Congrats Week 1 Daily Prize Winners!
Did you read and comment on all the blog posts last week?
These folks did!!
There were many people whose names I drew that didn’t comment on that day’s blog post, so they didn’t win a prize. We have 242 people registered for RhyPiBoMo 2016. I use Random.org to choose a winner. Then I check to see if that person on my Master Registration list commented on a post for a certain day. LOTS of people lost the chance to win a prize so don’t forget to read and comment daily!
Day 1 Maria Gianferrari
Autographed Copy of DR. SEUSS BIOGRAPHY by Author Tanya Anderson
Day 2 Patricia Toht
Autographed Copy of THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT by Best in Rhyme Award Winner Penny Parker Klostermann
Day 3 Sara Gentry
Copy of THE POETRY FRIDAY ANTHOLOGY FOR CELEBRATIONS (Student Edition) from Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong
Day 4 Mona Pease
Autographed Copy of ALL YEAR ROUND by Susan Katz
Day 5 Jill Proctor
Autographed Copy of MONSTER TROUBLE By Lane Fredrickson
Day 6 Helen Zax
RPB Revolution Conference Recording ($50.00 value)
Prize winners, please email (Angie.karcher@yahoo.com) or message me with your contact information. Typically, the books will be mailed directly from the author, so please allow a few weeks. If you haven’t received your prize by the end of April, please let me know.
I want to extend a huge thanks to KidLitTV‘s Katya Szewczuk, Laurel Nakai and Julie Gribble for the latest RhyPiBoMo “SHAKE IT OFF” Parody! Please extend your appreciation to them for such a fun way to celebrate RPBs! Thank you KidLitTV!
Rhyming Critique Groups will be organized this week!
Thank you Dawn Young for organizing our rhyming critique groups again this year! Dawn will post a sign up on our Facebook page so please sign up there if you want to join a rhyming critique group! You MUST be on the RhyPiBoMo Official Registration List to participate this year as we have so many people to accommodate. This is a great opportunity to find other rhymers, as it’s tough to find a rhyming crit group.
So now without further ado, I give you today’s guest blogger!
I’m pleased to introduce
Author Anika Denise
Author Anika Denise
“Do You Want Hot Sauce With That?”
How Rhyme Can Spice-up A Story
Imagine your manuscript is a burrito.
A strong story arc is your hardy whole wheat tortilla. Lyrical language, flawless meter, a delicious sprinkling of assonance and alliteration. . . they’re the beans, rice and cheese. But without your story tortilla to wrap them up and hold them together, all you have is heap of ingredients plopped on a plate.
In other words, rhyme should always serve story. It should show up carrying a tray and say, “Do you want hot sauce with that?”
I’m often asked at school visits how I decide whether to write in rhyme or prose. The answer I give (the one that really impresses teachers) is, “Um, I don’t know.”
Because to be honest, it’s a gut thing. Some stories simply feel right for rhyme.
I chose to write my first picture book PIGS LOVE POTATOES in rhyme because it’s a counting book for very young readers, and rhyming and counting are a natural fit. For BAKING DAY AT GRANDMA’S, the words poured out like a recipe: “flour, sugar, butter, eggs./ Stand on chairs with tippy legs… One hot cocoa at each place./ Frosty window, smiley face.”
When the idea for my forthcoming picture book, MONSTER TRUCKS, came to me, I wasn’t immediately sure it would rhyme, but I had a strong hunch. What, with all the screeching and howling, thrashing and crashing—and the opportunity to write a perky blue VW bus who putt-putts and toot-toots her way into readers’ hearts? I couldn’t resist.
Illustration © 2016 Nate Wragg
If you’re contemplating writing in verse, I’d start there. Ask yourself, does rhyme feel right for this idea? If it’s a yes, then ask why. Being able to articulate why rhyme suits a story not only underscores it as the best choice, but helps you effectively use poetic techniques to spice things up.
Here are THREE WAYS you can use rhyme to spice up your story.
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To build tension.
Rhyme, rhythm and repetition can build tension beautifully in a picture book, especially when designed around the all-important page turn.
