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Blog: Scribble Chicken! Art and Other Fun Stuff (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustrator, children, children's books, Illustration, animal, cute, book, pet, pets, nature, outdoors, painting, child, children's book, garden, grow, armadillo, outside, costume, weird, zoo, spring, silly, vintage, sign, strange, publish, growth, outdoor, Oil Style, Add a tag
Blog: Scribble Chicken! Art and Other Fun Stuff (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: illustrator, children, publisher, children's books, Illustration, cute, book, nature, outdoors, weird, painting, spring, child, children's book, garden, silly, cat, grow, vintage, outside, Kitten, costume, publish, strange, growth, feline, outdoor, Oil Style, Add a tag
Blog: Darcy Pattison's Revision Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Books, kids, book, child, write, children's picture book, how to, Add a tag
You CAN be a Children’s Book Author
I’m Darcy Pattison, and I’m a children’s book author.
Wouldn’t you love to say that about yourself?
Wouldn’t you love to be the one signing books for kids and families?
Twenty years ago, I decided to write a children’s picture book. I had four kids and we read nightly, hundreds of children’s books. I thought I knew what was picture books were all about. Boy, was I wrong!
I wish I had had a writing teacher who could have explained the ins and outs of writing and selling picture books. And that’s why I decided to help others.
You CAN be published in eight languages
Here are some of my picture books and they are available in eight languages.
Your Biggest Fear: Rejection or Regret?
Because I write, just like you, I understand the fears at the beginning of a writing career. What is your biggest fear?
Rejection?
Not mine. Instead, I fear getting to the end of my life and looking back and realize that I never tried. I fear Regret and I fear it much, much more than I fear Rejection.
I’ll have to say, though, that rejection DOES hurt. Unlike regret, I can help with rejection. With the right information and exercises, your story can improve and catch an editor’s eye.
You CAN Get Acceptance Letters and Contract Offers
The first thing you need to change those rejection letters into acceptance letters is knowledge. The How to Write a Picture Book Ebook explains the kinds of picture books,
Add a CommentBlog: David Hohn (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: animal, photoshop, characters, watercolor, digital, child, figure, Add a tag
I've never fully trusted squirrels.
Sure they're small, cute, and look adorable when they munch frantically away on a nut, but still . . .
Blog: Whateverings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: language, child, Spanish, paula j. becker, Highlights, paula becker, hispanic, Highlights for Children, Mother's Day, High Five, gift, May 2012, home-made, children, Links, girl, magazine, Add a tag
Here’s another fun spread I created is in the May 2012 issue of Highlights’ High Five magazine (story by Marianne Mitchell)! So many other fine authors and illustrators contributed their work to this issue, too. Thanks, Highlights!
(c) Highlights For Children
Blog: The Art of Phyllis Hornung Peacock (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: girl, Illustration Friday, sketch, turtle, pond, child, Add a tag
A quick sketch of a little girl being rather vocal about some turtles she's spotted for this week's Illustration Friday:My husband can attest that I react similarly whenever I spot wild animals on our frequent hikes. I guess some of us never grow up...
Blog: Mayra's Secret Bookcase (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: books, writing, child, Earth Day, kathy stemke, sh sh sh let the baby sleep, Add a tag
As a freelance writer and ghostwriter, Kathy Stemke has published over one hundred articles in directories, magazines and websites. She is a reviewer for Sylvan Dell Publishing and a former editor for The National Writing for Children Center. As a retired teacher, Kathy has several activities published with Gryphon House Publishing. Stemke is also part of the team at DKV Writing 4 U, a writing services company that includes ghostwriting, copywriting, editing, proofreading, critiquing, and resumes. http://www.dkvwriting4u.com
Award winning author, Kathy Stemke’s first children’s picture book, Moving Through All Seven Days, was published on Lulu. Her next two picture books, Sh, Sh, Sh Let the Baby Sleep, and Trouble on Earth Day were released in 2011. Both of these books have been awarded the Literary Classics Seal of Approval. Visit her book blog at http://shshshletthebabysleep.blogspot.com
Mrs.Stemke offers great teaching tips and children’s book reviews as well as a monthly newsletter titled, MOVEMENT AND RHYTHM, on her blog, http://educationtipster.blogspot.com
Interview:
What was your favorite book as a child?
