Have I ever told you my favorite bookstore spot
To take my portable coffee pot
To sit in between the racks
And thumb the pages of stacks and stacks?
I will tell you now what it is
No mystery is as big as this
Why we don’t all go there more
I cannot say for sure.
It is the space held by the young
The ones who laugh and cry and run,
It’s where you’ll hear rips and squeals
While reading books of frogs and wheels.
Obviously, this is a very silly poem I made up in 30 seconds. It’s not going to win any awards, that’s for sure. But what it hints at is my favorite place to spend time in a bookstore or a library: the children’s section. I am a firm believer that it’s tough to be a traditionally published picture book author because the publishers of children’s books are very persnickety, picky, and a little bit tickly. (That’s code for “They have their own way about them.”)
Whatever the Secret Society of Children’s Books, particularly picture books, is, I’m here for it.
I truly think that greatness is found in a children’s book that can be enjoyed by any age. Think about the humor of “Bark, George” by Jules Feiffer. Even as you’re reading, adults, you know what is coming. You hear the repetitive nature of George’s special syndrome, and you still can’t help but smile.
Or what about that classic that is a small bear in corduroy overalls missing its button? Who can’t identify with being lost, feeling lost in a big wide world, and wondering how you’ll ever feel comfortable in your own skin, er, fur?
The reason I think the best-kept secret in the bookstore is the children’s section is this: Picture books have to evoke emotion, draw on memory, reveal a truth, or remind us of the light in less than 600 words. If you can do that well, then you should get some accolades — and at the very least, a publishing contract and a spot on the children’s section shelves.
With all this reminiscing, I think it’s time I share some of my favorites with you. And next time you’re running to the big-box bookstore or checking a book out from your local library, peruse the picture book section while you are there. You just might find a gem that’s worth picking up.
Truth: I am a bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase any of the books from my curated lists — picture book or not — I do receive a small portion of the sale, and your purchase benefits a local bookstore of my choosing: Read It Again Bookstore.
Happy Reading & Writing!