Congratulations on completing our month-long picture book craft study! All good things must come to an end, and our 2021 7th-Annual ReFoReMo Challenge is now a wrap. If you are one of those people who can’t bear to see it to end, you’ll be pleased to know our blog runs year-round with weekly posts on Tuesdays. And our very own Janie Reinart motivates you with a brand new Monthly Mini-ReFoReMo Writing Challenge the 3rd Tuesday of every month!
Now it’s in your hands…
You’ve immersed yourself in study and we’d love to hear what was most valuable for you.
Which bits of knowledge will you take to your works in progress?
Which elements do you need to learn more about?
How did different perspectives open your eyes to new learning?
We’re extremely grateful to be surrounded by publishing professionals who care enough to help this free experience continue every year. Please join us in thanking our wonderful team of 2021 presenters! If they have books, please consider reviewing or purchasing them as a way to reciprocate.
Carrie Charley Brown & Kirsti Call
We were definitely ALL recipients of a wonderful education this month!
And yet, there’s still a possibility you could win an additional prize.
As announced in our ReFoReMo Facebook Group, you will also have the opportunity to...
If you registered for ReFoReMo 2021 by March 1*, made efforts to read & study this month, and commented on every post, you are welcome to enter the Rafflecopter below. We use one Rafflecopter drawing to keep it simple; you will enter one time only. This will put you into a pool from which all prizes are drawn.
The Rafflecopter drawing will be open until this Friday, April 2 and prize winners announced on Tuesday, April 6. That’s 3 days to enter the drawing, so be sure to enter now if you qualify.
With the upcoming holiday weekend upon us, we’ll need time to draw names and notify winners before they are announced on Tuesday. Good luck!
This was such a great month! I read so many books I would have never stumbled upon otherwise. It gave me additional hunger for PBs. I mostly loved discovering how many different ways there are to write a really awesome children's book. I discovered many NF books (and I'm not normally drawn to them) and other awesome books that I will return to over and over as mentor texts and lovely read-alouds. I loved discovering how elements of a great NF picture book can serve as mentors to a great F picture book. I'm excited to reread some of my favorites from this month and to keep reading awesome PBs year round (of course! but with new enthusiasm!)
ReplyDeleteWONDERFUL to hear, Amy! Great work!
DeleteAlways a little sad to see the month end. Thanks Carrie, Kirsti, and all the contributors. I realize how important it is to keep up with the picture books being published and just enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteHooray, Gail!
DeleteThank you to everyone who helped make this past month possible. It’s been a valuable enjoyable experience!
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear it was valuable!
DeleteAs always, this is such a melancholy end to March. I love reading picture books, but I always find books I missed or new ways to appreciate many books whenever I participate in ReFoReMo. Thank you Carrie & Kristi for your dedication, organization, and love of picture books. I am so grateful for this sense of community you've created and that my library is able to do curbside pickup. Though I did get some odd looks as the scooted multiple bags over the table at me. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteIt always amazes me to hear that librarians give odd looks when handing over books. I would be thrilled to hand over so much joy and of course, as inquisitive as I am, I would simply have to ask if there was a mission behind all of the book love. :)
DeleteFantastic month of learning. Loads of books to inform my writing going forward. Thanks so much to everyone who blogged and shared their time and info. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteCheers back!
DeleteWow! What an amazing crew of contributors! I love seeing all their faces on one post. Thanks to all of you for this month of picture book study.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Mona!
DeleteThank you all so much for this wonderful month! I have gained so many new mentor texts and have gained such an appreciation for this specific craft. I do definitely thinking I need to spend more time analyzing dialogue in writing because that is something I think I avoid... it was wonderful to see how this craft is done in myriad ways from so many different perspectives. I looked at a lot of these books in awe and will add many to my mentor list. Thank you again everyone who works so hard to put this together!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE to hear that you reflected on ways to grow in your own writing! Have fun experimenting with dialogue and beyond!
DeleteThank you Carrie and Kristi for another month full of studying the glory of picture books from these wonderful presenters. This event always introduces me to books that I might not normally check out and opens up my eyes to new possibilities.
ReplyDeleteIt's a win, then, Cathy! Here's to possibilities!
DeleteThank you for all of the work that went into ReFoReMo. This was my first year and I will definitely be back next year. I appreciated looking at groups of books for specific elements. I am also grateful for the wide range of mentor texts, some of which I never would have found on my own.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome and happy to hear your first year went well! Stay tuned each week between now and next year to stay connected to our community and your mentor-texting.
