Perfect Picture Book Friday - Marilyn's Monster

Woo hoo!  It's Friday!!!

And you know what that means, boys and girls...

It's time for Perfect Picture Books!

What with Halloween coming up and all, I thought a book about monsters would be very appropriate, even if it isn't specifically Halloweenie. :)  I loved this book from the opening sentence.  I hope you will too!

Title: Marilyn's Monster
Written By: Michelle Knudsen
Illustrated By: Matt Phelan
Candlewick, March 2015, Fiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: patience/waiting, monsters, doing what you know is right

Opening: "Some of the kids in Marilyn's class had monsters.  It was the latest thing.  Marilyn didn't have a monster.  Not yet.  You couldn't just go out and get one.  Your monster had to find you.  That's just the way it worked."

Brief Synopsis:  Marilyn longs for her monster to find her.  She tries to be patient and be the kind of girl no monster can resist.  But the longer she waits, the harder it gets, until finally Marilyn takes matters into her own hands.  And it's a good thing she does!

Links To Resources: Marilyn's Monster Story Time Kit; Q&A with Michelle Knudsen and Matt Phelan

Why I Like This Book: Oh, gosh!  Where to begin?  The story is wonderfully original and entertaining, and relates to a theme all kids can understand - having to wait for things!  Marilyn is so believably child-like in her behaviors and emotions.  The art is delightful, full of wacky monsters that are tons of fun to look at, and Marilyn's face and body language are so expressive.  Marilyn goes against expectation without being disobedient or breaking any rules, so it's a nice way to model doing what you know is right, or being true to yourself.  And the resolution is surprisingly sweet.  Across the board, this one is a winner!

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

PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you!  I can't wait to see what shows up on this week's list!

I will be at the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY this weekend, along with Iza Trapani and Nancy Shaw.  Please stop by and see us if you're in the neighborhood!!!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! :)

Would You Read It Wednesday # 189 - Kitten Ciao (PB)

Hey there, friends!

I hope your week is going swimmingly so far!

I'm off in a mad rush this morning to two solid days of school visits, so no time for lollygagging about!  We're going to get right down to it!

First, we need to attend to the most important meal of the day - Something Chocolate!  (It's what's for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack, snack, snack! :))

Our Would You Read It pitcher for today recommended chocolate pancakes spread with Nutella!  So here you go - chocolate pancakes!!!

YUM!  Chocolate Pancakes!!!

Recipe HERE at Bakerella
http://greatideas.people.com/2014/07/25/bakerella-chocolate-pancake-recipe/

...and here's some Nutella to go with... :)

Boy, do those look good!  The cross-section really looks more like actual cake than pancake.  This is a breakfast I could grow to love :)

Now then.  Today's pitch comes to us from Lisa (recommender of chocolate pancakes with Nutella) who says, "I am a Northern California based writer and aspiring picture book author who enjoys thinking and rethinking how I would describe myself in one sentence. Some days I am a chocolate pound cake baking, back yard squirrel watcher who keeps thinking I just felt an earthquake.  Other days I am a coffee frenzied, Scrabble player determined to get the 50 bonus points that come with using all seven tiles in one word.  Lately, I am an-empty nester who just gently pushed the last little birdie out into the world.  It is an exciting time for me, and I am thrilled to submit my pitch for Kitten Ciao to Would You Read It."

You can visit her blog at https://closeddoorandopenwindow.wordpress.com/posts/

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Kitten Ciao - A Culinary Tale In Six Bite-Sized Chapters
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-7)
The Pitch: Kitten Ciao is fed up with the food at home, so he dashes off to dine in Europe, where the food must be better.  He sees famous sights, makes new friends and learns to say “hello” and “goodbye” in each country’s language. But the rain in Paris turns his crepes to goo, there are raisins in his English Pudding, the sauerkraut at Oktoberfest is, well, sour, and there’s no chocolate dip for his Spanish churros.  When he gets to Italy, the worst possible thing happens and Kitten Ciao figures out that the world will never quite be able to top the food at Mama’s table. A glossary of terms is included.

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 Lisa 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... hmm, let me see... I have to consult my calendar... I think due to the Holiday Contest we might be getting into the new year for openings, but there might be room for one or two in December... 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!

Finally, in case you missed the not-normally-scheduled post on Monday, it's time to fire up your genius for the 5th Annual Halloweensie Contest!!!  Hop over HERE and check out the guidelines and fabulous prizes!

