Author: Robin Currie

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Kids Lit

Writing is a Group Activity!

Kids Lit

I recently went to an in-person retreat – one of the few I have gone to since COVID-19. I was hesitant about the person-to-person training, but more conferences are dropping the virtual or hybrid model. Sometimes there are perks for those who show up.

And I remembered how much energy can be generated by like-minded people who have made an effort to drive to rural Iowa to learn and share. Plus my list of “writing friends” just got longer!

Q:    What brings a group together?

A:     Common interests

  • sharing groups who write for specific markets exchange ideas and encourage each other
  • critique group to discuss and analyze manuscripts
  • authors releasing books in the same year who swap launch ideas swapping
  • launch groups focus energy on new releases
  • authors represented by the same publisher or agency
  • subgroups of larger organizations like SCBWI
  • librarians of a particular genre
  • Teachers of a specific grade

Q:     How do you engage?

A:     You bring YOU!

  • support and contribute first, comment on posts
  • build relationships not customers, answer questions, volunteer to help
  • be credible, encouraging, supportive
  • pick 5 individuals or groups of like-minded people and follow them on every platform
  • pick one day a week and comment on every post on one platform

Something new…

I heard about a new group strategy for writers that can assist in publicity and sales but are not with other writers. Since my next book is on trees (specifically the Quaking Aspen), I thought I’d see where the tree lovers are.

INSERT NOV PIX 3

Google: Shot in the Dark

I googled: “groups interested in trees”. I had my choice of several umbrella groups, but I chose one that included national forests. I found not only a blog but also a list of grants and partnerships I might explore. I signed up for the newsletter.

I googled “Quaking Aspen” and one of the first hits was our local Morton Arboretum, 20 minutes away! Which has a gift shop. And library story time!

Selecting one platform: Facebook

I am pretty active on Facebook so I tried the same search “groups interested in trees.” This time I found there were more local to the Chicago area and had volunteer opportunities. And a blog.

Word to the wise: I was excited and did a FB search for Quaking Aspen. I scored a rock music group and a family farm. Not every search was a hit!

Hoped for results: By the time my tree book is published in 2026!) I hope my name is familiar to other writers and maybe even local and not-so-local tree lovers. Stick around to see how this plays out!

Multi award winning author Robin Currie led public library children’s departments as a preschool literacy specialist. With more than 1.7 M copies sold of 40 picture books, she writes stories to read and read again! She is pretty bummed the publication date of her next book was pushed back a year but will use the time to build relationships!

Categories
Kids Lit

Writing is a Group Activity!

Kids Lit

I recently went to an in-person retreat – one of the few I have gone to since COVID-19. I was hesitant about the person-to-person training, but more conferences are dropping the virtual or hybrid model. Sometimes there are perks for those who show up.

And I remembered how much energy can be generated by like-minded people who have made an effort to drive to rural Iowa to learn and share. Plus my list of “writing friends” just got longer!

Q:        What brings a group together?

A:        Common interests

  • sharing groups who write for specific markets exchange ideas and encourage each other
  • critique group to discuss and analyze manuscripts
  • authors releasing books in the same year who swap launch ideas swapping
  • launch groups focus energy on new releases
  • authors represented by the same publisher or agency
  • subgroups of larger organizations like SCBWI
  • librarians of a particular genre
  • Teachers of a specific grade

Q:        How do you engage?

A:        You bring YOU!

  • support and contribute first, comment on posts
  • build relationships not customers, answer questions, volunteer to help
  • be credible, encouraging, supportive
  • pick 5 individuals or groups of like-minded people and follow them on every platform
  • pick one day a week and comment on every post on one platform

Something new…

I heard about a new group strategy for writers that can assist in publicity and sales but are not with other writers. Since my next book is on trees (specifically the Quaking Aspen), I thought I’d see where the tree lovers are.

Google: Shot in the Dark

I googled: “groups interested in trees”. I had my choice of several umbrella groups, but I chose one that included national forests. I found not only a blog but also a list of grants and partnerships I might explore. I signed up for the newsletter.

I googled “Quaking Aspen” and one of the first hits was our local Morton Arboretum, 20 minutes away! Which has a gift shop. And library story time!

Selecting one platform: Facebook

I am pretty active on Facebook so I tried the same search “groups interested in trees.” This time I found there were more local to the Chicago area and had volunteer opportunities. And a blog.

Word to the wise: I was excited and did a FB search for Quaking Aspen. I scored a rock music group and a family farm. Not every search was a hit!

Hoped for results: By the time my tree book is published in 2026!) I hope my name is familiar to other writers and maybe even local and not-so-local tree lovers. Stick around to see how this plays out!

Multi award winning author Robin Currie led public library children’s departments as a preschool literacy specialist. With more than 1.7 M copies sold of 40 picture books, she writes stories to read and read again! She is pretty bummed the publication date of her next book was pushed back a year but will use the time to build relationships!

Categories
Kids Lit

Our Most Important Sentence

Kids Lit

Once the dream book is finally contracted, the most important writing starts. Essentially what we write in preparation for the book to sell many, many copies. The HOOK!

Bob Hostetler in his article Hooks and Gimmicks quotes Tamela Hancock Murray:

“A hook is a line that makes the reader say, ‘I’ve GOT to read this NOW!’ A gimmick is when the reader says, ‘Not ANOTHER one of these! I’m soooo tired of this same old same old.’

“Amazon completely dominates the bookselling landscape, controlling over 80% of ebook sales, 65% of online print book sales, and 83% of the U.S. e-reader market.”

The hook is the first sentence of the write up, often in bold face type. Your book’s hook should say: “I’ve GOT to read this NOW!”

I have a picture book coming in 2026 about trees. Every four months or so I check Amazon to see how tree books are being described.

Hook 1: drop a famous name or familiar title

Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker by Holly Thompson. Neal Porter/Holiday House

A poetic and moving picture book biography celebrating the life and work of the visionary Japanese American woodworker George Nakashima.

Ecologist Suzanne Simard photographed in Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. Two decades ago, while researching her doctoral thesis, Simard discovered that trees communicate to each other.

Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate by Annette LeBox. Groundwood Books

A lyrical story of an aspen grove through the seasons, inspired by the ground-breaking work of Dr. Suzanne Simard on how trees and fungi talk to each other.

Hook 2: mention a familiar theme

My Olive Tree by Hazar Elbayya. Anne Schwartz Books/Random House

In this simple, touching picture book about the healing power of a loving community, a girl’s grandpa and her neighbors help her grow an olive tree in a war-torn land.

I am Tree Rex! by Mo Davey. Berbay (Australia)

A character-driven dinosaur story about protecting the environment, one tree at a time. 

Hook 3: tell us about the characters

Wonder of the Woods by Bonnie Kelso. Little Press

A young girl explores the wooded area near her home and encounters a variety of animals that are curious about their new visitor. 

Together, a Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature’s Diversity and Our Own by Roz MacLean. Henry Holt

Explore a forest with a curious classroom in this breathtaking new picture book by the author of the beloved More Than Words and experience the essential beauty of diversity in humanity and nature.

 Hook 4: Crack out the buzz words

Our Tree by Jessica Meserve. Tiger tales

For readers ages 3-7, this is a stunningly illustrated celebration of tolerance, togetherness, and the power of community.

A Forest Song by Kirsten Hall. Random house

Beautifully illustrated by an award-winning artist, this cento poem about experiencing a forest with all of your senses will make the perfect read-aloud for nature lovers and curious explorers of all ages.

Manuscript sold and contract signed. Begin now to write the Most Important Sentence: the HOOK!

Multi award winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing sitting on the floor during more than 1000 story times. She sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again. Watch for her tree book HOOK in 2026!

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Kids Lit

Is That True??!!

Kids Lit

I heard comments/complaints in a writer’s group recently that “it is impossible to get your book into the library” and they “throw your book out after 5 years.”

Is that true?

Yes, probably. Library books come and go. As a professional public librarian for years (OK – decades!), I want to clarify that process.

INCOMING

1- Public librarians are supported by a governing body – city, county, or district. The librarians need to know for each book they purchase: “Is this book worth buying for this community at this particular time?”

For example, my local community has a very active stamp-collecting club in town, so our library carries way more books on stamp collecting than the average library. If the high school sponsors a parent program with an “expert,” the library will purchase or borrow multiple copies of that author’s works anticipating interest.

