Word After Word After Word

I just finished reading Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia Maclachlan's Word After Word After Word (Katherine Tegan Books, 2010). 

Twice.

The first time I read it, I was swept away by the story. The second time I read it intentionally with a writer's eye. It was hard not to get swept away again. I stopped several times. Re-read paragraphs. Re-read sentences. Underlined passages. Made notes in the margin. Until I felt the layers of her work, wrap me in a quilt.

It was inviting.
   Beautiful.
      Poetic.
         Thought-provoking.
            Useful.
               Timeless.
                   A treasure.

Word After Word After Word, told through Lucy's eyes,  is about visits to a fourth grade classroom from a well-known author, Mrs. Mirabel, and how she opens their eyes to the the magic of words and writing. We learn a great deal about Lucy and her friends and what writing comes to mean to each of them and how each child has their own story. Their own words to share. And how they're all great writers.

A brilliant book in my opinion to be shared with readers young and old. I can't wait to see what my second grader says when she reads it. I have a feeling I'll be shopping for a new journal for her after she's done. Because the old one will be full. Yes, it's that inspiring.

A few of my favorite sentences from the book:

Page 79...

"She said we are good writers."
He looked at all of us.
"We are writers!"

Page 114...

"Remember this if you remember anything from our time together," said Ms. Mirabel. "Writing...is...brave. You are brave." 

Page 115...

"No. It was too hard to say. But I could write it," I told her.

There are so many other great lines in this story, and the poems written by the children take your breath away. MacLachlan's love of language seeps onto every page. Filling you up until the river overflows.

So in closing...

We write to remember,

to solve,

to change,

to forgive,

to heal

and to feel.

Because everything we write

matters.

A Foxy New Picture Book

Today, I’m posting about my first advanced reader copy that I received from the Texas Library Association Conference 2011. Foxy and Egg (Holiday House, 2011) is a charming picture book by Alex T. Smith. Don’t you just LOVE the cover? Are you curious about the Egg character? Can the author/illustrator make Egg an interesting character? Let’s find out.



The book begins like this...

Of all the suspicious-looking houses in all the deserted woods in all the world, he had to roll up to hers…
Foxy Dubois was utterly charming and always kind to strangers, so she invited Egg in for a bite to eat.
The beginning introduces both characters and gives us the setting. The author chooses words like “suspicious-looking” and “had to roll up to” to create an aura of mystery and intrigue. Aren’t you curious to know what is going to happen next? The author is planting words that suggest a scheme is about to hatch, yes?

While Foxy skipped off to the kitchen, Egg rocked and rolled around the grand house.
“You have some interesting paintings,” shouted Egg.
But Foxy wasn’t listening. She was too busy cooking up a perfectly cunning plan…

Aha! We were right. A plan is about to hatch! What a great way to hook the reader and draw them into the story. Doesn’t that next line just beg you to turn the page? I don’t want to reveal all the juicy details but let’s just say this story delights the reader with a surprising ending. 

A few things I really like about this book are:

• It’s a fun read-aloud and the illustrations are bright and appealing and perfect for the intended audience (ages 4 – 8). 
• The story reminded me of an updated version of the classic fairytale Little Red Riding Hood except instead of a girl and a wolf, we have a fox and an egg. What words leap to mind when you think of a fox? Clever. Cunning. Sophisticated. How about when you think of an egg? Dull. Boring. Innocent. Definitely not very threatening, right? The author uses conceived perceptions to set-up the story and deliver the unexpected. He writes with intention. Chooses his characters for a reason. And makes the unimaginable seem believable.
• Every word is chosen carefully to reveal character, move the story forward and add suspense. 
• The ending is satisfying, surprising and delightful! 

Kirkus Review said “expert comic timing” and “Delicious, for all that it’s something of a literary hors d’ouevre.” 

This picture book has my seal of approval! If you like the humor found in Keiko Kasza’s or Jon Scieszka’s books, you’ll devour this gem of a story, too.

Next week, Alex T. Smith drops by to chat and share insights. You don’t want to miss this interview.

Have you studied any picture books lately? Gleam anything from them that has helped your writing? 

If so, I’d love to hear it. If not, I challenge you to pick up a few and read them with a writer’s eye. Study them for: character development, plot construction, pacing and rhythm, hook at the beginning, rule of three, conflict, and surprise ending. Just a few things to keep in mind while you read.