One of my favorite examples is Ammi-Joan Paquette’s GHOST IN THE HOUSE. Her words read like a bump in the night. They are expertly paced, and serve to heighten suspense as each new creature enters the scene.
Illustration ©2015 Adam Record
There’s a ghost in the house,
In the creepy haunted house,
On this dark, spooky night, all alone.
And he goes slip-slide
With a swoop and a glide
Until suddenly he hears. . .
A GROAN!
And a mummy makes two in the house,
In the creepy haunted house,
On this dark, spooky night, on the prowl.
And they shuffle around
Without even a sound
Until suddenly they hear…
A GROWL!
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To bring the funny.
Rollicking rhymes with a touch of silly can really bring the funny. Add in a little irreverence, and you’ve got ‘em rolling in the aisles!
My favorite irreverently hilarious rhyming picture book is Penny Parker Klostermann’s award-winning THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT.
Illustration © 2015 Ben Mantle
Seriously, the clippity, clippity, clippity clop line made me snort coffee out of my nose the first time I read it.
Another fabulous mentor text is Josh Funk’s pun-filled LADY PANCAKE AND SIR FRENCH TOAST.
Illustration © 2015 Brendan Kearney
Josh’s rhyming tale of two breakfast foods in a race to the syrup is a veritable smorgasbord of clever wordplay and saucy retorts.
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To create emotional resonance.
In other words, heart. To be clear, I’m not talking heart strings—although lyrical verse in a beautifully crafted story can tug them in the very best way—I mean using rhyme to evoke emotion, any emotion, authentically.
Beth Ferry’s STICK AND STONE does this so incredibly well, I want to show it to every writer learning the craft of picture books. With the sparest of rhyming text , Beth delivers an emotionally resonant tale about loneliness, courage and friendship.
Illustration ©2015 Tom Lichtenheld
Not to mention a perfect story arc complete with conflict, tension, a successful quest and a satisfying resolution.
So start with the tortilla, make sure there are no holes or thin bits, then add all your favorite rhyming ingredients, dab on some hot sauce, and dig in.
Bio:
Anika Denise is a children’s book author and poet. When not writing stories about piggies and elephants and bears (oh my!) she’s either cooking, baking, reading or attempting to do all three at the same time. Her published picture books include Pigs Love Potatoes, Bella and Stella Come Home and Baking Day at Grandma’s (Philomel). She has several more coming soon, including a rhyming tale of vroom and doom titled Monster Trucks, illustrated by Nate Wragg (HarperCollins 2016), Starring Carmen, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez (Abrams 2017), and The Best Part of Middle, illustrated by her husband Christopher Denise (Christy Ottaviano Books 2018). Anika and Chris live in Rhode Island with their three kids, overgrown vegetable gardens, pesky squirrels and a slew of imaginary friends.
Visit Anika online at anikadenise.com and on Twitter @AnikaDenise.
Baking Day at Grandma’s
Bella and Stella Come Home
Monster Trucks
Pigs Love Potatoes
Website
YouTube
Thank You Anika!
PLEASE like our guest bloggers on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, go to their websites and express your appreciation for their time and wisdom! Many have generously donated multiple prizes and this event would not be successful without their support, so please support them! Oh…and buy their books too!!
To be eligible for today’s prize drawing by Random.org you must comment at the bottom of the page where it says “Leave A Reply” AND add your FIRST and LAST name in the comment. If I don’t have your name or how to contact you via email, you can’t win.
You must be a member of the RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group and if you haven’t officially registered, you are not eligible to win.
Please follow the pledge rules daily to get the most out of this challenge!
The drawings will be done daily and announced on Saturday of each week.
Angie Karcher 
Ann Magee
Mmm, burritos! The story is what’s missing from much of the rhyming poetry by kids. It’s difficult to get them past the idea to just rhyme random words. Thanks for the advice, Anika.
Great guidelines and great PB examples. Thank you!
Oh, what fun, it is to rhyme! Thank you Anika, and Angie!
Lynn Alpert
Great analogy, and nice post. Why am I hungry?
Great advice and I love all the examples you’ve shown us. I also appreciate your honest answer of “I don’t know” and “go with your gut”.
Linda Hofke