TIPS TO TICKLE THEIR FUNNY BONES

 

                           By

                  Gloria Reichert

At a recent conference, a presenter reminded us that one way to make our picture books stand out in a crowded market is to use humor. But how do I do that? If you, like me, are not naturally funny, writing humor is HARD! Wanting to improve my humor writing skills led to some research. So whether you wish to write a totally hilarious book or just insert a small amount of humor into your story, here are some helpful hints.

1. Immerse yourself in all things “funny.” Read the most current funny picture books. Watch comedy and funny movies on TV. Read kids’ joke books.

2. Research humor theory by reading books and watching webinars on the topic of what makes people laugh.

3. Most picture books are concept driven, so develop a funny concept that appeals to kids. Remember that current funny picture books tend to be edgier and sometimes irreverent, so thinking outside the box can lead to much humor.

4. The characters do NOT need to be kids. Some of the latest funny books have dragons, crayons, and even a mutant potato as main characters. So let your imagination go crazy!

5. Be willing to take some risks with your story structure. Many humorous books do not follow the traditional “Rule of Three.” The Day the Crayons Quit is told via letters. The Book with No Pictures makes the reader the main character. Some books are even interactive.

6. Use situational humor by putting your characters in funny, unusual settings and create some funny scenes as they interact with their environment and other characters.

7. You must include the element of surprise. This is vital. The reader must be surprised. Humor happens when one’s expectations are violated, so set up a normal expectation for the reader and then misdirect things so the expectation is not met.

8. Page turns can lead to surprises, so use then thoughtfully.

9.  Ramp up the humor with puns and jokes that relate to your topic. Include recurring jokes and word play. Dialogue can sometimes enhance the humor, as in Tammi Sauer’s Me Want Pet!  Cave Boy tries to convince his parents he needs a pet and uses short, snappy “cave language” throughout.

10. Incorporate figurative language – alliteration, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, exaggeration, and rhyme. Keep a thesaurus close by and check out Rhyme Zone online.

11. Use inherently funny words. Bungalow, pantaloons, bamboozle, kerfuffle, and catawampus are sure to elicit some chuckles. Just hearing the word “underwear” makes kids laugh. A great resource is the book Absurd Words by Tara Lazar.

12. Lastly, craft a funny ending – hopefully with a twist – and tie it back to the beginning of the story somehow.

All of this seems easier said than done, but if we start small, try a few tips, and see how our sense of humor can fit in, we will be progressing and growing in our ability to write humorous picture books which will help kids in many ways.  

 

Seven Spring Hooks

by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton 

 

            Spring is so close we can almost taste it!

 The thing I love about spring is that after so many gray days the sun finally warms the earth, and all the world is made anew.

  Spring also seems to be a time when new ideas flood my mind. Ideas are great, but everyone knows it is how you execute that idea that makes a story.  Good stories begin with a great hook. A hook grabs your reader and gets them to sit down and read. But how do you do that?

  I've pulled together seven types of opening sentences that are guaranteed to make the reader want to keep reading.

 

 

1.      Start with an exclamation!

 “Hi! I'm the bus driver. Listen, I've got to leave for a little while, so can you watch things for me until I get back? Thanks. Oh, and remember: Don't let the Pigeon drive the bus!”

                                     ~DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! By Mo Willems

           

2.      Start with a question.

 “Brown Bear, Brown Bear what do you see? I see a ...”

  ~BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR WHAT DO YOU SEE?  Bill Martin Jr.

 

 3.      Start with a statement.

 “Grandma Ronnie isn't home anymore.”

    ~A YOUNG MAN'S DANCE by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton

 

4.      Start by showing the setting.

 “In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.”

                         ~ MADELINE, by Ludwig Bemelmans

 

5.      Start with Onomatopoeia.

 “Hieronymus Bets has unusual pets. Slurp the sugapotomus is his slimiest pet.” 

                          ~HIERONYMUS BETS AND HIS UNUSUAL PETS, by M.P. Robertson

 

6.      Start with a repeat refrain.

 “Before John was a jazz giant, he heard hambones knocking on grandma's pots, Daddy strumming the ukulele, and Mama cranking the phonograph.

   Before John was a jazz giant, he heard steam engines whistling past...”

  ~BEFORE JOHN WAS A JAZZ GIANT, by Carol Boston Weatherford

 

7.      Start with the main character.

 “Clementine waited until her work in the Big House was done and the twinkle of stars filled the night sky above the Cane River. She was ready to paint.”

             ~ART FROM HER HEART, FOLK ARTIST CLEMENTINE HUNTER, by Kathy Whitehead

 

         Spend some time in the library reading first lines in picture books to make your own list of great ways to hook a reader, then spring into a new season of writing by hooking your reader with a great opening sentence.

