What's new and exciting in your lives?
I spent a fair part of the last two days at the Get Read online conference. It was very well run and interesting, but now I'm feeling behind in my work (for a change :)) so I'm going to put on my Succintness Hat and try to be brief and to the point today. (And you all know how THAT'S likely to go... :))
First, here is my Perfect Picture Book:
Written & Illuatrated By: Bob Barner
Chronicle Books, 1999, Non-Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 2-6
Themes/Topics: Bugs
Opening: "Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! I want to see bugs! Butterflies that flutter in the sky. Spotted ladybugs that go creeping by." (This is actually the first three spreads.)
Brief Synopsis: Simple facts about familiar bugs in a rhyme.
Links To Resources: One back page of the book includes a display of actual-sized bugs so young readers can see how big they are in real life and how they compare with each other. Another back page compares facts about all the insects mentioned in the book: can it fly, where does it live, etc. Here are a few activities, and here are a bunch of coloring pages.
Why I Like This Book: This book is delightfully simple. Easy enough for youngest readers to enjoy, but with enough information in the back to interest slightly older children. The pictures are bright, colorful, and engaging and do a great job of making bugs look friendly and non-threatening. I'm not really much of a bug person, but I find this book very appealing :) This is also an interesting example for writers to study. The author gets across information in a fun way in only 76 words!
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
Before we go, a few housekeeping details:
On Monday, I will announce who won the October Pitch Pick, who won the giveaway of SARAH GIVES THANKS by Mike Allegra, and who won the giveaways from Faith The Heroic Pony's special Would You Read It post on Wednesday.
The wonderful and delightful Vivian Kirkfield has invited me to her blog where I will be a guest on her Will Write For Cookies series tomorrow (Saturday Nov. 16), so please go visit her!
Anyone who would like to submit to the Linda Ashman Rhyme Clinic which will take place here on Monday December 2, you still have a few days. Linda has extended the deadline to Wednesday Nov. 20. Complete details HERE. (But the gist is, submit the first 20 lines of your rhyming picture book manuscript to susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com with Rhyme Clinic in the subject heading and Linda will help out with whatever rhyme troubles you're having. She has asked that writers submit their complete ms to her so she can see how well the beginning fits the whole story, but only the first 20 or so lines will be used for the clinic.)
Finally, I would like to announce a couple of scheduling things. There will be NO Perfect Picture Books on Friday November 29. It's the day after Thanksgiving, and I'm assuming most of you will be busy with family. (And I am trying to take the hint from my family that there are some days when I should not be on the computer :))
Likewise, I think I'm going to take the last two weeks of December off from blogging since that is also a busy family time. The Holiday Contest will run from approximately December 9 -18 so that we can all enjoy it and still have time for holiday related madness (a whole week left before Christmas.) We WILL have Perfect Picture Books on Friday December 20 (so we can sneak in a few more of everyone's favorite holiday titles... unless everyone wants more of a break... please let me know!) and after that I think we'll just all have a little rest over here so we can start up fresh and revitalized in January! (Which means there will be NO Perfect Picture Books Friday December 13 or 27, and we can skip the 20th too if you guys want - let me know, and NO Would You Read It December 11, 18, or 25.) So mark your calendars (and I'll try to remember to remind you! :))
So. How'd I do? Not SO bad on the succinctness given how much we covered (and given that it's me), don't you think? :)
PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific links in the list below so we can all come visit you and see what terrific books you've chosen this week!
Have a great weekend, everyone! :)
