In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2, I thought I'd share a collection of his inspirational quotes, especially for writers!

"The more you read, the more things you'll know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

"The main problem with writing in verse is, if your fourth line doesn't come out right, you've got to throw four lines away and figure out a whole new way to attack the problem."

"Words and pictures are yin and yang. Married, they produce a progeny more interesting than either parent."

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!"

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child."

"So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads."

"And you will succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!" 

The Takeaway: "Today is your day! The mountain is waiting. So...Get on your way."

Drum roll please! The winner of our first Giveaway—a signed copy of ELLA & PENGUIN STICK TOGETHER by Megan Maynor—is Lisa Katzenberger! Congrats Lisa. Please contact us with your mailing info. Thanks to all who entered. Please STICK with KidLitTakeaways for more great stuff to come! 

​Last month, I hit the jackpot. No, not the billion-dollar Powerball. A close second, I won a year’s supply of debut picture books in a raffle celebrating KidLit411’s birthday bash. WOOHOO! Sharing the love, here's a writerly review of one of the first picture books I received: ELLA AND PENGUIN STICK TOGETHER by Megan Maynor, Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet (Harper Collins Children’s Books, 2016), plus our very first GIVEAWAY!
 
Ella is excited to share with her friend Penguin a sheet of glow-in-the-dark stickers. But the only way to see them glow is to step into a dark closet. As Ella leans in, she says, “The dark is so . . . dark!” Ella and Penguin try out other “mostly dark” options, but . . . no glow. The two friends learn that when they stick together, not only can they face their fears, but they can have a raucously fun time too.
 
This debut picture book has some great takeaways for aspiring authors:

• Clever title. Get it? STICK TOGETHER.
• Several layers. It’s a story about friendship, problem solving, building confidence, overcoming fear, imaginative play, and yes…love of those magical stickers. All of that with a...
• Low word count: 461 to be exact.
• The characters arc. The cautious duo we meet on the opening spreads gradually grow and develop in a charming and relatable way.
• The conflict presents itself early in the story. “Yikes!” yelps Penguin when Ella explains that these aren’t just ordinary stickers—they glow in the DARK!
• Rule of Three. Threes hook the reader and provide a rhythm to the text. One example: Ella and Penguin try out the stickers in the “mostly dark”—behind the shower curtain, under the laundry basket, and beneath umbrellas. All three are kid-friendly examples that readers can easily try on their own. The author includes many other Threes throughout the text.
• Sweet humor. Penguin asks about these extraordinary stickers—“Are they smelly? Can you eat them? Do they talk?” 
• The illustrations and text work closely together. Bonnett did a beautiful job making the stickers glow.
• Satisfying conclusion. No spoilers here.

My only wish is that the book included a sheet of glow-in-the-dark stickers so readers (and I) could get right to work. But I imagine Maynor and Bonnett will pack lots of stickers for their many author-illustrator visits to come.
Want to receive your own free copy of ELLA AND PENGUIN? Megan Maynor has generously offered a signed copy to one lucky winner. Enter our very first GIVEAWAY below!
UPDATE: To enter (should take less than a minute): 1) Click on Comments beneath the Rafflecopter box and Facebook & Twitter icons on the lower left. (It's there but it's faint...a web host problem.) 2) Leave a Reply. (Thanks!) 3) Click on Rafflecopter box 4) Click on Leave a blog post comment. ("I commented") 5) Optional additional entries: Follow us on Twitter @kidlittakeaways.com and Retweet the link to this blog. That's it! You're golden!

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​By Donna Cangelosi

In our previous post, we discussed Passion, Persistence, and Professionalism. Now it's time to play! Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "It is a happy talent to know how to play." Play relieves stress, boosts energy and vitality, helps us process information, stimulates imagination and problem solving, and renews our creative spirit. 

​Research shows that play can stimulate endorphins in the brain that promote a sense of well being. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." Taking time to recharge through play is one of the best things writers can do. Play engages the creative side of the brain and quiets our inner critic, which can help use see our stories in new ways and help to generate fresh ideas. 

So next time you're searching for a new perspective, experience writer's block,or just need a new idea... color, scribble, dance, swim, run, listen to music, play with a child or get together with friends. Just play! There doesn't have to be any point to the activity beyond having fun, but it may be one of the most productive things you can do for your writing career. As Albert Einstein said, "Play is the highest form of research." 

The Takeaway: Don't forget to Play. It can make you a better writer. What are some of the ways you like to play?