2- Because they cannot read every book they buy, librarians must rely on dependable reviews and predictions of the next bestsellers. Librarians read the reviews in Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and School Library Journal about 6 months ahead of the book’s publication. Many of those reviewing sources do have pages for self-published and paid reviews.

3- Then libraries contract with one distributor (Ingram or Baker and Taylor) and purchase all the books from that source – so arranging to print or be listed in those catalogs is an advantage.

For each book bought, the librarians must consider those factors. Even if you are a regular patron. Even if you want to donate your book, it will be evaluated before adding to the collection. 

OUTGOING

At the other end of life on the shelf, books that are out of date factually or whose author is no longer popular are removed. A well-organized library will evaluate books after 5 years, check the information to see if it is still valid and useful, see how many times it has been checked out, and if later books fill the subject matter need better. If they have purchased multiple copies of an award winner or popular author, they will keep one or two.

Books are not put in the dumpster! They are usually removed from the collection and given to the library book sale where they may be purchased by teachers for classroom use or individuals to have at home. Leftover books from the sale are donated to shelters.

WHY?

Librarians feel confident doing this because they are part of larger library systems at the state and national levels. That means if they have removed a copy of a particular book, the title or information is in storage and can be requested by interlibrary loan.

The Library of Congress may not have a copy of every book published in the United States, but it does hold a collection of more than 25.49 million cataloged books in the Library of Congress classification system in 3 massive buildings and 1 high-density storage unit, all of which are accessible upon request.

Let me just add the librarians would love to buy every single book! Plus, we are very fun people.

Multi award winning author Robin Currie led children’s departments of Midwestern public libraries before being called to ordained ministry. She has a special love for children’s literacy and storytelling. She serves in Chicago area parishes and volunteers teaching English in developing countries while writing stories to read and read again.

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Kids Lit

Summer is for Experimenting!

Kids Lit

I have been working/pitching a series of four board books for the last few years on the seasonal changes in nature and the connection to God’s creative care. Amazon had comp titles on changing nature and on Creation Event but none that connected them. I have a niche!

But how do we convey those unique selling points (!) to publishers? I needed to talk their talk. How would this book play in the open market? I put ChatGPT to work.

Amazon Categories

Specifically what Amazon categories: When God Colors…Spring. Red birds, brown mud, green frogs, pink worms. Every season God reveals new colors in nature. In this multi-engaging board book, objects appear under color flaps on each page. Other Titles: Summer, Autumn, Winter.

ChatGPT

For a book like “When God Colors…Spring,” you could consider the following Amazon categories:

  1. Children’s Religious Books
  2. Christian Children’s Books
  3. Board Books
  4. Nature & the Natural World Children’s Books
  5. Early Learning Basic Concepts Books (Colors)
  6. Christian Fiction for Children
  7. Children’s Concept Books
  8. Christian Baby & Toddler Books
  9. Interactive Children’s Books
  10. Christian Board Books

This is excellent information for finding comp titles. But for people to use Amazon’s categories, I needed keywords for online descriptions, articles, ads, and blurbs.

Key Words

I asked: the best keywords for the story: When God Colors…Spring. Red birds, brown mud, green frogs, pink worms. Every season God reveals new colors in nature. In this multi-engaging board book, objects appear under color flaps on each page. Other Titles: Summer, Autumn, Winter.

ChatGPT

  1. God’s Palette
  2. Nature’s Canvas
  3. Colorful Creations
  4. Spring Surprises
  5. Flapping Colors
  6. Discovering Spring
  7. Hidden Hues
  8. Seasonal Spectacles
  9. Vibrant Springtime
  10. Exploring Nature’s Tints

I must not have been clear. Those look like titles, not search terms. Most of them missed the connection to God. Would anyone look up “Exploring Nature’s Tints”?

Discoverability

I tried again with the buzzword: discoverability terms: When God Colors…Spring. Red birds, brown mud, green frogs, pink worms. Every season God reveals new colors in nature. In this multi-engaging board book, objects appear under color flaps on each page. Other Titles: Summer, Autumn, Winter.

ChatGPT

To enhance discoverability for “When God Colors…Spring,” you could use the following terms:

  1. Christian board books
  2. Nature-inspired children’s books
  3. Interactive learning for toddlers
  4. Colorful Christian stories for kids
  5. Lift-the-flap board books
  6. Seasonal exploration for children
  7. Religious concept books for young readers
  8. God’s creation in children’s literature
  9. Early childhood Christian education
  10. Christian-themed interactive picture books

Those don’t seem kid-friendly, but I am not selling to kids but parents and teachers. I’ll try those in my pitch or cover blurb.

Testing AI Results

I tried a few of those terms and did a Google search to see if it understood me. (Or me and AI)

Christian board books – besides sellers, I found a few blogs I might contact for reviews or inclusions on lists.

Lift-the-flap board books – only sellers.

Religious concept books for young readers -that term collected mostly books for middle school.

God’s creation in children’s literature – all original creation books, 1 reviewer

Christian-themed interactive picture books – this was a winner! Several different blogs and lots of full-color pictures.

Essentially AI is useful for sweeping data searches, but there must be some human evaluation almost on a micro level. It did give me some ideas to follow up and feel more ready to send When God Creates…Spring into the world!

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing sitting on the floor during more than 1000 story times but is still unpacking AI. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again!

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Kids Lit

Pitch Opportunities

Last month we put together pitches – the 30-second “What is your book about?” Unless you happen to end up next to an editor or agent at a conference dinner, what can you do with them? 

1 X (formerly you know who) Pitch Events.

These were great during COVID!

Google “online pitch event,” and several sites will listed. Many are for specific genres of groups of authors. If you fit one of those, this is an excellent place to get noticed because editors watch for new and emerging voices. Read all the parameters on the group website. Some will let agented authors pitch, but some won’t. All have rules for how many times a day and how many titles may be pitched.

However, with the X (formerly blah blah) world in flux, many events or Pitch Parties are pausing or moving to other hosts. Just verify that the one you like is active.

2 In person planned pitching.

Short of tracking your preferred agent into the restroom (DON’T) or pouncing out from behind a potted palm, in-person events are increasingly adding pitch opportunities, sometimes at a luncheon where people with the same genre get a minute or 3 to pitch a book to one of the guest editor/agents. (Don’t talk with your mouth full.) It may cost the price of the lunch or a bit more.

At other times, conference speakers, agents, and editors will be available for a conversation of 10–15 minutes. Have your pitch ready Because these move very fast – think speed-dating your book.

Finally, sometimes agents offer an opportunity to pitch after the conference ends and get special consideration.

All About (hehehe) Hashtags

Every pitch event has categories they specifically use for their opportunity. But even if you are in a meeting in person, mentally defining hashtags will help you define and narrow your focus to make your pitch more impactful. Some samples:

  • Age Categories
  • #PB = Picture Book
  • #CB = Chapter Book
  • #MG = Middle Grade
  • #YA = Young Adult
  • Additional hashtags (ONLY if applicable)
  • #DIS = Disability subject matter
  • #LGBT = LGBTQIA+ subject matter
  • #ND = Neurodiverse subject matter
  • #OWN = Own Voices
  • #POC = Author is a Person of Color
  • Genres/Sub-genres
  • #F = Fantasy
  • #GN = Graphic Novel
  • #H = Horror
  • #HA = Humor
  • #HF = Historical Fiction
  • #M = Mystery
  • #NF = Non-fiction
  • #STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
  • #SH = Superhero

It is worth having pitches in a file for use any time – and don’t forget to watch for the latest hot topics. That dusty idea from 7 years ago might be just right for now! Pitch it!

Multi award winning author Robin Currie holds a Master of Library Science from the University of Iowa but learned story sharing by sitting on the floor during more than 1000 story times. She sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks, writes stories to read and read again, and just dusted off a pitch for an editor of an old story whose time has finally come! (Cross fingers!)

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Kids Lit

Wind Up and. . .Pitch!

Kids Lit

“So, tell me about your book.” What a great invitation – whether it is from family or friends or (gasp) agent or editor! You finally have their attention! Be ready with your PITCH!

Pitch/logline is one amazingly compact sentence the relates the essence of your story, specifically the plot.

Well, that sounds easy – until I try to write one! There are two good places to find examples.

