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This is a children’s picture book structure break down for THE MONSTORE by Tara Lazar and James Burks. This breakdown will contain spoilers. Once upon a time:…

While I was vacationing in Hilton Head when the votes were tallied and the winners announced. I have highlighted the winners. Congratulations!

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Atlantic

(Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland)

FLAME IN THE MIST by Kit Grindstaff

City Cat by Lauren Castillo

I Hate Picture Books! Written and Illustrated by Timothy Young

Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman, Illustratrated by Keith Campbell

The Monstore by Tara Lazar, Illustrated by James Burks

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Margaret Medina

California, Hawaii

THE KITE THAT BRIDGED TWO NATIONS by Alexis O’Neil, Illustrated by Terry Widener

The 14 Fibs of Gregory K. by Greg Pincus

Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

Lara’s Gift by Annemarie O’Brien

West

(Washington, Northern Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota)

ONCE UPON A MEMORY by Nina Laden, Illustrated by Renata Liwska

A Moment Comes by Jennifer Bradbury

Bedtime In The Meadow by Stephanie Shaw

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy by Martha Brockenbrough, Illustrated by Israel Sanchez

Southwest

(Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Southern Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico)

TEA REX by Molly Idle

All Through My Town by Jean Reidy

Backwards by Todd Mitchell

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

A Summer of Sundays by Lindsay Eland

Midwest

(Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio)

SOPHIE’S SQUASH by Pat Zietlow Miller

45 Pounds (More or Less) by Kelly Barson

Boom! Boom! Boom! by Jamie A. Swenson, Illustrated by David Walker

Carnivores by Aaron Reynolds, Illustrated by Dan Santat

Doggone Feet! Written and Illustrated by Leslie Helakoski

Penguin Cha-Cha Written and Illustrated by Kristi Valiant

New England

(Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)

The Story of Fish & Snail Written and Illustrated by Deborah Freedman

All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry

Call Me Amy by Marcia Strykowski

Dear Life, You Suck by Scott Blagden

Living With Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles

Monster Needs a Costume by Paul Czajak, Illustrated by Wendy Grieb

When Rivers Burned by Linda Brennan, Illustrated by Lisa Greenleaf

New York

Crankenstein! by Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Dan Santat

Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde

Texas, Oklahoma

Army Camels: Texas Ships of the Desert by Doris Fisher

Ball Written and Illustrated by Mary Sullivan

Happy Birthday, Bunny! by Liz Scanlon

Nugget & Fang Illustrated by Tammi Sauer

The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt

Mid-South

(Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana)

THE 13TH SIGN by Kristin Tubb

Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes

Ice Cream Soup by Ann Ingalls

Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos

My Blue Is Happy by Jessica Young

Swing Low, Sweet Harriet by Rhonda Hicks Rucker

Southeast

(Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama)

THE BALLAD OF JESSIE PEARL by Shannon Hitchcock

Anubis Speaks! by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes

Wild Discoveries: Wacky New Animals by Heather Montgomery

UK, Ireland

SHINE by Candy Gourlay

Fractured by Teri Terry

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Middle East, India, Asia

BONKERS! by Natasha Sharma

Jet Black and the Ninja Wind by Leza Lowitz

The Language Inside by Holly Thompson

The Seven-Legged Spider by Poh Peng Lee

Tibby the Tiger Bunny by Emily Lim, Illustrated by Jade Fang

Canada

It’s a tie!

I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN by Helene Boudreau

SKINK ON THE BRINK by Lisa Dalrymple, Illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo

Brothers at War by Don Cummer

Hoogie in the Middle by Stephanie McLellan, Illustrated by Dean Griffiths

How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler

Stained by Cheryl Rainfield

Australia, New Zealand

Zac and Mia by AJ Betts

Ali Berber and the Forty Grains of Salt by Sheryl Gwyther

Big Red Kangaroo by Claire Saxby

Granny Grommet and Me by Dianne Wolfer, Illustrated by Karen Blair

The Boy on the Page Written and Illustrated by Peter Carnavas

The Wishbird Written and Illustrated by Gabrielle Wang

Welcome Home Written and Illustrated by Christina Booth

Other International

CHICK-O-SAURUS REX by Lenore Appelhans, Illustrated by Daniel Jennewein

Blossoms of Scarlet Illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden

Dragon Fire by Dina von Lowenkraft

The Lost (And Found) Balloon Illustrated by Maria Bogade

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Thank you, PiBoIdMo participants, guest bloggers and illustrators. Do you know what you did?