Lisa is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to 2 days, 9 presentations, 30 classes, and your guess is as good as mine how many little smiling Kindergarten - Grade 2 faces of school visit fun! :)  Wish me luck!!!

It's About That Time...!

Happy Columbus Day everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying days off from school and work!!!

You know what I always say?

What better way to celebrate Columbus Day then by talking about Halloween?!

And what's more interesting, fun and exciting about Halloween then anything else (except for miniature candy bars that have no calories because of their tiny-ness!)???

The 5th Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!!!

Can you believe we're at the 5th???!!!

courtesy google images

The Contest:  write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words costume, dark, and haunt.   Your story can be scary, funny or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!)  Get it?  Halloweensie - because it's not very long and it's for little people :)  (And yes, I know 100 words is short but that's part of the fun and the challenge!  We got over 130 fantastic entries last year so I know you can do it!)  Also, you may use the words in any form - e.g. haunt, haunts, haunted, darkness, darkening, costumed, whathaveyou :)  No illustration notes please!

Post your story on your blog between 12:00 AM EDT Monday October 26th and Friday October 30th by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list that will accompany my October 26th 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!)

The Judging: in a grueling, marathon weekend, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 top choices (hee hee hee - you know how much trouble I have with only 3, so we'll see) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 2nd.  The winner will be announced in a special Thursday post on November 5th.  If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd.  If by some chance we get the kind of turn out we did last year, all bets are off.  I may post as many as 10 finalists and I'll probably end up giving everyone a prize :)  But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it :)

The Prizes:  yeah... I'm still working on the prizes :)  Feel free to chime in in the comments if there's something you'd particularly like to win! :)  But prizes will include:

 - a read and comments on a PB ms by fabulous agent Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency!!!

Tricia Lawrence - Agent

Tricia is the "Pacific Northwest branch" of EMLA—born and raised in Oregon, and now lives in Seattle. After 19 years of working as a developmental and production-based editor (from kids books to college textbooks, but mostly college textbooks), she joined the EMLA team in March 2011 as a social media strategist.

As agent, Tricia represents picture books/chapter books that look at the world in a unique and unusual way, with characters that are alive both on and off the page, and middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction that offers strong worldbuilding, wounded narrators, and stories that grab a reader and won't let go.

Tricia loves hiking, camping out in the woods, and collecting rocks. She loves BBC America and anything British. She has way too many books and not enough bookshelves. You can find Tricia's writing about blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, and other social media topics (for authors and the publishing industry at large) here and here.

Tricia will be attending or on the faculty at the following upcoming conferences and events:

WOW Week of Writing Retreat, July 17-23, 2016
Website

 - a picture book manuscript critique by Diana Murray!  website

Diana Murray writes stories and poems for children. She is the author of several forthcoming picture books, including CITY SHAPES illustrated by Bryan Collier (Little, Brown, June 2016), GRIMELDA: THE VERY MESSY WITCH illustrated by Heather Ross (Katherine Tegen Books /HarperCollins, July 2016), NED THE KNITTING PIRATE illustrated by Leslie Lammle (Roaring Brook Press /Macmillan, August 2016), and GROGGLE'S MONSTER VALENTINEillustrated by Bats Langley (Sky Pony Press, Fall 2016). 

Diana was awarded the 2010 SCBWI Barbara Karlin Work-in-Progress Grant for a picture book manuscript. She has many poems published and forthcoming in magazines, including Spider, Highlights, High Five, and Hello. Diana won the SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for poetry in 2013 and 2014, as well as the Honor Award in 2013. Diana is represented by Brianne Johnson at Writers House literary agency. She recently moved from the Bronx to a nearby suburb, where she lives with her husband, two very messy children, and a goldfish named Pickle. 

 - a query critique from Heather Ayris Burnell, founder of the Sub It Club

- a 6 month subscription to One Stop For Writers (value $50)

 - an e-pub or PDF copy (winner's choice) of Linda Ashman's Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books.

 - a signed copy of Amy Dixon's Sophie's Animal Parade

 - a signed copy of Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca Gomez's What About Moose?

Plus whatever else I dream up in the meantime :)

I hope those fantabulous prizes fill you with enthusiasm for the contest!

So sharpen your pencils!

Get your butt in that chair!

See what amazing, knock-your-socks-off story you can dream up!