 

 

 

 

Interview with author Tammi Sauer

By Gloria Reichert

 

Last September, when I attended the SCBWI: Ohio North Conference, I had the honor of being a hostess to children’s book author Tammi Sauer. Getting to know her was a delightful experience!  Both her energetic intensive and closing address provided a bounty of helpful information to help writers improve their manuscripts. We welcome Tammi to the Song of Six Pens blog and thank her for sharing her thoughts.    

 

1. What inspired you to write your first book?

One night, after my husband and I had tucked our kids in bed, we heard an unexpected knock at the door. I opened it and discovered a kid standing on my front porch. He was selling newspaper subscriptions in an effort to raise money to go to…Cowboy Camp. I looked at this kid with his everywhere hair, thick glasses, and un-cowboy-like everything and knew I had a story.

Cowboy Camp, illustrated by Mike Reed, debuted in 2005, and it's still in print. Yeehaw.

2. Are there any children’s book authors who have influenced you?

Many authors have influenced me! I think the first book that I read that really made me want to become a children's book author is Jules Feiffer's Bark, George! The book is so funny, and it offers the unexpected. Plus, it's a joy to read aloud.

3. What kinds of books do you like to read?

My favorite picture books are filled with humor and heart.

4. Does one of your main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, which one? Why?

Each of my main characters holds a special place in my heart, but Mary from Mary Had a Little Glam is extra special to me because, over the years, so many moms have reached out to me and shared stories and pictures of how their daughters have really found a connection with Mary.

I have two new Mary books coming out with Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Mary Had a Little Plan debuts in the fall of 2021, and Mary Had a Little Jam comes out in the fall of 2022.

 
5. What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your books?

Oh, I am a revision nerd! Getting a manuscript juuuuust riiiiiiight is my favorite part of the process. It feels like a game to me. I strive to use only the best words. I remind myself to tell as much as possible in as little as possible. Reading my manuscript aloud is another must—it helps to ensure that the rhythm is there. I also step away from my manuscript and grab lunch or run an errand. Getting away from it for an hour or so helps me to return refreshed. OH. The revision process ALWAYS involves tea. I am currently hooked on Pie Five Pizza's peach ginger tea. I buy it--and pretty much drink it--by the gallon.

6. What is your writing process? (Outline, start in the middle, scenes, etc.)

Process? Ha! I really don't have a specific process. Each book is different. I simply write the best story I can and hope for good.

7. What was your most unusual/funny/heartwarming experience as a writer?

I really get the best fan mail. This is one of my all time favorites (I did not correct the spelling):

Dear Ms. Sauer,

Your the best. Your my hero and roll modle.

My dream is to write a book.

Do not tell her this but I like you more than Kelly Clarkson.

Love,

Elizabeth Cloe

8. What is one piece of advice that you would give to writers?

My best advice comes from a quote I once read in a Cynsations blog post. This quote shares just about everything that needs to go into creating a successful picture book manuscript. 

“My main considerations for any picture book are humor, emotion, just the right details, read-aloud-ability, pacing, page turns, and of course, plot. Something has to happen to your characters that young readers will care about and relate to. Oh, and you have to accomplish all that in as few words as possible, while creating plenty of illustration possibilities. No easy task.”—Lynn E. Hazen.

Short and Sweet:

·     * Pantser or Plotter? Typically, I know the beginning and the end and pants my way through the middle.

·          

       * Guilty Food Pleasure? There are so many! My newest Guilty Food Pleasure is Dot's Homestyle Pretzels. They aren't sold everywhere. The other day, I drove seven miles just to get a new bag.

·          

       * Favorite Hobby? Reading!

·       

       * Dog or Cat person? DOG

·          

      * Whom would you like to have dinner with (living or dead)? I'd love to be able to have one more dinner with my parents and siblings.

·          

      * Do you do your best work in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Oh, man. I am having a hard time giving short and sweet answers! My muse doesn't follow any kind of schedule. She's rather ridiculous. Occasionally, my best work happens at 3 am.

Tammi Sauer, a former teacher and library media specialist, is a full-time children's book author who presents at schools and conferences across the country. Getting kids excited about reading and writing is Tammi's passion.

In addition to winning awards and garnering starred reviews, Tammi's books have gone on to do great things. Nugget & Fang was made into a musical that toured the nation. To date, the show has been performed more than 150 times and will tour again in 2021. Wordy Birdy was named a Spring Kids' Indie Next pick, a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and a Barnes & Noble Best Book of the Month. Your Alien, an NPR Best Book of the Year, was released in Italian, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and French, which makes her feel extra fancy. To learn more about Tammi and her many books, visit her website at tammisauer.com and find her on Twitter at @SauerTammi.