ReFoReMo Day 7: Literary Agent Rachel Orr Shares Stellar Mentor Texts

I spend a lot of time at Little City Books in Hoboken, NJ. It’s the perfect place to buy books, feel books (oooo…matte lam!), go to the bathroom enroute from the train, and kill time while my daughter takes ballet. But, most importantly, it’s where I do most of my own personal Reading for Research.

During a recent visit, I came across Deborah Marcero’s IN A JAR. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful illustrations, but the language (“sky the color of tart cherry syrup”) was equally delicious. It’s the story of two friends who are separated when one moves away, and I especially loved the fact that there are no parents involved. It’s truly a book for children that also speaks to adults.

Friendship stories excite me—especially unexpected friendship—and so I was thrilled to read THE SCARECROW by Beth Ferry, illustrated by the Fan Brothers, and Il Sung Na’s BIRD, BALLOON, BEAR. The language in THE SCARECROW (“It’s all he does/it’s all he knows”) really sang to me, but it was the imagery in BIRD, BALLOON, BEAR that caught my heart—specifically the moment when a lonely Bird watches Bear and Balloon become friends. (It’s that feeling of another agent snatching an author or illustrator whose work I love. :) And, then, when Balloon pops…oh, my!

ONCE UPON A GOAT by Dan Richards, illustrated by Eric Barclay, is another story I fell in love with that focuses on an unexpected family. It also has an unexpected ending, which is a rare delight. The humor here is right up my alley—as is the case with Kenneth Kraegel’s GREEN PANTS, which has an unexpected climax that is visually stunning as well.

It all makes me hopeful to see what unexpected projects might come across my desk this year. 

Rachel is giving away a 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.

Rachel Orr is an agent with Prospect Agency, where she represents both authors and illustrators in projects ranging from picture books through YA. She previously worked for eight rewarding years at HarperCollins Children’s Books and uses those editorial skills to help prepare her clients’ work for submission. Her picture-book clients include Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (Chicks Rule!), Mike Ciccotello (Twins), Cori Doerrfeld (The Rabbit Listened), Leeza Hernandez (This is the Day!) and Todd Tarpley (Naughty Ninja Takes a Bath). Rachel lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her husband and two young children. She has no spare time, but, if she did, she would spend it dancing, running and reading, of course.