I have fond memories of Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses. The brilliant illustrations popped off the pages and made my imagination soar. My favorite poem, which I recited to anyone who would listen, was “My Shadow.” It opened up the fascinating world of science as I pondered where shadows came from and how they change throughout the day. Poems like “The Swing” still bring back memories of flying high into the air for hours at the park with friends. I was recently thrilled when asked to teach these very poems to a kindergarten student I was tutoring.
What is the best advice on writing you've ever received?
The best writing advice that I received or that I could give is to become part of a good critique group. In fact, joining multiple critique groups is even better. You not only learn from the critiques but also from reading the writings of other professionals. You become part of the evolution of a story from first draft to almost finished book. As a writer you’re too close to the work to be totally objective. You need other points of view.
Having said that, however, remember to weigh their advice carefully. Be true to your vision while adjusting the content.
What are you working on now?
My WIP is a historical fiction based on my mother’s life in WWII England titled, Winnie’s War. The research has been fascinating. I now have a better understanding of the experiences, hopes and fears that helped to shape her personality.
Can you tell us about your children’s books?
Since my background is in physical education and primary education my books and activities are fun to experience, educational and foster movement.
Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep takes kids on an adventure with Zachary and his new baby sister as he uses his super powers to keep her asleep. The rhymes in the story and the activities in the supplement feature the consonant blends sh, th, ch, br, and gr.
Trouble on Earth Day is a charming story of friendship and cooperation. Shelby wins an Earth Day poster contest and learns to rethink, reuse and recycle Earth’s precious resources. When she meets a homeless bluebird, she uses her new knowledge to rescue him and bring singing back to the forest. The twenty-three pages of activities include comprehension and discussion questions, action songs and games, worksheets, recycling crafts, and the history of Earth Day. Both books were recently awarded the Children’s Literary Seal of Approval.
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Blog: studio lolo (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: child, frogs, leap year, studio lolo, laurel gaylord, Add a tag
Blog: Claudsy's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Life, family, lessons, Philanthropy, Child, family values, Writing and Poetry, Hobo, Poverty, Hunger, United States, generation, Fanily Connections, Add a tag
Before I finish out this month’s blog challenge, I’d like to take a few moments to talk about something to which most of us can relate.
When I was growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, my parents and grandparents taught us lessons. Some of those lessons came at the end of a parent’s arm, in the form of a solid hand landing on a padded behind. That was before the days when self-expression was encouraged and corporal punishment was banned as being barbaric and cruel.
I’m just making a point about the differences in society between then and now.
One of the big lessons taught in our household, and in many other homes as well, was that there were places in the world where people went hungry on a daily basis, and that we should be grateful for what was placed before us on the table.
I think everyone between the ages of 45 and 100 has echoing voices in your heads right now that testify to that piece of instruction.
My family was considered slightly poor by the standards of children raised in town, whose folks worked in a shop, for IBM, or the university. My dad was blue-collar, and we lived in the country. Those were big considerations back then, too. I didn’t know any of that until high school.
We didn’t go without food, clothing, shelter, fun, a good car, or the rest of the material things that “mattered.” Most of those living in the country had as many or, in come cases, more of their needs taken care of, than those in town, without our mothers having to work outside the home.
We knew we had it good. It was understood. We learned by example when Mom took the time and effort to feed those who came to the door and asked for food and something to drink. Hobos were common in those days.
Our country culture demanded that we provide sustenance to those in need. It never occurred to her to turn someone away without at least a meal and clean, cold water to drink. Usually she gave them iced tea and whatever was leftover from dinner the evening before.
All of which brings us back to the question of that hunger lesson. I know that there are thousands of children all over the U.S. who go to bed knowing real hunger. I was never one of them, thank God, but I’ve known my share of them over the years.
