The Inventor’s Secret

inventorssecret

The Inventor’s Secret: What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford
by Suzanne Slade (Author) and Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The BIG Picture

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford started off as insatiably curious tinkerers. That curiosity led them to become inventors–with very different results. As Edison invented hit after commercial hit, gaining fame and fortune, Henry struggled to make a single invention (an affordable car) work. Witnessing Thomas’s glorious career from afar, a frustrated Henry wondered about the secret to his success.

NSTA 2016 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

In this dual picture book biography, the two inventors finally meet near the end of the book. After Henry tells Thomas about his car:

Thomas fired off question after question.

Henry happily answered each one.

And that’s when it happened.

Blue eyes sparkling, Thomas leaned in close to Henry.

He banged his fist on the table. “Keep at it!” he shouted.

TURN THE PAGE

Henry smiled.

Keep at it?

Henry laughed.

He’d known Thomas’s secret all along!

The action/reaction pattern in this scene is quite clear:

Thomas fired off question after question.

Henry happily answered each one.

Then the BIG moment happens:

And that’s when it happened.

Notice the specific details:

Blue eyes sparkling, Thomas leaned in close to Henry.

He banged his fist on the table.

And what did Thomas say?

Keep at it!” he shouted.

This NEW action is followed by a NEW reaction:

Henry smiled.

Keep at it?

Henry laughed.

He’d known Thomas’s secret all along!

The moment of enlightenment has just occurred. Act 2 of the story has just ended. It’s time for Act 3 to begin!

It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Are you ready to write your picture book? Work with a developmental editor.

Copyright © 2016 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Zoo Zoom!

zoozoom
Zoo Zoom!
by Candace Ryan (Author) and Macky Pamintuan (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The BIG Picture

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . blastoff!

When the animals at the zoo spot a rocket ship, next stop . . . the moon!

Zoo zoom!

Each animal has a job to do, but a sleepy rhino could cause trouble.

Zoo boom!

They’ll need to act quick . . . will they make it home?

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

The first page of the story book says:

Monkey turns the key.
Condor opens the door.

Which bar to go far?

ZOO ZOOM!
ZOO ZOOM!

The book begins with a zoo animal taking action:

Monkey turns the key.

That action leads to a NEW action with a NEW animal:

Condor opens the door.

Those two actions lead to a question:

Which bar to go far?

The answer will give the zoo animals what they want:

ZOO ZOOM!
ZOO ZOOM!

Each line in this picture book moves the story forward.

Copyright © 2016 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.