It's a chance to hone your writing skills, practice your craft, write to specifications and a deadline, win amazing prizes, AND get to read and enjoy the wonderful stories written by all your fellows :)

Many, many thanks to Tricia, Diana, Heather, Corey, and Amy for their very generous prize offerings!

I literally cannot wait to read your stories!!! :)

Have a Marvelous Monday everyone! :)

Perfect Picture Book Friday - Leah's Pony

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!

There's nothing like Friday, is there?  Especially before a long weekend :)

And Perfect Picture Books just make Fridays even better - tons of great new reading material for your weekend, be it regular or long :)

This was one of those odd weeks when my pile of picture books failed to wow me.  I read book after book thinking, "meh" - not what you want in a perfect picture book!  I'm always a little depressed when this happens.  I wonder if I'm missing something, since clearly a whole team of people thought these books were great enough to publish.  But whatever the reason, there was no perfect picture book in this week's collection, so instead of one of the newer titles from my pile of meh, I went with an older title from my bookshelf (signed to my daughter by Michael Garland :)) a book I have loved for years.  I hope you'll enjoy it!

Title: Leah's Pony
Written By: Elizabeth Friedrich
Illustrated By: Michael Garland
Boyds Mills Press, February 1996, Fiction (historical)

Suitable For Ages: 6-9

Themes/Topics: historical fiction (1930s Dust Bowl), family, love, sacrifice

Opening:  "The year the corn grew tall and straight, Leah's papa bought her a pony.  The pony was strong and swift and sturdy, with just a snip of white at the end of his soft black nose.  Papa taught Leah to place her new saddle right in the middle of his back and tighten the girth around his belly, just so."

Brief Synopsis: Leah's pony was swift and strong.  She loved him dearly, and together they raced across the fields under summer skies.  But then came a year when the corn didn't grow, locusts blackened the sky, and the earth turned to dust, the beginning of the great drought (the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.)  Leah's family is faced with losing their farm and their livelihood.  It takes Leah's strength and courage to save them.

Links To Resources: Facts about the Dust Bowl with links to further resources; Lesson Plan for the Dust Bowl (aimed at 5th grade but can be altered); Dust Bowl info and lesson plans for grades 2-5; Photo Gallery - The Dust Bowl; Dust Bowl Facts & Summary

Why I Like This Book:  This is historical fiction at its best, bringing a slice of history to life in a way that is not only accessible but irresistible for young readers.  The story is simply told with all the right details, and so emotionally compelling I dare anyone not to get choked up at the end!  Michael Garland's art is absolutely stunning and a perfect fit for the story.  With slightly longer text as well as the historical context, this is a wonderful choice for older picture book readers.

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

PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you!

Have a wonderful long weekend, everyone, and Happy Columbus Day!  I'm hoping to post the guidelines for the Halloweensie Contest...soon-ish...so stay tuned!!!

Would You Read It Wednesday #188 - My Next Door Neighbor Is A Dragon Princess (MG)

Gather round, y'all!

It's time for everyone's favorite pitching pastime!

What would Wednesday be without Would You Read It?  Just a plain old middle day of the week.  Boring.  Lackluster.  Dull!  So sad :(

But not for us!  We've got a fabulous new pitch AND Something Chocolate AND each other's company and the camaraderie of the writing community to enjoy!  (Because what would Would You Read It be without chocolate?  And what would WE be without each other?!  Luckily, we'll never have to know! :) )

Today our Something Chocolate shall be Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies, because I feel strongly that one should never have to decide between brownies and chocolate chip cookies!  That would be like Sophie's Choice :)

Recipe at Recipe Girl
http://www.recipegirl.com/2012/05/29/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-brownies-take-two/

YUM!  So delicious!  And totally healthy of course!  As I'm sure you all know, chocolate is a vegetable (it comes from the cocoa BEAN!), and cookie dough most certainly involves protein, calcium, and whole grains because there are eggs and butter and wheat in there somewhere.  I feel it's my hostessly (yes that can be a word if I want it to!) responsibility to make sure you're all well fortified for your day! :)

Today's pitch comes to us from Kirk, whom you will remember from May with his MG pitch for When Your Best Friend Wants To Be Your Girlfriend And Other Horror Stories.  Kirk is the Ringmaster of Kraft Three-Ring Circus which includes his beautiful wife, Patty, four kids aged 6-12 and a silly German Shepherd, Blitz. In all his spare time, not spent managing this circus or working his day job, he writes YA & MG fantasy, picture books and parenting nonfiction. The pitch before you is his first attempt at humorous MG. 

