Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Mentor Text Study: Corey Rosen Schwartz



Corey Rosen Schwartz is an award winning picture book ninja. KIYA!

As a child, Corey loved to read and figured she would grow up to be an author. But first she became a teacher and worked in a dot.com startup. And when she decided to write for kids, the picture book format is what she chose to write.

Her debut picture book, Hop! Plop!co-authored with Tali Klein, was on the list of 2006 Eric Carle Museum “Picture Books of Distinction” and in 2007 made the Bank Street College list "Best Children’s Books of the Year." Check out this impressive list of awards for her books that followed, far too numerous to mention here! 

What makes Corey’s books award winning?

Fun Rhymes, Flawless Meter, Fresh Themes

In an interview over at Angie Karcher’s Rhyme Revolution blog, Corey said, “My stories are not character-driven or plot-driven. They are language-driven.”  


In WHAT ABOUT MOOSE?, co-authored with Rebecca J. Gomez, Corey sticks to all the necessary narrative story plot points while keeping perfect meter and rhyme. She introduces readers to a character kids can readily identify with - one very bossy moose.

Modern Fairytale Characters & Settings
Corey masterfully recreates unique characters in clever new settings to create fun fractured fairy tales.

In GOLDI ROCKS AND THE THREE BEARS,  
co-authored with Beth Coulton, 
the Three Bears and Goldi love to rock and roll.
Corey's stories are filled with adventure and action. The fact that Pig 3, Little Red, and Hensel & Gretel from her ninja series are all girls that save the day is refreshing.




    

Plot Twist

In TWINDERELLA, illustrated by Deborah Marcero, the added plot twist provides twice the fun!

It’s fair to say, anyone who writes in rhyme is familiar with Corey's books. If interested in learning how she does it, Corey and fellow rhymer, Tiffany Strelitz Haber created a blog, Meter Maids: Learn to Rhyme. Or do the time. Check out their posts and advice on how to avoid rhyme crimes.

Playful language, fun characters, and re-imagined plots make stories by Corey Rosen Schwartz excellent mentor texts to study. Happy reading!

Corey on Twitter: @CoreyPBNinja
Corey’s Facebook Fan Page: Corey Rosen Schwartz – PB Ninja

13 comments:

  1. Keila, lots of ways to approach story when one studies Corey. Thank you for the overview.

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  2. Corey really has a wide variety of books and always nails the meter.

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  3. I noticed many of Corey's books are co-authored and then an illustrator is another part of the book. The royalties must be divided a number of ways. I have read three of her books and looking the for others. Dan Santat as an illustrator was a great choice.

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    1. Yes, in many of her interviews she discusses how she prefers to work with another author. I know you will enjoy all of them.

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  4. Yes, I need to study these more. Thanks for the reminder!

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    1. Welcome Jilanne! What she does is nothing short of brilliant. I can't imagine sticking to a story arc and finding the right words in meter and rhyme. WOW.

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  5. Lovely post! Thanks for giving us such a great list and other resources to help us in our writing. Thank you!

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    1. Welcome Angie. This was so much fun to write. 😀

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  6. Thank you, Keila, for sharing Corey's books. She is one of my favorite authors.

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  7. Great post. Thanks Leila. I do love her ninja & Twinderella books!

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