Smack Down at the Insect House-How I Battled My Fear of Bugs and Won (sort of)

I might have written a picture book about cute little bugs, but let me tell you how I really feel about them: THEY TERRIFY ME.

My phobic relationship with bugs started when I was just a toddler. We lived in a house with rock walls on both sides of the driveway. Those walls were gigantic bug meccas teeming with hairy, squiggly, writhing little monsters like pill bugs, earwigs, worms, spiders, beetles and ants. These miniature marauders made it their duty to harass and spook me on a daily basis. Once, a shaggy brown spider crawled out from the handlebar on my tricycle while I was riding it down a hill. Another time, a kamikaze beetle crashed into my hair and wouldn’t let go. I’m pretty sure that the earwigs, or clipper bugs, as we called them, had their vector beams trained on me because they were always lurking in my towel or my sheets.

Later on, those bugs on the rock walls provided instant bait for my brothers, who loved to chase me through the house with their wriggling prizes. One of my older brother’s favorite tricks was to de-leg a daddy long-leg spider and chase me with the still-squiggling round ball.

These harrowing early-life encounters with bugs have shaped me into the full-fledged bugaphobe that I am today.

So recently, while visiting New Orleans, the opportunity came up to visit the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium.  I thought it would be about as much fun as a gum grafting appointment at the periodontist. Why would I pay good money to see a bunch of sinister little beasts?

Then I realized, this might be a good opportunity to confront my bug fear in a controlled environment. They would be behind glass and I could choose which ones to look at. There would be no surprise attacks. It would all be very clinical and clean.

And it was! Except for a heart-stopping encounter with a giant African millipede (imagine the squishing sound if you stomped on one of those-ewww!) looping around a volunteer’s hand, I kept my cool. The visit ended with a stroll through the Butterfly Garden, where I saw exquisite butterflies flitting around the room. The best part was, they were out in the open and they were behaving themselves. To me, this is step one towards making peace with my multi-legged friends AND my fear itself.

So, if you're not the squeamish type, have a look here at some of these amazing little creatures from my visit.  They might be small, but they are Mother Nature’s mighty little masterpieces (and they do make great characters for kids' books!).

Giant African Millipede

White-eyed Assassin Bug

Rare Blue Crawfish

Two-striped Walking Stick

Desert Hairy Scorpion

Walking Leaf

Dragon-headed Katydid (check out those teeth smiling for the camera!)

Lubber grasshopper

Black Widow Spider

Ox Beetle (female)

Ox Beetle (male)

Patent Leather Beetle

Meal Worms

Giant Prickly Stick

Emperor Scorpion

Orange-headed Cockroach

Beautiful Butterfly!

Chrysalises hatching

Hitching a ride!

Relaxing Koi Pond in the Butterfly House-a perfect way to end my visit!

Katy and The Big Snow: Classic Picture Book Review

By Virginia Lee Burton

HMH Books for Young Readers, (1974) $6.99 paperback

Age range: 4-8 years

It’s been snowing here for an eternity. I’m beginning to think I’ll never see the green grass again. Today’s latest snowstorm is the biggest one yet, with more than a foot and a coating of ice expected before it’s over. And while it’s magical to look at while it’s coming down, the thought of shoveling tons of snow makes my muscles quiver. I’d rather have a root canal.

So today, to pay tribute of all of those back-saving, snow-clearing vehicles and machines out there, I thought it would be fun to honor a classic, all-time favorite snow-day picture book in our house: Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton. I've read it a million times to my kids and all of them, (especially my daughter Katie) loved it. Even if it never snows where you are, I think your kids will love this book too.

The plot goes like this: Katy is a big red bulldozer who repairs the roads of Geopolis during the summer. When a blizzard hits and the town trucks can’t clear the roads, Katy is taken out of storage and turned into a mighty snowplow. With her grit and determination, she saves the day by clearing the blocked roads throughout Geopolis. Ultimately, she saves lives and property and is honored for her hard work.

I love this book because Katy is a strong female character who never gives up in the face of adversity. She won't rest until her job is done. And while she uses her might to clear the streets of Geopolis, she also clears up any stereotypes about what girls can do. 

Burton’s illustrations are captivating. There are detailed maps that follow Katy’s winding course through town. You and your children will want to stop and trace your fingers over her path. 

