by Melissa Stoller As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” Where I live, that is holding true as it has been a bit soggy! But on the bright side . . . flowers are blooming and the cherry blossoms are beautiful! This month, it can also rain down ideas! Here are some prompts to help you cultivate your stories: Image from Canva 1) Visit a botanical garden – perhaps bring a sketch pad and draw the flowers and trees you notice. Pay attention to details like color, shape, texture, and smell. Choose one sketch and write a story using some of those details. 2) Cultivate a home herb or flower garden either outdoors or on your windowsill. Record the growing patterns. Write one line about your process, and perhaps that could turn into a story idea. 3) Observe the rain, from inside or outside. Notice the size of the rain drops, the smell in the air, and the sound of the drops. Could any of these atmospheric details add to your manuscript? 4) Rainy days are also wonderful days to explore indoor activities like markets, bookstores, libraries, or museums. Choose one and spend the day enjoying the experience. Perhaps your adventure will inspire a non-fiction or fiction story. 5) Rainy days are also perfect for staying home if possible to enjoy reading or playing board games with family or friends. Spark some rainy days stories, too. This month, let April showers, indoors or outside, help inspire your ideas. Let me know in the comments if these prompts helped. Happy writing! MELISSA’S BIO: Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, releases from Gnome Road Publishing in Fall 2025. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, a Book Meshuggenahs member, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee, and a past school and Synagogue Trustee. She also interviews authors and offers resources on her blog. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer/editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Central Park walks. CONNECT WITH MELISSA: https://www.MelissaStoller.com https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller www.twitter.com/melissastoller www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller The Theory Social-emotional learning, often abbreviated as SEL, has become increasingly important in picture books as a way to address the various challenges and pressures that children encounter today. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), SEL involves equipping both young people and adults with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to foster healthy identities, manage emotions, achieve personal and collective goals, demonstrate empathy, build supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions (casel.org). SEL was important before COVID, but during and after COVID, kids lost so many of the following skills because they were isolated from direct contact in communities of other children and teachers etc., with Zoom lessons being a poor substitute. Hence the need for knowledge about SEL. BUT, because we are creatives, SEL qualities need to be subtly embedded as underlying themes in engaging and wonderful stories. CASEL categorizes SEL into five interconnected domains: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. Executive Function (EF) is also a key component of SEL, encompassing self-control and competencies essential for effective planning, focus, and goal achievement. To enhance your writing on SEL themes, it's helpful to delve into relevant concepts, research, and developmental milestones, making your work resonate deeply with readers. I'll be hopefully helping with that in future first Monday posts by providing examples showing these qualities. The Practice Here's a wonderful example of a story-driven picture book where the story comes first but the underlying SEL themes are clear if you look for them. Evie's Field Day: More than One Way to Win by Claire Noland (Author), Alicia Teba (Illustrator) Cardinal Rule Press The book is both a plot- and a character-driven story. The opening shows Evie’s mindset and goal. In striving toward her goal, she experiences setbacks. She reevaluates her goal and adjusts her mindset. At the outset, Evie identifies as a WINNER. She is confident that her athletic abilities are stronger than her peers’. She displays her many trophies in her room. Her goal is to win more trophies on Field Day. Self-Awareness includes “includes capacities to recognize one’s strengths and limitations with a well- grounded sense of confidence and purpose.” Evie sees herself as a strong athlete, a self-assessment that defines her interests and her goal. Setbacks: Evie loses event after event. After each loss, Evie is the only one who does not cheer the winner. We see that Evie’s Self-Awareness is underdeveloped. Her assessment of her own strengths and weaknesses is incomplete. We also see room for improvement in Evie’s Social Awareness, an area which includes “abilities to understand the perspectives of an empathize with others.” When she loses, her behavior is self-absorbed; she does not recognize others’ strengths. Then, Evie takes the lead in the sack race. She is winning! However, a baby bird has fallen into the race path. She evaluates two paths of action. Evie could jump over the bird and win the race. But the racers behind her might not jump over the bird (it is implied that the bird might get hurt). Crucial Moment: Evie stops. She succeeds in helping the bird, but she finishes last in the race. Evie demonstrates Responsible Decision-Making and adjusts her Self-Awareness and Social Awareness. She considers the consequences of the actions available to her. She shifts her mindset from a self-absorbed focus on winning trophies to putting the bird’s needs first. She shifts her action from competition to compassion. Resolution: Evie’s peers cheer her for helping the bird. Evie smiles. She recognizes that “some things are better than winning.” Evie’s Field Day includes back matter with “10 Suggestions to help your child learn good sportsmanship.” However, the book takes a gentle approach to opening this discussion; the description on Amazon stating “Evie was a sore loser” is misleading. The only only un-sportsmanlike behavior Evie exhibits in the story is failing to cheer the winners of the events she loses. She does not taunt her rivals or act out. Indeed, she gives her competitors a smile or thumbs-up as they get in position for each event. Moreover, Evie perseveres. She does not quit. Evie’s story remains tightly focused on her learning that happiness and positive attention from peers do not depend on winning a competition. She ultimately finds both in her act of compassion. I highly recommend this as both a mentor text and a comp title.
