Saying the most you can with the fewest words is one of my favorite things about writing picture books.
And my next book, ONE CAN BE, is the shortest book I've ever written at 130 words. I broke those words down and shared the results in this graphic created by @christina.harkins featuring art by @anniemaycron .
The 130 words are a lyrical poem talking about the power of being alone, the joys of finding a like-minded community and the wonder of sharing books through a @littlefreelibrary . It's for bookroverts everywhere.
If you want to see my 130 words as soon as the book releases Sept. 2 from @beamingbooksmn , you can preorder it now from any in-person or online book seller. Or, you could request it from your public library.
Details at: /store/product/9781506499932/One-Can-Be
#onecanbe #booktrovert #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #introvert #quietleadership #introverts #kidstagram #SEL #picturebooks #readalouds #storytime #classroombookaday #littlefreelibrary #INFJ #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #classroombookshelf
Some of you may have heard me tell this story before, but at my very first @scbwi conference, @dor_ichaconas100 mentioned selling -- I think -- her 26th book. And I said to the person next to me,"I just want to BE Dori Chaconas." And the person responded, "Pat ... everyone wants to be Dori Chaconas."
That was probably true. Dori had such an impressive career with such a wide variety of books from the award-winning Cork and Fuzz easy-reader series to picture books like CHRISTMAS MOUSELING, LOOKING FOR EASTER, DON'T SLAM THE DOOR and HURRY DOWN TO DERRY FAIR.
Dori was an excellent rhymer, and I often referred people who wanted to rhyme to her "Icing on the Cake" online article where she broke down exactly how to write in rhythm and rhyme. It looks like that site may no longer be live, but it was full of helpful advice.
Dori also wrote ON A WINTRY MORNING, that helped me figure out the rhyme scheme for my book SHARING THE BREAD when I was doing revisions for my editor. When I ran into Dori at another @scbwiwisconsin conference, I told her that I had borrowed the book's rhyme scheme. She said, "That's OK. I borrowed it from someone else!"
I didn't know Dori well, but I did a lot of admiring of her from afar. It was so reassuring to see that Wisconsin had produced such a talented and prolific picture book author.
If you haven't read Dori's works yourself, please reserve them at your local library and spend some quality time seeing how beautifully written and structured picture books can be.
I will miss her.
#dorichaconas #wisconsinauthors #picturebooks
It’s Little Free Library Week and we’re celebrating with a special GIVEAWAY featuring books inspired by the joy of sharing stories through Little Free Libraries.
One lucky winner will receive all the books pictured!
To enter:
• Like this post
• Comment with your favorite Little Free Library OR your favorite book
Bonus entries:
• Follow all featured accounts for 10 bonus entries:
@hogwartslittlefreelibrarymn@findingjoyintheunknowns@writerversejourney@patzmill@alizafogelsonbooks@tessabickerswrites@storiesbylaceybraziel
• Share this post for 5 bonus entries
Books featured:
• The Traveling Book
• One Can Be
• Little Book’s Big Day Out
• The Lending Library
• Operation Nannys
• The Book Swap
Little Free Libraries help bring books, connection, and kindness to communities everywhere, and we’re so excited to celebrate them this week.
Winner will be announced FRIDAY. Good luck and happy reading!
#LittleFreeLibrary #LittleFreeLibraryWeek #BookGiveaway #ChildrensBooks #ReadingCommunity
These three books make great gifts for new graduates
And, I know some people who've bought them when a kid they love is young, and had teachers sign them at the end of each school year so when the child graduates from high school, it's a great recap of their education so far.
If you order from Mystery to Me, I will sign the book to your graduate, as well and the store will ship it to you. (This requires some planning ahead to make sure you get it in time!)
The books also are available from other in-person and online booksellers.
#graduation #pompandcircumstance #graduationgift #classof2026 #commencement
One Can Be
An ode to introverts and quiet leaders.
Sometimes you need to be alone—to think and breathe. Other times you need to be with friends—those you know and those you’ve only just met. And sometimes everyone works together to create something wonderful.
What can one person do all alone? Quite a lot, actually. Even so, there are times it helps to work with others. With spare, lyrical text, bestselling author Pat Zietlow Miller celebrates the power of being alone—and of coming together with others—centered on the love of reading and creating community around books. This is a book about trusting yourself and your ideas, seeing a need, and connecting with others to meet it.
Perfect for introverts, quiet leaders, and anyone who loves books and little libraries.
#books #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #picturebook #storybook
If you’re looking for an author to speak at your school or library next year, I’m an option!
I talk about the importance of ideas and stories and writing and revising and what to do when someone tells you “no.” Because it’s going to happen.
I also bring squash friends.
Request more info here: /contact
#schoolvisits #authortalk #literacy
Say you’ll come see me at @prairie_pages this Saturday at 11 a.m. I’ll read my two latest books and have coloring sheets, stickers and bookmarks. Come alone! Or bring a kid.
If you haven’t visited Prairie Pages yet, this is the perfect reason to see this wonderful new indie bookstore.
#sunprairie #sunprairiewisconsin #sunprairiewi #sunprairiesmallbusiness #sunprairiekids
