PB 14:14 – Day 9 – Top Ten Elements in Picture Books

Posted on February 22, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Happy Sunday, everyone. We are continuing our countdown with Day Nine of Christie Wright Wild’s PB 14:14.

Having loved picture books for most of my life, I’ve read quite a few. Many of my favorites contain rhyme…which isn’t surprising since rhyme is one of the Top Ten Elements found in picture books.

So today my choice is a book that includes lots of rhyme.

Title: A Troop is a Group of Monkeys

Author: Julie Hedlund

Illustrator: Pamela Baron

Publisher: Little Bahalia Publishing

Date: 2013

Word Count: 250 estimated

Top Ten Element: Rhyme

Opening Lines:

“A parliament of owls hoots in the night.

A pandemonium of parrots begins to take flight.

A troop of monkeys travels by swinging.

A colony of bats spends the day clinging.

What makes this book really special is that each page delivers a word for the group of that particular animal. Did you know that a group of peacocks is called an ostentation? Or that a group of giraffes is called a tower? Or that a group of skunks is called a surfeit? Continue reading →

PB 14:14 – Day 6 – Character and a Whole Lot More

Posted on February 19, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Today is Day Six of Christie Wright Wild’s PB 14:14…I’d forgotten how difficult it is to do a blog post every day. But I’m loving that it is giving me an excuse to read a picture book every day. If you click on this link, you’ll be able to see what books everyone else is reading: http://christiewrightwild.blogspot.com/2015/02/day-6-imogenes-last-stand-by-candace.html

Right before I moved from Colorado, I had the opportunity to attend an indie bookstore event for author/illustrator Peter Brown. Not only did he read his newest book, but he also interacted with the audience as he demonstrated how he drew the main character, Mr. Tiger.

Title: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

Author and Illustrator: Peter Brown

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Date: 2013

Word Count: 220 estimated

Top Ten Element: Character and Plot and Pacing and Dialogue and Conflict and Theme and Beginnings & Endings and Word Play and Patterns…I think the only element missing is Rhyme Continue reading →

PB 14:14 – Top 10 Elements in Picture Book Stories – Plot and Pacing

Posted on February 18, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Today is Day Five of Christie Wright Wild’s PB 14:14…what an amazing challenge. I hope you are all enjoying this look at the top ten elements in picture books. To see the others that have been posted today, please click on this link: http://christiewrightwild.blogspot.com/2015/02/day-5-papas-mechanical-fish-by-candace.html.

Fairy tales were always a favorite with me when I was a child. These days, there is a new fairy tale in town – the fractured fairy tale. Some writers are quite gifted at taking an old story and turning it into something new and different. My choice for today’s PB 14:14 is a take-off on Goldilocks and the Three Bears and is very strong in the elements of plot and pacing.

Continue reading →