PICTURE BOOKS

I am currently obsessed with picture books!

I know, I know, I have heard it all before. They cannot be that hard to write, you use so few words.

You are right; an ordinary picture book may not be that hard to write. However, a fantastic, wonderful, outstanding and stick out in the crowd picture book is very hard to write.

You need just the right words, just the right rhythm, just the right imagery to make you and your child fall in love with the story.  

I checked out a few picture books when I was at the library on Tuesday.

Owl Moon, The Scarecrow’s Dance and The Relatives Came.

These are not current picture books, the latest one, The Scarecrow’s Dance, was published in 2009.

After reading these books, one can see why these authors are successful. They write with just the right words, just the right rhythm and just the right imagery to make you fall in love with the book.

My favorite is Owl Moon by Jane Yolen.

A father and child go out owling in the woods late at night. I love her use of words, the story flowed upon the pages.

Here are a few of my favorite passages:

Our feet crunched

Over the crisp snow

And little gray footprints

Followed us.

Pa made a long shadow,

But mine was short and round.

********************

Pa shrugged

And I shrugged.

I was not disappointed.

My brothers all said

Sometimes there’s an owl

And sometimes there isn’t.

*************************

We reached the line

Of pine trees,

Black and pointy

Against the sky,

Don't you just love the words she uses.

Is Owl Moon one of your favorite picture books?
What type of reading/writing are you obsessed with?