I love picture books.
I don’t care that my kids are well beyond the picture-book stage (except at
Christmas).
I admit to reading picture books to my daughter’s dog, Walter, after I take him for a
walk.
It relaxes him.
I asked my son the other day what picture books he remembered from his childhood.
He loved King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub, and The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The
Big Hungry Bear, and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
My favorite PBs are written by Cynthia Rylant.
I also like one called The Maggie B by Irene Haas, and anything by Jane Yolen and Jan Brett.
The text in these picture books has a cadence to it, even if it’s not in rhyme.
There’s a predictability in the rhythm that is soothing to the ear.
I love lyrical language in a PB.
I know a lot of PBs aren’t lyrical (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus comes to mind), but I
don’t write “funny.”
Unless it’s by accident.
I also don’t write rhyming picture books.
Those have to be done extremely cautiously.
I find it’s best to leave those to poets and writers who know what the heck iambic pentameter is.
The illustrations in a PB are important and do a lot of the heavy lifting.
They can make or break the book.
Some picture books are even coffee-table worthy.
I spent the better part of last week writing a picture book for a Bedtime Story contest.
For me, a bedtime story has to be lyrical.
The language has to lull the child to sleep, putting them into a dreamy state so when they close their eyes, they easily sail away to sleep.
I let my husband read my third or fourth draft.
He loved it.
Wrote “Excellent” in red pen at the top, just like a Language Arts teacher.
So one hurdle over.
Then I gave it to a friend of mine who writes picture books exclusively.
She said she liked it, but…
It lacked conflict.
Of course.
You can’t have a story, not even a picture book, without conflict.
But in my head, I was thinking conflict doesn’t make for a sleepytime story.
But I took her word for it and tried to think what sort of conflict I could add that wouldn’t wake up a sleepy child.
If you’re a writer, do you fall into the trap of thinking “conflict” means belligerence or angst?
I did.
And I should know better.
But I’m always learning, and re-learning, and remembering rules.
So what did I do?
The conflict I landed on wasn’t a fight or something angst-filled.
It was as easy as “Will the mother fall asleep before the child?”
This was “soft” conflict, as opposed to “hard” conflict.
It was exactly what this 500-word story was missing.
Now I just need to tweak the sentence structure a bit and place the cliffhanger lines so they end on the right-hand page and I think it’s contest ready.
Your turn.
Do you still read picture books?
Even if you don’t have kids in the PB range (4-7years old)?
Do you or would you display them in your living room?
What are some of your favorites?
Curious minds want to know.
Drop your thoughts in the comments section if you feel like sharing.
I’m always on the lookout for a good picture book.
Have a great week.
~ Gail
(Tick tock)
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