You can find him online at:

Twitter - @KAKraft
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/kirkkraft

Here is his pitch:

Working Title: My Next Door Neighbor Is A Dragon Princess
Age/Genre: MG
The Pitch: I didn’t care much for Maddie Buckner. At two, she bit my ear. At four she pushed me off a slide. At 8, she broke my favorite model airplane that took five months to build. At 10, she kissed me – on the lips! – under the Big Toy in the playground and told me she loved me. At 11, she spit in my face and said she hated me. Then she asked Parker Williams to the sock hop. Parker Williams! Oh, how I despised her. But then she had to go and save my life. That’s when I discovered her secret.

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 Kirk 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 the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  There are openings in November 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!

Kirk is looking forward to your thoughts on his pitch!  I am looking forward to getting some work done.  I know that sounds insane, but I actually am.  I'm feeling behind which makes me anxious, so I want to put things to rights.  Therefore, one more Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownie for strength and courage and then it's nose to the grindstone for me!  Unless something diverting comes along... :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!!! :)

Perfect Picture Book Friday - The Day The Crayons Came Home

There must be some kind of magic in the air because we've arrived at Friday again and according to my calculations it's still LAST Friday!

In addition, it has somehow become October!  Who is in charge around here???!!!

This, of course, is a good thing.  October is full of fresh apples (and apple crisp, apple pie, apple cake, apple cider donuts, etc...), beautiful foliage, lovely days and cool nights, Columbus Day (which, if we're honest, is just an excuse for a day off from school and if you're lucky, work because I'm quite sure Columbus didn't actually "discover America" on the second Monday in October :)), the Sheep & Wool Festival (if you happen to live in New York's Hudson Valley), pumpkin carving (which means... you got it... pumpkin pie! :)), miniature candy that doesn't have any calories because it's tiny (seriously, if you can eat it in one bite it doesn't count!), and the Halloweensie Contest!!! (info coming soon!) among other awesomeness.  (And apparently I'm hungry because looking at that list I see a prevalence of dessert items :))  Here's to an awesome October for all!

Today's Perfect Picture Book is also awesome (although not necessarily for dessert :))  I hope you like it!

Title: The Day The Crayons Came Home
Written By: Drew Daywalt
Illustrated By: Oliver Jeffers
Philomel Books, August 2015, Fiction

Suitable For Ages: 5-8

Themes/Topics: concepts (colors), emotions, humor

Opening: "One day, Duncan and his crayons were happily coloring together when a strange stack of postcards arrived for him in the mail..."

Brief Synopsis: Duncan, dedicated colorer that he is, has managed to misplace a number of his crayons, so they write him postcards hoping to return home.

Links To Resources: Optics For Kids (explorations on what makes color); Color Games (see the first two listed - the rest are for other skills); lots of things to color!

Why I Like This Book: Sometimes the first book in a series is good, and the second disappoints.  Not so with this one :)  Full of humor, it is as creative, fun and entertaining as its predecessor, The Day The Crayons Quit (reviewed HERE)  Those crayons might have quit in the past, but they still want to live with Duncan!  (Well, except for Pea Green Crayon knows that NO ONE likes pea green, so he's got a new life plan :).)  Maroon Crayon got left in the couch and sat on by Dad.  Yellow and Orange Crayons had an unfortunate accident that left neither of them wanting to be the color of the sun any more.  Neon Red Crayon is determined to make it home but has a very questionable grasp of geography :)  Even one of Duncan's younger brother's toddler crayons gets in on the action!  You won't want to miss the postcards from the left-behind crayons, or Duncan's usual inspired solution to making them all feel at home!  (And you'll enjoy seeing where some of the postcards are from... places like "Greetings From Under The Couch" or "Hello From The Rug" :))

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

PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you and see what wonderful books you've chosen for us this week!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!! :)

Would You Read It Wednesday #187 - Dear Cat (PB)

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

I hope you're all wearing your raincoats and galoshes and holding tight to your umbrellas!

After the driest summer in recent memory, we are experiencing heavy rain.  The crunchy grass and thirsty trees are drinking it up gratefully, and the Weather People (who may or may not be related to the Village People :)) are all in an uproar, delighted to have weather drama to report in the form of flood watches.  I'm not sure when weather became entertainment, but boy do they do their best to keep you riveted!

