There is no formula and rarely is there only one solution to a problem or one way to meet a goal. When it comes to writing and illustrating picture books, there is definitely more than one way to create a book that resonates with current or future readers. The goal is to balance the needs of the story and the needs of the potential audience, both of which may be varied and unanticipated. The following picture books share little in common in terms of the structure, pacing, audience, relationship between words and images, but what they share in common is that they are all picture books that accomplish their goal-to capture an audience for a real or imagined story.
The goal is to read widely because you can't always predict how reading will impact your writing.Barbara McClintock has created a large body of picture books and continues to push her boundaries as an illustrator and writer. In her latest picture book Vroom! she tells the story of Annie, a young race car driver, who is ready to go. With a strong balance between text and the face-paced images, she creates a geographic adventure that includes rural and urban landscapes This is a circular story (not as obvious as If You Give A Mouse a Cookie) where the text and the images race forward while pushing boundaries that settle in for comfort when you return home. Clearly, race car driving is for everyone.

In River, Elisha Cooper shares a more linear journey following a young woman as she paddles her canoe three hundred miles down the Hudson River from the Adirondacks to New York City. Cooper finds a balance that is both peaceful and adventurous. He keeps the reader turning the page wondering about the natural world that she encounters with rich descriptions–"Black flies circle her head and bite her ankles" and "High in the branches of a tree she sees a brambled nest, and down on the rocky shore, an eagle with a fish in its talons." Much like in Vroom!, readers will find themselves travelling through the story wondering about the world around them and then be happy to be home.


Friendship and fear are universal and there are thousands of books with themes of friendship and/or fear. And still there are openings for titles that are charming, accessible, relatable, honest and perfectly paced in this 48-page picture book. Truman by Jean Reidy and Lucy Cummins pushes each of us to find own Truman inside and outside home. Sarah and Truman love, protect, and support each other even though Truman is a tortoise and Sarah, a girl about to go off to school. Universal experiences told well without fanfare and so much courage in both Sarah and Truman.
So often, small yet significant moments in history are overlooked in history lessons and yet, these stories are as essential as better-known stories. In A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story, Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan with illustration by Floyd Cooper shares the moment when Sharon, an 11 month old, was the first person of color to ride a merry-go-round in Baltimore, Maryland on the same day that Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech in Washington, DC. The 1st person narrative, it reminds readers that there are so many stories to be told and that is always pays to read the newspaper for the story that connects people.
Jen Bryant is a stellar picture book biographer and she has once again written a picture book where her text delivery matches the person in Feed Your Mind: A Story of August Wilson. Both a tribute to Wilson's legacy and a window into perseverance and creativity, both Bryant and debut illustrator Cannady Capman honor Wilson, detail his challenges and accomplishments in two acts, the first focusing on his childhood, love of reading and poetry and the second, focusing on his work as a playwright. Bryant and Chapman make this Pulitzer Prize winning playwright a mentor to a wider audience highlighting his talents and successes while being honest about the racial injustices he and his family experienced.
Like Watkins, Sergio Ruzzier understands how to play with words and images. Who says that you need a lot of words to make a picture book? Good Boy is childlike, child friendly and holds a child's attention. The entire book focuses on one or two word commands, some that may be expected and others that set the stage for friendship and adventure between a boy and a dog–Fetch. Jump. Roll over. Cook. Serve. Stay. Clean. Come. Pedal. Speak. Smile. Home. Stay. In recent titles, Ruzzier has demonstrated his exceptional ability to create early readers (Fox & Chick titles from Chronicle) that will be read over and over. He respects the reader but also pushes them to explore within and beyond the pages.
In a playful way, picture books can teach lifelong skills and the story may come from everyday life experiences. Money rarely makes an appearance in books for children and yet financial literacy is so important to success. Cinders McLeod's collection of Moneybunny (3 titles so far, but I think there was to be a 4th) follow bunny Sonny as he learns to Earn It, Save it and Spend It. In the most recent Spend It title, Sonny learns to make decisions since he wants to buy everything but everything may cost more than his 3 carrot weekly earnings. This financial literacy lesson is perfectly aimed at its audience with childlike energy and enthusiasm while teaching about purchasing power and the value of decision-making.
