#RateYourStory 2/4

MOWMT 10: Writing the Unexpected with Selene Castrovilla

Writing the Unexpected: Crafting Unique Picture Book Biographies About Famous People By Selene Castrovilla Buy Here: https://amzn.to/4smjfob Growing up, I always knew I was a writer. But if you’d told me I would one day write about George Washington, I would have laughed. “He’s boring,” I would’ve said. That changed when a friend casually mentioned that Washington had been a spymaster. A spymaster? That single detail cracked open my assumptions. I began researching and quickl

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 105 min read

MOWMT 9: Inviting Engagement with Jeanette Fazzari

First of all, we'd like to wish everyone a Happy National Meatball Day! Celebrate with Jeanette's book, Meatballs for Grandpa ! Inviting Engagement in Character- Driven Stories by Jeanette Fazzari Jones Again! Again! Again! If you’ve ever read a great picture book to a child, you’ve absolutely heard that exclamation. But what makes a child ask over and over to hear the same book? And how can we create that level of enthusiasm in a character-driven text? Narratives give you

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 95 min read

MOWMT 8: Page Turn Power with Danna Smith

THE POWER OF THE PAGE TURN By Danna Smith There’s a subtle, yet incredibly powerful, moment in every children’s book that often goes unnoticed by adults but is keenly felt by young readers: the page turn . It’s more than just flipping a piece of paper; it’s a carefully orchestrated pause, a build-up of anticipation, and a reveal that can make or break the magic of a story. As authors and illustrators, understanding the power of the page turn is essential. It allows us to c

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 84 min read

MOWMT 7: Humor in PBs with Ana Siqueira

https://amzn.to/4lbe7AL Humor is often treated as light or silly—but in picture books, humor is powerful. It can open emotional doors, soften hard conversations, and create instant connection. As author-illustrator Eliza Kinkz puts it: “Humor is a superpower as it can make you connect with someone instantly! We don't agree on so much these days, BUT we all react the same when we hear a fart. As laughter is healing, and can make hard conversations easier to swallow, having th

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 73 min read

MOWMT 6: Jumping Right In with Mel Rosenberg

https://amzn.to/46zy12m I love picture book stories that practically force you to turn the page right from the very start. The recipe is not rocket science. Start with something mysterious. Something unexpected, something strange, incongruous. Or just get the story going on the very first spread. Starting early in a picture book makes a lot of sense. After all, kids have lots of books to choose from and limited attention spans. So do the folks reading them to the kids. A

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 64 min read

MOWMT 5: Cultural Picture Books with Namrata Agarwal

The Engine of a Strong Cultural Picture Book – by Namrata Agarwal A cultural story often focuses on a small, relatable moment rather than trying to represent an entire culture. It might center on cooking with a grandparent, getting dressed for a festival, or opening a food box. These stories don’t explain culture outright; they reveal it through everyday actions. Sensory details, smells, textures, sounds, ground the story and make it feel authentic. At the heart of the narr

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 54 min read

MOWMT 4: Character Challenges with Beth Anderson

By Beth Anderson While fiction books may portray emotions as monsters or other types of characters, nonfiction seems to present a different kind of challenge when you’re working with complex concepts for children. Of course, much falls to the illustrator, but the author sets the tone and must make core concepts clear before handing it over to an artist. A great way to work with mentor texts for these kinds of books is to type up the text so you’re able to analyze how the

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 45 min read

MOWMT 3: Crafting Curriculum Connections with Alison McGauley

As someone who hails from a family of educators and has been an elementary teacher for twenty years, I am certainly mindful of teachable moments! When I draft and revise stories, I always consider curriculum connections. My larger goal, however, is to write big-hearted, engaging stories. So, how does one craft a compelling narrative that connects with curriculum expectations without being didactic? I believe that one way is to start with a relatable problem or strong hook and

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 33 min read

MOWMT 2: Making Big Concepts Kid Relatable with Judy Cooper

Making Big Concepts Kid Relatable: Courage, Persistence, Forgiveness and Faith “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.” – Maya Angelou“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. …” - Calvin Coolidge Kudos to Vivian Kirkfield for successfully tackling the big concepts of both courage and persistence in he

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 23 min read

MOWMT 1: Fair-Weather Fairytales with Lynne Marie

You might have heard that, as far as stories, everything has been done before, and that there’s nothing truly new under the sun . Well, that’s not exactly true! Yes, it’s correct that with most tales, there are countless variations that have been written before. But definitely, there’s room for more and the sky’s the limit ! When I decided to expand my Fairy Tale Elementary Series, my first step was to make a list of fairy tales that interested me. Then, I searched for rela

rateyourstoryweb

Mar 15 min read