Celebration and Inspiration ~ by Patricia Toht

On Friday, I invited you to come to the Kid Lit TV party for the announcement of the Best in Rhyme picture book winner. Did you tune in? I hope you did. But for those of you who couldn't make it, here are the winners!

Runner up:

by Deborah Underwood

Runner-up: 

by Corey Rosen Schwartz

And the Grand Prize went to: 

by Penny Parker Klostermann

Of course, we celebrated with cake!

And a few silly photos:

Dragon breath!

Angie Karcher isn't too happy about
being swallowed by a dragon...

Kid Lit TV provided a gracious venue for the ceremony and party. In addition, they opened their doors the next day for the RPB REVOLUTION conference. Here are some tidbits and quotes about rhyming picture books. I hope they give you some inspiration!

Penny Parker Klostermann surprised the group with the fact that her book had 29 different versions before it was picked up by Random House. She told everyone to look at every line and every word to make sure it is the best. She also encouraged everyone to give themselves time to imagine.

Agent Kendra Marcus says that a rhyming picture book needs to not only rhyme, but also to have a good story that begins right up front. If it takes to long for a reader to discover where the story is headed, they may lose interest.

Author Lori Degman took the group through exercises on whittling down a rhyming manuscript and making sure the meter and rhyme are perfect. She urges writers to pinpoint the core of what they are trying to say, and then figure out the most condensed way to say it.
"Every time there's a break in the continuity of your rhyme, you may lose your reader," she warns.

Next up were the "Rebeccas Squared" team of author Rebecca Kai Doltish and editor Rebecca Davis from Wordsong and Boyds Mills. "Often people focus so much on the end rhymes that they lose sight of what is between those end rhymes," Rebecca Dotlich said. They stressed the importance of all poetic elements - treat them with equal importance. In other words, make sure a rhyming text takes advantage of luscious word choice, alliteration, metaphor and simile, vivid imagery, personification. "Read and study picture books until the essence of them is in your bones," they said.

The team of author Karma Wilson and Justin Chanda, Publisher at Simon and Schuster, rounded out the day. "Rhyme is wonderful, but it's not EVER the heart of your story. Your story has to stand without the crutch of rhyme," they told us. "Figure out the 'spine' - the theme that lies at the heart of your story - and let all else hang off of it." Karma warned us all to never talk down to a child, their concerns are very real and very large to them.

Celebration. 

Inspiration. 

A terrific weekend!

Unable to attend? It's not too late to purchase a recorded version of this wonderful conference. More information HERE.

RPB Revolution ~By Suzy Leopold

A revolution you ask. Yes, it is the RPB Revolution -- the Rhyming Picture Book Revolution. This event will take place for three days in December. Join Angie Karcher and many other authors and writers of rhyme during a weekend long celebration. The conference will include a red carpet ceremony and a book signing. The four R's of top notch rhyming picture books will be discussed. Do you know what the four R's are? Sure you do. They are all part of the RPB Revolution: reject, revolt, rules and rewards.

I want to recognize the individuals who worked together to plan for this amazing first annual event.

RPB Revolution Conference Committee Members: 

Angie Karcher

Aimee Haburjak

Randi Sonenshine

Kristi Wright

Zainab Khan

Patty Toht 

Lori Degman 

The Best in Rhyme Committee members, under the direction of Angie Karcher, nominated several titles of books in rhyme earlier this year. Then each committee member completed a rubric for each of the books. The rubric determined the top ten titles. The following elements were used to complete the rubric, determining the ten best rhyming books:

• Story/Plot/Structure
• Character
• Rhyme
• Rhyming pattern
• Meter
• Appeal
• Verbs
• Concept/Theme; Message/Take Away
• Language
• Sentence fluency

Best in Rhyme Committee Members:

Angie Karcher

Gayle Krause                         

Annie Bailey                           

Mandy Yates                          

Lucky Williams                                  

Dawn Young              

Kenda Henthorn

Darlene Ivy                            

Deirdre Englehardt

Suzy Leopold

Patty Toht

Lori Degman

Angie Karcher

For more information about the Best in Rhyme Award Top 10 check out the book reviews here.

WHO?: Writers, Authors, Agents and Publishers

WHAT?: The Rhyming Picture Book Revolution [RPB] Weekend 

WHEN?: December 4th - December 6th, 2015* 

WHERE?: New York City, NY

WHY?: To announce the 2015 BEST IN RHYME 

Angie Karcher

HOW?: Angie Karcher, Rhyming Picture Book Month [RhyPiBoMo] founder, will announce the title and winner of the 2015 Best in Rhyme. Additionally, several honor titles will be shared for the 2015 best RPBs. KidLitTV and Julie Gribble will host this sensational event in a red carpet, live ceremony.

*Friday, December 4th

2015 Best in Rhyme Award Ceremony

*Saturday, December 5th

RPB Revolution Conference

*Sunday, December 6th

RPB Revolution Book Signing

Find information on how to register for this exciting event at RPB Revolution Registration.

If you are unable to attend the event in New York City, click here for information on how to register for a Conference Recording.

Designed by
Tanja Bauerle

Consider attending and supporting the RPB Revolution.