Three New Books for Your Writer’s Bookshelf!

Oh, how I love recommending books about writing for our readers’ shelves!
This time around, while the first two titles target aspiring young writers, young-at-heart writers can also benefit.

Adam Lehrhaupt’s picture book THIS IS A GOOD STORY (Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster, 2017) does a very good job for readers 6 and older of nailing the essential components of story: character, plot, setting and conflict.  And all while the Narrator cleverly engages the reader’s participation in creating a story within a story to highlight each element. Kirkus writes, “This tongue-in-cheek way of delivering the rules of creative writing is clever, and paired with Magali Le Huche’s earnest, childlike illustrations, it seems to be aimed at giving helpful direction to aspiring young creators…”


Jack Gantos’ WRITING RADAR - USING YOUR JOURNAL TO SNOOP OUT AND CRAFT GREAT STORIES (Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2017) does an exceptional job showing young writers how mining their journals helps them make their stories shine.
Thanks to text boxes highlighting writing tips, Gantos’ own illustrations, sample stories and snippets of his childhood journals, readers revel in the creative process.  In starred reviews, PW, Booklist and SLJ agree: it’s a funny, laugh-out-loud, focused, useful must guide for young aspiring writers.  It’s Lucy Calkins’ Book of the Year – “a life-changer for kids and for those of us who teach them.”

For those of us who write for kids, Eve Heidi Bine-Stock’s newest book OH! THE THINKS I THINK (Eve Heidi Bine-Stock Publishing, 2017) focuses on both STORY – and – PROCESS, offering children’s book writers a journal and a workbook.  It’s a welcome addition to her family of children’s book writing books, especially the recently-published how-to books (HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK, HOW TO WRITE A PICTURE BOOK, HOW TO ILLUSTRATE A CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK IF YOU CAN’T DRAW).  Word prompts, brainstorming exercises and planning guidelines suggest ways for writers to structure, write, analyze and edit their stories.  Intermittent delicious poetic verse charms and delights.


Which reminds me: don’t forget to enter our Book Giveaway for PET CRAZY (Pomelo Books), Sylvia Vardell’s and Janet Wong’s newest Poetry Friday Power Book which features the original poetry of our very own April Halprin Wayland.
Click here for details.  The deadline is November 8.

Happy reading – and – writing, no matter your age or years on task!

Esther Hershenhorn