I braindumped a new picture book idea a couple of weeks ago, and I need to start thinking about how to turn it into an actual story that kids will fall in love with. So I pulled a few mentor texts off my shelves.
The story elements I wanted to look at today were:
- Two characters interacting
- An unexpected event or person with a problem
I found those elements. And, as often happens when I really dig into a story I’ve read before, I found other elements and qualities I want to keep in mind.
I have read POE WON’T GO (written by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Zachariah Ohora) many times. I always think of it as a simple story (in a really good way). And, in terms of the plot and characterization, it is. But today I realized where the power in that simplicity comes from.
Specificity. I can’t even guess how many times Kelly DiPucchio looked at each word in her text and considered and reconsidered and changed and put back and changed again. And used the BEST active verbs.
Look at those word choices. Hatched. Paper cups. Fluent. Hedgehog! The paper cups make the scene. And “hedgehog” could so easily have been “puppy.” Nope. Not in this story.
I knew there was a reason I’ve kept POE WON’T GO on my shelves. (And Zachariah Ohora’s art is perfect!)
Becky Levine 