Podcast

079 PBSummit Books with Great Refrains IG

Podcast – Great Refrains in Picture Books

079 PBSummit Books with Great Refrains IG

Your favorite songs probably have great refrains, but what about your favorite picture books? The Picture Book Summit Founders discuss what refrains are, define the different types of refrains, and share how to use them to elevate your own picture book writing! Spoiler alert! Get your library card ready, because there are some excellent mentor texts in this episode.

*Books mentioned in this episode:

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Jane Yolen and Heidi Semple

Podcast – Interview with Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple

Jane Yolen and Heidi SempleToday we bring you a special treat!

In this episode, Julie Hedlund interviews Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple. With over 400 children’s books to her name, Jane shares how she chooses the words and what influences her choices. The pair touch on the impact of banned books and how their writing partnership has evolved over the years. So, what’s one key to being prolific? Always be learning and growing as a writer.

*Books mentioned in this episode:

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Check out our previous episode with Jane Yolen here: 008 – Jane Yolen

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How to Analyze a Picture Book Part 2

Podcast – How to Analyze a Picture Book Part 2

How to Analyze a Picture Book Part 2It’s time for How to Analyze a Picture Book – Part 2.

In this episode, we talk about how to analyze a picture book’s illustrations and other things to look for when analyzing a mentor text.

First up, illustrations: What’s the job of the illustrations? What do they add to the story? How does color make a difference? If you’re an author-only creator, how can you leave room for the illustrator and still get your story across? Is it okay to use art notes?

Then we jump into a variety odds and ends to consider and pay attention to as you continue to analyze and study picture books, including “is this book for kids” or “what makes this story uniquely kid-centric”?

Download the How to Analyze a Picture Book Handout* HERE and use it with your next haul of library books!

Books** mentioned in this episode:

 

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

 

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Check out the first part of How to Analyze a Picture Book here: 076 – How to Analyze a Picture Book Part 1

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How to Analyze a Picture Book

Podcast – How to Analyze a Picture Book Part 1

How to Analyze a Picture BookToday we share how to analyze a picture book.

In many of our discussions and presentations, the Picture Book Summit Team and our guest speakers analyze picture books and use that analysis to illustrate the point we’re teaching. When you as a picture book creator learn how to analyze a picture book, you can turn reading picture books into your own writing class.

As you look for and identify the key elements of a picture book we discuss today (and in our next episode!), you’ll be able to more easily spot revision opportunities in your own work—getting you that much closer to a publishable picture book.

Download the How to Analyze a Picture Book Handout HERE and use it with your next haul of library books!

Books mentioned in this episode:

 

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Celebrity Picture Books

Podcast – Celebrity Picture Books

Celebrity Picture BooksWe tackle the touchy topic of celebrity picture books in today’s Picture Book Summit Roundtable discussion,

So, what’s the truth about celebrity picture books? Do celebrities get to cut the line when it comes to publishing? Are they held to a lower standard than lesser-known writers? Is it the celebrity’s fault or the editor’s fault when a celebrity picture book is poorly written? Do they help or hurt the industry?

We have the opportunity to hear what it’s like to be and/or work with a celebrity author as Emma Walton Hamilton shares her experience of writing with her mother, actress Julie Andrews. You might be surprised what it’s like on the flip side of the celebrity book coin.

Then we discuss the frustrations that come when hard-working picture book authors see yet another celebrity picture book author making their way to bookshelves and soaking up all the publicity dollars of their publisher.

There’s lots to say on both sides of the great celebrity picture book debate. Let’s jump right in!

Articles mentioned in this episode:

 

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074 PBSummit Dark Picture Books

Podcast – The Appeal of Dark Picture Books

074 PBSummit Dark Picture Books

What is the appeal of dark picture books? Do kids want to read (and re-read) books about tougher topics? How do you make these books kid-friendly?

Julie Hedlund leads our Roundtable discussion about dark picture books, what place they have in children’s lives, and why they’re so important (and re-readable).

Books mentioned in this episode:

    • The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
    • The Longest Letsgoboy by Derick Wilder and Catia Chien
    • Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson and Hudson Talbott
    • Kamau & ZuZu Find a Way by Aracelis Girmay and Diana Ejaita
    • Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans and Thi Bui
    • Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egnéus
    • The House Before Falling into the Sea by Ann Suk Wan and Hanna Cha
    • The Skull by Jon Klassen
    • The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha, Irene Latham, Yuko Shimizu
    • The Circus Comes to the Village by Yutaka Kobayashi

Grab some of these books from your local library and share your picks for dark picture books in the comments below.

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Read-Aloudability Part 3 with Emma Walton Hamilton

Podcast – Read-Aloudability – Part 3

Read-Aloudability Part 3 with Emma Walton Hamilton

It’s time for part 3 of Read-aloudability: The Measure of a Great Picture Book. If you missed our last two episodes, you can listen to those here and here. Our first two installments reveals ways to improve read-aloudability on a story level. In our final installment, Emma Walton Hamilton shares why picture book authors, screenwriters, and playwrights have a lot in common.

With tips to make your (often adult) reader feel like a rockstar, Emma shares how to make your manuscript reader-proof.

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Listen to the other episodes in this series here:

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Read-Aloudability Part 2 with Julie Hedlund

Podcast – Read-Aloudability – Part 2

Read-Aloudability Part 2 with Julie Hedlund

Read-Aloudability: The Measure of a Great Picture Book 2 is here for your listening pleasure. If you missed our last episode, be sure to listen soon. In part one, Emma Walton Hamilton defines “Read-Aloudability” and Katie shares one juicy technique you can use make your book fun to read.

It seems nothing is more fun to read aloud than lyrical or rhyming picture books. When rhyming is done well, it seems like it must be so easy to write. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Our own Rhymer Extraordinaire Julie Hedlund gives examples of what good rhyme and lyrical writing actually is, what makes it work, and how to write it yourself.

This is the second of a three-part series. Did you miss an episode? Catch up at the links below!

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Listen to the other episodes in this series here:

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Read-Aloudability in Picture Books Part 1

Podcast – Read-Aloudability – Part 1

Read-Aloudability in Picture Books Part 1

Read-aloudability is essential to writing picture books. Picture books are a truly unique genre of literature. Other books CAN be read aloud, but picture books are ENGINEERED exactly for that precise purpose. That’s why read-aloudability is so important.

In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton defines exactly what read-aloudability is and how important it is in picture books (HINT: it can sway the submission process), while Katie Davis illustrates one impactful way to factor that secret sauce into your writing.

This is the first of a three-part series all about read-aloudability and how it can be your ticket to getting published. Stay tuned!

 

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Podcast – Meet the Gatekeepers

If you can’t get your manuscript past the gatekeepers, you have zero chance of getting published. So who are the gatekeepers? They are often editor and agent assistants. These assistants often take the first pass at the agent’s or editor’s inbox to eliminate manuscripts that don’t follow guidelines or don’t meet their boss’ tastes.

In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton asks editor and agent assistants AZ Hackett, Claire Tattersfield, and Gaby Caballero all the burning questions from writers and illustrators like you.

 

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