Whenever I do a book signing, there are a few
people who tell me that they dream of writing a book for children and ask how
they can get started. I always give the same two pieces of advice: (1) join the
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and (2) read 100 books in the genre they would like to
write. I first heard this second tip from Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park back in 2006, and I
couldn’t agree more.
I was doing from an educator’s point of view. I was suggesting that the
aspiring authors use mentor texts. A hundred of them.
literature as a model for student writing can be powerful. But the truth is
that ALL writers can benefit tremendously by reading and studying the
techniques employed by other writers. I often use mentor texts as I’m thinking
about elements like voice and structure.
While I was writing Feathers: Not Just for Flying, I struggled to find just the right voice. I can remember asking myself, “How did
April Pulley Sayre craft the light, lovely voice of Vulture View?”
To understand her
process, I knew I had to put myself in her shoes, so I typed out the text of
the entire book. Seeing the words, phrases, and sentences in manuscript form
gave me enormous insight into how language devices can play off one another in
books with a strong lyrical voice.
When I realized that No Monkeys, No Chocolate would have a
structure in which one piece of information builds upon another, I looked
closely at the cumulative structures of The House That Jack Built and The Gingerbread Man. Even though these
classic stories are fiction, they helped me see possibilities for my own
manuscript.
I also looked at an assortment of books with
layered text, including Beaks by
Sneed Collard , When the Wolves Returned by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent,
my own book A Place for Butterflies, and several books
by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. In each case, the layers were executed
differently and served a different purpose. Understanding the range helped me
see how I could use layers to the best effect in my own manuscript.
way! The bookworms in No Monkeys, No Chocolate
were inspired by Statler and Waldorf, the two old guys in The Muppet Show balcony. While discussing the show with my nieces, I thought about the purpose of the two curmudgeonly characters—they
comment on the action on the main Muppet
Show stage and added humor. I instantly realized that my book needed a
similar element, so I created characters and wrote dialog as a third layer of
text. It solved a major problem with the book by allowing me to reinforce
complex science concepts in a fun way.
writers, mentor texts can guide us as we strive to stretch in new and exciting
directions.
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2 Responses
Agreed, Melissa! I'm currently using FEATHERS: NOT JUST FOR FLYING as a mentor text for a new book I'm writing.
Wow, Patty, I'm delighted to hear that. Good luck with the new book.