I’d like to share with you a little something I’m going to call “the sidle-up effect.” Here’s how it happens.
I’m outside having a picnic with my family, including two rambunctious little boys, E and O. Editor that I am, I’m excited to give them a “haven’t seen you guys in a while” present. It’s a book.
Now, this book happens to be a particular new favorite of mine: THE OBSTINATE PEN by Frank Dormer. However, it’s a beautiful day, we’re in the park, and I’m up against some formidable opponents: scooters, sticks, dirt, and peanut butter & jelly. As you can imagine, despite two extremely polite thank you’s, this gift does not receive the desired effect of elation and awe.
Well, fine. I should have anticipated this. But I still want to show this story a little love. So I sit down and begin to read the book aloud to myself. “Uncle Flood unwrapped his new pen and laid it on the desk…”
Barely perceptibly at first, the effect starts to take effect. First comes the quiet patter of sticks dropping to the ground. Then the faint squeak of scooter wheels coming to a halt. Next, two small figures edge into my peripheral vision. And then, all of the sudden, as I approach the part where the pen sticks to the wheel of Mrs. Norkham Pigeon-Smythe’s automobile, O is in my lap, and E is draped uncomfortably over my shoulders.
We proceed to read the book four more times.
I love enthusiastic young readers as much as the next editor/agent/writer/illustrator/reader/person (and for their mother’s sake, I should add that E and O are among that group—I just caught them on an afternoon ripe with distractions). But if a book promises to both captivate the eager crowd and achieve the sidle-up effect among the more stick-and-dirt-inclined, that book is an automatic winner to me.
THE OBSTINATE PEN is the perfect example of such a winner because it has something for everyone. It’s wildly creative and uproariously funny. It features dimwitted adults and a shrewd, worldly young hero. And it’s totally unique: it makes me think, “Now how in the world did he come up with that?”
The books that wow editors are the books that bring something new to the table—that wriggle their way into your head so you can’t stop thinking about them for days. You might grab my attention with a real and endearing character; striking, lyrical language; a hilariously honest voice.
Maybe it’s a creative, fiery little girl who brings the spark to a classic tale of friendship, like Kelly DiPucchio’s CRAFTY CHLOE. Or a text so simple, beautiful and poetic that it leaves room for a whole new world to unfold in the illustrations, like Mary Lyn Ray’s STARS (illustrated by Marla Frazee). Or a soft song about eggs filled with so much personality (“I do not like the way you slide, / I do not like your soft inside, / I do not like you lots of ways, / And I could do for many days / Without eggs”) that it sticks with you straight through from childhood to adulthood, like Russell Hoban’s BREAD AND JAM FOR FRANCES. Ok, maybe that last example is a little specific, but you get the gist (it’s one of my all-time favorites).
And maybe it’s because I work in children’s publishing, but in my opinion, there’s nothing in the world that sticks with you like a picture book. Think about your favorite book when you were little. Why do you still remember it? The most special of special characters, voices, stories—they all contribute to this warm little nugget of childhood that you’ll carry around with you forever. You can’t create that by hitching a ride on the big, flashy, commercial, book-selling train of the moment. You create that by pulling your inspiration directly from that spot, by reigniting that spark from your childhood and writing from your heart.
As an editor, I’m looking for a picture book that I want to sidle up to. One that, if you caught me playing with sticks in the park, would have me—well, maybe not in your lap, but at least draped uncomfortably over your shoulders.
Achieve that, and I promise you, those sticks won’t stand a chance.
Emma Ledbetter is an editorial assistant at Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. She sidles up to picture books, chapter books, and middle grade novels with fresh, sincere voices, humor and heart. Upcoming projects she has edited include THE BACKWARDS BIRTHDAY PARTY, a picture book by John Forster and legendary singer/songwriter Tom Chapin, and the fantastically wacky middle grade novel THE CONTAGIOUS COLORS OF MUMPLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL by Fowler DeWitt. Follow her on Twitter @brdnjamforemma.
Emma will be donating a picture book critique to a lucky PiBoIdMo participant who completes the 30-ideas-in-30-days challenge. A winner will be randomly selected in early December.
I love that! “The Sidle-Up Effect.” I had that recently with my 12 year old daughter. I was reading aloud Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Adam Rex. There was the draping arm and pages later, raucous laughter. Yes, Emma, I agree. That’s when you know a picture book has done its job. I’m thinking I want to “sidle-up” to that book again…
BTW, I LOVE The Obstinate Pen. Such a brilliantly conceived book. It has something for everyone – for kids and kids at heart!
I love to sidle up with my son and his book on our couch. He half sits on me and half on the couch. (He’s 7) And he has some pb’s that have become quite special to him. I’ll have to find the Obstinate Pen. Thanks for sharing, Emma!
Thanks for the post, Emma. I have a 2 year old niece to sidle up with almost every day. She has her favorite board books already. One being, in her words, “Balala”, with no hesitations! If you can’t guess, I’ll tell you.
Another great prize, Tara. Another great reason to stick with this.
I brought THE OBSTINATE PEN to an scbwi writer retreat last spring
to share. It brought tears we were all laughing so much reading it aloud to one another. Thank you for the reminder about what makes an enticing PB. Must say Contagious Colors is an enticing MG concept.
topangamaria
Ah, to sidle-up with a good picture book and little loves make for timeless memories. I’ll always hold dear to my heart such a memory at a family party I was hosting. A little guest had come up to me with a book in hand and asked me to read to him. How could I resist. (Sorry, adults, but hold that convo, I’ll be back!) So we sidled-up on the couch in the family room and began to read. Before I knew it, all the little guests had joined us. One leaned over the side of the couch. Another crawled up into my lap. Yet another snuggled up to my initial sidle-up buddy while the others stood around stretching to see.
One of the books that sticks with me from childhood is CAPS FOR SALE by Esphyr Slobodkina.
Thanks for the mention of THE OBSTINATE PEN. I’ve added it to my to-read list. I feel it’s important to have “winks” for the adult in a story.
I often have to read aloud to capture the kid’s attention. The Obstinate Pen sounds a hoot and I am 100% inspired reading this post. Thanks!
Wonderful post. There is just something about picture books that make them special. Some kids just don’t want to slow down and read, but when you take the time to read out loud to them, you capture them!
What a lovely picnic story! I’m adding THE OBSTINATE PEN to my TBR list. And I love the idea of the “sidle-up effect.”
Cool! That is amazing! I did my fourth idea today!
Thanks for coaxing some of my weirdness out of the closet.