Rowboat Watkins manages to capture playfulness in every book he writes and illustrates (the clever Pete with No Pants) and Most Marshmallows is no exception. This book is about everyone, for everyone. It is impossible not to smile when you read it or even contemplate taking out the marshmallows and creating a story. It defies everything you think you know about how stories work but the delightful short lines and amazing marshmallow personalities leave readers with a squishy feeling and the power to believe that they can do anything. Every time you read it, you find some story telling that you missed the last time you read it. While this may not be just about marshmallows, readers will easily suspend any disbelief.


The picture book is a format for story delivery and like any format there are many different variables to navigate the path to your picture book may be an adventure that ends in a friendship within and beyond the pages.
Happy world building, 32 pages at time (or in other multiples of 8, a lesson for another day).
Susannah is giving away a 15 minute consultation on an idea or unpublished manuscript or marketing ideas for published picture book to one lucky winner! To be eligible for prizes throughout the challenge, you must be registered by March 2, comment on each post, consistently read mentor texts, and enter the Rafflecopter drawing at the conclusion of ReFoReMo.
Susannah Richards is an associate professor of education at Eastern Connecticut State University where she teaches courses in English Language Arts methods and Children's and Young Adult Literature. She was a member of the 2013 John Newbery Award Committee, 2017 Geisel Award Committee, the inaugural Anna Dewdney Read Together Award, the Excellence in Graphic Literature Award (Children's Fiction), and other awards committees. She is an active advocate for books for youth and those who create them. She is a frequent speaker at state, national and international conferences where she has moderated panels and conversations with Norton Juster, Sophie Blackall, Sean Qualls, Brian Floca, Kevin Henkes, Lesa Cline and James Ransome Candace Fleming, Eric Rohmann, Brian Lies, Laura Amy Schlitz, Sharon Creech, Vera Brosgol, Chris Van Allsburg, Hervé Tullet, Angela Dominguez, Melissa Sweet, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Jane Yolen, Katherine Applegate, Jason Chin, Ed Emberley and others. She coordinates many literature related events including the Rhode Island Festival of Children's Books and Authors, the Silent Art Auction at BEA, and almost always says yes to bookety, bookety related projects. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @SussingOutBooks.
What fun journeys and characters you’ve introduced! I found new favorite picture books on this list. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love how you managed to find journeys either personal or literal in most of these books. I look forward to really digging into their storytelling and construction today. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAccomplishing a goal and a meaningful journey are the opposite sides of the same coin. Thank you for bringing these wonderful books to our attention.
ReplyDeleteI love your line 'balancing the needs of the story with the need of the audience'. Very inspiring books, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAs an author illustrator I found this selection very interesting from the illustration point of view (different ways of illustrating journeys) as well as from the writing perpective. Thank you for an inspiring post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these delightful journeys in picture book form. I look forward to reading them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these stellar stories and what makes them so extra special, Susannah.
ReplyDeleteSusannah, Thanks for this rundown and what these books have in common. I've read quite a few already but need to examine them as true mentor texts now.
ReplyDeleteI love Truman. Thank you for sharing this great titles
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susannah for sharing these books that capture us and take us on an adventure. Great and varied selection.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome list of mentor texts to study today. Thank you for sharing your insight!
ReplyDeleteI love discovering new mentor texts...and you've done that for me today. Thanks for a nice variety!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these inspiring titles. I always enjoy learning how authors create something fresh.
ReplyDeleteThese books are so diverse, and I appreciate how you've described them and brought them to our attention.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great list of texts. I particularly love Bear Came Along.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to diving into all these books and studying their uniqueness.
ReplyDeleteSusannah: What an INSPIRATION this post is! I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE the perspective that "The goal is to balance the needs of the story and the needs of the potential audience, both of which may be varied and unanticipated." THANK YOU for sharing your wisdom and these WONDERFUL book examples; I CAN'T WAIT to dig into them today!!! THANK YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of "A Friend for Henry" and showing how he sees the world differently. Thank you for choosing this book as a study guide in writing and how we can let each person who reads our books come to their own conclusions
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I love how different each book is and now must add them to my classroom library. :D I am trying to practice the "less is more" theme!
