be basic and I am not able to change that for you, I’m afraid.
THE JUDGING: in a grueling marathon over the days following the contest close, my devoted assistants and I will read and re-read and narrow down the entries to a finalist field of about 12 which will be posted here for you to vote on I hope by Friday November 5th (though if the judging takes longer than expected it might be a little later – we will do our best!) The winner will be announced Monday November 8th (good lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise 😊)
Judging criteria will be as follows:
1. Kid-appeal! – These stories are intended for a young audience (ages 12 and under), so we’re looking for stories that children will enjoy and relate to.
2. Halloweeniness – the rules state a Halloween story, so it must be crystal clear that the story is about Halloween, not just some random spooky night.
3. Use of all 3 required words and whether you came it at 100 words or less.
4. Quality of story – entries must tell a story, including a main character of some kind and a true story arc even if it’s tiny 😊 Entries must not be merely descriptions or mood pieces.
5. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 😊 Use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it, PROOFREADING!
6. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
7. How well you followed the Submission Guidelines – agents and editors expect professionalism. This is a chance to practice making sure you read and follow specified guidelines. If you don’t follow agent and editor submission guidelines, they won’t even read your submission.
THE PRIZES: So amazing! What wonderful, generous people we have in our kidlit community! Just wait til you see what you can win!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming or any) or First 10 Pages of a longer MS (winner’s choice) by Kenda Henthorn, author of the forthcoming BAA, BAA TAP SHEEP (Sleeping Bear Press, April 15, 2022)
Kenda works in the aviation industry now so it’s no surprise that her writing inspirations and aspirations are sky-high, too. She resides in Oklahoma and when the winds aren’t sweepin’ down the plains, Kenda enjoys acting, flying, kayaking and riding horses or her motorcycle. (Vroom-vroom!)She has served as a Regional Coordinator for the Oklahoma SCBWI and a Best in Rhyme Award committee member and judge.
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming or lyrical) by Randi Sonenshine, author of THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT (Candlewick March 2020) and the forthcoming THE LODGE THAT BEAVER BUILT (Candlewick Fall 2022)
⭐️ Winners of the 6 signed picture books above may also receive their choice of any one of the following writing craft books to go along with their picture book:
Please join me in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for birthday, holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, or anywhere else if you like them, recommending them for school and library visits, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
Happy Writing! Happy Reading! And Happy Halloween!
Now, let the Halloweensie begin!
The 294 entries listed below are linked to where they appear in the comments so you can click on the titles and get right to them! (Assuming WordPress cooperates . . . fingers crossed!) Anyone who feels kind can start at the bottom of the list so those entries get some comments too! 🎃 😊
I’ve shared it before, but this was a hard week – my beloved Scouty crossed the rainbow bridge – and though this book is about cats, not a dog, it’s still the book I feel like sharing today.
Perhaps this lovely book particularly appeals to me because its message of loving, losing, and new beginnings strikes a chord with me right now, but I think anyone and everyone can appreciate what it has to offer. I wish I could show you the whole thing – every page! – but you’ll just have to trot right out to the library after PPBF! 😊
Title: Big Cat, Little Cat
Written & Illustrated By: Elisha Cooper
Roaring Brook Press, March 2017, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-6 years
Themes/Topics: friendship, cycle of life
Opening: “There was a cat who lived alone. Until the day a new cat came…”
copyright Elisha Cooper 2017
Brief Synopsis: Two cats become friends and do everything together until one day the older cat has to go…and he doesn’t come back.
Links To Resources: draw a picture of you and your pet; write a story or poem about your pet; how would you describe your pet to someone who had never met it? talk about what love means – is love for a pet the same as love for a sibling or friend or parent? what are some things that let you know you love someone, or that someone loves you? has a pet you loved ever died? how did it make you feel? what did you do to feel better?
Why I Like This Book: I LOVE this book. It is the most beautiful, perfect, sweet book I’ve read in a long, long time. 186 words of sheer genius. The kind of book every writer (well, at least this one!) dreams of writing. A full, emotionally satisfying, complete story arc in less than 200 words. Simple, yet so evocative. Wonder and delight, learning and play, joy, contentment, friendship, love, grief, endings and beginnings – it’s all here. The art is a perfect complement – simple black and white drawings that convey personality, action, expression, and just enough detail, with one page in gray to show sadness, and a soft glow of pale butternut on just three pages to show warmth and contentment. The text and art are also thoughtfully spaced to give time and distance where needed. A lovely book to gently help children understand life, love, loss, new life and new love. And writers, if you haven’t seen this book, rush out and read it – seriously I am not kidding! – a fabulous example of how to do it right! Definitely in the “wish I wrote that!” category 😊
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!
As some of you may have noticed, Halloween is coming! 🎃🧙🏿♀️👻
So what better time for a story about a haunted house?
This one is so cute scary! 😊
Title: Hardly Haunted
Written & Illustrated By: Jessie Sima
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, fiction, July 2021
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: being yourself, self-acceptance, holidays (Halloween)
text and illustration copyright Jessie Sima 2021, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Opening: “There was a house on a hill, and that house was worried.”
Brief Synopsis:House has a problem. The evidence seems to suggest that she might be HAUNTED! How will she ever find a family who wants to make her a haunted home?
text and illustration copyright Jessie Sima 2021, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
text and illustration copyright Jessie Sima 2021, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Why I Like This Book: Some kids like scary books. Mine were not in that category! 😊 So this is the kind of perfect Halloween book that I love. It hints at spookiness, and has a little suspense in the story, without being at all scary. After all, no one wants nightmares! The story is told from the point of view of the house, but there’s a delightful little black cat who appears on every page, adding to the story with her reactions. And while the house is concerned about her potential hauntedness, the art is so appealing that it makes her much more endearing than scary. Although this is a story appropriate for the Halloween season with its nod toward spookiness, it is also a story about being who you are and accepting yourself – always something kids can benefit from. Young readers will delight in this story and fall in love with the friendly little house…even if she is haunted 😊
text and illustration copyright Jessie Sima 2021, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog 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!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
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