Your kids will also love how Burton uses repetitive phrases such as, “ ‘Follow me,’ said Katie” that make reading this book fun and predictable.

So if you need a good excuse to delay shoveling (or, if you just want to read an enchanting book to your kids), grab a mug of hot chocolate, a blanket, a copy of Katy and the Big Snow, and cuddle up with your kiddos for one warm, fuzzy read.

Here's a link to some fun activities you might want to do!

http://www.pinterest.com/momof4kids/katy-and-the-big-snow/

Your Morning Giggle: Meet Angie, the Adorable Fetching Cat

In the morning when I write, I'm pretty much at the mercy of my cat, Angie. She dictates when and how much I write by periodically flopping on my lap or laying across my keyboard, essentially destroying what little focus I have. When she's really feeling feisty, she'll drop a pom pom (or in this case, a toy mouse) in my lap, leap to the floor and turn to look at me as if to say "Game ON!" Now really, who could resist a chance to play fetch, indoors, with a CAT? So, here's to you, Angie, for reminding me to write, live (and play) in the moment!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: The Relatives Came

Author: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrator: Stephen Gammell

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. 1985

Genre: Fiction

Audience: Ages 3 and up

Theme: Family

Opening Sentence: “It was in the summer of the year when the relatives came.”

Synopsis: When the relatives come for a long visit, they bring carloads of food and armloads of hugs. It is a perfect reunion, where everyone eats, sleeps, plays and laughs together, forming deep, lasting bonds.

Of the thousands of books I’ve read to my five kids (over what seemed like a thousand years of bedtime stories) this was one of our all-time favorites. Cynthia Rylant’s words are spare and elegant, yet rich with imagery.  Stephen Gammell’s illustrations are downright hilarious, especially the spread that includes the many family members snoring and sleeping all over each other with the words, “It was different, going to sleep with all that new breathing in the house.” My kids could totally relate. My husband and I both come from insanely large families. Hence, any family gathering in our small house resulted in mass sleepovers, the likes of which are depicted on those two pages. My kids were always quick to point out the quirky resemblances to their own army of relatives. What sweet memories they have of all those nights with all that new breathing in our house.

I hope The Relatives Came brings as many smiles to your family as it did to mine.  Thank you, Cynthia Rylant and Stephen Gammell, for creating such a timeless, tender, perfect picture book.

Classroom Links/Activities:

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/relatives-came-family-read-along

http://www.liveoakmedia.com/client/guides/23240.pdf

For more perfect picture books, check out Susanna Leonard Hill’s fabulous list of recommended books here:

http://susannahill.blogspot.com/p/perfect-picture-books.html

8 Ways to Improve Your Rhyming Picture Book Text

 Selling rhyming picture books is a challenge in today’s tight market. You have only one chance to catch an editor or an agent’s attention. If your verse isn’t spot-on, it’s a guaranteed to be rejected. Most editors and agents just don’t have the time to help re-edit or teach you the mechanics of verse; some just don’t have an “ear” for it.  Still other editors and agents say they flat-out don’t want to acquire it (with the caveat that they will always consider a spectacular, “fresh” rhyming manuscript if one just happens to cross their desk). So the challenge for authors of rhyming verse can be daunting: not only must the story be irresistible, but the rhyme and the meter must be precise.

If you are struggling with your rhyming picture book text, here are 8 ways to improve it:

1. Have you fed your meter? Meter is simply the cadence, or pattern of your rhyme. It consists of stressed and unstressed syllables. The most familiar meter is iambic pentameter (da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM), which consists of ten syllables, or five “iams” (an iam contains two beats: one short unaccented beat and one longer accented beat which make up a metrical “foot”). Hence, five metrical “feet” (iams) put together make up an iambic pentameter (“penta” from the Greek for “five”). To get a feel for iambic pentameter, simply put your hand on your heart and feel the “bum BUM bum BUM bum BUM” of your very own, built-in metronome.

