Summertime and Rhyme--A Perfect Picture Book Pair: An Interview with Author Eileen Meyer by Julie Phend

 

What's more fun than spending a summer day at the beach creating your own sandcastle? 

BUILD A SANDCASTLE, published this spring by Reycraft Books, is a charming picture book featuring fun rhyming text by Eileen Rajala Meyer and colorful sewn-felt illustrations by Manica Musil. STEM sandcastle-building techniques are offered by an expert starfish (who's seen many a castle collapse in his years on the beach). 

It's my pleasure to welcome author Eileen Rajala Meyer, a former Grog blogger, to talk about the book and give us some expert tips on writing in rhyme.

Julie: Welcome back to the GROG Blog, Eileen. I'm excited to share your new picture book and tips for writing in rhyme with our readers. This book is a rhyming picture book, but it's also a how-to book with STEM components. So: WHY RHYME?

Eileen: Thank you, Julie, for inviting me to share insights about my new picture book, Build a Sandcastle. I came up with the idea for this picture book during the pandemic while walking the beach near my Florida home. I envisioned a book celebrating that favorite summer activity--building a sandcastle. My audience would be young builders at the beach, those in preschool or early elementary grades.

I chose to write in rhyme because young children love it and rhyming picture books picture books promote early literacy. The repetition of sounds and words aids language development. Since my book was about a fun day at the beach, it tone was light-hearted. To match that feeling, I chose a bouncy rhythm (trochaic poetic meter) for the rhyming couplets I was crafting. Considering all those different elements, writing this book in rhythm and rhyme seemed the perfect match for the subject matter, tone, and audience.

So which came first, the rhymed story or the STEM building tips?

Eileen: Great question. I enjoy researching new topics so I read about sand, sandcastle building, and how experts go about crafting sandcastles. During that process, I compiled a list of tips for the book's back matter. The list included things like safety considerations, supplies to bring along, and how to scout the right spot to build a beach masterpiece. In my research, I came across more advanced tips that competitive builders us, such as using nonstick spray to coat the inside of buckets and forms so they slip off seamlessly during the building process. 

As I crafted rhyming couplets for the story, I referred to my research and fine-tuned my age-appropriate tips. So, to answer your question, the rhyming text and sandcastle construction tips evolved together. In early drafts, the STEM construction tips were placed in the back matter. By my final version, that had changed--now a spunky Starfish shares tips on each page spread to aid young creators step by step.

Julie: Editors often say they don't want rhyming picture books. Why not?

Eileen: As you know, I love rhyme! Most of the picture books I've published are written in rhythm and rhyme. I'm part of the "Rhyme Doctors" team, along with fellow children's authors Michelle Schaub and Patricia Toht. Our team writes extensively about different aspects of rhyme on our free biweekly House Calls blog. Sign up at https://www.rhymedoctors.com/  Our posts include discussions about rhyming picture books and mentor text recommendations. In addition, we often dive into writing nitty-gritty, such as the use of poetic devices or understanding poetic meter and scansion. 

Writing in rhythm and rhyme is not an easy task. It's a real challenge to do it well. There are many elements of a rhyming story to get just right right. Are your rhymes inventive and unique? Is your poetic meter consistent, and does it match the tone of your story? Each word in a rhyming picture book manuscript needs to be carefully chosen for the poetic meter scheme, its meaning, and tone. So, when editors say they don't want rhyming picture books, I believe they are really saying: We want rhyming picture books, but please submit projects that are well-written. Your meter is spot on. Your rhymes are unique and interesting. And you've reworked, revised, and refined your project to perfection!

Julie: What are some common pitfalls about working in rhyme?

Eileen: I think the biggest challenge if you want to write a rhymed picture book is understanding poetic meter. Beginners think that writing a rhyming picture book is all about getting the end rhymes right. Of course, that is an important element (using true rhymes and avoiding slant or near rhymes). But in my opinion, what is essential is creating and maintaining a strong rhythmic pattern from start to finish. Of course, that can include meter variations and refrains--but it should be a pattern that's consistent throughout your manuscript. You want read-aloud text where the words flow beautifully.

Understanding poetic meter is is essential when crafting poems and rhyming picture book text. There are four common poetic meters most poets use: iambic and trochaic meter (formed using two-syllable metrical feet) plus anapestic and diactylic meter (formed using three-syllable metric feet). I write about these four meters in my Rhyme Doctor posts, if readers would like to search the archives. Each post provides examples of the meter, defines it, and showcases its use in children's books and poems. 

Excerpt from Build a Sandcastle. Note the rhyming text, Starfish tip, and sewn-felt illustrations.

Julie: Did anything surprise you about the final version of Build a Sandcastle?

Eileen: After the contract was signed and we discussed art, my editor, Sunita Apte at Reycraft Books, suggested mixed media art for the book. I wasn't familiar with that form of illustration and artistry--but I was thrilled with Manica Musil's sewn-felt depictions. (I hadn't previously seen Manica's work since she is from Slovenia and is published outside the U.S.) She's an amazing talent! My favorite spread is one containing the completed sandcastle. The way she created the castle's intricate details with felt, fabric pieces, and stiching is astonishing. She has added beautiful details, such as an orange beach pail that includes a tiny animal. If you look closely, you'll see that the animal's expression changes with each illustration and page turn. A fun surprise! Manica Musil's beautiful sewn-felt artistry really makes this book stand apart. 

Julie: Thank you, Eileen, for this fun and informative post! Good luck with Build a Sandcastle.

Eileen Rajala Meyer writes children's picture books and poetry. Here rhyming ode to a favorite summer activity, Build a Sandcastle, is hitting the shelves now. Her poetry collection, The Superlative A. Lincoln (Charlesbridge Publishing) was a Florida State Book Award Silver Medal winner. Eileen is a member of the Rhyme Doctors team and shares articles about writing poetry and rhyme in a free monthly newsletter. Sign up at https://www.rhymedoctors.com/  

Visit her at EileenMeyerBooks.com 

On Instagram and Blue Sky:@EileenMeyerBooks 

On X: @Writer_Meyer