Picture book ideas can hit at the most unlikely times. In honor of picture book month, I’m reprinting my post from last year’s PiBoIdMo about my most unusual sources of inspiration.
1. YouTube Kids say and do the darndest things, right? And so often, they provide tender or hilarious or wonder-filled inspiration for picture books. But why limit yourself to the kids you know. More than ever, proud parents and brilliant marketers are happy to share a little one’s latest escapades. While I’ve never derived a direct storyline from YouTube videos, I do find in them that wacky lens through which to view a kid’s world. Here are some of my favorites:
2. Artist and Illustrator Websites Three of my six picture books were inspired, in part, by browsing illustrators’ websites. Whether or not a particular illustrator ends up paired with my text, by studying the works of today’s most celebrated artists, I enter an altered state (Twilight Zone!) of visual creativity that triggers my muse. In the process I often discover a tone, emotion, whimsy or character that might just complete my story.
3. Beat Boxing Whether they rhyme or not, most of my picture books have a distinct rhythm. And every so often that rhythm comes to me before the story. Listen carefully to your life. Do you hear the thump bump of your feet hitting the stairs each time you go up and down? Do you hear the crunch and shush of your shovel in crusty snow? How about the screech and thrum of an old file drawer? Beat box, then play with those rhythms to see if they have a story hidden inside them.
4. The Timeout Corner Kids adore naughty characters. Whether we’re seeing ourselves or giggling with relief at another’s foibles, we all love stories with a little mischief in them. “Do some time” with a kid in timeout and you might just find a story there. Or think back to your own timeout corner—come on, fess up—we were all there once. What got you there? What were you feeling? Just remember, keep messages light. Because even a little mischief needs to be a fun read.
5. Your Day Job Okay, let’s face it. Few of us get to take a morning stroll along the beach or dream by the hour under the old oak tree. Instead we might get regular face time with a subway hissing and shrieking during a crowded commute. Or the steely skyscraper out our window. Or the deli man who serves us pastrami on rye. Or a carpool of crack-me-up kids. Or even a baby giggling at the garbage man. Whether your day job is at home or away, it’s those “regular” experiences that often provide fodder for great picture books. Keep your notebook handy!
What are your most unusual sources of inspiration?
Now that Halloween is over, wreaths, trees and garland will soon be up in the shopping malls. Let the shopping begin.
Do you have any kids on your holiday gift list? How about personalized and autographed books for their home library? Autographed books become treasured read-alouds in the present and keepsakes for the future.
Here’s all you need to do if you’d like to give an autographed book this season:
Purchase any of my books from Amazon or your favorite bookseller. Here are the Amazon links to make it easy:
Name of the child to whom the book will be given – as you would like it to appear on the sticker.
Your name and address.
Then I’ll mail to you, personalized and autographed stickers for every book you buy. Stick it in the book. Wrap up the gift. You’re set!
OR
Stop by one of these bookstores or signing events:
Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore – lots of autographed books are still available at the bookstore!!! Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch – 11/30 Family Fun Nightand if you can’t make it to the Tattered Cover, they’ll order or reserve your autographed book. Detail are provided in the link. Barnes & Noble Downtown Denver – 12/7 (12:00-1:00)
I was just getting ready to post a November Picture Book Peek Week on my blog when Sandy struck. So instead, my critique this time around will be part of an auction to help the victims of Sandy.
KidLit Cares is organized by the awesome kidlit author Kate Messner. There you’ll find my picture book critique as well as loads of other kidlit treasures.
So please stop by. Bid high. Bid often. And help those whose lives were devastated by this storm.
While my Peek Week for November was to have a gratitude theme, I am forever grateful for all of you and for this caring and generous kidllit community that always steps up in times of trouble. and Jean
Whenever I talk about my book TIME OUT FOR MONSTERS! I always mention that the story is really about imagination. The students at St. Thomas More School really get that. Along with their librarian, the wonderful Lori Lucas, they let their imaginations run wild on these amazing wall murals. Thanks for sending me the pictures!!!
I just Skyped with 1st and 3rd graders at Verne W. Critz Elementary in New York state. We read TIME OUT FOR MONSTERS! and I shared with them some picture book secrets. But the highlight came when they each showed me their “Window Into Our Imaginations” and read me their stories about their windows, based on the book. It turned out, we all had at least one thing in common – CUPCAKES!
For free resources, free Skype visits and curriculum-based activity guides to go with all of my books check out my TIME OUT FOR TEACHERS Page.
Here are two samples of recent Author Spots — Jennifer Nielsentalking about her acclaimed middle grade novels and then me, talking about … well, click play and see.
Miss Larsen’s 5th Grade in Seattle flooded me with postcards last week. While their writing skills WOWed me, I think you’ll agree, their artistry is equally brilliant.
For more great resources, activities and ideas to accompany my books, check out my TIME OUT FOR TEACHERS page!
Here’s a great way to connect children’s authors and readers, and it’s a WIN-WIN-WIN for schools, authors and school book fairs everywhere!
AUTHOR SPOTS FOR SCHOOLS!