I got to thinking about that this afternoon, and the admonition drilled into children to this day at the dinner table. Children cannot relate to something they’ve never experienced or seen first-hand. Unless the child who lives in the well-kept house, with all the toys scattered unthinkingly throughout, actually sees the consequences of hunger, it’s impossible to get the lesson across.
I’m tempted to wager that the majority middle-class and upper-lower-class citizens have never known hunger in this country. They haven’t gone a few days without something to eat and decent water to drink. If they had experienced real hunger on a regular basis, I doubt it would not exist in the country for long.
The realization of this difference between my generation and those coming up blazed
Blog: The Art of Phyllis Hornung Peacock (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: woods, painting, child, children's book, umbrella, trees, forest, river, whimsical, creek, stream, illustration, picture book, girl, autumn, fall, Illustration Friday, Add a tag
I thought I'd unbury this ancient painting from the archive section on my website for this week's Illustration Friday. This painting is from many, many years ago, but seemed fairly appropriate for today's topic:
It's even doubly appropriate, since as it happens, I'm currently working on a companion piece to this illustration which I hope to finish soon.
Blog: Claudsy's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Life, family, Father, Home, Child, Writing and Poetry, Grandparent, nightmare, Granny, Parent, Tantrum, Fanily Connections, Fear of Abandonment, Add a tag
Do you remember throwing a temper tantrum as a child? If so, where were you and who calmed you down? Do you remember the reason for the tantrum?
I have one memory of such an event and there’s very little to it. I was at my father’s parents’ house. I stood facing my grandpa, who was trying in vain to placate me. My young five/six year old self was having nothing to do with placation.
My parents had promised to be home soon and they hadn’t come yet. Were they dead and no one had told me? Where were they and why weren’t they here?
Neither Grandpa nor Granny could calm me down. I was furious, terrified that I’d never see my parents again, and I was headed for a complete meltdown. The end of my memory was where I kicked Grandpa in the shin as hard as I could and demanded he produce my parents “right now!”
My mother, many years later, told me that she and Dad had remained in town to visit other relatives while my little brother and I went back to my grandparents’ home. She said that they’d been delayed for a couple of hours because of friends and other relatives taking up their time.
It seems like a simple enough explanation, and one that probably would have worked on an older child who wasn’t terrified that her parents were lying dead somewhere along the road. I never bought it, she said. Their excuse was never accepted by me. I believed, though I didn’t want to, that they’d lied to me when they said they’d be home shortly.
Looking back on it now, from so many years into my own future, I can understand my fears and accusations. I quail to think of my striking out at that most gentle of men, my grandpa, even as I can fathom the depth of my feelings. I can’t remember if I ever apologized for my actions that evening.
There are some fears that take precedence over logic. Fear of abandonment is a child’s worst nightmare. Does a child ever outgrow that tendency to hang on so that the caregiver can’t disappear? Does that fear develop from a toddler’s misperception that a person/thing disappears when no longer in view?
I’m sure I don’t know the answer to that question. I doubt the experts do either. I do know that when I invest my trust and love in a person, I expect them to honor it and not throw me curve balls. I’ve always had that response in relationships, whether within the family or those outside of it.
Perhaps Grandpa’s mistake in dealing with me and my fears was actually two-fold. He tried to speak to me in a reasonable tone and manner, and he didn’t know where my parents were and admitted it to me. Grandpa’s are, after all, supposed to be all-knowing, all seeing, and above all else, always right!
If I ever threw another tantrum, I don’t recall it. Thank God! The recollection of this one has haunted me for enough years already.
4 Comments on Tantrums and Grandparent Woes, last added: 2/15/2012
Blog: Darcy Pattison's Revision Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: YA, story, kids, Picture book, young adult, middle grade, child, tone, MG, how to write, novel revision, Add a tag
Tone is the overall feel of a story. Does this sound depressed, joyful, or hopeful?
