We who work in children’s literature speak a language all our own. No, I’m not talking about “simultaneous submissions” or “stet”. You”ll see what I mean when you read the Kidlitionary!
Blubbergasted
When you cannot believe someone has never read a Judy Blume book.
Barnett Storming
Publishing a dozen best-selling, critically-acclaimed books within a ridiculously short time frame.
Caldecutt
Being snubbed for a Caldecott honor.
Dahlings
Fans of Roald Dahl, particularly those of the female persuasion.
Karma
When good things come to you after reading a Karma Wilson book.
Kate Plus Eight
When Kate DiCamillo appears on Betsy Bird’s blog.
Lichtenhold
The hug a child gives to a picture book they love. Most commonly witnessed with books by Tom Lichtenheld.
Meter Maids
Rhyming geniuses who fix meter problems, most notably Corey Rosen Schwartz and Tiffany Strelitz Haber.
Motown
Northampton, Massachusetts, home to Mo Willems.
Raiders of the Lost ARC
Book bloggers and eBay sellers who grab the last BEA or ALA ARCs before librarians can.
Revisionist History
The multiple Word docs that exist for one picture book manuscript.
Rexipe
When you have all the ingredients to create a stellar picture book. “Way to be like Adam! You’ve got the Rexipe.”
Santatigans
1. Jocularity and mayhem caused by reading a Dan Santat book.
2. Fans of Dan Santat.
3. Jocularity and mayhem perpetrated by Dan Santat.
Selznicked
When someone is not acknowledged for his or her contribution. “They didn’t thank you. Man, you were Selznicked!”
Shel Shocked
The despair and horror you feel after taking a terrible author head shot.
Swagger
The feeling of superiority while scoring awesome SWAG from your favorite author.
Wiesner
The wisdom that accompanies creating a wordless picture book spread. “You’d be Wiesner to leave the text out.”
Zka Syndrome
Confusing Jon Scieszka with Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Relax; this is a curable condition. Related affliction: confusing Peter Brown with Peter Reynolds (but it doesn’t have as cool a name).
.
Got an entry for the Kidlitionary? Please leave it in the comments!
Ha! I’ve always thought Shel Silverstein’s headshot is bit too tough-looking for children’s books. As for David Wiesner, I am so conflicted about his wordless picture books (like Flotsam). I prefer his near-wordless books (like Art & Max), which give a little more structure to the story to help out a tired parent who is stuck deciphering his complicated illustrations for children who want to listen and not participate.
NEWNEWBERY: When your debut novel wins the big one, ie. Clare Vanderpool’s MOON OVER MANIFEST.
SCHUPEFIED: A condition marked by rushing out to the bookstore after a riveting book review by Mr. Schu, because you absolutely must read that book. Right now.
HOLMWORK: Obsessively reading SQUISH and BABYMOUSE books back to back to back. See also: HOLMSTRETCH, being on the final pages of any SQUISH or BABYMOUSE book.
Good ones, Tara! Made-up words are my favorite!
Direxions: An Adam Rex book that is used as a guide to becoming a better writer and/or illustrator.
Santachment Theory: The theory that a reader will not easily part with a book that has Dan Santat’s name on the cover.
Manuscrapped: A manuscript that collects enough rejections will eventually be “manuscrapped”.
Rejecularity: The art of joking about rejections. Unfortunately, sometimes no amount of rejecularity makes a writer feel better. (And yes, I got the idea from Tara’s “jocularity”
)
Haha, brilliant. I especially like SCHUPEFIED. I experience that often.
Awesome, Diana! Santachment is perfection.
Ha! LOVE these!
GONE WITH THE WORDS: The angst of losing some of your manuscript’s best bits because your word count’s too high.
PLOT-BOMBED: The act of finding your manuscript’s brilliant idea in a recently published book.
NEWBURIED: When a wonderful book doesn’t win due to a plethora of wonderful books released in the same year.
God ones, Cathy! It seems so easy to be Newburied.
Ha! I love this! I’m definitely a Dahling…
Regarding the very last point, would you need a Peternity Test to tell them apart?
Their babies, that is.
And by ‘babies’, I mean books.
Lots of *rimshots* there, Gary! LOL
I love revisionist history, which I must be keeping so I can say “see in the first version the rhyme was terrible but look how amazing it turned out!” *signs 1000 autographs*