Buy Book Here: https://amzn.to/41FQkAd This month, we're excited to have multi-published, award-winning playwright and author Erin Dealey as our Guest Guru. Up to four 2026 Members will have the opportunity to get a feedback and rating from her. Members can request Erin as a Guru from Judy, Admin Assistant and In-box Coordinator ( RateYourStory@gmail.com ), and if there are available spots and your manuscript seems like a good fit, you will receive the benefit. What did you w

In the past twenty-five plus years that I've been immersed in writing and publishing children's literature, I have heard many pieces of advice over and over and over. One that stands out is: get to know your local children’s librarian. Why? Because children's librarians know children's books -- they know what children like and are reading, what they want to read, AND, they know what is missing on the library shelves. Conversations with a librarian (whether a public library or

How do you engage readers? There are so many ways! High-interest content, gorgeous thought-provoking illustrations, impeccable rhymes and lyrical language, or my personal favorite, gift readers a giggle! I have always been drawn to books that make me laugh and I see my kids and readers everywhere light up with laughter and re-read humor to illicit that feel-good emotion. So, when I sat down to write my funny math picture book GOAT MAA-TH: AN ADDITION STORY  (illustrated by su

Picture Books About Cultural Name Awareness by Maria Wen Adcock What’s in a name? In a very practical sense, our names are our identities. When someone says our names, we know they’re talking to us. Culturally, a name can represent someone’s heritage or show respect for elders they may have been named after.   Everyone wants to be called by their correct names because that’s what we identify with. When someone calls you by an incorrect name, it can feel jarring.  The picture

How a Picture Book Can Grow Into Global Licensing by Helen H. Wu When we talk about mentor texts, we often focus on voice, structure, or page turns. But sometimes, a mentor text teaches us something larger, like: How to build a world strong enough to live beyond the page. For this post, I’m using my picture book A Cup of Happy: Capybara Bubble Tea  as a mentor text, not as a business case study, but as an example of how certain storytelling choices make global licensing possi

It happened the other day – a stroller child at the next table was chewing a copy of a board book I authored! When I told his mom, she said, “Oh, he loves to chew that one!” Take that, awards judges! (Obviously, this kid had good taste in literature.) Really, if a book is less than 300 words (the sweet spot is 150 words) and is primarily going to be chewed, why does one need mentor texts? Because not all board books are the same. 1 Concept The focus is on one specific concept

It’s All in the Details by Lisa Rogers Precision in writing can be hard-won. As writers, we can get carried away by our words, without making sure that each one communicates what we intend. Sometimes, as we slice a story to lower word count, we clip the very words that add specificity and meaning.  How can you add details without overburdening your story? By imbuing each sentence with specificity. Using figurative language, sensory detail, and the sounds of words can set up t

Buy Here: https://amzn.to/4lbiBHK Finding the Right Voice & Tone in Nonfiction Picture Books By Lydia Lukidis   Writing compelling nonfiction for children isn’t just about sharing facts, it’s about sparking curiosity and making learning fun. In picture books, where every word counts and illustrations carry part of the story, the way your text sounds   can make the difference between a forgettable read and a book kids (and adults) love to revisit.   Voice vs Tone Let’s start

https://amzn.to/47A3tOj Squirrels, Porcupines, and Bears--oh my! Mentor texts with animal characters and how the rules, as well as my upcoming book Squirrel Draws Big Feelings evolved…   No animals allowed! Twenty years ago, when I wrote Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox (Atheneum/S&S –illus. Hanako Wakiyama), people said anthropomorphic animal characters were a no-no. As you may have guessed, I got around that issue initially by writing parodies of nursery rhymes. More recently

Simply stated, the value of strong verbs is movement. They define action that serves to move the story forward and give it spark. Strong verbs paint pictures that give the illustrator more to work with. Most importantly, it keeps readers engaged and eager to turn pages.   [Insert JPG For March On]   Following is a list of strong verbs from my forthcoming book Turkey on the Run!  (9/29/26 Flamingo Books and illustrated by the fabulous Neha Rawat) .   Trotted, zoomed, jogged, s