DeleteIt's always wonderful to discover new books, to have a reason to check out a title you've been curious but still never read, to come across something my students might love and read it to them on Zoom, and to see the way my 8 year old eyes my piles and wants to read everything in them. Now time to take the inspiration and WRITE.
ReplyDeleteLove your comment on so many levels! It's all about the kids, and I wish you luck as you write for them, too!
DeleteThank you for all the hard work that you and the presenters put in to make this a great month!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. I hope it was a valuable experience for you.
DeleteThanks so much to all the talented people who made REFOREMO such an entertaining & informative learning experience! Loved reading all your mentor text suggestions!
ReplyDeleteAwesome to hear!
DeleteThank you so much to all who shared advice through fantastic posts. The books were very interesting. All the advice was great from voice, to word choice to illustration concepts, and all the other topics. This was a very inspiring and educational month!
ReplyDeleteYay, Bettie! Best wishes in your writing!
DeleteThank you Carrie and Kristi and to everyone who contributed this month. I know that it takes many hours to organize and post. Your work inspires us all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Manju! Always a joy to interact with you!
DeleteMy TBR list is still daunting, but the topics, challenges, themes, first lines, characters are in my heart. Dare I say that I feel an upswing coming on? Thank you all for the fabulous boost.
ReplyDeleteYay for upswings! And my TBR pile is still waiting for me to tackle it ALL this week of spring break!
DeleteSo glad I participated this month in the ReFoReMo challenge. I read books I never would have found on my own that inspired, touched me, and helped with my own writing. Thank you Kirsti and Carrie for a month of time well spent learning about the craft and discovering titles and other creatives!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Lisa! Sounds like you worked so hard to meet this challenge!
DeleteFirst of all, heartfelt thanks to ALL the industry professionals involved in pulling off another fantastic ReFoReMo challenge! I look forward to the sharing and learning that comes from this event every year, and this one was no exception! What a wonderful community we have! Thank you Carrie and Kirsti!
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating, Susie! Best wishes in your writing!
DeleteHow did this end so fast! Another great month - back in March of 2015 I bought a calendar to record REFOREMO books. Each year since I find a month of 2015 that starts on the right date and use it. So I have a 6 year registry of the best books ever! Thanks for the motivation.
ReplyDeleteSo cool, Robin! What a great resource!
DeleteI’m so glad I participated in ReFoReMo. I was exposed to so many wonderful pb’s that I probably wouldn’t have been had I not accepted the challenge! I’d like to go back and re-read the books with onomatopoeia and make notes of transitions and page turns in some of the books. Thank you so much for this opportunity. It was fun!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a great goal, Sarah!
DeleteWhat an amazing month of learning and discovering! Sad to see it end but happy to have found books that inspired, made me laugh, moved me and more. Thanks so much Carrie and Kirsti! There's so much to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteIt's not over unless you allow your habit to stop. :) Stay connected each week as we check in with weekly posts and utilize the FB group for particular recommendations, too.
DeleteThank you so much for a wonderful ReFoReMo! I'm still working on reading all of the books on the list, and I enjoyed each post. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat makes two of us, Sarah. I have a lot of reading to do, too!
DeleteThere are so many reasons to love being a part of this KidLit community and ReFoReMo is just one way I stay motivated while doing something I’ passionate about! Thank you Carri and all the other wonderful presenters for another great year!
ReplyDeleteGlad you could join us, Donna! Keep reading and writing!
DeleteWhat a great month. I am so happy I found you!
ReplyDeleteThank you to all the ReFoReMo sharers who have dotted this month's learning with nuggets of wisdom. I particularly liked yesterday's post from Joana Pastro Kerplunks about Onomatopoeia. I keep a sounds notebook and her post was delightful. And to Carrie and Kirsti--Thank you for organizing this outstanding annual event.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Carol. Make lots of noise as you write!
DeleteI couldn’t fully participate this month as I have in past years but thank you for all the inspiration and work you put into making this such a fabulous event!
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about ReFoReMo is that the posts won't go away. You can complete the challenge at your own pace when the time is right. We wish you well!
DeleteI enjoyed the challenge.....reading all those books for different reasons really made me look at my own work. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear of your personal reflection!
DeleteProud to be a part of this amazing team this year for ReFoReMo month! Ty to all our participants and industry professionals who graciously shared their expertise! BRAVO all and to founders Kirsti and Carrie!