You helped me raise $433.62 to donate to RIF, Reading is Fundamental.

Your purchases via the PiBoIdMo CafePress Shop made it possible.

With Carol Hampton Rasco, CEO of RIF

For every $10 donated, RIF is able to distribute four books to a child in need.

FOUR BOOKS!

So last month I made my way down to RIF Headquarters in D.C. I toured their offices and talked with RIF staff about the important work they’re doing.

One staff member had just returned from a county in Appalachia, where 28% of the schoolchildren were officially homeless, and where even more lived in crowded trailers with multiple families apiece.

The school Principal told RIF that amazingly, their test scores rose from 9th percentile to the 22nd percentile in just one year. To what did they attribute that growth? RIF! Now that these children have books of their own, they’re able to continue learning at home and over the summer break instead of being left behind. Books are AMAZING. But you already knew that, right?

As part of my trip to RIF, my publisher, the Aladdin imprint of Simon & Schuster, donated 100 copies of THE MONSTORE to the children at Bancroft Elementary in Washington, D.C. I was honored to appear at the school to talk to the children about writing and to personally sign every copy.

The best moment of the day? When I told the children they’d each be going home with a copy of my book. They cheered and hoorayed, and two besties in the front row hugged each other so tight they tumbled over in joy. Now that’s a great day for any author. Thank you, Aladdin and RIF!

I have something else important to tell you.

RIF’s donations have taken a plummet in recent times. The economy has hit them hard. So please consider donating directly. Remember $10 = 4 books!

Donate here. Or here.

And again, thank you for making the PiBoIdMo donation possible!

Wow, I was blown away by the creativity of the kids who entered my Halloween Skype monster contest! I asked them to draw the monster they’d like to purchase at The Monstore, and they came through with some very useful companions, just right for doing tricky things around the house. In fact, I’d like to borrow all of them!

It was tough to pick just five finalists, but here they are, in no particular order.

Please leave a comment voting for your favorite entry #. The monster with the most votes will win a Skype classroom visit with me on Halloween! 

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MONSTER #1
REPRESENTING MS. ROSENBERG’S 2nd GRADE CLASS
MS. GO EYES by JULIA B.!

I like how Ms. Go Eyes can dance with Julia whenever she pleases, plus this monster can reach high to get the most coveted snacks in the cabinet. Of course, Ms. Go Eyes loves THE MONSTORE book, too! Congratulations, Julia!

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MONSTER #2
REPRESENTING MS. MELLIN’S 2nd GRADE CLASS
TRASH MONSTER by SIERRA V.!

Well, Trash Monster can certainly find a welcomed place in my home. I like how neat and environmentally conscientious he is. And he’s so brightly colored, he’ll fit right in with my decor. Congratulations, Sierra!

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MONSTER #3
REPRESENTING MS. MACCRI’S 2nd GRADE CLASS
BULLEYE by NATHAN H.!

Considering that October is National Bullying Prevention Month, I think everyone could use a friend like Bulleye right now. He’s so fierce-looking, he just has to stand there and bullies will steer clear. Congratulations, Nathan!

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MONSTER #4
REPRESENTING MS. ABATE’S 1st GRADE CLASS
SPARKLES by KATIE F.!

As Sparkles is already aware, we could all use a little more sparkle in our lives. Everything she touches glitters and shines. What a happy-making monster! Congratulations, Katie!

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MONSTER #5
REPRESENTING MS. BROWN’S 1st GRADE CLASS
DAGA BY DOANH!

Ms. Brown’s class got very creative and used shapes to create their monsters. They even counted up all the shapes. I’m impressed! This monster’s needed in my house because my daughter does not like to eat meat. It merely touches her tongue and she spits it out.  What’s a mom to do? Maybe she will follow Daga’s example. Congratulations, Doanh! (And wow, what neat handwriting!)

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Thank you to everyone who participated in the Skype monster contest. It was so difficult to choose the finalists because all the creations were terrific. I’m sincerely blown away by the creativity expressed in this exercise!

Kindly comment below with your # monster choice by SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27th and I will announce the winner on the 28th!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE! I HOPE TO SEE YOU ON HALLOWEEN!