MOWMT: The Secret to Writing Page-Turning Nonfiction By Mary Boone Facts matter. Accuracy matters. Research matters. But here’s the truth: Kids don’t fall in love with books because of footnotes, bolded vocabulary words or timelines. They turn pages because they care. I was reminded of this when I recently shared one of my picture books at an elementary school. During the question-and-answer session, a second grader asked: “Wait. You mean that really happened?” At first I was

The Magic in Books That Make Us Feel By Danielle Render Turmaud, PhD Have you ever opened a book and found yourself taken on an emotional journey that you never expected? The transformation can be instantaneous! One moment you’re focused on your own life, and the next you find yourself captivated and transported right into the pages. This feeling is magical. And the world responds delightfully. These books tend to be popular with readers, win awards, and even become bestselle

Climate Fiction for Young Readers: Teaching BUY HERE: https://amzn.to/4bqE4Ij Big Ideas Through Small, Powerful Moments By Blair Northen Williamson “Climate change” is a big phrase for little ears. It carries rising seas, warming waters, coral bleaching, and plastic pollution all at once. But when we write for young readers, our goal is not to convey the full weight of a global crisis. We should focus on entry points small enough for a child to step into. When I speak with ot

BUY HERE: https://amzn.to/4r4kjMp Children have a natural curiosity about the world. How and why were Band-Aids invented? Who created the giant balloons for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? How did Winnie the Pooh and Teddy Bears get their names? In looking for mentor texts about inventions and creations, you will find two distinct tracks: books about the lives of the inventors which culminate in the invention or books about the invention that only include enough of the invent

BUY HERE: https://amzn.to/40cJp0u If you’ve read any blog posts I’ve written for Storystorm or Picture Book Builders, you probably know that I tend to brainstorm the titles of my picture books before I draft. When I came up with the title Duck, Duck, Taco Truck , I knew that I had to write it—and that it had to be written in rhyme. The title simply begs for it.  My previously published picture books, as well as many unpublished manuscripts I’ve written over the years, were al

Since today is St. Patrick’s Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to discuss the topic of luck. The popular phrase, “Luck of the Irish”, was originally coined in the 19th-century during the American Gold and Silver Rushes.  It was used to describe successful, mining, Irish immigrants, suggesting that their good fortune was due to luck, rather than skill.  Now, when we use that phrase, it is meant as a positive wish for good fortune that is tied to Irish heritage.   “You’re lucky

BUY HERE: https://amzn.to/3ONAtw2 When I transitioned from writing picture books to writing board books, I was struck by their unique challenge. Instead of a focus on plot and story, the focus is on rhythm and participation. One of the first board books I studied was Anne Wynter’s Hands On!, illustrated by Alea Marley .   It traces a baby’s journey from crawling to walking. It begins:   Hands in light, waking, waking Hands on dog, shaking, shaking The text continues in this f

BUY HERE: https://amzn.to/47aMeTz Writing for Children from a Fresh Perspective by Leah Schanke Have you ever found a historical figure you would love to write about, only to discover there are already multiple biographies about them on the shelf? This is exactly what happened to me, and I put the manuscript aside for years until I decided to explore a different perspective. Perspective should not be confused with point-of-view (POV). The perspective or angle of a story can o

BUY HERE: https://amzn.to/4b5LYGF Conjuring magic in picture books isn’t as easy as it may seem. First, the magic must be seeded in the ordinary world. It can’t just come out of nowhere, magically or not. Since essentially everything a picture book should be seeded in the beginning – this just makes sense.  With my rhyming picture book BroomMates (co-authored in rhyme by Brenda Reeves Sturgis and illustrated by Nico Ecenarro), it was easy – the main characters I created were

Lauren H. Kerstein Boosts Bold Backmatter That Grabs the Reader as Much as the Text   Everything I’ve ever learned, I learned from a picture book!   The beauty of writing nonfiction picture books is that you have the opportunity to dive down deep rabbit holes and dig up diamonds to share with readers.   The challenge of writing nonfiction picture books is that you may end up with so many diamonds, they won’t all fit into a 32-page, 40-page, or even a 48-page picture book.   W