Look! I Wrote a Book! (And You Can Too!)

April 29, 2019
Lloyd-Jones (Hats Off to Mr. Pockles!) and Layton (Danny McGee Drinks the Sea) offer a straightforward how-to that’s less about imagination as a precious jewel and more “get all your crayons in a row.” A pigtailed girl, the exemplar of a budding author, counsels readers on how to appeal to specific audiences (no scary stories for babies), create grabby titles and narrative arcs, incorporate feedback (“Can there be a light saber?”), and sell, sell, sell (if achieving a captive audience means tying someone to a chair, why not?). The “don’t” portions of the advice—mostly conveyed in the mixed-media cartooning, asides, and handwritten commentary—are also the source of comedy: don’t title a book How to Change a Diaper, don’t open a book with “First we stood up. Next we sat down.” Sure, authorship’s a lot of work, but when it’s all over, Layton promises, “you just go back to being a normal person”—unless you get bit by the sequel bug. Readers should relish being taken into the confidence of a character who epitomizes both practical problem solving and success. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown Ltd. Illustrator’s agent: Alan Lynch, Arena Illustration.

May 1, 2019
From inspiration to finished tome, a child author demystifies the process. Part tongue-in-cheek commentary and part literary DIY, this book features witty tips and tricks for generating ideas, turning them into stories, and then publicizing your work, all based on the narrator's own, albeit naïve, experiences. Starting with "a Good Idea," the child guides aspiring authors through choosing a title, crafting the parts of a story, and inventing an ending, even covering the crucial revision process. Particularly helpfully, the narrator explains how fiction means "you made it up" and nonfiction means "you ABSOLUTELY didn't make it up." Some of the advice, however, falls a bit short: In 2019, a traditional, gender- and age-based interest in story content seems limiting (since grandmas can like dump trucks and tractors, too!); also, young children can indeed handle big words through context clues and illustrations. It's unclear at times whether this advice is satirical or serious. The mixed-media illustrations are a bit too simplistic and caricatured in style, though they do present a diverse cast of characters. And yet the self-referential cover image seems to indicate the book's obsession with its own cleverness. The protagonist appears to be a child of color, with medium-brown skin and straight brown pigtails that stick straight out. Not really enough of a story for telling a story about storytelling. (Picture book. 4-8)

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July 1, 2019

K-Gr 3-How do you write a book? This hilarious title shares exactly how to create one with step-by-step instructions. Filled with practical advice, this story will have young readers laughing and learning about the process of creating their own book. The main character, a young author, describes the writing process from beginning to end, everything from how to come up with a good idea, how to write a beginning and ending, and even how to sell your book. When giving a story example of a father who has lost his children, the narrator shares two different ending options: "Suddenly he found them. They were hiding in the closest. He was very happy. The End./If you want people to cry, you write a sad ending: Unfortunately, he didn't ever find them. He was very disappointed." The mixed-media illustrations are a perfect match for this story line and will give readers additional details to examine. VERDICT A fun and practical how-to that will find success in both public and school library shelves.-Brooke Newberry, Winding Rivers Library System, West Salem, WI

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2019
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* In this hilarious, metafictional how-to guide, a girl walks aspiring authors through the basics of book creation, going from the idea stage all the way into marketing the finished product. By showing both good and comically bad approaches, the child narrator matter-of-factly presents her different attempts at writing the perfect book, while offering a primer on publishing that will both entertain and educate. You probably should have words AND pictures in your book. If you have NO words, some people might not know what's happening and say, ?I don't get it.' And if you don't even have one picture, then it might send everyone to sleep. The joys of creativity, exchanging ideas, and sharing stories are explored with accuracy and humor. Chuckle-worthy asides are peppered throughout in speech and thought bubbles, which are seamlessly integrated into the artwork. Layton's cartoony style and loose line work?reminiscent of Jules Feiffer?are the perfect match for Lloyd-Jones' tongue-in-cheek text. A bright, primary-colored palette and wide-eyed, slightly exaggerated facial expressions add an extra layer of fun. A diverse cast of family members, neighbors, and adoring fans are featured on every page. This master class on storytelling, which includes tidbits on plotting, pacing, and even writers' groups, is an excellent choice for literacy classrooms, library visits, and creative writing prompts.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)