1 Book description on Amazon or another book seller.

Many times, an original pitch to sell the manuscript is fleshed out to become the book synopsis or back cover copy. I am currently pitching “We’re Getting a Dinosaur!” I looked at board books about dinosaurs and new babies. I found back cover copy:

“A big sister anticipates the birth of a new sibling in this warm and funny stage-by-stage picture book tour of all the sizes of a growing baby, from teeny-tiny poppy seed to giant watermelon. (My Brother Is an Avocado by Tracy Darnton (Author), Yasmeen Ismail (Illustrator). Margaret K McElderry, 2023.

“A big-kid dinosaur can’t wait to teach the new baby everything in this funny, tender, joyful take on becoming a big sister or brother.”

(How to Grow a Dinosaur by Jill Esbaum (Author), Mike Boldt (Illustrator), Dial, 2018.

“It’s not easy being a big sister, especially when your new baby brother is a dino-baby!” (Dino-Baby by Mark Sperring (Author), Sam Lloyd (Illustrator). Bloomsbury, 2013.

2 ChatGPT generates loglines.

It is NOT compromising your authorship to let AI help with pitches!

I typed in: “kid thinks new member of household will be a dinosaur. Shocked with baby in pink blanket.  Baby is like dino – loud, messy, and runs the house.”

AI came back with: When a young child eagerly awaits the arrival of a new family member, they’re convinced it’s going to be a dinosaur. But when the baby finally arrives, wrapped in pink, they realize she might just be the wildest dinosaur of them all.

So I asked AI to rewrite the pitch for a board book. 

AI sent back: In “Dino Baby Adventures,” a child eagerly awaits a new family member, expecting a dinosaur but instead finding a wild, messy baby girl wrapped in pink. Could she be a dinosaur in disguise?

3 Find the common thread or buzz words.

They are upbeat and funny, succinct but piquing curiosity. Many have SEL education about accepting a new baby.

My final pitch is: A child’s dream of a Dino Sized Romp is shattered by the arrival of a baby in a pink blanket, but she has dinosaur traits: loud, messy, and rules the house. Maybe it’s a Cyndi-saurus!

This month look at book blurbs and mess with ChatGPT (the free version). Then experiment with writing pitches for your WIP. You are ready to meet an agent in an elevator!

Next month I’ll take pitching a step further with “X (formerly known as Twitter)” contests and above the slush pile opportunities.

Multi award winning author Robin Currie holds a Master of Library Science from the University of Iowa but learned story sharing by sitting on the floor during more than 1000 story times! She sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again!

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Kids Lit

Advice for Just Starting Out

Kids Lit

Has this happened to you? You are introduced to someone new as a children’s author.

Response: “I have an idea for a picture book – how do I get it published?”

Oh, my where to start? Depending on where you are in your own process, you might say the market is hard to break in, that AI is a serious threat to creatives, that agents are impossible to acquire, that the publishing world is full of scams.

About 2/3 of those words will be incomprehensible to a new writer. All that is the kind of talk we share with others who have a Collection of Rejections! And miraculously – a published book!

But this hopeful writer wants a path, and so here is a 3-step plan to offer.

1 Write your story.

Ideas can’t be copyrighted or critiqued. It is the manner the idea is conveyed that matters.

Once the book is written, figure out what it is.

Is it a made-up story, a traditional story retold? Is it a story based on facts or a book of only real facts.

Would a baby or toddler listen to it? Would a preschooler like it in story time? Would an early grade school child read or explore it?

Are your characters children, animals dressed and acting like children, or animals acting like animals?

What do you want to change about your story in light of what you learned about your story?

2 Research the Market.

There are lots of books out there – how is your different?

Read at least 30 books like your story that have been published in the last five years.

Choose three authors who published books like your story and follow the blog or FB for six months. If they use terms that are new, ask or look them up.

Take a basic class that relates to your story type.

What do you want to change about your story in light of what you learned?

3 Get Feedback.

Now matter how good it sounds in your head….

Find 5 people you do not know to read your story, preferably out loud. Many online groups have manuscript exchange opportunities. Or pay for a professional critique.

What do you want to change about your story in light of what you learned?

Then and only then will your story be in a position to be submitted.

And if the wide-eyed writer asks the frequent follow up question: “How much can I expect to make the first year?”

Answer honestly: “Keep your day job.”

Multi award winning author Robin Currie holds a MLS from the University of Iowa, MDiv and DMin from LSTC, but learned story sharing by presenting over 1000 story times! She sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and has never given up her day job.

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Kids Lit

Even A Chewable Board book Must Be Accurate

Kids Lit

Research for 181 words?

Research and back matter have never been more important. Reviewers and consumers have access to information to check out the accuracy of everything they read to children. Picture books, board books, and read-aloud stories, if they include facts, need to be researched before sending to editors. Editors often hire subject specialists to confirm accuracy.

Research for a Board Book.

ABC books are easy – if you can think of words for Q and X that kids recognize! Same with counting books if the point is just the number of objects. But if, for example, you choose a subject like trains or fruits…or dinosaurs? Research!

How to Dress a Dinosaur: Ah, this is where I found out that what I thought I knew about dinosaurs was not too wrong but outdated. Dinos have newer fancier names, and many have been reclassified. Some have even been discontinued! From stegosaurus and ankylosaurus, I tracked ten different dinos to make sure they had the body parts I referred to, lived in the zones I indicated, and would do the things I planned.

Research for a fiction picture book. 

Kids will listen to “talking bear” stories, recognizing that the animals are behaving like people. But if one of the bears suddenly starts saying “moo” credibility is strained. The closer animals are to real animals, the more the setting, behavior, and interactions with others must be bear-like.

Tuktuk: Tundra Tale features talking animals but in all other ways they behave as arctic animals would as they get ready for winter. Spoiler alert: There are no penguins at the North Pole! And there are many Inuit words for snow. Even though it was a fiction story, factual backmatter on arctic animals, landforms, and sky signs was required and vetted.

Research for a nonfiction picture book.

This is becoming an increasingly popular area, particularly for sales to public libraries and schools. Every word, every detail, and every art suggestion must be completely accurate. And a list of resources cannot include Wikipedia!

My next book is coming in 2025, but I am still waiting for a publisher to find the illustrator before they announce it! My research started on site, in the location where the story takes place, and based on the stories and facts the rangers and guides conveyed. Still, every detail, every fact, must be confirmed – not that rangers are EVER wrong, but I might have misheard!

Research other titles.

One last round of research – the ever-shifting comp titles. These are the other books that face the potential buyer – in the bookstore or the catalog. What will be your competition (in 2025 or 2026!) on the same subject, theme, school unit, or story time?

Back to the dinosaur books, there are tons of them. Occasionally the market is glutted! But I also had to research books on teaching your child to get dressed, typical preschool clothing, the language skills of a child at the age he learns to get dressed, and the patience of parents. One resource for book lists is “Imagination Soup” by Melissa Taylor.

Research: why the librarian is your best source of credible information!

No surprise: Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie holds a Master of Library Science from the University of Iowa and learned story sharing by sitting on the floor during more than 1000 story times! She sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! 

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Kids Lit

Reading or Reading Aloud?

Kids Lit

Libraries buy quality books for all ages in the children’s department and hope to match the book with the child who needs it most. But one collection tugs on our heartstrings to the point we sometimes buy a second copy and hide it in the back room! Those are the truly great “read-aloud” books for preschool story time.

Any book can be read aloud, of course, but not all books are suitable to share with a group. Picture the setting: a librarian, probably wearing glasses, has 20-25 children on the floor. Mothers are sitting nearby checking phones with even younger children in their laps. After an opening song, the attention span is reset to about 4 minutes for many of the children and only 30 seconds for a few. The librarian picks up a book to read.

Topics

Storytime happens all year on every subject of interest to 3-5-year-olds. Public librarians are always looking for holiday read-aloud books as well as evergreen topics like seasonal change, trucks, dinosaurs, colors, numbers, and fairy tales. Stories that engage children physically (while seated!) are a bonus.

Cover

The cover is the hook for the reading. It should excite the kids about the story – showing the main character or subject of the book. The title color and typeface must be easy to read in less-than-perfect light.

Format of the Book

The entire book will be held in one hand, open so the picture can be seen even if it stretches across two pages. Flaps, foldouts, and noise buttons must be easy to use while the book is held steady. Try holding different books – horizontal and vertical, board books.