ReplyDeleteThanks for contributing a post, Kathy, and supporting our social media shares! We look forward to your first author study in May!
DeleteSuch a great month of posts and reading suggestions on some really interesting topics! Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteYay for exploring new topics!
DeleteThanks so much for all of the great posts and for introducing me to some books I didn't know.
ReplyDeleteDiscovering new books is the best!
DeleteThank you to all who did posts and took the time to find these amazing texts for us all. I really feel that it will help me grow as a writer.
ReplyDeleteHooray for growth!
DeleteThank you for a great month of posts and insights and the opportunity to read some fantastic new books!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Thanks for joining us!
DeleteThis was my first time participating in ReFoReMo and what a fun journey it was! More than anything, I think it opened my eyes to all that picture books can offer: humor, lyrical language, a glimpse into the past, musicality, etc. Thank you for all of the wonderful mentor text suggestions.
ReplyDeleteLots of awesome discovery! Congrats!
DeleteThis was so great and so needed this year! I felt I couldn't go and haunt the library like I usually do so having this to see what I missed was great. We are slowing getting hours back for the library so YIPPEE! I now have more books to reserve. Thank you for all the work!
ReplyDeleteOur public library just opened this week! It felt soooo good to be back!
DeleteThank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! This was wonderful!!!❤️
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic month. Thank you so much, Carrie and Kirsti, and all of the other contributors!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for another amazing year! As my stack of books has grown over the month, so has my inspiration. I am grateful for this experience!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great month! As always, it was jam packed with great blog posts and resources. Thanks to you all for this experience.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for this incredible month of books! There were so many fantastic mentor texts I would not have found on my own that opened up lots of new doors in my writer's brain. I benefited greatly from the variety of texts in each category, each with a different style and voice. Reading the nonfiction texts of differing styles inspired me to give nonfiction writing a try. I am so grateful for all the work that went into organizing and planning this amazing learning experience. Thank you, thank you! Hooray for ReFoReMo!
ReplyDeleteWow! It's great to hear that you are trying something new!
DeleteI took notes every day, there was so much information to be gleaned from these posts. Each reminded me to uplift my writing, to add just a bit more zing, and to challenge each word I write. Thank you for this month of cheer! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely reflection! I can tell how deeply you took your study!
DeleteThanks for a wonderful, creative, inspiring month! The glow and reflection will continue as I finish going through the selections!
ReplyDeleteA huge thank you to Carrie & Kirsti and the awesome team of professionals! This was my first ReFoReMo (discovered it just before the March 1 deadline) and I'm SOOO happy I found it! This has been a wonderful experience and I am truly sad to see it end. I'm on the list now, so I'll look forward to the Tuesday happenings! I've learned so much thru this event! While some themes applied more directly to my own writing, this was a good reminder that it all matters, it's all important -- from the first words that pull a reader in, to the 'finishing salt'. I did have trouble findings some of the books at my library but I'm keeping the list and will continue my own ReFoRe when my 'bubble' allows me to visit book stores. I've been so inspired by all the wonderful books and the wisdom shared by the ReFoReMo team! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love to hear that you will keep researching as things return to normal in our world. Great idea to keep a list of the titles you could not get!
DeleteI always glean a lot from every post. The books listed become my TBR for the year!
ReplyDeleteKeep whittling away a that list!
DeleteThanks for another fantastic year of ReFoReMo!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this incredible wealth of information! I look forward to this every year...
ReplyDeleteThis was my first Reforemo challenge and I am so glad I participated. I have a notebook full of notes on excellent books and also ideas for potential manuscripts of my own. As a retired school librarian, I thought I knew a lot about books but I was exposed to many new titles that are terrific readalouds as well as mentor texts. I thoroughly enjoyed checking in each day to read the post from that day's professional and to learn about their choices and theme. I also benefitted from comments from other participants as well and enjoyed the interview with Jackie. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this fantastic,inspirational experience. I will be checking out all the opportunities offered throughout the year and definitely be looking forward to next year's challenge. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteLove this! You DO know a lot about books, Julie, but there is always more to learn. New books just keep flowing like a river.
DeleteOh my goodness! This was an incredible experience with exposure, discussion, and details of so many wonderful picture books. I have no doubt that my writing will grow as a result of reforemo. :)
ReplyDeleteLet's keep that discussion going in our Facebook Group as you encounter new books, okay? Surrounding ourselves with many viewpoints is so important. :)
DeleteLithos was 2nd time. Thank you for another wonderful and informative experience.