In THE MONSTORE, Zack just wants to buy a monster to spook his pesky little sister, Gracie. (As you may know, things don’t work to plan.)

But when I do school visits, I’ve found that kids have all kinds of things they’d like a monster to do for them.

• Shoot cupcakes from their feet.
• Hide under their bed and scare away OTHER monsters.
• Walk their pet pot-belly pig.
• Eat clouds so it stops raining.
• Reach the shelf where Mom keeps HER chocolate.

And even more outrageously clever tasks.

So here’s your child’s chance! What would THEIR monster do? What would it look like?

Print out this MONSTORE coloring page (courtesy of illustrator Wendy Martin) and then email me a pic of your child’s monsterly creation by October 7th. (My email button is in the top left column of this blog.)

I’ll pick 5 finalists and post them here, then you’ll have a week to vote for the winner.

(Click on the image for larger version, mouse over for a + magnifying glass, click, then you can then print 8 1/2 x 11. Or, click here for a PDF: Monstore Draw Your Own Monster.)

The winner will earn their class a signed book and a SKYPE VISIT from me on HALLOWEEN! (And if the child is homeschooled, I’ll Skype with them at home or anywhere they choose.)

The contest is open to kids through age 12. Whole classes can enter. If I had a lawyer, you might expect a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo to appear here. But I don’t. So there isn’t. (PHEW!)

Any questions? Ask away below.

Happy creating and I’ll hope to SEE YOU on HALLOWEEN!

So the release date for THE MONSTORE finally arrived!

Dude, I was bustin’ out!

OK, I wasn’t that hot to trot. After all, I had been waiting for three years. So my excitement was more, um, subdued.

But inside, I was like this.

And this.

And this.

But I soon found out Barnes & Noble wouldn’t be carrying THE MONSTORE.

At first, I thought it was no biggie.

I would overcome!

But then, I slept on it.

Somehow, I didn’t break down.

With a little help, I kept it together.

In fact, I had something to say to that brick-and-mortar behemoth.

So I rallied the troops.

And people went to bat for me. For me?!

They’ve even told me funny stories about how B&N has been ‘splainin’ the book’s absence. (Yeah, they got a lotta ‘splainin’ to do.)

They said: “It’s with a small publisher.”

“It has to be reviewed first.”

“It’s a Halloween title.”

So, maybe this means it will be there in October?

Doesn’t matter, though. My peeps got my back.

These peeps, too.

Yeah, the response to THE MONSTORE has been pretty insane.

Oops, not Bynes insane. Stone insane.

And the fun has only just begun.

Because, remember…

I’ve been flipping a coin, trying to decide if I should post this. The coin rolled into my bathroom, spun beneath the toilet tank, and landed on tails, but I decided to post anyway.

THE MONSTORE has not been ordered by Barnes & Noble. And it’s supposed to hit shelves TOMORROW.

There. I’ve said it.

Simon and Schuster and Barnes & Noble continue their dispute over ebook pricing and in-store promotions, so the bookseller has cut back on orders from my publisher. Drastically.

I will say something else. It totally sucks. I don’t blame either party; it’s just business negotiations and it happens. BUT, we new authors are caught in the crosshairs. It ain’t fun. (See, it’s deteriorating my English!)

\

So…what does this mean for my debut book?

It means the savvy kidlit readers will still know my book. They’ll find it at their local indie. They’ll order it online. They’ll laugh. They’ll cry. They’ll say it’s much better than “Cats”. (Nod to SNL there.)

However, it means the general public might not know my book even exists. Sales may suffer. Hope of a sequel will grow dim. I’ve worked four long years to get this book into readers’ hands. FOUR YEARS. And now because of this dispute’s timing, well, I can’t say it. I can’t. It’s not nice. And I’m a nice girl.

So this means I need you, my blog readers, more than ever.

If you have enjoyed this blog, participated in PiBoIdMo, or just have a heart of gold, I ask if you can help me get the word out about THE MONSTORE. I would be forever grateful. Together, we can make up for some of the loss the book will suffer for not being in America’s only national book chain.