Of course, when it rains like this, you know what that means...  I'll be in my basement paddling about in the canoe and bailing out :)

There is an upside, though.  All that paddling calls for extra sustenance (I've got to keep up my strength! :)), and what better than Something Chocolate?  Hmm... what should it be today?  I don't think we can go wrong with Oreo Brownie Trifle, do you? :)

Recipe HERE at BakerHomemaker
http://www.bakerhomemaker.com/2012/09/oreo-brownie-trifle.html

Yeah.  Forget the bowl/plate.  I'm just grabbing a spoon and digging in! :)  Enjoy!

Today's pitch comes to us from Zainab.  Zainab Khan is a pre-published author who writes picture books that are quirky or interactive. She also writes picture books that deal with serious issues like disabilities, homelessness, and diversity. In addition, Zainab is in the midst of writing a middle grade mystery about ancient civilizations.

Before venturing on a full time writing journey, Zainab was an elementary school teacher. Having an entrepreneurial heart, she ran her own in home based  preschool. 

Raising two energetic kids  and a cat with her husband keep Zainab occupied at all hours of the day. She is also busy as the SCBWI Alameda/ Contra Costa Meet Up coordinator. 

Zainab loves making new quirky friends.  You can connect with her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/zainab.khan.967) or on twitter 

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Dear Cat
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Persistent Bird keeps bugging Cat with his letters to be his friend.  Cat snubs Bird...until it's snack time. Cat is ready for a tasty meal except Bird has his own devious plan in mind for this "clever" cat. 

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 Zainab 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 November 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!

Zainab is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to rescuing any salamanders who might have floated into the basement.  Very Sorcerer's Apprentice :)

Ahoy, matey's!  Have a wonderful Wednesday!!! :)

Perfect Picture Book Friday - How The Sun Got To Coco's House

Hey there, picture book peeps!  Happy Friday! :)

I have such a lovely book to share with you today!  And guess what?  As promised, it doesn't rhyme :)  I have noticed something else, though, which is that all three of the books I've chosen so far this Perfect Picture Book season have been authored and illustrated by the same person.  Interesting... don't you think?  Given that all three are new titles, I wonder if this is a reflection of the state of the publishing industry... and if I should learn to draw! (Yeah, okay, stop laughing!) :)

Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this one!

Title: How The Sun Got To Coco's House
Written & Illustrated By: Bob Graham
Candlewick, September 2015, Fiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-6

Themes/Topics: nature, writing (personification), language (poetic)

Opening: "It had to start somewhere.  While Coco slept far away, the sun crept up slowly behind a hill, paused for a moment, and seemed to think twice...
before it plunged down the other side and skidded giddily across the water."

Brief Synopsis: The sun comes up and takes a poetic journey across the world to Coco's house.

Links To Resources: Warmth Of The Sun discussion and activity; Shadow Play classroom activity; measuring solar activity; info about the sun with 17 related links; sun coloring pages; Happy Sunshine Cookie recipe; Renewable Solar (with many thanks to Jilanne for the link!)

Why I Like This Book:  How can you not love a book that contains phrases like "skidded giddily across the water"?  The whole story is a gentle, lovely, poetic description of how the sun comes up, travels across the world touching everything in its path with light and warmth, and finally arrives at Coco's house to spend the day.  It's a very quiet book, but one that can be enjoyed for the beauty of the language, the deceptive simplicity of the art (wait until you see the pinks and golds), and the feeling of comfort bestowed by the fact that, come what may, the sun rises each morning and makes a new day.

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

PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you!  I can't wait to see what treasures await us this week!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! :)

Would You Read It Wednesday #186 - Wait For Cate (PB)

Happy Wednesday, folks!

