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…
Author: jackikellum
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…
The Old Woman Who Named Things – A Picture Book by Cynthia Rylant
The Old Woman Who Named Things Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by Kathryn Brown 1996 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Rylant, Cynthia. The Old Woman Who Named Things. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1996.
Working Cotton – Picture Book by Sherley Anne Williams – Illustrated by Carole Byard
Working Cotton Sherley Anne Williams Illustrated by Carole Byard 1992 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Caldecott Honor Book Coretta Scott King Honor Book for Illustration ALA Notable Book “We gets to the fields early, before it even gets light. Sometime I still be sleep.” “Daddy pick the row side of Ruise and Jesmarie; they picking the row…
#14DayPBChallenge – Day 1- February 2023 – Start Planning Your Picture Book
Today’s Priorities: Learn How to Plan Your Picture Book Writing Project Understand the Importance of Reading Picture Books Written by Other Authors Learn to Use the Ideas Sheet [After you begin a regular writing routine, you will be flooded with tons of new ideas] Learn to Use the Reading Log A List of Books We’ll…
Take the #14DayPBChallenge – Write, Revise, & Submit Your Picture Book for Publication
Let’s Get Ready for my new #14DayPBChallenge. During the next 2 weeks, I plan to complete at least one new picture book manuscript, and I am also challenging myself to begin my search for an agent. I plan to do the process publicly–here on my blog. Join Me: Take the 2023 #14DayPBChallenge. It’s Free. Every…
Ted Goerschner
Color Mixtures Goerschner mixed viridian green and orange to make chartreuse. | Color Combinations of orange and chartreuse. Goerschner often creates a triad by adding turquoise or blue green as the blue. No doubt, Goerscher used viridian to create his green blue. Goerschner relied on red oranges to add punch. Complements of Red Orange In…
Hooray for the Red, White, and Blue – Jacki Kellum Oil Paintings
In my college art classes, I initially trained to paint in oils, but for most of the past 50 years, I’ve painted in watercolor, which is a much less forgiving medium–especially for loose, expressionistic painters. For quite some time, I’ve wanted to try oils again, and I’m finally doing that again. I’ve spent the month…