Learning from Picture Books: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

Before I get to my usual picture book analysis, I wanted to tell you about a great place to learn more about writing picture books. Over on her blog, author Pam Calvert is running Picture Book

University - a mini workshop for picture book writers. In her weekly post she covers different genres, storyboarding, and what terms like "character-driven" mean. I definitely recommend taking a look if you're interested in writing picture books!

And now, for this week's picture book:

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs

written and illustrated by Mo Willems

published by Balzer + Bray, 2012

ages 3 - 7

From the Publisher:

Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.

One day—for no particular reason—they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then—for no particular reason—they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl.

Definitely not!

This new take on a fairy-tale classic is so funny and so original—it could only come from the brilliant mind of Mo Willems.

 

My Thoughts as a Writer:

I love the way the humor in this story isn’t dumbed down for kids. The author cleverly uses the structure of the original story but adds a twist where the Dinosaurs are trying to lure Goldilocks inside and catch her. It reminds me how important the concept or idea behind the story is for a picture book.

The narrator talks to the reader with in such a way that child readers will predict the opposite or know that the opposite is going to happen – a great strategy for helping them to understand the plot.  In the illustrations, the expressions on the character’s faces add to the interpretation of the story, and there are lots of funny details for observant readers (e.g., signs).

My Thoughts as a Teacher:

This book is just so much fun it’d be a great read aloud to promote the love of reading. I’d use it after students had heard a couple of more traditional versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, so that they have a better foundation for the jokes and differences from the original. Follow up activities could include comparing the traditional version with this one, especially in grades 1 and 2.

Even though some of the humour might be difficult for younger kindergarten students, they would enjoy this book too and probably ask for a re-reading.

What I Learned from SCBWI New York 2013

What an inspiring and amazing experience it was to attend the SCBWI NY 2013 conference! I got to meet all the other members of my writing group, the MiG writers, who are just as wonderful in person as they are online. They are (from left to right): Kate Fall, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Carmella Van Vleet, Christina Farley, and me. Susan Laidlaw wasn't in this picture, but she was at the conference too, taking time out from her world-wide adventures to hang out with us.

 

Aside from the socializing, I also enjoyed all the content!

One of the common themes I noticed was how many of the speakers mentioned books from their childhood and the important place these books have in their lives. Books are a safe haven (Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Andrews), with “characters that felt like friends or the friends I wish I had” (Margaret Peterson Haddix).

It reminded me of my own reasons and passion for writing children’s books – to provide that experience of immersion in another world, to create that all important book friend for someone else.

Mo Willems: “Your job is to be some child’s best friend”.

One of the interesting questions that came up from Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Andrews was: “What was the book that made you want to read?”

Another important takeaway for me reinforced something I already strongly believe in:  the importance of ordinary, everyday experiences. Jennifer Besser (Publisher at G.P. Putnam and Sons) talked about how using your power of observation allows you include small details that keep your work “fresh”.  Artist Shaun Tan was all about looking at things you see every day “in a new way”.

The third big thing I heard over and over was to keep writing new work.  New agent at Upstart Crow, Alexandra Penfold, said you should “work on lots of projects” and try out new genres or ideas.  Jennifer Besser talked about how you should be ready to experiment. And there was Mo Willems: “Ideas are gardens. You plant every day.”

For more on the SCBWI conference and a fun video of the MiG Writers, check out Christina Farley's SCBWI NY Conference Recap.

There are so many more bits of advice I collected, I know I’ll be feeling inspired for months to come. The best thing was coming away from the conference fired up and ready to write! I even started a new picture book manuscript in the airport on the way home.