Once again, I participated in judging a picture book contest. (I was one of a number of judges.) This was a mix of fiction and nonfiction. I saw commonalities with other picture book contests I’ve judged.
First, there were an overwhelming majority of fiction submissions than nonfiction. I get that as I love fiction too. And nonfiction takes more research and more effort to get it right. But if a writer wants to increase their chance of winning, I recommend doing the hard work of nonfiction. (I’m not sure I saw any informational fiction but that can give a fiction manuscript an edge.)
Many submissions could make kid listeners roll their eyes. I know mine were rolling. The texts were trying to teach a lesson. Not with subtlety. Mary Kole says, “Don’t teach in your picture book. Do not preach. Do not talk down to the reader. Kids are lectured and told what to do all day every day, and they feel disempowered.”
Next up, poorly done rhyme. (Picture books DO NOT have to rhyme.) Issues I saw were forced rhyme, odd sentence constructions, lack of rhythm, and rhyme that did not add to the story. Josh Funk says it well, “Story is most important. Rhyme comes last. But more important than rhyme is Rhythm. You may be able to find the most amazing pair of rhyming words in the world. But if the meter doesn’t work, then the entire picture book will go up in smoke.”
Overdone alliteration. Always activating an A at the alpha of an announcement asks for automatic disapproval. Augghhh!
Excessive art notes. Only use them when absolutely necessary. Often, I skipped and read the text only.
Some were too specific to one family, circumstance, or experience without appeal to other readers. Children’s Librarian Suzi Wackerbarth says, “focus on the individual and the universal.” That means a story about a specific event is more than just the event—it may also feature relationship with a parent or grandparent. It may be about a universal fear. Think, theme that connects with a child listener.
Others were overdone topics with nothing fresh. New baby—seen that. Afraid of first day of school—seen that. New pet—seen that. This makes me think writers aren’t reading what is already published. Author Alyssa Reynoso-Morris suggests reading 100 picture books. (That’s just to start!) Then you’ll know the answers to these questions she has, “Has it been done a million times before? Is it a concept you can add your own unique twist to make it stand out?”
A few stories were short stories, not picture books. “While both picture books and short stories are written for the same audience, and may even have the same word count, they are very different forms published in completely different places.” – Lou Piccolo
A number of entries were disqualified for not following the submission directions. Agents and editors will probably not be any more forgiving.
Many needed better proofing—missing and incorrect punctuation, poor grammar, etc. If writers have never been in a critique group or had a manuscript beta read or critiqued, that should be a first step.
A couple were aimed at adults, not children.
But what about the good?
Those were the ones where…
…I smiled,
…or laughed,
…or had my heartstrings tugged.
They garnered…
…my interest in facts in a fun and interesting, nondidactic way.
…were exciting or unique.
…were memorable and worth rereading.
These stories stood out like a white buffalo in a heard of brown bisons.
“A great picture book for young children is performance art between two covers. The text must be read aloud, and the words flow off your tongue smoothly and effortlessly, showing you how to say them.” – Kate McMullan
“What it IS: brief, original, fresh, often funny, satisfying, and possessed of something substantial at the center–-call it a kernel of significance that makes it worth a child’s time. Humor can provide it, so can language, or character, or story. Like the child it’s written for, this picture book can be cozy and quiet or it can sing and swing, but always it loves language. It’s told in words that bear repeating–-even a grown-up can savor them again and again.” – Alice Schertle
I suggest we each take a close objective look at our own picture book manuscripts before hitting send.
