in my debut book The Donkey’s Song, I wrote very few words about the setting. That book has 150 words, and I did not feel that the lyrical, magical tone of the book could bear a lot of “spelling things out.” But as I wrote the book, I was fully aware of where that story was…
Month: February 2023
Picture Books that Celebrate Black History Month
When I think about black history, I initially think about Africa, the cradle of black people, but I also think about the black people who currently live in other lands now, like here in the USA. In my opinion, Black History Month is about all black people. Here is a list of the Black History…
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People – A Picture Book by Verna Aardema – Fabulous Illustrations by Leo & Diane Dillon
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears Verna Aardema Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon Dial Books 1975 A Retelling of West African Tale Before I show you this book, I want to say that this is one of my all-time favorite picture books. I love the story, but the illustration are absolutely masterful. “One morning…
Trombone Shorty – A Picture Book by Troy Andrews
Trombone Shorty Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews Illustrated by Bryan Collier Abrams Books for Young Readers “Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A prodigy, he was leading his own band by age six, and today this…
Rent Party Jazz – A Picture Book by William Miller
Rent Party Jazz William Miller Illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb Lee & Low Books, 2001 “In New Orleans in the 1930s, young Sonny Comeaux has to work before school to help his mother make ends meet. When Mama loses her job, Sonny is worried. Rent day is coming soon, and if they miss paying by just…
Hula-Hoopin’ Queen – A Picture Book by Thelma Lynne Godin
Hula-Hoopin’ Queen Thelma Lynne Godin Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton Lee & Low Books, 2014 I like Hula-Hoopin’ Queen for several reasons, but I mainly like the book because it offers the readers a glimpse of a rather contemporary African-American community. Although it is not historical yet, I am listing Hula-Hoopin’ Queen as appropriate for Black…
#14DayPBChallenge – Day 4 – February 2023 – How Metaphor and Simile Added Spice to Writing
First, let’s talk about what metaphors and similes are. A Metaphor is a comparative device that helps us better understand the writer’s meaning. A metaphor merely says that one thing IS another thing. The reader is left responsible for deciphering the metaphor. “A man is a lion” is a metaphor. Obviously, a man is not really a…
Duke Ellington – A Picture Book Biography about a Great Jazz Legend
Duke Ellington Andrea Pinkney Illustrated by Brian Pinkney 1999 Little, Brown Books for Young Readers “Years later, on a steamy summer night, Duke heard that umpy-dump played in a whole new way. Folks called the music ragtime–piano that turned umpy-dump into a soul-rousing romp.” . . . “Duke’s Creole Love Call was spicier than a…
#14DayPBChallenge – Day 3 – February 2023 – Tips for Writing the First Draft of Your Picture Book
Today’s Priorities: Write the First Draft of Your Picture Book Write the First Draft of Your Picture Book In A Stream of Consciousness. Don’t over-analyze as you write. Don’t stop to correct your spelling or grammar. Just write. Write in a Stream of Consciousness to Hush Your Self-Editor Something about writing seems to intimidate…
#14DayPBChallenge – Day 2 – February 2023 – A List of Ideas for Picture Books
Ideas for picture books are ephemeral in nature. Sometimes, they come to me in droves, but at other times, I can’t think of any ideas for my writing. Today, I’m starting a registry of picture book ideas. I’m starting by cataloging the picture books in my own library This is a work in progress. It…