MOWMT 9: Inviting Engagement with Jeanette Fazzari
- rateyourstoryweb
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
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 young children a safe place to process and explore. By joining the main character on an adventure, stepping into their shoes as they solve a problem, or just being part of their day-to-day, children expand their own understanding of the world around them.
However, to prompt this you have to capture their engagement. Here are four techniques that authors use to make child participation nearly irresistible.
Refrains or repetitive text:
We’ve all enjoyed them: those books that repeat a single, simple line (and maybe subtly change it at a critical plot point.) The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a true master class in this technique. You’re probably reading this now, chuckling to yourself, “But he was still hungry.” Each time that line comes around, the reader wonders what the caterpillar will do next and can’t help but turn the page … only to be shocked over and over by its latest feast!
My next release, Duck, Duck, Groove, uses the same technique to show the main character’s absolute delight in his brand new, shiny, slick rain coat. The line, “Squick, squick, squickity squeak!” takes you from one interaction to the next as Upton Duck tries to show his friends his coat. When the refrain stops, the text also slows down, changing the mood of the story at a critical turning point for the character. Without adding too many spoilers, it then picks back up with some extra flair when Upton solves his problem.
Setting the readers up for assumptions that are dramatically turned on their heads!
The Book That Almost Rhymed is probably one of the most clever picture books I’ve read. Take a proud young author, an interrupting sister, and a few words that definitely don’t rhyme. Put them together and you get a silly, unforgettable adventure that readers want to join as desperately as the main character wants to write.
“But then my sister came along,
and now the story sounds all wro–”
(page turn…)
BETTER!
Did you want to say wrong as much as I did? So will every young reader! This mayhem will continue all the way up to the unexpected, silly, and side-busting truce at the end.
Bear’s Lost Glasses by Leo Timmers takes a different approach to audience assumptions and participation. It starts with poor Bear talking to himself: “Where did I put my glasses?” (Spoiler alert: they are right there on his head on the first page!) As he walks to Giraffe’s house to find them, he continues to think out loud about the different things he sees. Objects in the environment look like surprising new animals to an awestruck bear, who then tries to introduce them to long-suffering Giraffe. Though Bear never addresses the reader directly, they can’t help but try to interact with the very misinformed bear in the most hysterical ways.
High impact action verbs that propel you through the story:
The Daddy-Daughter Dance by Malcolm Newsome is a sweet and boogie-filled story about excitement, disappointment, and figuring out how to make the best of unavoidable circumstances. The story begins with powerful words as Mona, the main character, and Daddy groove, bounce, and boogie through town, getting ready for their special night. Unfortunately when they find out the dance is cancelled, the pair start to trudge home. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long for an idea to twirl in Mona’s mind, leading to an evening full of bobbing, bopping, spinning, twisting, etc. The reader can’t help but get into the groove and dance along with the characters!
Onomatopoeia that give layered meaning to the story’s action and give us a more robust understanding of the character’s situation
In Tricky Chopsticks, by Sylvia Chen, Jenny Chow’s frustration and perseverance come alive as she problem-solves learning to use this difficult, traditional eating utensil. As she fumbles food, bumbles practice, and finally arrives at a solution, transliterated Chinese onomatopoeia immerse the reader in the action. Ka-ziiing! Splat-choooo! B-b-b-bung-bunnng! Bao-Jiannggg! What a perfect opportunity for a child to grab two sticks and try themselves!
Last, my book, Meatballs for Grandpa uses onomatopoeia to add a sensory layer to the story line. As Felicia helps her grandmother make a traditional family recipe in the hopes of jogging Grandpa’s fading memory, words like Pop! Sizzle! and Crackle! Draw the reader into the sounds and smells of the kitchen, carrying them from ingredient to ingredient. Between the fun, Felicia wonders if Grandpa will remember her. When I read this story to a group, I always have the children act out those words along with me. Providing that interaction gives them an opportunity to feel like they are truly helping Grandpa remember.
By adding a layer that makes the reader an undeniable part of the story–without being “meta” or “breaking the fourth wall,” you provide a subtle but immersive experience.
Refrains
Assumptions
High-impact verbs
Onomatopoeia
Try one of these in your next character-driven story, then tell me how it goes below!
Prize: Jeanette is offering one reader a picture book manuscript critique. The winner can choose either digital or a 20 minute live Google-meet session! Comment below to enter.
Bio: Jeanette Fazzari Jones is an educator who loves learning new hobbies and taking on crafty adventures. She's taught many things, from Kindergarten, to knitting, to martial arts and finds joy in encouraging children to discover their unique interests and talents. Jeanette grew up on the Jersey Shore and now resides in Kentucky with her husband Daniel and two children, Hannah and Josiah. When she's not teaching or chauffeuring her kiddos to their activities, she can be found baking, gardening, or sampling the goodies from either!
Website: http://bit.ly/jeanettefazzarijones
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