Summer Picture Book Study by Tina Cho

 

Happy summer, groggers! I love going to my local library and checking out new picture books to see what’s being published and to have an awareness of the ideas circulating. You never know when you need a comp book or mentor text for your own writing. Comp books are books that are comparable to yours, for publishers and agents to compare their marketability. Mentor texts are books that you as a writer use to analyze and see what made that story work and get published. Here are some that jumped out at me.

Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Robin Rosenthal is a hilarious story about an adorable cat who “detests water.” What will she do when her beloved stuffy falls into the pool? A fun book for kids learning to swim!

For creatives: This fear-of-water theme is not new. How do you take a familiar theme/story and tell it in a fresh way? This book mixes two high concepts for kids—a beloved stuffy and adorable cats.

Deep Blue: Swimming in the Big Blue Sea by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Laura Hughes

Kayla and her father go to the beach with her dolphin floaty. She swims until a “sharp shell” pierces her floaty. She's scared to swim in deep water, but her father reminds her she "does" know how to swim. So, they play a game. “’You be the island,’ I say. ‘I'll be the lighthouse.’" This continues with other metaphors until she eventually is as good a swimmer as her dolphin. This book would be perfect for those reluctant swimmers. And it would be wonderful for kids to practice writing your own metaphors. 

For creatives: This is another book with a fear-of-water theme but takes a different spin of adding in poetry, specifically metaphors. Also, the main character already knew how to swim, just not in deep water.

A Room with a View by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Thais Mesquita

Oliver hesitates to go on an adventure with Mama who takes him camping in a tent because “This is a room with a view!” He complains and has a less fun attitude and plans missing out on their next adventure until he realizes all the special moments he would miss with his mama like making shadow puppets and the marshmallow roasting championship. Back matter includes an author’s note about preserving national parks, tips for adventuring like a pro, and a state list of national parks.

For creatives: Choose a summer topic and add in important layers or entry points. This book highlights a unique and important setting—a national park. It’s also a timely story of enjoying the outdoors without electronic devices. 

Lydia Loves Bugs by Heidi E. Y. Stemple and Yuliya Pankratova

Just like the title says, Lydia loves bugs. “Big, bouncing bugs and small, squiggly bugs.” Without spoiling the humor in the book, not everyone in her family loves bugs like she does. Back matter includes an author’s note defining entomologist and defining how “bug” is used in the book. End pages list fun facts about all the bugs in the book.

For creatives: Again, there are a bajillion bug books in the world, but how is this one different? With its very simple, lyrical text and big illustrations, young kids will be drawn into the book. The authors don’t state any real insect names, but instead use fun descriptive words to describe the bugs, like “you-can-barely-see-‘em bugs.” I love how the back matter is really aimed for the young reader and speaks directly to the kid as in “Chasey, pinch bugs: Stag beetles really look like they will pinch you because of their large mandibles. But they can’t actually hurt you.” How can you be creative with your back matter so that it’s aimed at the intended age of the reader?

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So now you have four summery books to study. What others have you found? Drop them in the comments! And if you'd like a summer challenge--try writing a summer themed picture book. How is yours different from all the other summer books? What entry points and layers can you add in? (By that I mean, what hooks and themes does your story have to market it?) Happy summer reading and writing!