ReplyDeleteVoice to text drives me crazy. It should be *This, not lithos.
DeleteThank you for this amazing month. Now I need to return my books and pay my fine! :-)
ReplyDeleteYouch! Hard to believe there are still fines during the pandemic!
DeleteThanks fir a fantastic month of reading and learning.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much to all of the presenters. I studied the structure of each of the books at the beginning of the month, and now I am working on looking at word choice and looking for mentor texts for two WIPs in particular.
ReplyDeleteI love how you are concentrating on different areas that you need for your writing.
DeleteThis experience has been tremendous. I was thrilled to become more familiar with the picture books currently being published. The diversity is amazing and gives me hope for my ideas finding a home in the published world someday. Thank you, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for participating!
DeleteThank you everyone for another informative and fun ReFoReMo!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful month of learning! I intend to keep growing through picture book research. This was so helpful in seeing how studying texts can help my current writing projects. And what a wonderful list of picture books! I have been able to recommend several to parents, librarians, and other writers. I'm going to try out new techniques and add to my skills after this experience.
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone who shared his or her time to help us find mentor texts and think like authors as we read through the books. This was my favorite part of the month--getting the tools to read critically.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for introducing me to new titles and how to study them. Pacing and plot were the things I focused on most to help me in my own writing. My library loves me!
ReplyDeleteThank you for a month of wonderful posts and mentor texts. There is always something new to learn to help improve my writing.
ReplyDeleteGlad you participated!!!
DeleteI so love this month. Every year I learn something new from all the wonderful mentor texts and the presenters.
ReplyDeleteevafelder@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this opportunity. This was my first time at ReFoReMo and I am amazed at how much I learned. I have many notes and listened carefully to all Mentor's words.
Somehow I don't see my comments on Day 1 and 21.
And thank you so much for the thoughtful discussion points you listed in our FB group each day! I am sure you inspired others to dig deeper!
DeleteAnother successful and wonderful month of ReFoReMo! I appreciated each post and the many different areas surrounding picture books that were covered. Amazing as always. Lyrical quiet books really pull me in, but also ones that make me laugh out loud so my husband thinks I might be a bit off... Those two areas are focuses I need to continue reading. Thanks to all who contributed, and thank you Kirsti and Carrie!
ReplyDeleteCool to see that you are paying close attention to what you are drawn to. That says a lot about your own writing desires.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis was helpful with the Blue Whale Press video at the end. It has been another great year of REFOREMO and introducing me to books I would never have searched for in the library and reading them. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for another wonderful ReFoReMo! I've been introduced to so many wonderful books and had gotten to reread some with a new lens. I've typed up many to have for future study! I'll miss the look on the librarian's face when I come in to pick up books on hold. "You have 11 books here. You want to look through to see which you want?" "I want all of them." "All?" "Yup. I'll be back for more."
ReplyDeleteDid you tell her what the 11 books were for? :)
DeleteThe ReFoReMo 2021 was a month of learning and growing.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you, Carrie, Kirsti, and all who make this event successful.
Suzy Leopold
ReFoFeMo Hurray! This format of studying to become a better PB author was wonderfully helpful. The mentor text provided has helped me to revise several manuscripts. I also have a few new comp. titles for my cover letter. Thanks to all the contributors. Carrie & Kristi added to my Creativesphere in a big way. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first ReFoReMo and it was wonderful! I plan on doing this every year because it really opened my eyes to all of the wonderful possibilities that lie in writing picture books. I plan to keep several of the featured books that have some wonderful ideas for stories I have been mulling around in my brain for a while. The most helpful lessons to me were around using humor to spice up a story, and writing effective historical and science-related non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteI can become a better writer because of what I learned through ReFoReMo 2021. I keep renewing several books as a guides for my current WIP. I need to learn more about historical fiction; I'm pushing forward with research on my topic of interest. The variety of topics with accompanying books was a beneficial experience. If only I could own a copy of each of them. Heaven. Thanks to you, Kirsti and Carrie and all contributors.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much to all of the organizers and writers for this high quality learning opportunity! I’ve loved reading the daily posts, gathering ideas and meeting friends and mentors. I will miss the daily posts but will check out the blog. I will continue to order a stack of books from my library each week. Thank you kindly!
ReplyDeleteThank you for an amazing month of reading and learning.