Picture

Every picture must move the story forward. The text only enhances the visual on that page. Important elements should be large enough to be seen from 6-8 feet away without a cluttered background. 

Page Turns

Page turns must not interrupt the flow of the story. The best ones heighten anticipation of what comes next.

Page 1…and 32

Jump right into the story! If background is necessary, weave it into pages 2-3. By page 4, all characters and the plot should be introduced. Make sure the end of the story is so complete and satisfying that the librarians will not need to say “The End” to let them know the book is over.

Words per page Never describe what the picture shows. The time it takes to read one page cannot exceed the time span of 3–5-year-olds to look at the picture. The book is 500 words maximum.

Type Size

Plan a simple font, large enough to read out of the corner of one’s eye, even with bifocals! If the words and a picture overlap on the page, make sure the word color contrasts for legibility. 

Flowing Language

If rhymed, it must be perfect enough to read correctly on the first reading. If it is not rhymed, the words must be in a logical order with any “difficult to pronounce” explained. Words can be lyrical if they are also easy to read. Refrains that children repeat engages them further and can bring wandering attention back.

Whatever WIP is on your desk, look at it through the Read Aloud lens. Librarians will thank you! (And you DO want to be nice to librarians!)

Multi award-winning author Robin Currie holds a Master of Library Science from the University of Iowa but learned story sharing by sitting on the floor leading over 1000 story times! She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again!

Categories
Kids Lit

A Season for Something Else

Kids Lit

One a scale of 1-10, parts of the year 2023 were a minus 6.

We saw family, we traveled, the kids grew older, the grandkids grew more wonderful, and the truck did not break down..

I was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

Which was distracting! Waiting, tests, results, waiting, surgery, waiting, more tests, radiation. Finally, I am on a treatment break – once they stopped fixing me it feels great!

But somewhere in that emotional chaos, I completely lost any interest or ability to write. I have been writing since I was in my 30’s, but in the last 6 months…nothing. No ideas sounded any good. No clever turns of phrase of even bad puns seems worth committing to paper.

So, as we wrap up 2023 (yippee!), I offer some thoughts on what to do when there is too much life to be creative.

1  Continue Learning

I could not travel but I signed up for every single online class – mostly free, but even paid for few – watch and rewatched the videos, getting every bit of learning I could. I went to marketing classes, classes for teachers, how to work with social media, latest trends in publishing, changes in the industry.

2  Keep Engaging

I followed new bloggers on FB and IG. I committed to comment on at least 4 posts each week. I bought a subscription to PW and watched for award winning books from friends. I stayed active in my critique and author support groups and joined a new one.

3  Edit Old Stuff

Time to drag out the “well there are too many dog books on the market right now” stories and see if one could get a new life. I looked over old lists of ideas. I tweaked a board book rhyme from years ago and submitted it to a contest where it placed in the top 10!

4  Support Others

I spent the month of December promoting all the books from my support and critique group members on FB, IG and X. To do it I researched any commemorative dates from one of the lists of something for every day and an amazing number of celebrations matched what my friends had written! Then I made a template on Canva and posted daily.

5  Build for the future

In the hope that some writing ability/interest will come back, I updated all my proposal outlines with new comp titles and connections, continued posting on FB and IG, chose new groups to join in 2024.

We go through slumps and dry spells – hoping you keep writing and 2024 will be your best year yet!

Multi award winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, in library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and (hopes eventually to) write stories to read and read again!

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Kids Lit

Bring Back the BackList!

Kids Lit

The press, the marketers, and the bookstores all clamoring for autographs and first-day Amazon rankings! Then “NEW” is over. The next week, the focus is on another NEWER book. The sparkling Amazon ratings drop to double and then triple digits. A month later social media has moved on. 

Next year: backlist!

Of course, by then, we as writers are on to the next big project, but there is a twinge for more love for the backlist. How to put backlist titles back in the spotlight?

Awards

Many awards are only for books published in the last year, but post Covid, award givers are extending the eligible publications dates or offering the “tried and true” category. An award keeps the book active in the publisher’s catalog. I was able to win several awards in the last year for Tuktuk: Tundra Tale, published in 2016. Publishers looking over new proposals may appreciate the continued energy given a back list title.

Holidays 

I have not yet written a Christmas book or one for Groundhog Day! But the smart people who have holiday books can ramp up mentions of the title starting about a month ahead (book sales for Christmas begin Nov 1!). Books on holidays celebrated by a smaller group (Passover, Diwali, Chinese New Year) use that time on the calendar for promotion and information. These events happen every year and the information on them does not change.

Commemorations

My book How to Dress a Dinosaur gets hauled out on June 1, National Dinosaur Day, but 43 states have official State Fossils. Every one of them has a Statehood Day which is a great time to celebrate it with a list of books about that state’s fruit, tree, insect, snack food, and fossil.

Themed lists

Library Storytime leaders start every session with a theme of interest to the potential listeners. Teachers look for lists of books to support teaching units. Suggest picture book support titles including back list.

Social media

Was the primary media for the book earlier platforms? Explore new online spaces and groups for new eyes for an older book. My back-listed The Very Best Story Ever Told from 2018 was a little pre-media exposure except for a couple of mentions on FB. Instagram and lots of blogs are still possible. 

The rest of the story

New life comes to backlist titles when there is more to the story of how the book was written or used. A child, parent, or teacher may have a unique experience with the book. The author can offer more on the book’s subject or its writing. As the polar caps continue to melt, Tuktuk: Tundra Tale has been added to several lists.

Use this time…

Sales and deals seem to shut off at Thanksgiving. Use these months to find opportunities for the backlist titles to get up front in 2024.

And Holiday Blessings to you all!

Multi award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, in library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Robin is committing 2024 to back-list promo. (Since there MIGHT be Big News in 2025!)

Robin Currie

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Help Me with My Book!

Kids Lit

As more books are published in a variety of ways (traditional, self-pub, hybrid, assisted), a whole crop of people with expertise (real or claimed!) have popped up ready to help the harried author by doing all the big and little tasks associated with preparing a book for submission. Here a just a few of the current players.

Ghostwriters

You have a great idea but no idea where to start, and not a lot of interest or talent in writing. A ghostwriter will shape your notes into the book you envision – and put your name on the front cover!

Writing Coach

You have an idea and sort of like to write but don’t know where to start or if your story is sellable. A writing coach will take you step by step through the nuts and bolts, teaching and supporting your writing.

Copy Editor

You have an idea and like to write but that whole grammar and punctuation thing is a mystery. A developmental editor will go through line by line and rearrange and correct sentences to today’s standards. They will not be looking at the overall ideas but sentence structure and correct usage.

Professional Critiques

You finished a story but don’t know if it is good or how to make it better. The professional critique will look at arc, structure, and character development and perhaps suggest other titles on the same subject or type of book to study as you work to improve.

Sensitivity Readers

You finished the manuscript but are not sure how certain topics, references, and language will be perceived by others. Sensitivity readers are experts in language and attitudes and are a guarantee to the publisher that this book will not create any issues.

Website design

You can negotiate the web but how do you set up a link or make separate pages on a website? A web page designer will develop a page with as many bells and whistles as you like to show prospective agents you are professional.

Virtual assistant

You like Facebook but IG reels, TikTok, and things “formerly known as something else” are baffling! A virtual assistant will help you select your target population, and establish, and update your social and promotional activities across media.

Endorsers and Influencers

Your manuscript is great, but no one knows who you are. You can find picture book influencers with several thousand followers. A mention or review on that post or blog gets wide attention, whatever the fame of the influencer.

Hey, this book-writing stuff could be easy!

Freelance editors, graphic designers, readers, and virtual assistants are available all over the internet. (Caveat: find someone who has personally used the service and check it out thoroughly.)

The catch: every person listed above will cost money! From $75 minimum for a sensitivity reader to $500-$750 for a ghost-written picture book. The virtual assistant works for $15-20/hour spent on your platform. Setting up a webpage initially is around $1500, and maintaining is extra.

Ask Some Questions

Do you need some help, or is the entire job done for you?

Do you just need instructions on how to do it?

Is your time for writing worth more than you will pay for the service?

Will you need this same kind of help for the next book?

Best wishes!

With over 1.7 M books sold, multi award winning author Robin Currie led children’s departments of Midwestern public libraries, but still needs help from spell check. She has over 40 published picture books and writes stories to read and read again!