It's been a busy week on Blueberry Hill.  I know you'll all be gratified to learn that our house is, at last, all one color!  I know this shouldn't seem like an accomplishment - after all, most people's houses are all one color.  But we are not "most people."  Our house has not been all one color for 3 years because one of the gable ends is very high and hard to reach, so the rest of the house got stained dark brown... but that one triangular patch stayed the old lighter, redder cedar color.  It did NOT look good.  Now our house is very happy and feels like it can show its face in public again.  (Not that there's much public to see it up here in the wilderness.  But you know, it's the principal of the thing :) ) And if any bears happen to wander by (which they do pretty frequently) they will certainly say to themselves, "Hmm!  How handsome that house looks now that it's all one color!" :)

It's like when you write a picture book and it begins as one story... and somehow ends as another.  You've got to pick one story and stick with it - make sure you're ending the same story you began - you know, make it all the same dark brown.  (See what I did there? :) )

Speaking of dark brown (smooth segue alert :)) makes me think of chocolate (what doesn't?), so how about Something Chocolate?  Great idea, if I say so myself!  Always is a good time for Something Chocolate :)  Some days you can get by with a tootsie roll or a handful of chocolate chips, but some days you just have to throw moderation to the wind and go whole hog, and it turns out this is one of those days... I am seriously in need of gooey, chocolatey, deliciousness... so let's have some Smores Cupcakes, shall we? - YUM!!!

See recipe at OMGChocolateDesserts
http://omgchocolatedesserts.com/hershey-smores-cupcakes/

Now that we are all covered in chocolate properly nutritionized (or possibly nutrisized? or nutriated?), today's pitch comes to us from Diana who says, "I am a retired 1st and 2nd grade teacher with an M.S. in reading, diagnostics, and remedial reading. I retired from the U.S. Army/Army Reserves (HOOAH!) and also retired as a special effects designer and Pyrotechnician with my husband's company. When my husband doesn't have me hiking through the Himalayas, crewing on a 100 year old square rigger, or volunteering at airshows, I hide out and enjoy my passion for reading and writing children's stories." 

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Wait For Cate
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Cate has made a promise to her school friends to be on time for the big kickball game at recess. And they need her! When Cate encounters the new girl stuck in the sand in her wheelchair, Cate needs to make a decision. Should she keep her promise to her kickball team or help a new friend out of a “sticky” situation? 

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 Diana 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 November 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!

Diana is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!  I am looking forward to writing a story about bears admiring a dark brown house.  I think the main character's name will be... Brownielocks!  And she will enter the dark brown house and find a pan of brownies cooling on the counter... some of which will likely be too hot, too cold, and just right...  But if you're thinking you've heard this story before you totally haven't, because Brownielocks is a bear (obviously) and the house belongs to humans.  Completely different story :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!!! :)

Perfect Picture Book Friday - Llama Llama Gram And Grandpa

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!

I seriously don't know how the week flies by so fast!  How is it Friday again already?  I'm still doing Tuesday's work, so we need to back up the truck a bit!  Or I need a personal assistant... any volunteers?  :)

I've got another great book to share with you today, and I promise it's just a coincidence that like last week's it's in rhyme - I'm not going to post rhyming books every single week... probably... maybe... :) But this one is too good not to share.  I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

Title: Llama Llama Gram And Grandpa
Written & Illustrated By: Anna Dewdney
Viking Books For Young Readers, September 2015, Fiction

Suitable For Ages: 3-5

Themes/Topics: grandparents, common childhood experiences (first sleepover, transitional object), bedtime, language fun (rhyme)

Opening: "Llama Llama, big big day!
It's a first - a special stay!
Pack up clothes and pj's tight - 
Llama's going overnight."

Brief Synopsis: Llama Llama is spending his first night away from home with Gram and Grandpa.  There are lots of fun things to do - a tractor to climb on, a garden to explore, grass to mow, Grandpa's workshop to try out, and Gram's food to sample - but what happens at bedtime when Llama's special Fuzzy is nowhere to be found?

Links To Resources: Llama Llama Matching Game, Coloring Book, and more fun stuff; Curriculum Connections Guide for Llama Llama books, free downloadables and printables for teachers including desk plate, poster, and activities.

Why I Like This Book: If you've spent much time at all around this blog, you'll know I love Llama Llama :)  This new addition to the collection is no exception.  The story, written in engaging, fun-to-read-aloud rhyme, perfectly captures the emotion of a child's first time spending the night away from home.  The illustrations are warm and comforting.  Observant children will enjoy seeing (before Llama Llama does!) what happened to his Fuzzy :)  And of course, there is that trademark sweet "aww" moment that makes all Llama Llama books so special.  A great choice for preschoolers who are about to spend a night away, or for any child who enjoys the warmth and security of Llama Llama's world :)

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

PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you!  I can't wait to see everyone's choices!  Look out library, here I come! :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!