ReplyDeleteThank you to all the guests who posted and shared wonderful mentor texts.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I love about ReFoReMo is that the learning process doesn't end at the end of the event! Thank you for keeping prior lists up because the list, along with the blog posts, are invaluable. What I'd love to see more of is more opinions from the blog writer as to why they chose said mentor texts, rather than maybe just putting up 4 or 5 texts. What should we be looking out for? What drew the blogger to those texts specifically? Thank you again for another stellar year!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback. Usually the blog writer's post revolves around one element of study, and while there are so many out there that might feature the same element, subjectivity comes into play for everything in the writing business. The beauty is in each individual participant discovery. Reading more than 100 books in a month is a tall order to fill, so we advise presenters to keep it short in weeks 2-5 during the March challenge. Our Mentor Text Talk posts throughout the year dig deeper into the why behind the choices. I hope you will tune in for those each month!
DeleteWhat a wonderful month of reading - the daily posts, all the great mentor texts. I have discovered new authors and appreciated familiar ones. So many take-aways, so much to incorporate in my writing. Your month of learning has recharged me - at a time when i desperately needed it. So a huge thank you to everyone involved.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first ReForeMe and what a great way to get back in the game after a 2.5 year hiatus. Most of the mentor texts were written in the last 5 years so it gave me a much needed look at what the industry is doing these days. I relished my reading/learning time and took a lot of notes! Thank you for providing this opportunity!
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear you are back in the writing game! Enjoy!
DeleteWhere did this month go... didn’t we just start? First, I want to thank Carrie and Kirsti for another amazing ReFoReMo... and I am sending out a huge THANK YOU to all the guest bloggers for helping to make this year’s ReFoReMo the best one ever!!
ReplyDeleteThis year's ReFoReMo was just what I needed as you focused on writing nonfiction more than you have in the previous years. I really enjoyed Marcie Flinchum Atkins post on Historical Fiction along with Traci Sorell’s piece on Narrative Nonfiction and Erin Dionne's post on the use of Storytelling in writing Nonfiction was the cherry on top! I now have a pile of books that are on my wish list to purchase over the spring then I plan on spending the summer and fall rewriting the manuscript of a nonfiction book that has been bugging me for years to sit down and write ... and winter will be used for critiques and rewriting.
I also enjoyed both Cory Rosen Schwartz and Joana Pastro’s posts on Onomatopoeia and Kathy Halsey’s post on learning to "think with my eyes" when considering where and how to leave room for the illustrations was the icing on the cake.
Thank you again for a wonderful month chock full of tasty tidbits of knowledge. I will definitely be back next year!!
Yipppeee!
DeleteCarrie, Kirsti and Presenters, thank you for your dedication to the KidLit community and ReFoReMo. I treasure the ReFoReMo experience.
ReplyDeleteEach year I participate, I grow as a picture book writer, mining beautiful nuggets of inspiration and timely information. My ReFoReMo journals and writing journals are treasure chests, too, where I go to mine ideas.
I appreciate reading the testimonies and comments of participants, recognizing we are on this journey of discovery together. What a supportive community!
Thank you for continuing to offer us new opportunities to learn through the future blogposts and archives. The ReFoReMo website and Facebook group are like mines full of valuable gems.
Happy discovering, Everyone!
Happy discovering, indeed!
DeleteAs a ReForeMo first-timer, I can honestly say that there were nuggets each day that are helping to inform my writing. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteperfect!
DeleteThank-you so much for all the time and effort that went into selecting picture book people who in turn chose great PBs to share with use. There are many mentor texts I will use in the selections presented. The diversity of talent is amazing, daunting, and inspiring!
ReplyDeletethank you for another amazing month of learning and making connections, and for the wonderful submission opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the month long inspiration and for introducing so many new wonderful titles. I appreciate everyone's efforts.
ReplyDeleteOf the 129 distinct books (since some made it onto more than one list) I found read 102 and bought 4. These books just reinforce for me that there are so many ways to write a good picture book. I was moved by many and found maybe two that I would disagree with. My second take away is opening lines. They are so important and these books are great examples of why. Thanks to all for your work in putting this together.
ReplyDeleteI am overwhelmed -- not just with the PILE of books still to read and research, but with the incredible content, guidance, and insight gleaned from each day's blog post! So much to continue to absorb! I'm grateful ReFoReMo is only 31 days... I'm going to need the rest of 2021 to try engaging with all of this. Thank you Carrie and Kirsti and all of your team!
ReplyDeleteIt's been an action-packed month! Thank you for all you do to keep the learning going. And thanks to all who wrote posts and donated prizes. I love discovering books through ReFoReMo, and I love reading how others "see" certain books. A terrific experience all around!