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In 25 Words or Less…

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“I was born as a small child…and did stuff.” My bio in nine words, but who’s counting?

One piece of information that authors sometimes falter on is the dreaded bio. We have the book synopsis and elevator pitch and one-liner, but at some point, the editor/agent/publicist/person running the panel will say, “Now tell me about yourself!”

What is too long? Too short? Too braggy? Too personal?

So we blurt out something, and, as soon as the microphone moves on, we remember the one thing we meant to say! This month we prepare for publishing and public speaking by thinking in advance about those moments before someone says, “Will you go first?”

First, consider…who wants to know? 

My answer to a group of librarians: “I have an MLS from the University of Iowa and worked in public library children’s departments for three decades. I have co-authored seven resource books for library programs and developed programs for ages 0-3 years at Glen Ellyn Public Library.”

But to other children’s authors: “I have traditionally published over 40 picture and board books in both religious and general markets. I have a monthly column on writing for children for Almost an Author. I have an agent and belong to SCBWI, several critique and writing support groups.”

And if it is preschool kids: “Head, shoulders, knees and toes!” Because they don’t care who I am as long as I brought the dinosaur book.

So when self-introducing to the group, select the parts of life that are most relevant to the listeners. 

It’s easier in print.

I don’t mind saying “Muti award-winning author” on the bio at the end of an article or on a one-sheet. It is easier in the third person, too. 

Who’s it for? 

If I am pitching to an editor in the Christian market: With more than 1.7 M copies of her books sold, multi-award-winning author Rev. Dr. Robin Currie was a public librarian before answering the call to ordained ministry. She has traditionally published more than 40 picture books, including the Baby Bible Storybook. 

But for a general market editor: With more than 1.7 M copies of her books sold, multi-award-winning author Robin Currie led Chicago area public library children’s departments, developing literacy skills for preschoolers. Robin’s most recent book, How to Dress a Dinosaur, received a Kirkus review and has won eight awards in board book categories.

How long will they read?

50-word bio

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie led children’s departments of Midwestern public libraries. She now volunteers to teach English in developing countries. Robin has published seven resource collections of creative ideas for library story times, and more than 40 picture books.

100-word bio

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie led children’s departments of public libraries and now volunteers to teach English in developing countries. Robin has published seven resource collections of creative ideas for library story times, and more than 40 picture books. She writes stories to read and read again!

Helpful tip:

Develop four different bios on yourself. Regrettably, unless the facts are critical to the book or speech, most people do not want to hear about the grandchildren or summer vacation.

1. 30-50 words long for print

2. 75-100 words long for print

3. list of 5 items considered primary accomplishments 

4. 3 sentences about a personal incident relevant to the group

Keep all four in your computer under BIOS so they can be whipped out as needed in print. Also, print them out and tuck them in your wallet for the next time you are called on to “Introduction yourself to the group.”

BIO: See above! Or see picture below!

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Yoo-Hoo Agents!

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One gazillion years ago when I started writing on stone tablets, I never needed an agent to get published. I just sent a story to an editor at a religious published house, and they published it. Imagine – no proposal, no marketing plan, no comp titles!

Of course, back then, Christian books were more likely to be two-color publications with way too many words and bad rhymes that only sold to a small group of buyers and never appeared in bookstores. There were no Bible-board books when I wrote the Baby Bible Storybook. That is one reason it sold so well. First to market. Not much competition.

Quality-wise, those were not the good old days! It is a far greater gift to the world to have lovely full-color, right-length books showing God’s love for children today. Blessed are we who can continue to write and illustrate them!

With all the competition now and online submissions so fast and easy, anyone can send anything to any publisher. And they do! Enter the gatekeepers. Once upon a time, the Children’s Editor (or 2 in a big house) read everything. Then they added a layer of assistant editors and then junior assistants to the editors to wade through the ever-growing slush pile.

Eventually, even the junior, junior editors were swamped, and picture book agents came into the children’s writing world in the 1970s. Today there are many articles entitled “98 Agents Looking for YOUR Book,” or “The Ultimate List of Picture Book Agents!” Twitter has several pitch sessions only for unagented writers. Specific agent wish lists can be found on Manuscript Wish List. The Official Manuscript Wish List Website – #MSWL: What do you wish you had in your inbox?

It used to be that an agent who saw one of three qualities would pursue the author as a client. Now unless there are at least two of the three, it is likely a pass.

1 Quality writing

Not even the 15th draft but one that has been critiqued by several groups read out loud, rewritten, put aside and pulled out again for fresh eyes. Rhyme is perfect, and every word is chosen because there is no word better for that sentence. Agents usually do not have time to rewrite and correct the manuscript of a potential client.

2 Big Idea 

Agents want to see 2 or 3 manuscripts, each with a unique big idea. The premise of each book can be stated in 1-2 power-packed sentences with immediate connections to the reader/listener. “The night before school, Bjorn the unicorn can’t sleep. His Big Boy Horn has not grown in yet!” Agents want to use that pitch line to get editors’ attention. 

3 Platform

In the hundreds or thousands, publishers look for committed followers who will buy your books. Online presence must relate to the book, genre, and/or subject. An influencer for men’s fragrance has lots of followers, but those people will not be the ones to buy the unicorn book. Agents want to send editors to posts geared to potential book purchasers. 

In practical terms, since agents will be shopping the manuscript to editors who have to show it around a publishing house, they want a clean copy with NO illustration notes. The text should convey all the artist needs to know. 

Fall the action picks up in contracts and publishing, so now is a great time to get positioned to attract an agent for 2023!

Robin Currie

Multi award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, during library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Robin is delighted to be represented by literary agent Cyle Young, HOME – CyleYoung.com. 

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Every Single Word

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Have you met adults who somehow believe that writing a picture book is EASY because there are so FEW WORDS?

Arrrrgh!

As children’s writers, we know that the fewer words, the more perfect each word has to be. No room for dangling participles or near rhymes or even a well-placed semicolon. Just every single word is chosen to be the very best possible one for that thought, that sentence, that page.

Wander through the library or bookstore “Picture Books” and you realize that “books with pictures” are not all alike in format, reading level, or subject matter. How many of those perfect words make a book?

Board books for birth to age 3 – Under 200 words

These fat little books are 8-12 spreads (16-24 pages) and a new manuscript should be under 200 words. The best ones tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end, even if they are introducing a concept. NOTE: Board books with more than 200 words were often originally published as picture books, shrunk in format, and better for an older audience.

Early Picture books for ages 2-5 – 200-500 words

Early picture books are those most likely to be read at library story time. They have a simple-to-follow storyline, often with rhyming words, interactive text, and large clear pictures.

Picture books for ages 3-7 – 500-800 words

These are for kids who are not quite reading on their own yet but want more of a story perhaps with wordplay, multiple characters, and subjects that are more complex. There may be smaller detailed pictures and more pages full of text.

Older Picture books for ages 4-8 – 6000 to 1000 words

Many nonfiction picture books and children’s biographies fit in this group with the pictures supporting the text. Fiction books can include longer folk and fairy tales, several different characters, and social and moral issues.

Beginning readers for ages 6-8 – 1500-2000 words

These are complete stories on fiction and nonfiction subjects of interest to early-grade school students. Vocabulary may be limited to a limited list of sight words and ones that are easy to phonetically decode. Pictures give clues to unknown words or supplement the story.

Hi/Lo books for dyslexic and reluctant middle school readers – 400-1200 words

Age-appropriate fiction and nonfiction subject matter is the important factor in these books as students are apt to be older and no longer a fan of beginning readers. Pictures need to be as exciting as the writing to encourage the student to decode the words to find out more.

Graphic Novels -Next Month!

The other huge and growing picture/word book section is comic books/graphic novels. This genre has boggled the Library of Congress and the Dewey Decimal classifiers since they are both a unique format, fiction, and nonfiction topics, for multiple ages. That dilemma we’ll leave for next month!

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, in library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again. Robin is pleased to report that How to Dress a Dinosaur has only 181 words and is a perfect fit for the board book area. 

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Multi Award-Winning Author!

Kids Lit

There are some thrilling moments in book publication that make all the back work (sometimes YEARS of edits!) pale by comparison: cover reveal, box opening, autographing! Then the first rush is over, the book is launched, and the next big thrill is winning an award.

Award-winning books are truly authored.

