Somehow being reminded of how “tricky” they are, both to write and to sell makes me glad I’m a picture book writer.

Stearns writes, “A really great picture book is a difficult art to pull off… It is about grace and the right words in the right place—much more akin to poetry than mere storytelling.”

Reminds me of the quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: “…poetry: the best words in the best order.”

Yes. Poetry and picture books. I love them both.

Here’s a hint:

I’ve added a new page: PICTURE BOOKS:  ART AND CRAFT.  Click here or on the GREEN tab in the banner above and take a look!

photo credit: San Jose Library

Yesterday I attended the California Literature Council’s Spring Workshop: “I Can Read It By Myself… But Do I Want To? Inspiring Emergent Readers” presented by Megan Lambert of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Among other things, Lambert discussed  The Whole Book Approach, which she described as a synthesis of Visual Thinking Strategies and the Reggio Emilio model of education.

This interactive strategy suggests that the adult reader act as facilitator rather than merely story teller, using the picture book form as a means of encouraging children to talk about art and design in addition to – and as a means of augmenting – the text.

As a picture book writer, I know that learning how to make  “space” for illustration is essential.  I’m convinced that developing visual thinking and literacy skills is an important tool towards that end.

photo credit: shioshvili

As a teacher,  I often find myself talking with kids about the marriage of picture book art and text.  But I’ve never quite thought to include students in that discussion to the degree that Lambert suggests.

I’m excited to try the Whole Book Approach when I return to my classroom after the Spring break.

This week, I picked up Lola Schaefer’s picture book, Frankie Stein, (illustrated by Kevan Atteberry) – what a wonderful twist on the usual Halloween fare!

Frankie’s proud parents are delighted when Frankie arrives in the world on a “bright, sunny day,” but “Oh, my,” his mother exclaims, “He’s…cute.” And he truly is!

Not to be dissuaded, however, his parents determine to shower him with scariness.  They try to make Frankie look “like a Stein” by covering up his “lock of sun-gold hair,” his pink, smooth face, and his first white tooth.

Poor Frankie.  He never quite manages to act or look scary enough. “But he is a Stein,” his parents reason.  “Maybe he just needs a little inspiration.”

Kids will love the way that Frankie solves his problem to become “the scariest Stein of all.”  That is, until baby Francie Stein comes into the world.