Written by the talented Kevin Johnson and brought to life with illustrations by the incomparable Kitt Thomas, "Cape" is a story that hits close to home. It speaks to the depth of our hearts and the strength we find in the midst of loss. In "Cape," we meet a young child grappling with the profound sorrow of losing a cherished loved one. Clutching onto his superhero cape, he seeks solace from the onslaught of memories and emotions that threaten to overwhelm him. But as we all know, memories don't play fair. They persist no matter how much you resist. Our young hero tries to block and push them away, but deep down, he knows he can't run forever. And then something shifts. He remembers the laughter, smiles, and love surrounding him. Suddenly, that cape becomes more than just a piece of fabric—it becomes his lifeline, his source of strength as he navigates the bittersweet terrain of grief. Johnson's distinct lyrical language and Thomas's signature style transform Cape into a testament to the human spirit, a reminder that even superheroes hurt too. CAPE Makes Me Think About: Second Line Traditions: In New Orleans, funerals are a bit different. They typically start with the "first line" as mourners make a slow procession through the street to the burial ground as a traditional brass band plays a sad "dirge." But the "second line" is a community parade! Mourners sing and dance through the street while the band plays upbeat, joyous tunes to celebrate the good memories the deceased left behind. To Serve the Living-Funeral Directors and the African American Way of Death: Published in 2010 by Harvard Press, Suzanne E. Smith explores the intersectional relationship between black funeral directors and black freedom movements in the United States. This book is a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and dignity exemplified in rituals of remembrance, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and honoring diverse cultural perspectives on death and mourning. My Maternal Grandmother: Jesse Faye Rigsby, was the first funeral I remember attending as a child. She died after a long battle with illness. The church was crowded, people were crying, and I was too young to process the grief fully. A cape probably would have been helpful. A quote from American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson: "It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Brentom Jackson is an award winning poet/writer, actor and psychotherapist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With poetic voice, theatrical flair, and socio-emotional expertise Brentom tells stories that explore the universal lessons within Black-American history and heritage. His debut picture book Elijah's Easter Suit with Doubleday/Penguin Random House is available now. Follow him on all social media @brentomjackson. www.brentomjackson.com by Melissa Stoller Where I live, we just moved the clocks forward an hour for Daylight Savings Time. That means we “lost” an hour on Sunday morning. I started thinking about the notion of “time” and how we can incorporate time into ideas this March. Here are a few prompts to try: 1. Write a story about the passage of time. Maybe it’s a story using sunrise to sunset as a structure. Or perhaps it’s using the days of the week or months of the year. Or even the seasons. Show the reader how time has passed. 2. Think of a story about “losing time.” It could be about bedtime or waking up in the morning. Or maybe a character simply loses track of time. Be creative and see where the idea takes you! 3. Write a story that includes a watch or clock as a central part of the idea. Was the watch a present? Does the clock stop chiming? Did someone forget to set the clock for Daylight Savings Time? 4. Write about someone who is either always late or always on time. Describe their character traits. What obstacles might they face? 5. Set a timer for 10 minutes and do some free writing. Don’t edit yourself at all. Just let the words flow and see where a timed writing sprint will take you. Enjoy your writing time this month. Let me know in the comments about how you used these prompts to generate ideas. MELISSA’S BIO:
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, releases from Gnome Road Publishing in Fall 2025. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, a Book Meshuggenahs member, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee, and a past school and Synagogue Trustee. She also interviews authors and offers resources on her blog. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer/editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Central Park walks. CONNECT WITH MELISSA: https://www.MelissaStoller.com https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller www.twitter.com/melissastoller www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller February is a month of reflection and celebration when we honor the rich tapestry of Black history and the remarkable individuals who have shaped it. In the realm of children's literature, Black authors and illustrators have made profound contributions, crafting stories that inspire, educate, and ignite the imagination. As we commemorate Black History Month, let us pay tribute to four remarkable creators whose work continues to resonate with readers of all ages.
