On Saturday, I was privileged to be one of the leaders for a SCBWI Critiquenic. I had the opportunity to read the work of some wonderfully imaginative picture book writers and make suggestions along with other members of the group. There were a number of thoughts that applied not just to the specific works under discussion but to picture book writing in general that are well worth sharing.

Thought #1. Your story must capture the imagination of an illustrator. Use a picture book dummy to break down your story and then ask yourself what is the picture. Remember that the illustrator is relying on your words alone to be inspired. You won't be including notes about the artwork so be certain that you've created action-packed word pictures within the text.

Here is the answer to Friday's Famous First: "I was not very old in 1938, just six, and a little thing," is from the Newbery Honor Book - The Upstairs Room, written by Johanna Reiss.