The Picture Book Proclamation…. Would there be anything you would change or add now? How do you both honestly and truly feel about the current state of picture books? I’m also interested in your thoughts on the state of school libraries and the dwindling of librarian positions, which can often be a gateway for children to be exposed to quality picture books/books.
I was going to ask about the Picture Book Proclamation as well! Would love to hear y'all discuss this all these years later -- anything else you believe/condemn/declare now? What books that have been published recently do you feel are great examples of the principles in the Proclamation?
As a parent, it's interesting to me when my four-year-old likes a book that I don't. Any thoughts on why this occurs? Is it because people simply like different things, like adults might disagree about whether they enjoyed a novel? Or is there something about how children appreciate picture books that is broader, inaccessible, or perhaps even irrelevant to adults?
I have a question about a super specific line in a picture book that I wouldn't ask anywhere else but, based on the WILD THINGS post, I feel like this might be the perfect place for it. In the picture book AMOS AND BORIS, Amos helps Boris get back into the ocean, and there is a line that says, "Amos, standing on the head of one of the elephants, yelled instructions, but no one heard him." It is a line I have puzzled over for years -- why is it that when Amos is helping Boris which feels like a heroic moment, Steig emphasizes Amos not being heard? Would love to hear your theories :)
I'd love to hear about writing picture books that dip into the darkside. What makes it work for kids and acceptable to gatekeepers? I want to be less nice in my work. How do I get others to play along?
Piggybacking on the Picture Book Proclamation that Jenny Miller brought up - I would love to hear you two have a conversation elaborating on what you mean when referencing bland picture books. Is there a bland problem out there? What are American publishers prioritizing these days and why? Are they risk averse? Why are many recent favorites coming from overseas? 🧐
What were your favorite picture books when you were children and do you think those same books would appeal to kids (and their grownups) if published today? Also, which books made you want to become picture book writers and illustrators?
Aspiring picture book authors are told to study picture books within the last 3 years (or so) which is fair enough but what can we learn about craft and resonance from fabulous picture books published 10, 20, 30 + years ago? How do we incorporate that body of work into our understanding of what ‘works’ in a more timeless way?
What picture books and/or authors have had the greatest influence on you?
When did you know that creating picture books was your ‘thing’ and what would you have pursued if you hadn’t taken this path?
What was your early experience trying to break in to this business?
For both of you: when you write, do you draw/doodle/thumbnail alongside? Do you worry about page count at first draft stage, or just plot? Where do ideas start for you, and how do you help them grow from seedlings into beautiful plants? Thanks!
*So unfortunately we may be a bit late to the thread, but I want to post this in case you may ever get back to answering a few more.*
Here are two very important burning questions from T (8 years old) and me (his mom). We're on the edge of our seats to finally (maybe) get answers to these frequently pondered mysteries!
#1-Kid Spy question for Mac: From T—How was a grown-up man able to fit into your kid jeans—the ones he stole? Did they have stretchy jeans back then? My mom says all the jeans used to be the hard, scratchy kind that I don’t like.
#2 -Extra Yarn question: From T and me(mom)—we are both very curious: Did this story take place before or after the Bear lost and then got his hat back? We have our theories, but we’d love to hear the official scoop!
The Picture Book Proclamation…. Would there be anything you would change or add now? How do you both honestly and truly feel about the current state of picture books? I’m also interested in your thoughts on the state of school libraries and the dwindling of librarian positions, which can often be a gateway for children to be exposed to quality picture books/books.
I was going to ask about the Picture Book Proclamation as well! Would love to hear y'all discuss this all these years later -- anything else you believe/condemn/declare now? What books that have been published recently do you feel are great examples of the principles in the Proclamation?
As a parent, it's interesting to me when my four-year-old likes a book that I don't. Any thoughts on why this occurs? Is it because people simply like different things, like adults might disagree about whether they enjoyed a novel? Or is there something about how children appreciate picture books that is broader, inaccessible, or perhaps even irrelevant to adults?
I have a question about a super specific line in a picture book that I wouldn't ask anywhere else but, based on the WILD THINGS post, I feel like this might be the perfect place for it. In the picture book AMOS AND BORIS, Amos helps Boris get back into the ocean, and there is a line that says, "Amos, standing on the head of one of the elephants, yelled instructions, but no one heard him." It is a line I have puzzled over for years -- why is it that when Amos is helping Boris which feels like a heroic moment, Steig emphasizes Amos not being heard? Would love to hear your theories :)
I'd love to hear about writing picture books that dip into the darkside. What makes it work for kids and acceptable to gatekeepers? I want to be less nice in my work. How do I get others to play along?
Piggybacking on the Picture Book Proclamation that Jenny Miller brought up - I would love to hear you two have a conversation elaborating on what you mean when referencing bland picture books. Is there a bland problem out there? What are American publishers prioritizing these days and why? Are they risk averse? Why are many recent favorites coming from overseas? 🧐
What were your favorite picture books when you were children and do you think those same books would appeal to kids (and their grownups) if published today? Also, which books made you want to become picture book writers and illustrators?
Any tricks/methods to reading a picture book manuscript with a (somewhat) fresh eye even if you have revised it countless times?
Aspiring picture book authors are told to study picture books within the last 3 years (or so) which is fair enough but what can we learn about craft and resonance from fabulous picture books published 10, 20, 30 + years ago? How do we incorporate that body of work into our understanding of what ‘works’ in a more timeless way?
What picture books and/or authors have had the greatest influence on you?
When did you know that creating picture books was your ‘thing’ and what would you have pursued if you hadn’t taken this path?
What was your early experience trying to break in to this business?
I have more but I’ll save them for another time!
Thanks!
Beth
What makes a children's story compelling to both kids and adults (just all ages really)?
I’m often frustrated by the 500 word trend for fiction picture book texts. I miss longer stories. Any thoughts?
What are some of your favorite picture books that have come out in the last year or two?
For both of you: when you write, do you draw/doodle/thumbnail alongside? Do you worry about page count at first draft stage, or just plot? Where do ideas start for you, and how do you help them grow from seedlings into beautiful plants? Thanks!
*So unfortunately we may be a bit late to the thread, but I want to post this in case you may ever get back to answering a few more.*
Here are two very important burning questions from T (8 years old) and me (his mom). We're on the edge of our seats to finally (maybe) get answers to these frequently pondered mysteries!
#1-Kid Spy question for Mac: From T—How was a grown-up man able to fit into your kid jeans—the ones he stole? Did they have stretchy jeans back then? My mom says all the jeans used to be the hard, scratchy kind that I don’t like.
#2 -Extra Yarn question: From T and me(mom)—we are both very curious: Did this story take place before or after the Bear lost and then got his hat back? We have our theories, but we’d love to hear the official scoop!
Thank you.
Would you ever consider sharing an early draft of one of your PBs and talking about how it evolved into its final, published form?
If you each had to name one character from children’s lit that is your absolute favorite of all time , which character would that be ?
So grateful for you guys and this Substack.
1. Form or Content?
2. Vertical or Horizontal?
3. Glossy or Matte?
(These are all trick questions. 😉) Thank you!