Beyond that, though, tone can determine the audience for your story. One of the main differences between a middle grade and YA, or a YA and an adult story, is the tone of the piece. Tone reflects the author’s attitude toward the characters, the plot, the setting, and the theme of the story.
One of the easiest ways to signal tone and, as a result, audience is to control your sentence structure. A simplistic explanation would say that simple sentences are for younger audiences, while longer sentences are for older. But that’s too simplistic.
Tone of a Picture Book
It is true that picture book language is simpler, but it’s not necessarily simplistic.
Clarity is paramount. You can—I love to do this—interrupt a sentence with another sentence. When I was teaching college level courses and taught this sentence construction, one student came back to class and reported that her three year old daughter had done this. Even young kids talk in complex ways. But the connections from sentence to sentence must be absolutely clear. Using lots of introductory clauses, even when well used, can be confusing. Instead, be simple and direct. Make sure everything is clear.
Tone of a Middle Grade
The tone here is more complex and respectful. Never take the tone of talking down to a “little kid.” For sentence structures, you’ll still want to be clear, easy to understand. You can take more detours, for example, explaining a character’s motivations, or describing in more detail. But the tone is honest, open, fun, entertaining. Simple sentences are complemented by compound and complex sentences.
Tone of a Young Adult (YA)
The difference here is that, besides a full range of sentence structures, the attitude is more irreverent, questioning, “edgy.” This may mean experimentation with sentence fragments, POV, invented words, jargon—including cursing, lists, long sentences with plenty of semi-colons. The mandate here is freshness, in content and in presentation (your sentences).
A great book to shake up your grammar is Spunk & Bite: A Writer’s Guild to Bold, Contemporary Style by Arthur Plotnik.
Tone of an Adult Story or Novel
The adult story has sophistication, nuances and maturity as hallmarks of its tone, regardless of genre. The full range of sentence structures can and should be present and you may use whatever is appropriate for your story. For a brush-up on sentence structure possibilities, read this book.
This isn’t a call for simple sentences for picture books.
I write picture books.
I write easy picture books
I write boring picture books.
This is a call to make sure that in the tone—especially in how sentences affect tone—is a crucial part of your decision making as you write a story. Examine your typical sentence structures and shake it up some!
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Blog: David Hohn (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: characters, process, child, architecture, castle, conceptual, book cover, Add a tag
I just found out that a book I did the cover for is now available at your favorite bookstore! Written by Jessica Day George, it got a great review blurb from Kirkus: “This enjoyable romp turns mischief into political action and a stone palace into a cunning character. These kids are clever, as is George’s lively adventure. May pique castle envy.” —Kirkus Reviews This is a splendid YA fantasy and I had a great time coming up with all kinds of cover concepts. And what the heck, since you're here at my blog what better place to show some behind-the-scenes stuff: In hindsight it would have been awesome if I had waited until Tuesday to post this -- ah well, enjoy!
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Phyllis,
on 10/4/2011
By: Blog: The Art of Phyllis Hornung Peacock (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: illustration, girl, beach, digital painting, ocean, child, children's book, lion, sand, Add a tag
All finished:
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Blog: Galley Cat (Mediabistro) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: child, Summer Reading, patrons, New York Public Library, Queens Public Library, children, Libraries, kids, NYPL, Add a tag
In New York City, any library patron with $15 or more in fines can’t check out books. To ease this restriction, the New York Public Library and the Queens Public Library will allow 143,000 blocked kids a chance to “read down” their fines this summer. Children who sign up on Summer Reading can take part in this program. Every fifteen minutes of reading reduces an overall fine by one dollar. The kids then record the titles and the time they spent reading on their Summer Reading 2011 account. The program kicked off on July 25th and will run until September 9th. NYPL official Jack Martin told The NY Daily News: “Kids might be afraid or ashamed because they are delinquent with the library. The idea of this program is to bring them back in. We are in such hard economic times and children and teens depend on the library.” Do you think this is a fair trade-off? Would adults be open to “reading down” their fines too? (via BookTV) New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media. Add a Comment
By: Shari Lyle-Soffe ,
on 6/27/2011
Blog: Shari Lyle-Soffe (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: question, Character, child, Add a tag What character trait would you most like to instill in your child? What character trait do you think is more important than any other? Why???