Virginia Hamilton (1934-2002): Virginia Hamilton was a literary luminary whose boundless imagination and lyrical prose captivated generations of readers. Hailing from Yellow Springs, Ohio, Hamilton drew upon her African American and Native-American heritage to create stories that resonated with authenticity and depth. Her groundbreaking novel, "M.C. Higgins, the Great," earned her the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1975, making her the first Black author to receive this honor. Hamilton's body of work encompassed diverse genres, from folklore and fantasy to historical fiction, each imbued with her trademark warmth and insight. Through her storytelling, Hamilton illuminated the richness of Black experiences and inspired countless aspiring writers to follow in her footsteps. Leo and Diane Dillon (Leo: 1933-2012, Diane: 1933-2015): Leo and Diane Dillon were a dynamic husband-and-wife team who left an indelible mark on the world of children's literature through their stunning illustrations. Their collaboration spans over five decades and encompassed various genres, from folklore and mythology to contemporary and science fiction. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, the Dillons shared a passion for art and storytelling from an early age. They were pioneers in the field of multicultural children's books, bringing diverse characters and cultures to life with sensitivity and nuance. Their illustrations adorned numerous award-winning books, including "Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions," which earned them the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1977. The Dillons' distinctive artistic style, characterized by intricate detail and vibrant colors, captivated readers of all ages and inspires aspiring illustrators worldwide. Eloise Greenfield (1929-2021): Eloise Greenfield was a trailblazing author whose works celebrated the beauty, strength, and resilience of the African American experience. Born in Parmele, North Carolina, Greenfield began her writing career as a poet before transitioning to children's literature. Her books, including "Honey, I Love," "Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir," and "Night on Neighborhood Street," are beloved for their lyrical prose, relatable characters, and authentic portrayals of everyday life in Black communities. Greenfield's storytelling transcends cultural boundaries, offering universal themes of love, family, and self-discovery that resonate with readers of all backgrounds. Greenfield's impact on children's literature is immeasurable, inspiring generations of young readers to see themselves reflected in the pages of books and embrace their unique stories with pride and joy. In honoring the legacies of Virginia Hamilton, Leo & Diane Dillon, and Eloise Greenfield, we not only celebrate their individual accomplishments but also recognize the collective impact of Black storytellers on children's literature. Their words resonate with readers of all backgrounds, reminding us of the importance of diverse voices in shaping our understanding of the world. As we commemorate Black History Month, let us recommit ourselves to amplifying and championing diverse narratives that reflect the beauty and complexity of the human experience. Brentom Jackson is an award winning poet/writer, actor and psychotherapist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With poetic voice, theatrical flair, and socio-emotional expertise Brentom tells stories that explore the universal lessons within Black-American history and heritage. His debut picture book Elijah's Easter Suit with Doubleday/Penguin Random House is available wherever books are sold. Follow him on all social media @brentomjackson. www.brentomjackson.com |
We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our awesome bloggers!!
Here's our lineup: 1st Mondays begin with former school psychologist Dr. Debra Collins who will be writing about Social emotional Learning in kidlit and behind the scenes as well as Jewish children's books. 2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books. 3rd Mondays will feature our new blogger coming soon. 4th Mondays features new blogger, the fabulous Brentom Jackson, who has a beautiful approach to blogging. And 5th Mondays we'll be taking a break Archives
April 2024
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