MOWMT 15: Fresh Perspectives with Leah Schanke
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- 2 hours ago
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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 overlap with POV but is not about telling the story from first, second, or third person like POV is. For example, if we looked at a sporting competition, we could tell the story from the winner's, opponent's, or coach’s perspective yet still choose whether we want to use first or third person POV. I think of perspective as who or what is telling the story and POV is both who is telling the story and how the story is told.
When looking for a fresh perspective or angle on a topic, it helps to put choosing a POV aside. You may have a topic that’s been well-covered by numerous books, and therefore you need a different approach. Exploring angles can also help you manage a big topic that feels cumbersome for a picture book or find a way to make a heavier topic age appropriate.
Ideas for Taking a Fresh Perspective
Secondary Character - choose a different person/character (e.g. rival, best friend, child of a historical figure) to tell the story from a different angle.
Object/Place - explore telling the story from the perspective of place or object (e.g. a park, statue, or battlefield) instead of a human character.
Animal/Plant - explore nature’s “eye” (e.g. George Washington’s horse, an oak tree, or a migrating bird).
Mentor Texts to Study
By Jeff Gottesfeld, Illustrated by Matt Tavares, Candlewick Press, 2021
The story of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery is told very powerfully and movingly from the perspective of the first unknown soldier. The first-person POV evokes compassion and patriotic pride. The reader can feel the dedication and precision of the guards in honoring the fallen in all types of weather.
By Tonya Duncan Ellis, Illustrated by Jenin Mohammed, Balzer + Bray, HarperCollins Publishers, 2024
The Juneteenth holiday commemorates when the enslaved people in Texas learned on June 19, 1865 that the Union had won the US Civil War, and all enslaved people were free. The story of Juneteenth and the 150 years that follow is told through the perspective of Houston’s Emancipation Park. The first-person POV gives the park a voice that draws in the reader to feel the struggle, courage, and the joy of freedom in the African American experience.
By Ryan G. Van Cleave, Illustrated by Dδm Dδm, Bushel & Peck Books, 2023
In a single picture book, readers learn about multiple historic moments that span millenia from the perspective of the trees that witnessed them. Each of the historic moments could be covered in its own book, but the perspective pulls them together in one poetic and inspiring narrative while highlighting many different species of trees and how trees need protection.
Freedom at Dawn: Robert Small’s Voyage Out of Slavery By Leah Schanke, Illustrated by Oboh Moses, Albert Whitman & Company, 2025
For my debut picture book, I tell the story of Robert Smalls’s escape to freedom in 1862 through the eyes of his daughter, Lizzy. I changed the manuscript from a standard biography to his daughter’s close observation. Taking a fresh perspective on the story made it stand out, and telling the story from a child’s perspective provided a filter to distill complex and serious themes into an age-appropriate narrative.
These mentor texts show how telling a story from a different perspective can help you create a unique, engaging story. Decide the perspective of your story before exploring in what POV you will write your first draft. Or is there a manuscript in your “drawer” that may benefit from exploring a different perspective? Try one of the ideas above and tell the story from a fresh angle. Share your discoveries in the comments!
PRIZE: My prize is a signed copy of my book (US only) or a picture book query letter critique.
Leah Schanke is a children's book author whose multicultural heritage and interest in U.S. history inspire her to write historical fiction and nonfiction books for children with a focus on little-known but significant figures and events. Leah's debut picture book, FREEDOM AT DAWN, illustrated by Oboh Moses, launched April 2025. She is a PAL member of SCBWI, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and a member of the Authors Guild. She lives with her family on Long Island, NY.
Learn more about Leah at:
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