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Blog: David Hohn (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: monster, ink, watercolor, child, Add a tag
The inaugural drawing of my brand-spankin' new set of mid-toned sketchbooks. (Very excited to be drawing in these again!) This stroller was just sitting on the sidewalk today, and while I admire the engineering that has gone into modern "baby-jogger strollers" there's just something evocative about this design.
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Phyllis,
on 5/26/2011
By: Blog: The Art of Phyllis Hornung Peacock (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: illustration, girl, drawing, sketch, spring, child, plant, pot, pole bean, Add a tag
Here's something I'm working on:
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Blog: David Hohn (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: animal, characters, typography, child, landscape, projects, male, female, figure, Add a tag
For the last year I have been working on a series of books "The Imagination Station" with Focus on the Family and Tyndale House Publishers. I've recently received my advance copies of the first two books in the series and wanted to show off the covers. Click the horizontal images for all the wraparound cover art goodness.
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By: Marie K.,
on 5/9/2011
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: watercolor, child, monarch, Add a tag
Le ROI des Lapicouleurs. Vous pouvez retrouver l'histoire entière sur ce lien : http://oilandwatercolour.blogspot.com/2011/05/monday-artday-monarch.html
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By: Roberta Baird,
on 5/6/2011
Blog: A Mouse in the House (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: www.robertabaird.com, illustration, Illustration Friday, IF, children's illustration, child, witch, digital art, roberta baird, mother, artwork, houston, a mouse in the house, art by committee, Add a tag
Happy Mother’s Day
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By: Darcy Pattison,
on 4/28/2011
Blog: Darcy Pattison's Revision Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: book, picture books, writing, child, ebook, children's picture book, online class, write a picture book, online course, Add a tag
12 Updated Resources for 2011
Basic Resources for Writing Children’s Picture BooksAuthors on How-to Write a Children’s Picture BookPhilip Bell: Capturing Childhood Magic With Picture Books Updated Information on Self Publishing a Picture Book How to Write a Rhyming Picture Book
By: Ginger Nielson,
on 3/18/2011
Blog: Ginger Pixels (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: animals, IF, farm, child, Ginger Nielson, cultivate, Add a tag
Just as we cultivate our gardens, there are other important friendships to cultivate.
14 Comments on ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ CULTIVATE, last added: 3/22/2011
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By: Sara Burrier,
on 2/10/2011
Blog: warrior princess dream (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: girl, love, valentine, watercolor, angel, child, heart, colored pencil, Add a tag
Daughter in Heaven watercolor & colored pencil | 2011 The painting was created for someone who lost a child, it like many commissioned pieces, this was especially spiritual. Lots of prayer during the entire process until paint. I then just let it be without thought as to what I was doing. Kind of letting my hand do it's own thing. I am anxious to see how the parent will respond to this painting, and it is my hope to share this as a print in the future. But I am leaving that up to the recipient. I will let you all know either way. :)
4 Comments on Daughter in Heaven - Completed, last added: 2/13/2011
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By: Ginger Nielson,
on 2/4/2011
Blog: Ginger Pixels (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap) JacketFlap tags: picture book, animals, farm, child, Ginger Nielson, dummy, Add a tag
For the dummy I like to keep the sketches rather loose. I may want to leave a lot of the line work in this one as well. The thick and thin lines add so much movement to the piece. This is one half of a double page so there is no text needed here.
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Aw, David this is lovely! Is his watercolor? I love how intimidating those squirrels are. Large hordes of smallc reatures can be truly frightening!
Thanks Laura! This is a combination of watercolor and digital. And I know what you mean -- I'm still getting over my last lemming encounter.
It's fantastic:)Love the atmoshere and the squirrels:)