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing such enticing invitations to journey with a book!
ReplyDeleteI've read many of these wonderful books and look forward to visiting with them again. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Wonderful journeys.
ReplyDeleteThank you for bringing these books to our attention and for the way you showed the uniqueness of each. I'm eager to read each of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for introducing these new books with different approaches.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great selection. Can’t wait till a couple of them are returned to my library!! Excellent that they are checked out since it means someone is enjoying quality kidlit. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susannah! It always fun to see the diversity of children's literature today! Several of these are among my favorite and others I'm excited to read for the first time!
ReplyDeleteA great group of books from all different points of view and topics. Could only find 5 of them but they were new to me. Thanks for your gathering and showing us the importance of each.
ReplyDeleteSo many good books on this list - makes me excited to grab the ones I have yet to read!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate this post, Susannah! I sometimes get stuck on formula, so I like seeing all these different ideas for how to structure a story. I loved the language in River as well: "The forest is silent but for the thump of her heart and the flit-flit of the moose's ears."
ReplyDeleteGreat recommendations. I especially LOVE "Most Marshmallows"! It is so clever and such a creative way to explore an evergreen theme.
ReplyDeleteBalancing the needs of the story and the needs of the potential audience is a great concept. Wonderful choice of books to discuss.
ReplyDeleteWhat a variety of books you've recommended! I've read Vroom! and Feed Your Mind, but I'm excited to check out the others.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading 'Truman'! Looking forward to reading more from this list!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susannah, for taking us on different journeys in each of these books. The mix of voice and structure in your mentor texts show there are many ways to meet the needs of our potential audiences.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this helpful post! My little ones loved Vroom! And Truman is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing books that captivate an audience. I can't wait to read them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of mentor texts. I love your advice about finding the adventure in each book and "balancing the needs of the story with the need of the audience".
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing group of books - looking forward to reading and learning from each. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful list of books!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insight and for the list of some amazing books!
ReplyDeleteI'm headed to my library's website now and placing more books on hold, as many of the ones you have listed as they have copies of for some excellent weekend mentor text reading.
ReplyDelete"...accomplish their goal-to capture an audience for a real or imagined story." Thank you, Susannah, for these excellent examples of books that do this.
ReplyDeleteThanks you for introducing me to some really clever books!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susannah. Love the adventure and journey themes.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting selection looking at authors delivering on readers needs, known and unanticipated.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this list of mentor texts with us!
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for a couple of these from the library. Most excited to read Most Marshmallows
ReplyDeleteThis is quite a list, Susannah. So far, I have had the opportunity to read four of these beautiful books. I, like you, am intrigued by the way each author and illustrator took me on a special journey. I look forward to more adventures as I read and reread these books and other picture books recommended in the feedback to your wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteThank for for this very thorough post and great list of books!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful selection of books. Thanks
ReplyDeleteGreat collection and such a variety. Loved them all!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful post. There is an audience for anything.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing so many wonderful books with us today. I cannot wait to curl up with my Day 5 stack of books this evening.
ReplyDeleteA stellar post, Susannah. I will be sure to have a close read of the books you shared. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved Truman. Waiting for a few of these to come in on my holds list!
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Moneybunny. Thanks for the intro!
ReplyDeleteTruman was a fave for me too! Thanks for sharing this list!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for presenting a very helpful topic and for sharing this outstanding list.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing these books with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, Susannah. Each book is a standout but not in exactly the same way. Truman is one my all time faves and I must track down the others.
ReplyDeleteThanks for an interesting, varied list of picture books. I look forward to reading them.
ReplyDeleteLove Truman! it's images - 'size of a small donut and every bit as sweet'; it's word choices - pensive & vast, uncharted, unsettling; it's emotion - be brave & 'he could wait no longer.'
ReplyDeleteLove Bear Came Along - that waterfall! Oh, what a ride!
So much to think about! Thanks.
Great selections!
