Curious about why 32 pages is standard for picture books? (and why this DOESN'T mean you have 32 pages for story content)

I recently did a livestream showing why 32 pages is the standard for picture books, and what this means for picture book creators. In case it helps anyone, the archived version is above.

Basic reason: 32 pages can all be printed on a single sheet of paper, making it cost-effective. It's possible to make a book any number of pages, but anything non-standard tends to cost the publisher more money to print.

Sometimes the publisher will opt to do a longer book (my books with Simon & Schuster are mostly self-ended 40-page picture books), but I leave that decision to my publisher.

Video note: when I mention my own books begin on pages 6-7, by the way, it's because they are 40 pages long (I forgot to mention this, sorry).

For pre-published picture book writers with no track record, I recommend sticking to the standard 32 page template; you can always discuss the possibility of increasing the page count after your mss has been acquired.

Some resources you might find useful:

Creating Picture Books: my collection of how-to guides, free templates and resource lists.

My free, print-ready archive: includes more templates.

Tara Lazar's post on Picture Book Dummies, Picture Book Construction, and Knowing Your Layout

I'M WORRIED on the Stephen Colbert show!

TOTALLY thrilled to find out that Michael Ian Black was on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert talking about our newest picture book, I'M WORRIED. Book mention starts at around the 4:18 timestamp. And he talks about the first two books in the I'M... series, too: I'M BORED and I'M SAD, woohoo!

I had no idea this was going to happen. I only found out when a friend of mine who lives in Berlin emailed me saying that he just saw my book on the Stephen Colbert show. Of course I immediately went online to find the clip.

Michael also mentions I'M HAPPY as our next book together - I am sooooo excited about this as well, and can't wait to get the contract (and see the mss)!

And thanks so much to those who have told me about how I'M BORED, I'M SAD and I'M WORRIED have helped their young readers; I so appreciate it!

Video: Desiderata Daedalus Drawing Demo (Dip Nib On A Fountain Pen!)

As some of you know, I am hooked on fountain pens (it began at a photo shoot for the Toronto Public Library, but I'll save that for another post). Anyway, I'm totally loving my new Desiderata Daedalus! To artists using dip pens: you might want to check this pen out - you can use certain types of dip nibs, but with the convenience of a fountain pen (e.g. avoid having to constantly dip).

Video: Trying out Animation Desk Ultimate app for the first time on my iPad Pro

I admit it: I'm an app packrat. ("Ooo, shiny app! Must get!")

Last night I decided to go through my iPad Pro apps and decide what to keep, what to cull. I had never actually trying Animation Desk Ultimate on my iPad Pro yet, so decided to give it a shot.

Super-easy to use! I created the animation bit of the above in around 30 minutes. This morning, I used Adobe Premiere Pro (which I am gradually learning how to use) to insert the opening slide and add the end text titling. Going to play around some more with this app! I want to experiment with some of the brushes, colour and other features.

I've started uploading more art process videos to my YouTube Channel, by the way! Feel free to check them out.

Art Video: My Morning Coffee Doodle

I'm teaching myself Adobe Premiere Pro and used this short video as an exercise.

How I created it:

I shot the video on my iPhone with the Hyperlapse app. To hold the iPhone above my desk, I use this flexible iPhone stand with clip, which I found on Amazon a few years ago. Doesn't look as if it's available anymore, but there are MANY similar stands available.

I imported the video into Adobe Premiere Pro. Main purpose of this exercise was to figure out how to convert the portrait size video from Hyperlapse into a square format. This was more complicated than I expected, and involved creating a new sequence with the right aspect ratio, scaling up the video size (I may opt for a non-Hyperlapse process next time), figuring out how to export.

If there is enough interest (especially from you illustrators out there) and I can find some time (HA), I will put together a blog post with more details.

Speedy Doodle: Bugs and Baked Goods

Starting my week off with a BUGS AND BAKED GOODS speedydoodle.  I find keeping a sketch journal fun, inspiring (getting some ideas for stories) and therapeutic (especially when crazystuff is going on in the news on or social media). See more of my art videos, found object doodles and sketch journal pages on Instagram and Twitter. 

Materials and process: I used a Lamy Safari (Fine nib) inked with Platinum Carbon Black ink in my Rhodia paper sketchbook, waterbrush, and Winsor & Newton Cotman pan watercolours. Recorded the video with the Hyperlapse app on my iPhone, imported into Premiere Pro (which I'm just learning) to speed up and crop, added static images to the beginning and end.

Some of my other recently posted Speedy Doodles:

Click to read more ...

Music video: It's All About The Books (parodies of Meghan Trainor's "All About The Bass")

Just came across these fun book-focused parodies of Meghan Trainor's "All About The Bass", like Mount Desert Island High School:

Also love this "All About That Book" video from Griffin Elementary's Literacy Night:

and "All About The Books" from Andover Elementary:

and from Calusa Elementary:

and from Christina Iadicicco on YouTube:

And they're all right, of course! It's ALL ABOUT THE BOOKS.

I enjoyed Weird Al Yankovic's WORD CRIMES video much more than the original song

Video: Tarik and the Roots performs a Harry Potter Rap on the Jimmy Fallon Show

Tarik and The Roots performed a Harry Potter-themed rap on the Jimmy Fallon show. Love. :-)

(Thanks to Mediabistro)

Music video: Picture book writer Sue Fliess pitches with a Pitch Perfect musical parody

Love this.