Some things you can do to help:

• Blog about THE MONSTORE. (Many of you already are. I’m so appreciative.)
• Order it from places that already have it: IndieBound, Amazon, BN.com
• Call my local indie, The Bookworm, and order a signed copy to be shipped to you: 908-766-4599
• Visit/call your local B&N and ask them to order the book for in-store pick-up.
• Visit/call your local indie and ask them to order the book. They may already have it!
• Review THE MONSTORE on any book site.
• Mark it “want to read” on GoodReads.
• Let your local librarian(s) know about the book.
• Set your Facebook cover/banner to this image (click for full-size, then right-click to save):

But I’m also open to your ideas. Heck, I NEED your ideas. So hit me with them.

HIT ME HARD.

And THANK YOU.

Then slip on your ruby red slippers, click your heels together three times and repeat…

I’ve teamed up with my local indie in Bernardsville, NJ.

I’ll be signing THE MONSTORE at The Bookworm on Thursday, June 20 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

But, if you can’t make it, you can still get a signed copy made out to your favorite kiddo. (Or yourself, or Toto the dog, as the case may be.)

Just call The Bookworm at 908-766-4599 and pre-order. Specify to whom you’d like me to sign the book. I’ll be heading over there periodically to sign copies and they’ll ship ‘em out to you.

You’ll also receive one of these cool, exclusive “Grand Opening” stickers with your book…

Some assembly required.

Sorry, Ruby Red Slippers sold separately.

To celebrate the release of my debut picture book THE MONSTORE on June 4th, I am offering free Skype visits with your class the week of June 10th. (Yes, I know school will be out for a lot of you, but I live in Jersey, where school drags on into summer.)

For the Skype visit I will:

• Read THE MONSTORE
• Wear the pajamas of your class’s choice (Scottie Dog, Hot Cocoa, Conversation Hearts, Figure Skates)
• Answer questions about the book/writing/spending the day in jammies
• Play a trick on the class (with your help and a red delicious apple)
• Saw a lady in half
• Send your class a signed bookplate with limited edition “Grand Opening” MONSTORE sticker
• Accomodate your ideas to fulfill a classroom initiative

Skype visits will take place from June 10th to June 14th and last 30 minutes.

Whoops, and I will not saw a lady in half. Sorry ’bout that one. I got carried away.

To set up the Skype visit, please email me at tarawrites (at) yahoo (dot) com with “Free Skype Visit” in the subject line. Please include the following details:

• Class grade
• Location
• Three available days/times, listed in order of preference
• Contact info

I will try my best to schedule everyone who requests a Skype visit, but please note if I cannot, you will be selected on a first come/first served basis. Also, for reading purposes it’s best if you have a copy of THE MONSTORE in your classroom, but it is not a requirement.

Let the Skyping begin!

I fell asleep earlier and dreamt about my first book signing for THE MONSTORE. It was so glitzy and glamorous, I wanted to reenact it for you. Unfortunately, my makeup smeared onto my pillow and my hair got all matted, plus I lost my Jane Jetson mask, so these cartoon characters offered to be my cast.

But I don’t think they got it quite right. Especially that dude with the camera.

Allow me to reveal the cover of THE MONSTORE, my June 2013 picture book illustrated by James Burks!

It’s so fabulous I spend hours staring at it as if I’m a 7th grade dork in love with a 1981 poster of Rick Springfield.

Forget about wishing to be Jessie’s girl, I’d rather be James’s girl, ’cause the dude seriously knows how to whiz-bang-kaPOW a picture book cover. ( Oh, Rick, please don’t take it personally.)

That’s main character Zack front-and-center with his pesky little sister Gracie popping into the frame. The hulking orange guy is Manfred, the flying monster is Mookie, and that’s Mojo with the striped, wiggling arms and crooked horns. Peeper is the little eyeball perched on the Monstore sign, although he isn’t named in the book. He’s James’s invention!

That leaves the red broom guy. And guess what? He doesn’t have a name. Well, he does because James names all the character he draws, but this monster never gets mentioned in the story.

So here’s a monster of a contest for ya: try to guess the name James gave him! If you do, you’ll win an original, autographed monster sketch by the talented Mr. Burks. If no one guesses his correct name, or if there’s more than one correct answer, the ultimate winner will be decided by Random.org.

You get one entry for commenting and then one additional entry for each place you share THE MONSTORE cover—Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Just leave a comment letting us know!

Hope you love the cover!

And if Rick Springfield is out there, how about playing my book launch party?