ReplyDeleteLoved the books this year. Thank you contributors, Carrie, Kirsti and all of you who gave your perspectives. I have a pile to go but will read many of these to my class.
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful for this month of picture book research. Thank you so much for all of the hard work you put into its continued success! Not only did I read so many wonderful picture books that were new to me, I gained ideas for a variety of craft moves! It helped me to hear, in particular about humorous books, and about how to condense so much into 500 words. I enjoyed the examples of how onomatopoeia, and other word choice can make such a difference. A piece that I'm still lacking as a writer, would probably fall into the area of pacing, arc of the story, and plot. I never run out of ideas for stories but still struggle to knit my stories together well. Thank you thank you!!
ReplyDeleteYou will definitely continue to grow if you keep dedicating study to mentor texts! Congratulations on your hard work!
DeleteI laughed. I cried. I lived different lives. I LEARNED! So. Much. A huge shout of thanks to each and every contributor (if I can contribute reviews and recommendations for your books, I will). Now, it is time for me TO TRY! This was my first ReFoReMo, and I can't wait for the next one. So, to bridge that year, I will start working through the mentor text lists and posts from previous years (I think I've seen those available). Onward and forward! To read, read, read, and write, write, write. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYes, they are available,Kristin! We also do weekly blog posts year round to keep you connected and share additional perspectives. Congratulations on your first ReFoReMo and for TRYING!
DeleteWith thanks to everyone who contributed to this year's ReFoReMo. As always, so many new books and great takeaways.
ReplyDeleteAs always, a great month with a wealth of information and so many books read! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOnce again--I am so glad I participated this year. I seems like every March is slammed for me but I don't regret the delicate balancing act that becomes my life in March. I am walking away with an awareness of my identity as a writer--who I am, how I want to depict my work, and who I want to reach. Thank you to all!
ReplyDeleteA huge accomplishment! Congrats!
DeleteAnother wonderful ReForReMo! My favorite part is learning about new books that I might not necessarily pick up otherwise. For instance, I haven't really been reading a lot of nonfiction bios because I don't anticipate wanting to write them, but I really enjoyed many of the ones I learned about this month, like The Tree Lady and Wood, Wire, Wings. Thank you so much to all the presenters for volunteering their time and effort!
ReplyDeleteWhen we open ourselves up to new possibilities, we broaden our range and appeal, as well. Way to go!
DeleteThank you so much! I love gathering these fantastic mentor texts and appreciate the daily reminder to keep reading reading reading. Each contributor had a unique perspective and different elements they take away from their own research and reading, and it's fun to get a glimpse into their process. I'm thrilled that our public library is now open starting today, and I will have new lists to take with me when I go.
ReplyDeleteHooray for libraries!
DeleteThis was my first time participating in ReFoReMo and I am hooked. Of all the learning tools out there, joining others in reading and appreciating mentor texts is one of the best. Thank you to Carrie and Kirsti for your hard work on our behalf and to the wonderful publishing professionals for their posts and book choices. Consider me a starry-eyed fan!
ReplyDeleteLove this, from one starry-eyed mentor text fan to another!
DeleteWith our library still closed except for reserve & curbside pickup, it was challenging to procure picture books again this year. But I still managed to find several new-to-me books and I loved seeing the themes highlighted in each post. Thank you to all of the blog post writers for sharing your insights & inspiration!
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
DeleteWhat a whirlwind! I'm still catching up on the reading, but thank you to all the contributors for putting together such an amazing month!
ReplyDeleteThank you for covering such a wide range of topics this month! The ones that have stayed with me are interesting to note: First Lines, Structure, World View, Finishing Salt, Harmony/Musicality, Feelings, and Vulnerability. I learned something new every day that will work its way into my writing, some intentionally and some subconsciously (I hope!). Because I am isolating more than most due to my son's medical condition, I was able to find most of these stories on YouTube and elsewhere. I plan to check books out of the library soon and hope to review, purchase, donate, and gift some of these books. I appreciate the time and expertise that went into ReFoReMo! - Dena Davis aka Stories by the Sea
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Dena! Keep it up!
DeleteI know it's important to keep up with recent PBs, but sometimes it's hard. Thanks for introducing so many new ones! (FYI, I registered as Chris Eboch but have been commenting as Kris Bock because I'm signed in under that Google account for some reason.)
ReplyDeleteWe are on the honor system, so as long as you know that you registered by March 1, you are good!