ReplyDeleteEach of the stories here seems to be strongly character-driven, even when the character is a marshmallow! Really enjoyed this group of books.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post! It really got me thinking when you said: The goal is to balance the needs of the story and the needs of the potential audience, both of which may be varied and unanticipated."
ReplyDeleteWonderful variety of journeys, and fun characters to ride along with. The very different approaches are all captivating- thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susannah, for sharing an outstanding post filled with excellent titles and world building.
ReplyDeleteSuzy Leopold
Each of the books you discussed spins a unique tale, and, as you point out, captures the audience in its own way. I Loved the lyrical language in Going Down Home With Daddy. Thanks for a great list on mentor texts!
ReplyDeleteGreat series of books. I really like looking at the pacing for these. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat adorable books today!
ReplyDeleteBear Came Along is such a sweet and satisfying story and the art is so beautiful. I loved Spend It and how it teaches a lesson that doesn't feel lesson-y.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful mentor texts. Thank you for sharing them and for your insightful perspective on each. I loved both Vroom and A Friend for Henry - so different in tone, but I felt really drawn in by both, as did my 7 year old.
ReplyDeleteYou say that "the goal is to balance the needs of the story and the needs of the potential audience, both of which may be varied and unanticipated." I really saw that happening while reading these varied books. In the author's note for 'Feed Your Mind A Story of August Wilson' I read "....It became apparent, as I immersed myself in these materials, the the full arc of his creative life might be too much for a picture book. I decided, therefore, to focus primarily on his early years...." Thank you for providing so many great mentor texts.
ReplyDeleteI love how you make us understand the power of a picture book in its ability to capture an audience. Thanks, Susannah, for this great post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun group of books. Can’t wait to get started reading them. Thanks
ReplyDeleteCapturing the audience's attention is so important now with electronics so easily available that take away everyone's attention. What will make the reader keep reading?
ReplyDelete-Ashley Congdon
They look good! Thanks for the introduction to these books.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the books for today, in particular, A Friend for Henry and Truman. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to journeying through these beautiful books. Thank you for your guidance.
ReplyDeleteI think your comment that really resonated for me was Jen Bryant's matching the text delivery to the person — and in the case of your list, to the story. It built on Heidi Stemple's post yesterday and changed the way I think about the text. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed learning from this stellar selection of books. "River" was so beautifully created that I picked up "Beach" by the same author. "A Friend for Henry" was so touching that I've read it to my pre-k kiddos, quite a few of which relate to Henry. And "Truman" was just so...so...cute & touching! I'll never forget a "turtle as tiny as a donut hole." That's great writing! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susannah, for giving us ways to examine our stories. One line stuck out, like others have mentioned: balancing the needs of the story with the needs of the potential audience. It leaves us with a lot to think about for our own stories.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Susannah! Thank you for showing us how “to balance the needs of the story and the needs of the potential audience.” What a terrific collection of mentor texts!
ReplyDeleteI loved how “River” pulles you into the story. "Then the water deepens past mossy brown rocks. As she approaches one rock...the rock rises out of the river, water dripping off its back.”
And Bear Came Along pulls the reader in from the very first sentence. “Once there was a river that flowed night and day, but it didn’t know it was a river...until... bear came along.”
Am anxiously awaiting the mail as they should be here at the beginning of next week and I can add them to my growing collection. I have been doing ReFoReMo every year since 2015 and every year more and more books show up on my bookshelves.
these books and your analysis of them are fascination. I can't wait to read some of them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful list. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great list! New favorites: A friend for Henry, Good Boy, Truman and Most Marshmallows :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a terrific post, Susan! This list of mentor texts is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteLove the selection of journey books you chose for us! Great examples of differing approaches to life's adventures. My favorite is Most Marshmallows: So clever and relatable. Thank you, Susannah
ReplyDeleteThank you! Definitely going to look for this in the books I read!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this inspiring list!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Thanks for the wide array:)
ReplyDeleteSo many adventure stories - each with their own unique style. Thanks for this list!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful road map to all the journeys we can take with your selection of mentor texts. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou've captured my interest with all these titles and mentor texts. Thank you for another reading adventure.
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring list. I love A Ride to Remember.
