Linnea’s resolutions for 2023 include the measurable goals of submission to an agent, to an editor, for SCBWI writing grants, to an art exhibition, and for an anthology. Not as easy to measure are her writing, rewriting, and revisions over a handful of works-in-progress. Linnea’s now submitted picture book manuscript reflects the need for resiliency in children, really, everyone. Remembering Madeleine L’Engle’s words on writing–if a story is going to be difficult for grown-ups, write it for children. And so, Linnea wrote a new story. The following blog post does illuminate a bit more about her thoughts on writing a picture book.

March 2023 blog post from Linnea’s Illuminated Notes–

Story Breath

In writing a 32-page picture book, one considers page turns and illustrations. Illustrations are brought by an artist. To paraphrase a Sendak comment, illustrations say what the words do not, and words say what illustrations do not. In polishing my work-in-progress, I felt that place was a character, the canyon characteristics inform as much as a story plot point. Place is where story breath allows for a deeper space, a moment of reflection.

While deciding what illustration notes to include with the manuscript, I realized that illustrations were also key in the spots where the story needed to breathe. Nothing told in words, nothing specifically told in illustrations, but in the showing of the main character just being in the story setting, breathing in place. Words might by near, illustrations are bumping into big page spreads, but it is in those double-pages where story breath creates space. The action of story breath and a child listening fosters the story theme of resiliency. That is the real story.

In the art of the picture book and the literacy intent of the person reading to a child, there are a series of triangular connections. First triangle of connection is the words, the art, and the child. One step deeper, is the writer, the illustrator, and the lap or trusted reading circle of family, teachers, or librarians. Looking further, there is the written story, the illustrated story, and the story heard by the child. Story breaths allow for the space where the child internalizes the story. The emergent literacy learnings of the the child are heightened when all of the interactions at the multiple steps are engaged. In the case of my story, the story layer of resiliency is presented as a concept. Repeated readings are a function of a picture book and the developmental needs of the child. The readings open the windows for the child’s learning opportunities. Story breaths create crucial spaces where emergent literacy and learning flourish.

This story is a passionate one for me. I see how my blog posts have described my lost feelings, how I have struggled in recent years to maintain equilibrium. In a way this story shows a path to balancing emotions for every age. The message is the need to internalize resiliency on one’s own. It is a developmental milestone that not everyone achieves fully. What a huge challenge for young children growing up in the world today.

Now, will an agent and an editor see the story as one that must be published? Will an illustrator see the breaths? Will someone see the story as a place to breathe, to revisit, to share?