Whatever we feel about Celebrity Books (where the sales value is based on the person’s platform in another arena – sports, music, acting, social media), award judging is done on the value of the text and pictures. 

Award-winning books are simply published.

They do not have to come from The Big Five publishers (or Four if someone bought someone out this week). Smaller publishers and self-published books are considered for their merit, not the publisher’s name on the spine.

Award-winning books are publisher endorsements.

Awards not only honor us as an authors but the publisher for having the faith to publish us. It also tells the publisher we are working past the launch to promote the book. Great points when pitching the next book to the same publisher.

Award-winning books are attention-getters.

It is boring on social media to promote a book after the initial launch. An award allows a second (or third or fourth!) chance to keep the title in people’s minds. A new award mentioned on Amazon or Goodreads can boost ratings. Translation: book sales! 

Award-winning books are reputation builders.

The next book proposal includes all the awards for the previous titles. This tells any publisher we are keeping the book in the public view long after the launch. With just one award we can say, “Award-winning author”! 

Award-winning books are validation.

Libraries and bookstores will take a second (or third) look at a book judges have considered worthy of an award. Awards are a way to work around the “must have a review” or “must be from a big publisher” hurdles!

Award-winning books are a bonus for older titles.

Many awards have added categories for previously published books, realizing that older books deserve recognition. An award brings the book to the attention of the publisher and public once more and can boost sales of backlists.

So what awards?

Publishers may put a book up for reviews and awards, but most of the time, it is up to the author. And, yes, there is a fee. I never pay over $75 – the usual cost is under $50. Check the award out carefully – look at the list of past winners. Check to see if there are costs to the winners beyond the entry fee. Scan other authors’ titles to see what award they received and ask them if there are any doubts. 

National Awards

This is the list of BIG awards that will come up by googling “Book Awards.” Beyond that are many awards based on subject matter, format, or writing style. STEM, SEL, disability, underrepresented authors, and topics have specific awards.

Categories of Awards 

Scroll the entire list of categories. An environmental book is better positioned to win in the “nature” category than a “general picture book.”

Conference Awards

Sometimes these are open only to attendees, but with a narrower genre focus. A Christian conference award can be a real boost! There may also be a category for unpublished writing.

State Awards 

Many awards are limited to authors from a particular state on topics of interest to that region, but they are worth checking, particularly if the sponsoring group is connected to a library or reading association.

And the winner is…

MULTI-AWARD-WINNING author (really!) Robin Currie has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again. Robin is pleased to report that How to Dress a Dinosaur has only 181 words and 6 awards!

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Kids Lit

AI:Part 2 In which I get a 4-star review for a book not yet written!

Kids Lit

People seem to be taking sides on AI and feeling strongly about it. Recently we had an AI adventure in the home office.

My husband works for the local arboretum plotting and interpreting data gathered from trees – sap flow, and seasonal correlations. He loves charts. Recently he had to find a formula for interpreting certain data. He researched, found one, applied it, and got an answer. One of the other team members got a slightly different answer by using an AI program. They reviewed all the data and determined the human had the more accurate answer! Ha! Take that AI Know-it -all!

So I took another pass at AI technology, using ChatGPT. Remember my last attempt was to get a story or rhyming story of a spin on The Three Pigs. It was not a publishable success! So what if I wrote the story but let AI do the Twitter pitch and back cover synopsis, which I admit I find tedious. 

I gave AI: 

Twitter book pitch – Frank grandson of the Big Bad Wolf is tired of turnips and wants to eat grandchildren of the original Three Little Pigs

And in seconds received: 

Title: Frank the Grandson of the Big Bad Wolf

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Twitter Pitch:

Frank, the grandson of the Big Bad Wolf, is tired of his boring diet of turnips. He dreams of devouring the succulent grandchildren of the original Three Little Pigs. Join Frank on his adventure to capture the pigs and satisfy his hunger. Will the pigs outsmart Frank or will they end up in his belly?

#FranktheWolf #ThreeLittlePigs #ChildrensBooks #Adventure #HungerGames #FamilyTree #FairyTaleFridays

I suppose #HungerGames is relevant because the proposed meal is “succulent grandchildren” but… It’s a start, albeit not an inspiring one.

Clipart Library

My human-developed Twitter pitch:

No More Turnips!

Turnip burgers and turnip tacos! Frank has had it! Grandpa Wolf howls about his scorched tail, but why not risk putting some bacon on the table? There is no hot pot in the Three Pig’s fireplace but little grandpiglets wait to cure Frank’s ham hock hankering. #pbpitch

I should note I got NO teeny little hearts on mine, either!

Using the pitch AI wrote I asked for a back cover blurb: 

Title: Frank Grandwolf and the Three Little Pigs

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Blurb:

Frank Grandwolf is tired of eating turnip egg rolls, but his dreams of devouring delicious pork chops seem impossible. Until one day, he sets his sights on the Brick House, where he believes he’ll find the succulent grandpiglets waiting for him. But to his surprise, the clever grandpiglets have set a trap for him. Will Frank Grandwolf fall for their trap, or will he learn the value of friendship and share a meal with his new companions?

This delightful picture book teaches children the importance of being kind to others and shows that sometimes, the greatest friendships can be found in the most unexpected places.

#FrankGrandwolf #ThreeLittlePigs #PictureBook #Friendship #Kindness #ChildrensBooks #FamilyTime #BedtimeStories #AnimalTales #EarlyReaders.

The hashtags were better this time, but I am not sure the point of the book (if there is one!) is kindness and friendship. It might just be a funny story!

Clipart Library

Whereas my HUMAN back cover:

Turnip burgers, turnip tacos, turnip dumplings. Ever since the Original Three Pigs and Big Bad Wolf met, both families have been strictly vegan. Now Frank the youngest wolf cub has a ham hock hankering. He drops safely down the Three Pigs’ chimney, but the grandpiglets know how to make Frank lose his taste for spareribs.

The other thing I struggle with is writing reviews! So using the back matter AI developed I asked for a review of the book that is technically NOT YET WRITTEN.

Title: Frank Grandwolf and the Three Little Pigs

Author: [Insert author name]

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Target Age Group: 4-8 years old

Review:

“Frank Grandwolf and the Three Little Pigs” is a delightful picture book that is sure to capture the imagination of young readers. The story is beautifully told and the illustrations are charming, making it a joy to read.

The book teaches children the importance of friendship and kindness, as Frank Grandwolf learns the value of sharing a meal with his new companions. The story is also full of suspense and surprises, keeping children engaged from beginning to end.

The book’s message of friendship and cooperation is an important one for young readers, and the way it is presented in the context of a fun and exciting story is a real strength.

Overall, “Frank Grandwolf and the Three Little Pigs” is a wonderful addition to any library or classroom. It is a perfect bedtime story and is sure to become a favorite for children and parents alike.

Rating: 4/5 stars. 

4 out of 5??!! And who did the “charming illustrations”? That is the update on the AI world, and I going to work on those pigs – I want 5 stars!

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, in library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Robin is pleased to report that How to Dress a Dinosaur has many 5-star reviews from humans!

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Exploding Inboxes

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My e-mail is suddenly full of opportunities! Live face-to-face conferences are happening all over the country, sponsored by different groups. Gone are the days of ZOOM screens full of attendees with no way to stand out from the crowd. Real-time in-person is back. So are opportunities to pitch and impress the agent/editor of your choice. 

The best way I have found to be memorable AFTER the suitcases are unpacked is a One Sheet. More detailed (and personalized) than a business card without the poundage of a full proposal, One Sheets help an agent or editor recall a conversation about a particular book, project idea, or author when decisions are being made back at the office. Hand them out at socials, appointments, or at dinner.

Elements of a One Sheet for a book:

Book info

Twitter-length pitch

Mini Marketing

Bitty Bio

Contact for author/agent

Think of it as an elevator pitch on paper!

Book Pitch One Sheet

The beauty of this one piece of paper (leave the back blank so the editor/agent can take notes) is that it can easily be tweaked if you know a particular editor/agent will be attending. Mention publisher interests or manuscript wish lists, Twitter requests, or your social media following.

Elements of a One Sheet for an author:

Recent publishing

Relevant awards

Bitty Bio

Areas of expertise/interest

Contact for author/agent

Think of it as a meet and greet on paper!