DeleteI wasn't able to participate in any of the sessions, but I have read every book and hope to return to the sessions when I can. I appreciate all of the selections as most of them are books I haven't read, which is amazing because my daughter & I have read a TON of books! LOL. Thank you for providing such a great collection for us to use as we learn and improve.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will be able to look at the presenter perspectives one day, too. Sometimes it allows you to see things in a new way and learn even more.
DeleteThank you so much to everyone who made this possible!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the truly wonderful and inspiring month! My head is spinning with information and ideas so now have to make a plan for moving forward.
ReplyDeleteThis was so good for my soul. Thank you, Carrie and Kirsti and all of the ReFoReMo family for guiding us through a deep dive into wonderful picture books. <3
ReplyDeleteAwesome to hear this, Jen! We need soul-refreshers for sure!
DeleteThank you for a month of thoughtful inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThis was an incredible month. Thank you for introducing me to many new KidLit titles, thoughtful author posts and leaving me with so much inspiration. Thanks to all involved.
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving us your time and sharing your expertise. I write middle grade novels, so the most valuable tool from all of this was getting lists of books to study and why. Many of the same books popped up on multiple lists which offers a good indicator of which books to start with. If I might offer a suggestion for next year, would it be possible to go more deeply into one book from a craft perspective? This would be highly welcomed. Thank you for organizing this. I know it was a lot of work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback. The entire first week is a deep dive, but with over 100 books to read we allow plenty of breathing room for you to make your own discoveries as you read and the shorter posts in weeks 2-5 make things more manageable. The mentor texts themselves contain the best craft lessons. Our monthly Mentor Text Talk interviews also take a deep dive into mentor text perspective. ReFoReMo is a time to develop a study habit.
DeleteThank you Carrie, Kirsti, team, and guests! ReFoReMo keeps me on track with current mentor texts. Guest blogs reminded me to focus on my audience, story structure, first lines, emotional arc, and voice. I've also taken away a need to study and make complex subjects accessible to young readers. Each story I write is an adventure. I hope to touch hearts of readers with my stories.
ReplyDeleteYay, Charlotte!
DeleteHooray! Thanks as always, for putting this on each year. Always a great way to reacquaint myself with PB concepts!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carrie, Kirsti, and all the contributors for a wealth of inspiration! I discovered new books, revisited recent favorites, and added more to my list of library requests. These posts helped give me ways to shape new stories and add an extra spark to revisions.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Carrie, Kirsti and all of the amazing presenters. I looked forward to reading the blog each day and to checking out all the amazing, PB's that made me laugh, smile and cry! It was really powerful to see (in a huge stack) the many different styles/forms picture books can have and the many different ways there are to effectively tell a good story. Thank for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time following ReFoReMo and it was so wonderful to hear the different voices and perspectives, and to be introduced to so many wonderful books. I have read many of the suggestions (a librarian commented that I was making my husband “do the heavy work” many times as he picked up bundles for me) and have many more to meet! I loved hearing about the different ways to approach pictures books in terms of appreciating them more and understanding the nuances that make them wonderful! I feel like I have a new vocabulary to use as I search for mentor texts to inform me as a pn aspiring author-illustrator. It is both daunting and exciting. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIncredible work by everyone involved. I remember the first time I did ReFoReMo and I made a scrapbook with every single post printed out and stuck in. I love looking back through it just like I will with these posts. Thankyou!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing!
DeleteI benefitted by closely studying how the illustrations worked with the text. Also the books of two friends of mine were included!
ReplyDeleteIncredible!
DeleteStudying the books was useful for learnoing how text and illustrations worked together. Boks by my friends Tami and Kirsten were included.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting ReFoReMo. I was struck by how many of the mentor texts were non-fiction or "call-to-action"/message-type books. I wondered whether those works dominate the PB market now, or whether the choices simply reflected the preferences of the essayists. Thanks for introducing me to some new authors!
ReplyDeleteSo many amazing books! My library opened back up just in time. Thank you so much for all the hard work and time all of you put in.
ReplyDeleteAnd Julie Kurtz needs her own column next year. I looked forward to her comments on every post.
Thank you Carrie and Kirsti for an incredible month. I enjoyed all the blogs and especially the reading lists. I found some gems that I might not have found on my own so a big thank you to the contributors as well. This was my first year with ReFoReMo and I'm already looking forward to next year.
