MOWMT 30: Gifting a Giggle with Kari Ann Gonzalez

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 super-talented Bonnie Kelso), I knew it was time to start reading some mentor texts to dig into all the wonderful types of humor.

I devoured books like Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb and Erin Kraan create a laugh-out-loud, silly story around a surly but endearing character we want to root for!

I read through best-selling recent series rich in humor and word play like, The Day The Crayons’ Quit and ones with math specific ties like, The Crayons’ Book Of Numbers by Drew DayWalt and OIiver Jeffers. The crayon’s personalities are so colorful!

And, I honed in and read through math-concept books that are epically funny like I’m Longer Than You! An Epic Contest of Measurement by Carolyn Fisher and CATastrophe! and CATerwaul! By Ann Marie Stephens and Jenn Harney.

What I found? There are tons of ways of ways to gift a giggle to readers! From silly stories and characters, to word-play, and teaching moment chaos, there is no one way to write humor in picture books. Enjoy the writing process, march on with mentor texts, and when the story calls for it, gift a giggle!

Prize: Critique of non-rhyming picture book less than 1,000 words.

Bio: Kari Ann Gonzalez is a children’s writer who loves tending to her tiny hobby farm and stuffing her little free library full of books. Her debut picture book HOW TO HATCH A READER won the Northern Lights Picture Book award for humor, while HOW TO HATCH A WRITER has been named Hot Off The Press by CBC, and Reviewer’s Choice on Midwest Book Review’s Children’s Bookwatch. She is excited to share her newest titles, GOAT MAA-TH: AN ADDITION STORY, IF YOU LIVE ON A FARM, and more titles to be announced soon! A flock of plucky chickens are kind enough to share their home with Kari, her husband, and their two little girls. For more information, please visit Kari’s website at: www.karianngonzalez.com or her Instagram at: kari_gonzalez_writes

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