Author Spots are FREE mini-commercials created by children’s authors that schools can broadcast to promote their book fair to kids and parents.
I’m not talking about anything fancy here – just a 30 second to 1 minute webcam, YouTube video of a children’s author giving a shout-out about his/her books along with a personalized promotion for a school book fair. It might be something as simple as:
“Hi, I’m Jean Reidy, children’s author! I’m super excited that TOO PURPLEY! is coming to the Abraham Lincoln Elementary book fair. (MAYBE ADD MORE ABOUT THE BOOK HERE) Don’t forget to stop by and check out all the awesome books on sale. GO LIONS!”
Author Spots could be shown in morning video announcements, during library time, in the classrooms, at PTO meetings, at the school entrance, or loaded on the school’s website … the possibilities are endless.
It’s simple! Here’s how it works:
Teachers, Principals, and Book Fair Volunteers: Review the authors and their books listed below and decide who might be a good fit for your school book fair. Authors who have books specifically at Scholastic Book Fairs are noted with an “S” after their name. Their names link you to their website. Choose a few options because not every author will be available at all times. Then contact one or more — can you imagine a whole week of AuthorSpots? — of the authors below requesting a FREE AuthorSpot. If the author agrees, tell the author how you’d like it personalized – school name, school mascot, etc. And when the video is posted, the author will send you the link. It’s as simple as that.
Children’s Authors andIllustrators: If you’re interested in recording Author Spots for Schools, e-mail me your name, your 5 most recent book titles, genres and your website link and I’ll add you to the list. Send your information to reidy(dot)jean(at)gmail(dot)com. If you know that one or more of your books is offered specifically at Scholastic Book Fairs, please let me know, and I’ll put an “S” after your name. Then, when a school contacts you, record your Author Spot, upload it to YouTube and send the link to the school. If you’d like to participate but you’d prefer to record only one generic book fair promotion video that ANY school can use, let me know. I’ll start a separate list and link to your video. If we get enough authors participating, I’ll even host a website specifically for Author Spots.
The following authors are interested in promoting your book fair! And here is just a sampling of their books. Please check their website for contact and other information.
FICTION PICTURE BOOKS: Jean Reidy (S) – TOO PURPLEY!, TOO PICKLEY!, TOO PRINCESSY, LIGHT UP THE NIGHT, TIME OUT FOR MONSTERS Mirka Breen – THERE’S A TURKEY AT THE DOOR Jean Gralley – HOGULA, DREAD PIG OF NIGHT, VERY BORING ALLIGATOR, YONDERFEL’S CASTLE, THE MOON CAME DOWN ON MILK STREET Tara Lazar – THE MONSTORE, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK, LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD Tammi Sauer (S) – MR. DUCK MEANS BUSINESS, ME WANT PET!, BAWK & ROLL, OH, NUTS!, PRINCESS IN TRAINING Liz Garton Scanlon (S) – ALL THE WORLD, THINK BIG, A SOCK IS A POCKET FOR YOUR TOES, NOODLE & LOU, HAPPY, BIRTHDAY BUNNY! Judith Snyder – WHAT DO YOU SEE?, STINKY FEET Deborah Underwood – THE QUIET BOOK, THE LOUD BOOK, A BALLOON FOR ISABEL, PIRATE MOM Audrey Vernick (S) – SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK STAR, IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN?, TEACH YOUR BUFFALO TO PLAY DRUMS
NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS: Alison Ashley Formento (S) – THIS TREE COUNTS, THIS TREE 1-2-3, THESE BEES COUNT, THESE SEAS COUNT Audrey Vernick (S) – SHE LOVED BASEBALL, BROTHERS AT BAT
MIDDLE GRADE FICTION: Ruth McNally Barshaw (S) – THE ELLIE MCDOODLE SERIES Mary Bartek – FUNERALS AND FLY FISHING Hélène Boudreau (S)- REAL MERMAIDS DON’T WEAR TOE RINGS, REAL MERMAIDS DON’T HOLD THEIR BREATH, REAL MERMAIDS DON’T NEED HIGH HEELS (SPRING 2013), REAL MERMAIDS DON’T SELL SEA SHELLS (FALL 2013) Mirka Breen –THE VOICE OF THUNDER Danette Haworth (S) – VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING,THE SUMMER OF MOONLIGHT SECRETS, ME & JACK, A WHOLE LOT OF LUCKY Lynda Mullaly Hunt – ONE FOR THE MURPHYS Natalie Lorenzi – FLYING THE DRAGON Michaela Maccoll (S) – PROMISE THE NIGHT Jennifer Nielsen(S) – THE FALSE PRINCE, THE RUNAWAY KING Audrey Vernick (S) – WATER BALLOON Danette Vigilante – THE TROUBLE WITH HALF A MOON Diane Zahler – THE THIRTEENTH PRINCESS, A TRUE PRINCESS, PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS MIDDLE GRADE NONFICTION Cynthia Levinson – WE’VE GOT A JOB Sarah Albee(S) – POOP HAPPENED! A HISTORY OF THE WORLD FROM THE BOTTOM UP
Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