There are other types of meter which I’ll outline in future posts, but for now, read your text with an ear towards hearing the rhythmic up/down pattern. I recommend using a dictionary and becoming familiar with syllabification symbols. Knowing which syllables are accented is critical to keeping a consistent meter. You may have to switch the order of words or find new words to replace ones that are throwing off your rhythm (here, your Thesaurus will be your best friend). Also, it is especially important to have an experienced critique group read your manuscript (not just friends or family members who may sugarcoat their reviews). An experienced critique group will be able to read your manuscript with fresh eyes and new “ears.” They should be able to point out where the rhythm is off and help you polish your meter until it glows with perfection.

One final note on meter: Meter is not a matter of making sure that all lines of verse have the exact same number of syllables. Because words have varying accents, it’s essential that these accents follow the prescribed meter. This is also not to say that every verse and every stanza should follow the exact same meter throughout. It would become tedious to read a picture book with the same meter throughout. The trick is to switch your meter in just the right places for a little emphasis or surprise, as in Marvin K. Mooney, by Dr. Suess:

Get yourself a Ga-Zoom!
You can go with a BOOM!
Marvin, Marvin, Marvin,
Will you leave this room?

 2. Is Your Rhyme Sublime?  Your choice of rhyming words is just as important as the structure of your meter. Words that are near-rhymes or “slant” rhymes are words that have the same stressed vowels or consonants, but not both. They may sound similar but have different vowel sounds or consonant endings (as in “dark/heart,” “washes/dashes,” “fun/gum”). These catch the reader off guard and throw off the predictability of the rhyme. Also, you may have words that are slant rhymes that partially rhyme but have extra syllables as in:  “feel/really,” or “see/very.”  These will also give your reader pause and should be eliminated.Do you hear how the meter switches in line three? Dr. Suess very expertly creates a short, staccato rhythm to create a sense of urgency. You, too, can alter your meter and rhyme to create tension or playful rhythm.

3. How's Your Scheme? A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes throughout your story. When the first line rhymes with the third line and the second line rhymes with the fourth line, it is an ABAB pattern. If only the second and fourth line of your stanza rhyme, you would have an ABCB pattern. The beauty is you can decide on this pattern. But this pattern should remain consistent throughout your story.

4. Are Your Rhymes Too Predictable? If you are using too many simple rhymes like “day/play/say/way” or “me/tree/see/be” or “high/sky/cry/fly” or “fun/sun/run…” you get the idea. These are tired rhymes and will not only bore your reader, but the editor or agent you are trying to attract. Have fun and be creative with your rhyming words. Use a rhyming dictionary (I like http://www.rhymezone.com).

5. Is Your Language Stilted or Odd? When you read your verse, does it sound spontaneous and natural? If not, your verse may be forced and awkward, making it less pleasant to the ear. If you use phrases such as “a happy group were we,” or “I know not why,” consider editing your verse so that it sounds more conversational.  On the flip side of this, if your story is stunted by “rhyme for the sake of rhyme” and  gets tangled up with odd, unrelated rhyme pairs just because you couldn’t come up with a word that would fit, you will have to challenge yourself to fix them.

6. Are You Using Crisp, Tight Verse? Too much exposition and not enough forward motion can stall even the most beautifully written verse. Poetry is unique form of expression because it requires the writer to use as few words as possible to convey meaning, imagery and plot. Less is always more. If your rhyming picture book text is 1,000 words or more, consider editing out all of the unnecessary story elements so that each line of verse moves your story forward.

7. Does Your Story Need to be Told in Verse? Ask yourself if the story benefits from being told in verse. Do the rhythm and rhyme enhance your story or detract from it? The fact is, some stories are better off being told in prose. I often write my story in prose first to be sure that all of the story elements (plot, story arch, conflict/resolution) are there before I write even one rhyme.

8. Is Your Story Too “Quiet”? I have read lovely rhyming picture books and manuscripts that are very simple yet convey a complex emotion or message. Some do not have a problem, tension or a defined character, yet they are sweet and satisfying because the reader is moved or comes away with a better understanding of the world. These are referred to as “quiet” rhyming picture books. There is nothing wrong with this type of book as long as the subject is fresh, the appeal is universal, and the writing is impeccable.  Do all three of these things and you may land yourself a contract. But if your story is too “quiet” and has no broad appeal (look at it from a publisher’s marketing department perspective. They will ask: how will this book appeal to the most buyers?) you may want to reconsider your theme or your message.

Now, tell me, what challenges do you have writing rhyming picture books? Do you have any other tips for aspiring picture book poets?