ReplyDeleteAn enormous cling-clanging, bing-banging thank you to all the guests who shared their wisdom this month. I particularly liked Haley Barrett's post on echoing and adding the finishing salt so the reader wants to savor the story, and reread.
ReplyDeleteWoot woot!!!
DeleteI would like to thank everyone who contributed to this year’s ReFoReMo.This was my first year participating and I am blown away with all the amazing works out there. I was especially drawn to the lyrical prose. I now have many new books on my wish list!
ReplyDeleteHooray!
DeleteThis is the first year I actually finished!!!!! And I have a manuscript that I am continuing to work on! I always love ReForReMo and this year, really feel accomplished ❤️❤️❤️
ReplyDeletewoo hooo!
DeleteThanks again for an enlightening experience. Each year I learn new and different perspectives by participating in ReFoReMo. I appreciate all of the hard work that went into organizing an undertaking of this scope. One new idea I got this year was the connection between onomatopoeia and emotion.
ReplyDeletefantastic!
DeleteLoved the writing craft immersion this month offered me--thanks for taking such great care of us! I learned so much!
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot about unique structures for storylines and the power (and importance) of the right tone matched with the right story. Thank you for this wonderful experience!
ReplyDeleteThank you! This was my first year doing ReFoReMo. Last year when the pandemic first hit, the thought of making this career shift hadn't crossed my mind. It has been an amazing ride since last summer when I joined SCBWI. Looking forward to keeping in touch and following the blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope that ReFoReMo provided you with a new mentor text habit and lots of craft discoveries!
DeleteSo...! This is my first year participating. I will say it was a bit different from what I expected. Thanks to the many contributors and for many, many great text suggestions. I was disappointed that I couldn't get my hands on all the books, but it worked out in the end because I branched off a bit into other mentor texts representing other aspects of two of my WIP. I finished with a total of 87 books under my belt and pages of notes. Thanks for the excuse to read until my eyes blurred and to study and discuss and dissect.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, my eyes and heart have been opened to the limitless possibilities! The picture book format can tell any and every story. I feel so free! Thank you to everyone who contributed their time and expertise, you are truly appreciated!
ReplyDeleteThis has been such a fun month! So many of my favorite books and so many new ones read.
ReplyDeleteThis has been so fun, and helpful! There were a lot of books that I have discovered through this and I'm so grateful for the help in finding these books and all that I've learned from them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for an amazing month! Cheers to all the creators, educators, FB community, and or course Carrie and Kirsti! Looking forward to ReFoReMo 2022!
ReplyDeleteThis was my first time participating in Reforemo- It's been very informative month and a great learning experience. I love that I now have these book examples at my fingertips- thanks to you, and all the generous contributors!
ReplyDeleteWhich bits of knowledge will you take to your works in progress?
ReplyDeleteAdding heart and emotion.I noticed all the books in the challenge had such a strong emotional presence which made the connection to me as a reader more powerful.
Which elements do you need to learn more about?
I think I need to learn more about diversity. The voices and experiences told through these stories are important. I need to read more widely.
How did different perspectives open your eyes to new learning?
The different perspectives showed me that you should read everything because you don't know what little pieces you will learn and retain to be a better reader, writer, and human being.
Thank you ReFoReMo! It's my third year and this challenges teaches me so much and opens my eyes to a bigger world out there I need find more about.
CHARLIE, KRISTI, ALL THE BLOG WRITERS, AND ALL THE REFOREMOERS: WOW! The month has FLOWN BY! Just like EVERY year, I ALWAYS look forward to participating in REFOREMO, because I KNOW (just like EVERY year) I will learn SO MUCH! And I did! From EVERY blog post. EVERY presenter. EVERY comment from my fellow REFOREMOers. EVERY book. EVERY WORD. I am once again FILLED TO OVERFLOWING with INSPIRATION, MOTIVATION, and the KNOWLEDGE I KNOW will continue to help make my own writing BETTER AND BETTER! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who participated, presented, and ESPECIALLY Charlie and Kristi who do SO MUCH to make this month SUCH AN INSPIRING SUCCESS! And to Jackie Kruzie with Blue Whale Press for granting EACH AND EVERY one of us the PRIZE of opening her submissions to us! WHAT A GIFT! We have TRULY ALL WON--in SO MANY ways--just like EVERY year! To EVERY one: may your REFOREMO experience help you make you own writing dreams come true.
ReplyDeleteThis has been such a great month of learning. I'm sad to see it end and I'm already looking forward to next March!
ReplyDelete