ReplyDeleteWonderful list, love seeing A Ride to Remember a second time in ReFoReMo with a new way on how to use it as a mentor text.
ReplyDeleteSo many books that captured my interest! Thank you for sharing. I like how Barbara McClintock used something she is passionate about to captivate young readers and broaden their world in "Vroom!".
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely selections, and what a variety! I'm excited to see A Ride to Remember on the list again. :) Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThere are many books here I hadn't read, so thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susannah!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Thank you for this list and your perspective!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful range of recommendations. I thoroughly enjoyed each one. I'm struck by how something so complex as managing money can be communicated so simply (and well).
ReplyDeleteYou've pinpointed some of my favorite pbs. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great list of books and your wonderful insights. Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting collection you've shared, Susannah! Thanks so much for highlighting some new-to-me recent mentor texts.
ReplyDeleteLove the mix of books here and just shows all the directions one can take their story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these attention grabbing PBs! I need to check out Most Marshmallows.
ReplyDeleteThe power of a picture book- such small stories that tell such big tales- this is truly why i love picture book reading and have such a respect for fellow authors who can create such genius.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a wonderful post highlighting world building and excellent mentor texts!
ReplyDeleteMost of these titles were knew to me and I can't wait to explore them further!
ReplyDeleteStill chuckling about Most Marshmallows! Brilliant. Loved this grouping. Thanks for lifting them up.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this lovely tour through some new favorites. I can certainly imagine these titles impacting my future work
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous collection of mentor texts! Thank you for highlighting them. I can't wait to jump into them and make my own work stronger.
ReplyDeletelove this list! To your point about how these all achieve their goals in different ways, sometimes I think it's interesting to take a successful story and think of another way to tell it that would also resonate with readers. A fun challenge. Thanks for your post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing a great selection of books
ReplyDeleteA lovely collection of picture books to serve as mentor texts. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteA really fun selection. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThese are all great examples - thank you for breaking them down for us.
ReplyDeleteThanks you for these, especially Feed Your Mind. And Truman, and Vroom and River. Your choices touch my mind.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite collection of mentor texts so far! Thank you for pulling them all together for us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for these great selections and for your insight which will be helpful as I read them. I have a nearly wordless MS like GOOD BOY, and am very curious to see how the author handles this.
ReplyDeleteWonderful list! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for highlighting this inspiring selection of books!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great list. The comments about each are very helpful.
ReplyDeleteI love the journeys readers can take in each of these books. Such wonderful selections and explanations.
ReplyDeleteI love that idea ~ capture your audience!
ReplyDeleteThese are great books! I can't wait to read them all! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susannah for a great selection of titles! As a non-illustrator i am envious of those who can do both. I especially loved Truman and A Friend for Henry. I haven't yet read River but it sounds intriguing and i also look forward to reading A Ride to Remember in the near future.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed a couple of the titles on this list, but can't wait to get the others. Love balance between sparse text and illustrations!
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to see so many titles that are new to me! These titles encourage the writer to break some rules!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how captivating each of these books are! Really enjoyed this list!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susannah, for sharing these. I think Truman was my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this fabulous list and your insights, Susannah.
ReplyDeleteWonderful list. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI find capturing the audience can be a murky business as a writer. I look forward to reading these examples. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your insights into each of these books!
ReplyDeleteThese books would inspire any ambitious writer. They achieve so much with their stories. A lot goes into writing, these authors make it look easy. A great selection of mentor texts to be sure.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of books! I also love your thoughts about each one. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI read Truman. Thanks for sharing your view of this book and others.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for these title suggestions! As soon as we can make our way out into the world again, I plan on snagging most of these from the library!
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated insights on these books... especially about what is NOT said in A Friend for Henry
ReplyDeleteMOST MARSHMALLOWS was my favorite. Wow, I wish I had thought up that one!
ReplyDeleteThank you Susannah for your suggestions!
Recalling my own childhood pet turtle ('Theodore'), I loved TRUMAN!...and cannot wait to get my hands on the varied suggestions you've shared for more mentor text learning opportunities...Thanks for your insightful post, Susannah!
ReplyDelete