The Importance of (Consistently) Being Earnest and Other Thoughts on Characters in Children's Books

Recently, I was asked to respond to some interview questions for the publication Children's Writer. 

Characterization is something that we are constantly concerned with here at the editorial desk. Who is this character? What would they do in this situation? Are they likable? Do I care what his/her/their experience is? Why did they react that way?  There is no real end to the questions we could ask about the characters we meet in our submissions and acquired titles.  

So, for today, I thought I would share my responses to said questions with the world-wide-web. Maybe you have some ideas to share as well? We'd love to hear you sound off below or on Facebook. Maybe you have a quick question? Ask away on Twitter! However you choose to respond, we're excited to hear your feedback.

-Josh

May We Have Your Submissions?

Hello, Hello!

It's been a while since we've crossed paths, bloggersphere. But I am here today to share some exciting news!

Over the last few weeks, we've been experiencing some exciting changes around the Scarletta offices. Today, I would like to share my excitement with one change in particular:

WE ARE RE-OPENING THE SUBMISSION PERIOD!

That's right, world, Scarletta is once again accepting submissions for Scarletta Kids, Scarletta Juniors, and Scarletta Press.  For the month of May, we will be eagerly awaiting your best Children's Picture Books, Memoir, Chapter Books, YA Literature, and Non-fiction.

Here's to a playful, book-filled summer!

Earlier this week I found myself in a part of my neighborhood I’d never been to before.  At one point I passed an elementary school with a playground full of kids enjoying the spring sun, and I saw something I’d only read about: a Mobius climber—a complex mathematical concept (a Mobius band has one surface and no edges) made into a very cool piece of playground equipment perfect for climbing (and maybe the occasional slide).

As my short time as an editorial intern at Scarletta ends and I look back, interning at Scarletta was kind of like finding a Mobius playground in my backyard.  Scarletta books feature killer design, where form and content meet seamlessly, but most of all spin stories that—whether inspiring kids to get active in their community or to create something new—don’t create artificial boundaries between learning and play.

I’ve enjoyed my time here learning about how a small press can respond to the challenges and changes of modern publishing with innovation and a bit of scrappiness. Just like a kid on the playground or inside on a rainy day, with a little creativity a book can be anything you can imagine it can be. Thanks to the small but dedicated Scarletta staff and here’s to a fun, book-filled summer!

Get Set for Screen-Free Week!

Monday marks the beginning of Screen-Free Week, a time to unplug, experience something new, and take time to be present with friends and family. In anticipation, we’ve put together a list of activities to do with your kids that are inspired by some of our favorite new and classic children’s books.  If you have other ideas, share them with us, and let's make sure our screen-free days are filled with fun and imagination!

 So here we go!


 Monday 4/29

Invent a Hugo Cabret Flip Book


If you haven't seen this beautiful--and quite large--book by Brian Selznick, you're really missing out. Though the size of the book makes it look daunting on the shelf, it pages are filled with mostly illustrations that are both accompaniments to the text, and in parts can stand in place of the text. The resulting hybrid is hard to categorize, and reminds us of a combination picture book, collection of film stills, and flip book. We love the creativity of the story, and so to kick off our Screen-Free Week activities, we thought it would be fun to try making a flip book. It might not be as elaborate or large as Hugo Cabret, but what a great way be crafty and give illustrating a shot.

Tuesday 4/30

Cool Cooking

We're putting out our first kid's cookbook this summer, and it happens to be full of easy, delicious recipes from around the world. You won't be able to make the recipes from the book yet (though we did post a rather yummy dessert recipe from it in a past blog post), but that doesn't mean you can't find other great recipes to experiment with during Screen-Free Week. Look for something new and exciting, go get the ingredients, and spend a day in the kitchen with your kids. At the end of the day, you can all sit down and have a meal together. Family time and delicious food, what could be better?

Read On: Happy National Bookmobile Day!

It’s National Library Week and today we celebrate that glorious invention, the bookmobile! For over 100 years, mobile libraries have brought books to community members unable to make the trip to brick & mortar libraries.  Bookmobiles have brought together communities over the years—and are still rolling today!

And don't forget that in addition to a good read, your local library is a one-stop location for job advice, classes, readings, all-around hullabaloo—oh, and a sense of community. So renew that dog-eared library card, wander on by or happen across their website (or flag down a bookmobile) and show your local library some love, because it's clear that "Communities Matter @ Your Library!"

Libraries—especially the wheeled variety of course—certainly can take you places!

10 Things I Didn't Know Until I Published My First Book: Guest Post By Greg Bancroft

Publishing can be a confusing process, and many first-time writers have no idea what to expect. Or they might expect certain things, but it turns out to be completely different. Today, first-time author, and writer of the newly released Betsy's Day at the Game, Greg Bancroft shares some of what he's learned since beginning his publishing journey.
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1. Working with a publishing company, going into the office, dealing with editors and staff is not as mysterious as I thought. Real people work at real desks in an office focused on selecting and publishing children's literature. However, in a way, when I first visited the office, I felt like I was entering some kind of "special place" - off-limits to only a handful of "special people." I wasn't sure I should enter. In reality, it's a pretty normal office (albeit, a very cool space) where people work very hard at their jobs. Not scary, not mysterious.


2. From submitting a draft to seeing the book on a store's shelf took longer than I had imagined. Add in the time I took researching, writing, field-testing and re-writing, it was a good two years or more.


3. Seeing someone as talented as Katherine Blackmore (and as well-known!) draw such beautiful illustrations and capture the story and relationships so well, was surprising to me. What a talent. What a gift to me and to this book.


4. Seeing people's reaction for the first time, upon reading the book, and responding so favorably is what I'd hoped for but didn't really understand fully. The book has had quite an impact on people: remembering times with family at a game, reflecting on relationships with parents, grandparents, and kids. More than just appreciating a sweet story, it evokes a visceral and emotional response from others.

Tell Me a Story...With Video Games?

Regardless of who was reading, what they were reading, or how they were reading, Story Time was always a standout moment during my childhood. Full of kooky characters and jaw-dropping adventures, there was rarely a dull moment when an adult picked up a picture book and sat at the head of the class. From my best friend’s mom reading Seuss’ The Lorax, to our classroom aide retelling The Giving Tree with wild, elaborate gestures, Story Time had a certain captivating magic. Even now, 15 odd years later, I find reading aloud to be equally entertaining. Sure, the audience has grown up, and the subjects are a little more mature, but there’s an odd sense of wonder that accompanies the act of storytelling that just never gets old.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that we, as readers, crave a good story—a great narrative, complex characters, and pinches of conflict just do a soul good.

And if the story is all that matters, why should the medium make such a difference?

Perhaps, it doesn't.