MOWMT March 15: Judy Cooper Adds an A

The “A” in STEAM: Art in Picture Books

by Judy M. Cooper

Inspiring and nurturing creativity in young children has been a passion of mine for years. 

I have previously shared my love of art by creating and implementing an arts enrichment program, and do so now, in my current work as a docent at a Smithsonian affiliate art museum where I specialize in tours with 4th graders. 

At the beginning of each tour, I present the well-known Pablo Picasso quote that “Every child is an artist.” I expound on that sentiment by highlighting the many ways there are of being an artist. 

So, know that if you write, you are a literary artist!

With that artistic genre in mind, my first Mentor Text selection is How to Write a Story by Kate Messner.

Kate playfully chronicles the process of becoming a writer, guiding young storytellers through the joys and challenges of the writing process. Her book is also a good guide for newer adult picture book writers. From choosing an idea, to creating a problem for a character to resolve, to coming to ‘the end’, this book breaks down the writing process in an entertaining and kid-accessible way. 

In I Am Mozart, Too, author Audrey Ades recounts the powerful true story of Wolfgang Mozart’s older sister, Maria Anna, a talented, ambitious girl who has been hidden from history. 

Audrey’s writing seamlessly blends nonfiction with her creative interpretation of what may have been Maria Anna’s thoughts and life experiences as a musical artist. Kudos to this author for her backmatter explanation of this technique that she titled, Fact or Fiction. This story is told in the first-person narrative, where the main character even has a voice on the dedication page – “To everyone who has heard of my famous younger brother, Wolfgang, but has never heard of me.”

Here’s a little personal confession. My brain has an odd quirk that whenever I learn something new or find something of interest, it goes into a sort of autopilot mode, noodling on how that bit of information might be turned into a picture book. (I’m thinking that is probably true for some of you.)

Once, on a visit to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, I viewed a 360-degree, IMAX-type movie about the artist. My brain was stumped. I couldn’t think of any way that I could write a picture book manuscript about Dali. Then, when I went into the gift shop, there it was….Just Being Dali by Amy Guglielmo. It had already been done. The author nailed it! This book is an excellent study on how to write a kid-friendly picture book biography. It not only has the hook of the artist himself, but also celebrates honoring a person’s individuality, giving the book both a STEAM element along with SEL.

Although Niko Draws a Feeling by Robert Raczka published in 2017 is slightly out of the range of a book that could be used as a comp title, it is too much of a beautiful story to leave out as a mentor text.  It has numerous layers and hooks using tight, concise language. The timelessness of this story captures the creative process, explains abstract art, touches on friendship, and presents the universal desire to feel understood. 

There is a special kind of charm in Drawing God by Karen Kiefer, where the author

combines the hooks of art, faith, and self-approval. On a tour at an art museum, Picasso’s style takes hold of young Emma’s faith imagination.  Emma tries again and again and again to draw God, but her classmates can’t see God in any of her drawings. Emma finally realizes that she doesn’t need their approval. And she eventually sees what a positive difference one person can make in the lives of others.

The author, Russ Ramsey, echoes a similar sentiment in his (non-picture book) book, Rembrandt is in the Wind, with thoughts for us to take to heart as writers. 

“Everything has a story. Everyone has a story. And every story is, in some way, sacred…Learn to contribute beauty to this world – modest though your part might be. It’s okay to be a slow learner. Just don’t bow out of the work of beautifying the gardens you tend. The world benefits from your voice, your touch, your vision.”

PRIZE: Judy will be giving away Rate Your Story Speedpasses to each of two lucky winners. To be eligible for the prize, share this post on social media and tell where you shared in the comment section.

Bio: Judy Cooper is the Manuscript Coordinator for Rate Your Story. An award recipient of the statewide Florida-SCBWI writing competition, she has designed and implemented a PreK-4th grade arts enrichment curriculum. Her short story, The Candy Monster, was featured in a Make-A-Wish Foundation anthology publication. She is a docent at the Smithsonian Affiliate Polk Museum of Art specializing in tours for fourth grade students.

NOTE: As you comment on each post, please note whether you have shared this post, bought the book for yourself or as a gift, whether you have followed our guest blogger or Rate Your Story on social media (and where), as well as whether you have left a review of the guest blogger's book (and where) for extra entries (for each show of support) and to be eligible for surprise prizes.

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