Author Intro One Sheet

Best wishes as you offer yourself to the publishing world – one sheet at a time!

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor during library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Happy 1-year birthday to How to Dress a Dinosaur, also a recent winner of Feathered Quill and Pen Craft awards.

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Kids Lit

Three Little Pigs by AI

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Two Epic Proportion Floods are predicted in the publishing industry. Artificial Intelligence has discovered writing and illustrating. At the present time I am post-critique editing a spin off of the Three Little Pigs so I scoped out the “competition.”

Writing

CHATGPT (ChatGPT: The Most Advanced AI Chatbot in 2022​) will write anything from paragraphs to term papers. It is free and easy to use. I asked for “a story that was a twist on Three Little Pigs.”

Once upon a time, the three little pigs were each building their houses as usual. The first pig built his house out of straw, the second pig built his house out of sticks, and the third pig built his house out of bricks. However, this time, instead of a big, bad wolf coming to blow down their houses, a group of hungry bears came along. The bears sniffed around the straw house and were able to easily knock it down, causing the first pig to flee to the second pig’s stick house. The bears were also able to knock down the stick house with ease, causing the two pigs to flee to the brick house. The brick house was too strong for the bears to knock down, so the three little pigs were safe.

Hmmmm.

I then requested a “rhyming text of the first pig building a straw house.”

Once there was a little pig

Who wanted to build a house that was big

He found some straw that was bright and yellow

And began building with a great deal of mellow

He worked and worked, from dawn till dusk

Until his little house was built on a husk

He stood back and admired what he’d done

Proud of the straw house he’d won

Nonononononono!

Illustrating

Midjourney (https://www.midjourney.com/) is a little trickier to navigate. After several attempts I did get “Three Pigs in a brick house.”

Passable. They are pigs.

I could ask for any of those drawings to be refined – for example putting the pigs in tux or tutus. When I tried to add the wolf, the AI went in its own direction and did not produce a kids’ illustration.

Tidal Wave

The dire prediction is that the book market will be tsunami-ed with these AI creations which are approaching tolerable writing and illustrations and can be produced and self-published very cheaply. Certainly, if you need cover art for a novel, this will be a cheap alternative to paying for an illustration used only once.

At present it is cumbersome to get a set of pictures using the same characters going through different scenes and situations as would be needed in a picture book.

Lifeboats yet?

AI produces exactly what is asked for and if I kept working with either program, I might have refined a finished product, but there is not yet the spark of life that human produced art and writing gives. I suspect before AI becomes accomplished, publishers will have a program to determine if a submission is AI or human generated (as academics do now to detect plagiarism).

Just keep swimming…

What this means to us as human producers is that our quality has to be so innovative, so creative and imaginative that no one would suspect it was done by a robot!

Thanks to Cyle Young (CyleYoung.com) for the early heads up on this trend!

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, during library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Robin is happy to note How to Dress a Dinosaur found its unique spot on the publisher’s list!

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Kids Lit

Somebody Wrote My Story!

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That is my fear each time I search for comparative titles (comp titles) for a book proposal or query letter. Having written and rewritten and critiqued and labored over these precious words, someone out there has had the same idea and already published it!

Most of the time my fears are unfounded, but it is disheartening to hear an editor say, “Oh I love your story, but we just did a book on dressing dinosaurs last year!” At the very least I could have sent it to another publisher. It pays to look at comp titles!

The point of comp titles is to answer for yourself and the potential publisher: if my book sits next to this one on the bookstore shelf (or comes up in a similar online search), why would the potential buyer choose mine?

And even a teeny 181-word book needs comp titles! 

Preparing the proposal for How to Dress a Dinosaur required 10 comp titles. A glance at Amazon told me nobody else had written a board book about dinosaurs getting dressed! So where do you get the comp title if you have such an original idea no one has written it before?

Search online

I did an Amazon search for “dinosaurs” and “board books” there are pages and pages of them! How do I know which are comp titles for How to Dress a Dinosaur?

Publication date 

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton, 1994. Rejected: relevant titles must be published in the last five years, better the last two years, or forthcoming.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? Board Book. Blue Sky Press, 2020. Rejected: This is a reprint of a picture book originally published in 2000.

The Hugasaurus. Orchard, 2022. Accepted: note it is about colorful pretend dinos.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, It’s Christmas. Tiger Tales, 2023. Accepted: note this is a seasonal book.

 Author/Publisher

I’m a Hungry Dinosaur: Rhyming, picture book about Dinosaurs/bedtime reading/dressing up / early readers. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018. Rejected: relevant title must be published by a traditional publisher (or an imprint of one). 

ABCs of Dinosaur: A Powerfully Prehistoric Alphabet. Cottage Door Press, 2022. Rejected: written by staff writers at a publisher rather than authored.

Triceratops (Hello Dinosaur) Board book – Campbell Books, 2023. Accepted: I did not recognize this publisher but found Campbell Books is a division of Pan Macmillan, the UK base of Macmillan.

Alternative subject: Getting dressed

Let’s Get Dressed. White Star Kids, 2022. Accepted: White Star is a new imprint of National Geographic.

 Squirrel’s Sweater. Beaming Books, 2021. Accepted: noted this is hardback rather than a board book.

Alternative subject: Mother/child relationships

Elmo’s Mommy Day. Sesame Street Board Books, 2023. Rejected: books based on TV shows or cartoons draw their own audience and are not in competition.

 God Sent You With Love: A Story of Unconditional Love. Cottage Door Press, 2022. Accepted: noted it was a quiet bedtime book

Final Comps

Once I had a list of books that may appear on the same shelf, I provide the editor with every reason to see how mine was unique. That means full details on the comp title and how my book is different.

Hello, Dino! Kevin’s Big Book of Dinosaurs by Liesbet Slegers.

Clavis Press, 2023. ISBN: 978-1605378350 Kevin loves dinosaurs. Today, he’s going to visit the dinosaur museum with Mommy and Daddy. Soon, Kevin is even dreaming about these creatures!

Similarities: Both are about toddlers fascinated with dinosaurs.

Differences: How to Dress a Dinosaur shows a mother taking advantage of this dino fascination to dress her child.

For a query letter, the three very best titles are enough and for a full proposal, eight to ten are needed. It is a lot of work, but in the end, you and the publisher will see how unique your book is!

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, during library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Robin is happy to note How to Dress a Dinosaur found its unique spot on the publisher’s list!

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Kids Lit

Let Me Introduce…First Lines in Children’s Biographies

Kids Lit

Not as well known as “Call me Ishmael,” but equally important are these first lines from adult biographies:

  • “On 2 November, 1810, His Majesty King George the Third, raving and sometimes violent, was fastened into a straightjacket.” J.B. Priestly, The Prince of Pleasure and His Regency.
  •   “In August 45 B.C., seven months before the Ides of March, a procession entered the city of Mediolanum, modern Milan, in the hot and steamy northern Italian plain.” Barry Strauss, The Death of Caesar: The Story of History’s Most Famous Assassination. 
  • “On the day he was born, he would say, his white-haired grandfather leaped onto his big black stallion and thundered across the Texas Hill Country, reining in at every farm to shout: ‘A United States Senator was born this morning.'” Robert A Caro, The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power.

When we know a person we admire, we want others to meet him or her. So it is with writing a biography – we put time and energy and sometimes deep personal interest into the book to introduce the subject to the next generation of readers. Equal attention should be paid to the first lines of children’s biographies. After all, would we want our life stories to begin with: “She was born in Peoria, Illinois in 1948”? SNORE!

For whom?

In any biography, it is important to tell the life story factually but in a way that will be interesting to the potential reader. Since biographies are written for those who listen to board books to beginning readers to advanced readers in middle grades, our task begins with age-appropriate interest, language, and sentence length. 

“Jane! Jane where are you?” Jeanette Winter, The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps.  

Why not?

Inventors uncover the possibility and combine things in a way never done before. Start with what is not possible and let the biography show how that obstacle was overcome.

“People had always known it was not possible for humans to fly like birds.” Wendie Old. To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers.

When?

Most people we write about are important to a specific time in history. Begin the story at that moment in the person’s life when their impact on the world is felt. Include a timeline, sidebars, or backmatter to fill in the details of the person’s early life.

“The small boat sped quickly along in the dark.” Yona McDonough, Who Was John F. Kennedy? 

What?