Have your people call my monsters.

Well, it’s really part TWO, not BOO…

…because these monsters aren’t all that scary. In fact, some look downright delicious while others give out money. And one is named “Sparkle”. How can anyone named “Sparkle” be scary, right?

So here’s the rest of the monsters Mrs. Mozer’s class wishes they could buy at The Monstore! Be sure to comment and let the students know how much you like their creations!

Alexandra:

Alice:

Hayley:

John:

Jordan:

Jordyn:

Kylie:

Matias:

Sean:

On National Read Across America Day, March 2, I Skyped with Mrs. Mozer’s third grade class—which is sure to become an annual tradition, this being the 2nd year in a row.

After sharing Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” with the class, we joked about my upcoming book, THE MONSTORE, and I asked them to pretend they were going shopping. “If you could buy a monster at The Monstore, what would it look like? What special monsterly talent would it have?”

Their answers are amazing. I wish I could actually buy their imaginative creations! They hear all secrets, they complete homework, they give gifts, and they shoot cupcakes. They’re as cuddly as a cloud, wiggly as Jell-o, and black as magic. And just like THE MONSTORE story, some of their monsters are used for sibling annoyance.

Thanks again to Mrs. Mozer’s entire 3rd grade class for the special day and the cool monsters!

Now onto to monster parade, part uno! The second installment will post tomorrow.

Enjoy, and be sure to leave a comment for the students of 3-M!

Ana:

David:

Flynn:

Hayden:

Mary:

Matt:

Nicky:

Robby:

Sammy:

by Tara Lazar

I have a daughter who recently turned five and her favorite saying is “Why come?” (She mixes up “how come” and “why”.)

You may have children like this. They want to know about EVERYTHING, even the most mundane.

“Why come we have to take a bath?”

“Why come we sleep with pillows?”

“Why come we eat breakfast first?”

And the perennial favorite, “Why come we have feet and not wheels?”

I dunno, kid, I dunno. Sure would make life easier.

Kids are curious. They want to know WHY. Like WHY they can’t stay up past 8:30. And then WHY they can’t get up for school. WHY they can’t have a banana split for all three squares (“hey ma, it’s got FRUIT in it!”). And then WHY their stomach aches.

Just as Karma Wilson asks herself WHAT IF? as she writes picture books, I constantly ask myself WHY.

Every character reacts to a situation in their own unique, quirky way. If I create a store called THE MONSTORE where you can buy monsters, I have to ask myself WHY a kid would spend his hard-earned leaf-raking cash on one. There has to be a reason other than the monsters just being cool.

(Oh, and if you know a kid who actually rakes leaves for money these days, send them to my house, please. There are no fifth-grade entrepreneurs in this neighborhood.)

Kids cannot be fooled. If you don’t have a good reason behind a character’s actions, or even the entire story’s being, kids will see right through it. You don’t want “Why come?” to be the first thing they ask after closing the book. You haven’t succeeded if you haven’t immersed your reader in a fully believable set of events.

When I create a new picture book premise, I sit in a comfy chair with a notebook and scribble potential answers to WHY. I develop a long list of reasons for the character’s actions.

And my next secret? Those actions are usually tied to an EMOTION.

I can’t tell you how many picture book manuscripts I read which are devoid of emotion. A character MUST be emotionally changed. The way they start the story is not the way they finish the story. They have grown. They have learned. They have been emotionally altered.

It’s important to include an emotion that is universally understood by all children.

What it FEELS LIKE to be picked last for the kickball team.

What it FEELS LIKE to have an annoying sibling.

What if FEELS LIKE to lose your favorite stuffed animal.

Heck, I’m an old lady and I still haven’t gotten over the 1979 disappearance of “Yellow Puff.” She was so yellow. So puffy. So stolen by my little brother if you ask me. (Hey, I got TWO emotions in there.)

So if your picture book manuscript doesn’t feel satisfying, ask yourself, “WHY COME?” It might just give you the answer.

Tara Lazar is the creator of PiBoIdMo, the picture book writer’s alternative to NaNoWriMo. Her first two picture books will be released by the Aladdin imprint of Simon & Schuster. THE MONSTORE, illustrated by James Burks, opens in 2013 and I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK rolls into stores in 2014. She is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. She prefers cheese over chocolate and chai over coffee. Visit her website