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MO Day #2: Vivian Kirkfield Makes Magic

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February 15, 2022 - Registration Post Hello March On With Mentor Texts!


AND NOW, HERE'S OUR MENTOR:


Authors are word people. And it’s tempting to use as many as you can. But sometimes LESS IS MORE. And Magic Happens When You Make Every Word Count.


That’s the tagline for the contest I created back in 2016, #50PreciousWords. I challenged writers to build a story for children, with a beginning, a middle, and an end, in only 50 words or less. The first-place winner that year chose a critique with my agent who fell in love with her simple rhyming submission about a little tiger and in 2019, LITTLE TIGER written by Julie Abery and illustrated by Suzie Mason launched from Amicus.

Let’s examine some of the lines: Little Tiger waking, shaking, in the morning sun. Little Tiger pouncing, bouncing, waking everyone.

Just a few words – but we already have a picture in our minds of the personality of this precocious baby.

And later on, lots of tension:

Little Tiger slipping, tripping, sliding down the ledge. Little Tiger choking, soaking, clinging to the edge.


Tip #1: Using strong verbs helps cut word count.


DON’T HUG DOUG: He Doesn’t Like It Written by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman (G.P. Putnams Sons) - has received starred reviews and is an ALA Notable Book, but only has about 300 words of text.


Here are lines from a couple of spreads: Doug thinks hugs are Too squeezy Too squashy. Too squooshy Too smooshy.

There are lots of things Doug does like. He likes to sort his rock collection, and try on his sock collection. and draw with his chalk collection.

Tip #2: Employing lists and dialogue bubbles helps trim extraneous words.

THE RABBIT LISTENED Written and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld (Dial Books for Young Readers)


This is one of my favorite SEL books – and a perfect book for any child (or adult) who is going through a challenging time and is having trouble dealing with anger/sadness/frustration.

One day Taylor decided to build something. (1st spread)

Something new. Something special. (2nd spread)

Something amazing. (3rd spread) Taylor was so proud. (4th spread)

But then, out of nowhere… (double spread)

things came crashing down. (double spread)

That’s amazing, right? We are 8 pages into the story and there are only 26 words – but so much heart – we are already connecting with the main character.


Tip #3: LEAVE ROOM FOR THE ILLUSTRATOR (of course, Cori is the author and the illustrator, but we can see how she doesn’t explain in detail what happened. And because she doesn’t, this is a book that can help kids who are facing disappointments and sadness of many types.


THE POWER OF YET Written and illustrated by Maryann Cocca Leffler (Dial Books for Young Readers)


Let’s take a look at a few pages:

Not yet!

Not yet! Not yet!

Not yet!

Yet! Yet! Yet! How do I get to yet?

The path to yet is not a straight line. It takes growing and doing and patience and time. Tip #4: Repetition (and illustrator notes – this book is by an author/illustrator, but if the author was not also the illustrator, there would need to be brief art notes to let the editor know what the author envisioned as the action behind the words.


Written by Hannah Holt and illustrated by Yee Von Chan (Philomel Books)


This book includes so many layers – but uses only 300 words.

Here are a few spreads:

Papa’s come in many stripes The big. The bold. The silent types. Beneath the ground and high above, Each father’s heart comes filled with love. In swirling clouds of Frosty White, A penguin snuggles baby tight. He fluffs his down from Head to toe. This father’s love is soft as snow.

Tip #5: Rich language creates strong imagery that requires less words to put the reader in the setting.


Written by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Mirka Hokkanen (Pomegranate Kids)

The story follows the activities of ten endangered animals who visit the river. Water glitters. Nine yellow mud turtles stretch out their necks sunbathers soaking up the last rays before leaving their log. Suddenly – silence. A silver sliver hangs in the night sky. Dreaming of the promise of tomorrow’s sunrise, water waits. Tip #6: Similes and metaphors allow the reader to visualize the scene without using too many words.

And what luck! It’s time for #50PreciousWords! You are all invited to participate. Let’s make magic by making every word count.



The dates: March 4-6 The place: My blog: Picture Books Help Kids Soar The prizes: 50 amazing prizes from editor and agent critiques to seats in picture book writing classes to author Zoom chats and critiques to a 3-day personal retreat at Highlights Foundation.

The literacy initiative: I’m partnering with my local indie bookstore and requesting each writer who submits a contest entry to purchase a children’s


book which will be donated to three local schools in need. This is a win-win-win for the store, the schools, and the students.


My blogpost prize: I’m offering a 30-minute Zoom chat about anything writerly…and a signed copy of FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN plus book swag.



Writer for children—reader forever…that’s Vivian Kirkfield in five words. Her bucket list contains many more words – but she’s already checked off skydiving, parasailing, and visiting kidlit friends all around the world. When she isn’t looking for ways to fall from the sky or sink under the water, she can be found writing picture books in the picturesque town of Bedford, New Hampshire. A retired kindergarten teacher with a masters in Early Childhood Education, Vivian inspires budding writers during classroom visits and shares insights with aspiring authors at conferences and on her blog where she hosts the #50PreciousWords International Writing Contest and the #50PreciousWordsforKids Challenge. Her nonfiction narratives bring history alive for young readers and her picture books have garnered starred reviews and accolades including the Silver Eureka, Social Studies Notable Trade Book, A Best STEM Book K-12 2022, and Junior Library Guild Selection.


To connect with Vivian and learn more about her books:



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