People important enough to have published biographies do many interesting things during their lives. Try beginning with the conflict moment that changes the person substantially. It may not be the most famous, but the results of that first moment will affect the later important event.

“It was Saturday and Eugenie wanted to stay at the aquarium forever.”

Jess Keating, Shark Lady: The true Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist. 

How?

A compelling quote is fantastic, either from the person or about him/her. However, not everyone has a quote-littered life! In that case, try a detailed description of the scene to bring the reader into the story.

“I want to be a great inventor!” 

Anne Renaud. The Boy who Invented the Popsicle.

Who?

Etymology: from Ancient Greek βίος (bíos, “life”) + γράφω (gráphō, “write”). We assume the story will always be about a person’s life, but real events can be observed by inanimate objects like a house or non-human life forms like a pet.

“My boy Peter gathers me inside his coat.”

David Lee Miller, The Cat who lived with Anne Frank.

In 2023 try introducing someone you admire to children in a biography.

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, during library story times. She has sold 1.7M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Robin is the author of Tuktuk: Tundra Tale, a story of animals in the frozen north.

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Kids Lit

Christmas Needs Help!

Kids Lit

Ever since the Grinch stole into our holidays in 1957, authors have been spinning the “How xxx Christmas” tales. Take an unlikely hero and save the day! It’s holiday magic!

 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss (Random House)

Unicorn and the Rainbow Poop Save Christmas by Emma Adams (Scholastic)

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: A First for Gus by Sherry Roberts  (Lee Press)

The Tinysaurs Save Christmas by Patricia Hegarty (Tiger Tales)

Little Bird Finds Christmas by Marianne Richmond (Jabberwocky)

 How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith (Silver Dolphin)

Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares (Candlewick)

How to Hide a Lion at Christmas by Helen Stephens (Henry Holt)

Elbow Grease Saves Christmas by John Cena (Random House)

How Winston Came Home for Christmas by Alex T. Smith (Silver Dolphin)

 How the Villains Ruined Christmas by Serena Valentino (Disney Press)

 Dachshund Through The Snow by Michelle Medlock Adams (Endgame Press)

How the Crayons Saved Christmas by Monica Sweeney (Sky Pony)

 Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin (Scholastic)

How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen (Blue Sky Press)

 So how do we get our “How to xxx Christmas” books on the 2025 publishers’ lists? 

WHERE?

Snow is not always in the weather forecast for December 25! Our northern hemisphere Christmas visions are based on European traditions, but Christmas comes worldwide and through time.

  • Thailand
  • South Africa
  • Australia 
  • Underwater
  • The far future
  • Prehistoric times

How does the change in location impact how Santa dresses, who pulls the sleigh, and what they eat for Christmas dinner?

WHO? 

Christmas-saving protagonists are unlikely but possess a unique talent.

  • Wombats dig deep tunnels.
  • Prairie dogs communicate and do “The Wave.”
  • Plumed Basilisks walk on top of the water.
  • Dung beetles roll up to 10 times their weight. 
    • Hummingbirds fly backward.
  • Bats use sounds to guide them in the dark.

WHAT?

Our spunky protagonists need an insurmountable obstacle to overcome!

  • Blizzard
  • Air pollution
  • Monsoon
  • Living in a new place 
  • Monsters
  • People who don’t believe in Santa!

AND A TWIST…

We need to know enough about the one who saves Christmas to care about the struggle and cheer for victory.

Has the protagonist been an outcast from the group, mocked for his size or lack of ability?

Does our protagonist display courage, compassion, or creativity? Will there be unlikely helpers or encouragers along the way?

What obstacles will cause failure (usually 2 times) and then be overcome by the unique skill?

Then a sprinkle of Santa’s magic and we take flight!

PS: Do let me know if you manage “How Dung Beetle Saved Christmas in South Africa!”

Preview(opens in a new tab)

Award Winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, in library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Robin is the author of the Baby Bible series of board books, including The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook.

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Kids Lit

An Old Story New Every Year

Kids Lit

The birth of Jesus from Luke 2 is one story that never grows old. Generations of writers have explored and retold it. From now to Dec 15 is prime time to pitch Christmas stories to publishers and agents.

We don’t know the factual details and scholars argue about everything from the time of year to the number of kings. Much of what we “know” is not scriptural but born of various cultural traditions, many of them Western European. In the past few decades, however, theologians have been more open to exploring the cultural and archaeological clues to the time of Jesus’ birth.

The truth of the story, the part and resonates with our souls is the miracle of God’s Son born in our human form and way. We long for it every year not only for the familiarity and memories it engenders but for the hope and promise that comes new every year, in every situation.

Each year just about every Christian publisher puts out a new Nativity picture book. The best of these will books will be read every year in homes, Sunday schools, and Christian preschools. When you write, imagine a teacher reading aloud to a group of squirmy sugar rushed preschoolers.

1 Simple retelling

A straightforward retelling of the nativity event can be enhanced with actions, animal noises, touch-and-feel, and exceptional rhymes. Check your manuscript against the Luke and Matthew texts. The “three kings” only live in the carol by John Henry Hopkins Jr. from 1857 and they did not arrive until quite a bit after Jesus’ birth.

2 Groups of characters

There are very few direct quotes in these Bible texts but quote them if you use them. Groups of characters can talk among themselves with made-up dialog about the challenges and hopes they experience. Innkeepers, shepherds, even angels! Christian publishers are less interested in manuscripts where animals talk. 

3 One-person point of view

Joseph saw and heard many things that night. “No Room!” Cows mooing. The cry of a new baby. The excited voices of shepherds. Eventually the majesty of the kings’ arrival. How did he protect the little family? If you introduce a character who is not mentioned at all in the Bible, be sure that the person’s words and actions are appropriate to the time and place of the nativity story.

4 For any story

How will YOUR book be different from others? Publishers want something unique every year, so it is extra important to look at Nativity books for the last three years. Then employ sensory words, concrete images, lyrical language, humor, or really good rhyme.

May your writing be a Christmas blessing to children for years to come!

Award-winning author Robin Currie led children’s departments of Midwestern public libraries before being called midlife to ordained ministry. With more than 40 picture books, she writes stories to read and read again! Robin is the author of Baby Bible Stories about Jesus (DC Cook, 2008) Board book which include the nativity stories – and has chewable pages!

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Kids Lit

How to Launch a Dinosaur

Kids Lit

Back in 2021, I relayed the long, long trail to sell a 181-word board book manuscript for publication. And I promised to describe the launch!

Triassic 

From dinos in my brain to in the book is like waiting to see a first-born child. Finally, the editor approves the illustrator, and How to Dress a Dinosaur has a cover reveal! Over the top cuteness, I put it on my website, Facebook, and find a launch group of other authors with 2022 releases.

Jurassic

Confidently, I contact local preschools, bookstores, and libraries for the Big Launch event. That’s when I’m informed that with a pandemic (I already had shots) going on no kid programs are being scheduled in March. And everyone is tired of Zoom.

In the meantime, I hire a virtual assistant and build a Pinterest board for dinosaur-related crafts, food, games, and costumes. Plus I order the cutest-ever dinosaur-themed dress.

Copies of my book arrive. I get so excited to tear into packaging I forget to take the usual “box opening” video. I beg family member for photos of any kids in dino costumes or with dinos and unearth my nephew’s dinosaur themed wedding!

I sneakily check all my area libraries to see if they have How to Dress a Dinosaur on order and, as a “local author,” request they purchase it. My launch group comes through with reviews on Goodreads. I start micro-watching the Amazon New Books page and get very excited when How to Dress a Dinosaur gets to number 11! This is going to be big!

Comet Strike

March 15! This is it! Launch Day!…crickets…

I read How to Dress a Dinosaur to one preschool outdoors on a blustery day in a heavy coat—which covers my cute dinosaur dress. Sigh.

Cretaceous

At last, a local bookstore is willing to live-launch How to Dress a Dinosaur on International Dinosaurs Day at the end of May! I bribe my teenage grandchildren to dress in blow-up dinosaur costumes. My own International Dinosaur Day is a real-time event with people who want an autographed copy! Book launches. Post pictures.

Cenozoic

I write an adorable sequel to How to Dress a Dinosaur and am informed the dino market is glutted. Time to move on to mammals…

Award Winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, during library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again. Robin is thrilled to have finally launched  How to Dress a Dinosaur  (familius, 2022)!