You can find out more about Sue Fliess and her work at:  http://www.suefliess.com/

and on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/SueFliess

Here's what a fox says...but more importantly, what's that children's book in the video?

I've been hearing the song in the above video in my head ever since my husband told me about it. The music video by Norwegian duo Ylvis went viral a few days ago. I love the wonky humor and tongue-in-cheek emo. 

Popular Science followed up with a "What Sound Does A Fox Really Make" post that could be enlightening for kids (and grown-ups!) wondering what sounds a fox DOES make. :-)

But what *I* want to know: what's that children's book featured in the video? Here's a screenshot:

A blurrier close-up of the front cover:

Here's the back cover, though doesn't it look as if part of the cover beneath the man's hand  has been torn?

If anyone can identify the children's book in this video, I'd appreciate it if you'd post in the comments.

Thanks!

Sarah Parker Ada and her "If You Love To Read" and "Read It Maybe" music videos

Just discovered this Rolling In The Deep parody created by Sarah Parker Ada to help promote the New York State Reading Association annual conference last fall. You can find the lyrics here (click "Show more").

Then I found her wonderful "Read It Maybe" video (parody of Call Me Maybe):

 According to this article on Reading.org, Ada is an adjunct prof for freshman composition at Jefferson Community College. I envy her students.

You can see more videos from Sarah Parker Ada on her YoUTube channel.

On Twitter: @SarahUkelele

Sarah's Ukelele Youtube channel

CRANKENSTEIN trailer and Twitter crankylaunchfun with Dan Santat

I've gotten hooked on Dan Santat posts on Instagram lately, started following links, and have discovered some of the entertaining book trailers he's created. I've posted some of these below. Dan's also way entertaining on Twitter. Today, he's being cranky in honor of CRANKENSTEIN's launch:

WARNING: I will be cranky all day today in honor of my new book with @BergerBooks (But fear not, It's all for show) #Crankenstein

— Dan Santat (@dsantat) August 13, 2013

For CRANKENSTEIN, written by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Dan Santat, just launched from Little, Brown:

For CARNIVORES, written by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Dan Santat, published by Chronicle Books:

For SIDEKICKS, a great graphic novel written and illustrated by Dan, published by Arthur Levine Books:

Video: Maurice Sendak On Being A Kid (Blank On Blank's Animated Version)

Blank On Blank finds vintage interview tapes and adds new animations. Their mission: "to curate and transform journalists' unheard interviews with American icons. The future of journalism is remixing the past."

I enjoyed this 2009 interview with Maurice Sendak in his Connecticut home, and thought the creators did a good job at matching the tone of the animations to the interview content. You can find more info about Blank On Blank's other projects at their website. (Thanks to Monica Edinger for the video link.)

Yesterday was what would have been Maurice Sendak's 85th birthday. Google had a great Google Doodle tribute to Sendak:

Some advice for writers from Maurice Sendak:

"Unplug when you need inspiration." (4 Lessons On Writing (And Life) From Maurice Sendak | PRDaily)

"Wield a more subversive sword!" (from a Slate post/obituary)

Stories about children need to reflect the truth. (Why Maurice Sendak Insisted He Didn't Write For Children | TIME)

More Maurice Sendak video goodness...

Maurice Sendak talks about his career, William Blake and writing children's books ("I don't know how to write children's books...") in 2011 in his upstate New York home. Warning: some of Maurice's language is not child-friendly. :-)

Maurice Sendak on his work, childhood, inspirations:

John Green Defends Traditional Booksellers, Publishers and Editors

Love this.

p.s. Warning: some of the language is not appropriate for younger listeners.

(Thanks to Teleread for the link.)

Seattle Public Library sets world record for longest book domino chain

After seven hours and five attempts, volunteers from the Seattle Public Library and local residents set up a total of 2,131 books to break the world record for the longest book domino chain. The event kicked off the library's Summer Reading Program.

Thanks to the Seattle Public Library, Book Patrol and King5.com for the info.)

2013 Keep Toronto Reading: If I Could Save One Book.... #KeepTorontoReading

To help support the Toronto Public Library's "Keep Toronto Reading 2013" campaign, I created the video above. 

The question: If the library was burning, which book would YOU save?

Join Toronto's One Book city-wide book club (hey, you don't HAVE to be in Toronto to enjoy the book) and read Ray Bradbury's classic novel, Farenheit 451. Then take part in one of the city-wide events during April: see the Toronto Public Library's Keep Toronto Reading 2013 page.

Inspiring TED Talk From Children's Book Author/Illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Aspiring AND experienced children's book authors and illustrators need to watch this video. 

I really want to meet Jarrett J. Krosoczka someday.

Some of my takeaways from the talk: How important it is for grown-ups to encourage imagination and creativity in children. How just a few encouraging words to a young artist or writer could have a deep and long-lasting impact.

New NaNoMusical episode out today: "Page and Page Count" (and my book is in the first scene, woohoo!)

Yay, a new episode of NaNoMusical came out today!

And LOOK, a copy of I'M BORED is in the background!!

Even if it wasn't, this episode would still be my favourite.

I love the chemistry between the two lead actors, the humor, the background characters (Muses?) who assist Jill and Dale during the genuinely touching duet at the end.

Ooo, and it looks as if the NaNoMusical crew is putting together a professional CD!

Episode 2 of NaNoMusical now online!

Yay, episode 2 of NaNoMusical is online! I just love the delicious NaNoEmoAngst of the first song. Plus Dale and Jill are just SO ADORABLE together. :-)

In case you missed the first episode: