Instead, I’ll give an illustrated version of a few moments that really struck me.  I’ve stolen most of the beautiful pictures and illustrations from other talented people, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Karyn Raz, Edith Cohn, Marie Miranda Cruz, Lee Wind, and the SCBWI Live Blog, so click on the pictures to check out their own versions of the events!

Holly Black:  I pretty much wanted to copy down everything that came out of her mouth.  For example, “All writing is in conversation with what has come before it.”  She gave a talk about plot, citing her own struggles with it.  Evidently when she started writing she didn’t know how to move the plot forward, so she had “lots of scenes with elves sitting around drinking coffee, experiencing ennui.”

She also did a break-out session about career, talking about practical and terrifying things such as when to quit your job (the ’safe’ answer is once you can live off your royalties), taxes (about 33%), and choosing which author’s career you’d like to have (she wanted Neil Gaiman’s, which I think is a fantastic choice).  It was an incredibly concrete talk that made me really ponder career goals and attitudes.  And here’s the best line from it.

Audience Member (speaking about benefits): “It’s in our publisher’s best interest for us to be alive.”

Holly Black: “Actually that’s not true.”

So now we know why it’s so hard for writers to get health care!

Karen Cushman advised us all that when it comes to our inner voices, it’s important to “separate the writer from the editor, the editor from the critic, and dump the critic.”

David Wiesner showed us how the shape of UFO’s and the movie The Shining, both inspired the picture book Tuesday.  He also literally illustrated how ideas can try for years and years to express themselves through different projects, before they finally manifest.

Sherman Alexie inspired us all with his charismatic speech and eloquently reminded us about the nature of writing as well as its purpose.  “You’re alone.  You are doing this alone.  But remember someone else is out there alone.”

And then, after so many insightful and inspiring words, we got to what the conference is all about.  Boooogying at the Blue Moon Ball!

I can’t imagine any two events more saturated with great minds, creative talent, and genuine inspiration.  So it was with a huge grin on my face that I walked out onto the expo floor on Wednesday night.  And Comic-Con did not disappoint.

There’s an infinite number of ways to amuse yourself at Comic-Con, a point that my friend and fantastic artist Andy Mitchell literally illustrates here.

One of my favorite ‘distractions’ of the long weekend was Quick Draw!  It’s a battle of speed and humor pitting 3 artists against each other.  This year, it was Sergio Aragones from Mad Magazine, Scott Shaw from Hanna-Barbera, and Floyd Norman from Disney.

Displayed on giant projectors, their hands raced to draw a cross between a armadillo and a dung beetle, or to get a member of the audience to guess a secret word, or to illustrate scenarios.  Here’s Sergio Aragones’s answer to “Tragedy strikes Donald Duck.”

I also got a chance to hear Holly Black, author of Tithe and The Spiderwick Chronicles talk about outlining a novel and “the process of ingreatening it.”  She confessed that her original outlines often consist of “insert genius idea here” or “evil is defeated.”  It’s lovely to know that fascinating stories can still materialize out of humble beginnings.

She also spoke about how lazy her characters are.  Holly Black lamented that, while other writers talk about their characters dictating the story to them, her characters spend the whole book trying to get out of being the protagonist.   She quipped that they don’t want to go on a quest, they just wanna go home.  Again, I found these confessions from such a great writer very reassuring.

I had other shining moments this weekend.  Hearing Ray Bradbury talk about the moon landing, Eoin Colfer and Mary Pearson sharing their author experiences, and literally running into Seth Green.  But what struck me most is that Comic-Con is a giant party of people that all love the same things.  All kinds of artists gather together to show each other how they make their art and how much that art is appreciated. It’s a place where you can shake your hero’s hand and snap a picture.

Where you can meet the stars that make your favorite characters leap off the screen.  Or imagine what it would be like to be them.

Where the guy who made the homage t-shirt is thanked by the guy on the t-shirt.  Here it doesn’t matter if you’re an artist, a collector, a writer, a reader, an actor, or a fan. Because at Comic-Con, everyone is part of the same great story.

It was the highlight of my summer and I always read a ton of Newberys cause they were worth more points.  It’s also how I discovered one of my favorite all-time books, Journey Outside  by Mary Q. Steele, which, tragically, pretty much no one else has ever heard of.  Luckily, I read it enough times for all of you.

Sigh.  Those were the days.

Well, there’s no prizes for this list, but if you’re going to the SCBWI Summer Conference or you just want a good summer read, these books might come in handy.  These are some of my favorite books written by authors coming to this year’s conference.  It’s YA biased and I’m only including books I’ve read, so some great ones are probably left out.  I apologize in advance!

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey -Awesomely dark fantasy, compellingly told in both first and third person.

King Dork by Frank Portman -Best made-up band names in the history of the world.

Catherine Called Birdy by  Karen Cushman -Cause medieval humor is the wackiest!

Tithe by Holly Black- Creepy fairies and teen angst…what better combination is there?

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie – You will literally laugh and cry at the same time.

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park -Exquisitely written, need I say more?

Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee – It’s funny cause it’s true.  Millicent’s humor is totally authentic.

And lets not forget picture books!  A couple of my favorite illustrator/authors are going to be speaking at the conference this year.

Every Friday by Dan Yaccarino – I can’t say enough good things about this simple, perfect father/son story.

Tuesday by David Wiesner – Flying frogs.  Let me just be clear about this.  Flying. Frogs.

Whether you’re a writer or a reader, summer is a time for sitting on the porch, munching on an Otter Pop, and falling into a book.  And each one of these is a perfect place to spend your summer vacation.

Children’s Book World is a wonderful, well-stocked bookstore full of staff who love books and want to help you fall in love with them too.  They’ll work hard to find a perfect book-match for you.  Or if you want to have a good book debate, they’re the right people: smart, funny, and with definite opinions.  It’s a joy to go there and see what’s new, what the staff likes, and what people are reading.

Last year when I read 1000 picture books in 100 days, the folks at Children’s Book World were lifesavers, creating delicious piles of books for me to read while I sat on their comfy couch.  By the time I got halfway through the pile, they had already replenished it with a never ending stack of perfect books.  As you can see, the tradition has continued.

It was also wonderful to have illustrator friends Ken Min and Karyn Raz there to share their favorite artists and new picture books.  There is nothing like savoring picture books in the company of picture book creators.

And I had a kids book first.  With my friend, Wilson Swain, there in the bookstore, I bought The Castaway Pirates, a great pop-up picture book that he illustrated.  Then, there in the store, he autographed it for me.  Today was definitely a day for reveling in creative successes, wonderful stories, and talented friends.

Dan Yaccarino
(Every Friday, Trashy Town)

Mark Teague
(How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, The Secret Shortcut)

David Shannon
(No, David, Duck on a Bike)

Steve Jenkins
(Move, Actual Size)

David Wiesner
(Tuesday, Flotsam)

These illustrators show a creativity with their subject matter that brings you closer to it. Their pictures invite you into the story and stay in your mind long after. Whether it’s the simplicity of line, the movement within a still image, or the depth of detail, all of these illustrators and their styles are a joy to look at and read.

Wanna see who else I’ve been reading?

Fight!

Illustrations can make or break a picture book. You cannot have a great book without great pictures.
Mediocre Text + Fantastic Pictures= Good Book
Fantastic Text + Mediocre Pictures= Mediocre Book

Ouch! I’m sure there are exceptions to the ‘Law of Pictures’ that I’ve just totally pulled out of my b… uh… brain. But, ultimately, illustrations have the power to bring a book to life. They engage and capture us. If the pictures don’t resonate with us, the reader, if they don’t give us a rich, active world, then the story and characters are never going to win us over.

But wait! Words still have a chance here. I mean, they come first. The words are what inspire the pictures. Without words, there are no books. Right?

But, what about Flotsam by David Wiesner? Or Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman? They don’t have any words.

Okay. Without stories, there are no pictures. I suggest that authors and their stories are what inspire the pictures in the first place. If the words don’t hint at more than just what’s on the page, or if they give too much detail, then the illustrators can’t create wonderful pictures. Words and stories are critical in their ability to fire up the imagination of both the illustrator and the reader.

Ooops. Does that mean, in this fierce battle to the death, that pictures and words really are an even match?

Ummm…

Good question.

A ’sweet’ last page ends up feeling cheesy if it’s not combined with a giggle. The ‘quiet’ ending leaves you trying to turn one more page, sure that the story isn’t actually over. As a writer, it’s important to ask, is that final page going to deliver a laugh? A twist? A zing? At least a smile? If the reader is going to feel satisfied, it really needs to.

Marla Frazee and her editor, Allyn Johnston, talked a lot about this during the summer conference. Even for a simple book like Everywhere Babies, they sweated over the ending. The last page turn was originally super sweet. I think the picture was a parent hugging a baby and the text went something like this:

“Every day, everywhere, babies are loved…. for trying so hard, for all that they do, for being so wonderful…just like you!”

They wanted a zingier ending, so the text was changed to this and was paired with a baby taking her first steps.

“Every day, everywhere, babies are loved…. for trying so hard, for traveling so far, for being so wonderful…just as they are!”

This was definitely less sweet, but still didn’t give them that final zing they were looking for. So, they kept the new text, but changed the picture. Now, in the published version, the page spread before the final page is a kid’s first birthday party and the final page reads “Just as they are.” With a baby grinning proudly with cake all over her face. This change transformed the final page turn from an ‘ahhhhh….’ to a chuckle. And it makes for a much stronger book.

The perfect ending is definitely tricky to do. Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst brings us a laugh at the end by giving a twist to the repeated phase, “I think I’ll move to Australia.” The book ends with “Mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia.”

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett and Miss Nelson is Missing written by Harry Allard and illustrated by James Marshall both use pictures and text to give us a tantalizing hint that everything is not exactly as it seems.

Often, the final zing is completely in the pictures. Olivia by Ian Falconer is a classic example of the visual last page turn. On the final page of the books, you get to see what grand dreams she is imagining. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems is the same way. Mo Willems even uses the end papers to show the Pigeon imagining himself driving the big rig. Pssst! by Adam Rex uses a visual twist masterfully, though I won’t ruin the surprise. David Wiesner is also a master at this in Tuesday and Sector 7.

Though this may sound a bit obvious, the entire book is leading up to the ending. The final page turn often determines whether the book will make a lasting impression on the reader. It’s your last chance to win over the reader or get that final smile. So make it a good one.

The End

Adam Rex

His picture book, Pssst!, is wonderful, fabulous, and so very, very funny. The style of his pictures, the hilarious details, the surprise of the story blow me away.

It has everything a great picture book needs. An engaging story that keeps you reading. Strong characters that you care about and can relate to. Kid (and adult) friendly pictures with a definitive style and a clear focus. And, most importantly, a ‘zing’ at the end that leaves you satisfied.

These elements are much harder to weave together than they sound. It’s even harder to do it brilliantly. As a result, there are very few ‘perfect’ picture books out there. This is one of them

Adam Rex, you’re my hero.

The Caldecott is given each year “to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” It’s the illustrator who receives the award, but the book as a whole has to be superior, as well. So this week, I decided to find out what makes a book a Caldecott. It’s been enlightening.

The thing about Caldecotts is that they generally stay in print. So you have a sampling of books from the last 70 years. It’s amazing how much picture books have changed. And how much they haven’t.

Take the 2005 Caldecott Medal winner, Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes. This book has a simple, sweet story about a kitten mistaking the full moon for a bowl of milk. The pictures have a clean and simple style with bold lines and soft, night time colors. This book could’ve been created at anytime, ever since cats have been gazing up at the moon. It has a classic feel with a lovely, traditional picture book story and structure. Picture books haven’t really changed.

But they have. And Smoky Night illustrated by David Diaz and written by Eve Bunting shows this clearly. This magnificent story takes us out of the normally safe and snug domain of picture books and throws us into the middle of a riot. These are not ducklings at stake either, but children, families, and neighborhoods.

Styles change too. This year’s medal book, Flotsam by David Wiesner is a complicated story told completely with bright, detailed, funny pictures. Wordless picture books aren’t new. But Flotsam is an good example of how pictures have started taking on new importance and complexities in childrens’ books, as texts get shorter and illustrations start creeping (wonderfully) into older and older childrens’ books.

So, looking at all these picture books, have they changed over the years? Ummmmmm, excellent question. But unfortunately, I have an urgent appointment I just remembered. Gotta go!

Take a look at other Caldecott greats I read this week: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Tuesday by David Wiesner, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, Olivia by Ian Falconer, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig, Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin.

Tony’s joined a collection of artists from work who look their creative sides straight in the eye and say, ‘Um…hello?’ Each week, ‘The Drawing Board‘ illustrates a new topic. This week’s topic, your favorite fat superheroes, definitely inspired Tony to take his creative side out to dinner, complete with in-depth discussion. As a result, he created a spectacular, slightly pathetic, and quite likable superhero. Congratulations, Tony. You’re AWESOME! Weight Watcher, Away!