by Cara J. Stevens

Note: In January, we invited picture book authors to apply for a six-month mentorship with one of our Published and Listed members. This year’s mentor, Cara J. Stevens, joins us to announce the winner and share some of the submission highlights.

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I was blown away by the submissions I received for this year’s mentorship contest. Each story showed promise, and each author’s interview responses showed just how ready they all are to take their picture book writing to the next level.

One story did rise above all the rest for me. Jeff Creely’s “If You Are a Crocodile” grabbed me from the first page and tugged at my heartstrings at the end. In the story, Alice wakes up one morning and discovers she is a crocodile. As I read on, I expected to find Alice was mistaken or Alice needed to be changed back or Alice was imagining it all. Instead, I was surprised and delighted to discover that everyone else sees Alice as a crocodile too. But rather than judging her for it—no one gasps or whispers—they simply accept Alice just as she is.

This refreshing approach to the exploration of self-image and acceptance spoke to me—a formerly awkward child who transformed into a presently awkward adult. Who among us hasn’t awoken one morning to feel a bit croc-ish, hoping others will accept us and leave us to sort things through ourselves?

When I read Jeff’s response to my interview question about his inspiration for writing the book, my connection to his story deepened. A clinical psychologist, Jeff is dedicated to exploring themes of identity and attachment, and to finding ways to communicate these complicated but profound ideas to children.

One of my personal goals as a writing mentor is to help people get in touch with their most creative and authentic selves, which is why one note from Jeff’s personal statement really resonated with me: “It is clear that growth is only possible when we learn to speak the language of our inner child.”

My decision-making process was definitely not easy. Four other stories in particular really spoke to me in terms of their quality and voice.

• Jeanne Bankson’s story, “Tito’s Coconut Tree,” is an elegantly simple story written in near-perfect rhythm and rhyme about a hermit crab and home as a feeling, not a place. 

• Krysta Whittemore blew me away with her early reader documentary-style fantasy “Ice Dragons: A Magical Migration.” She describes it as National Geographic Kids: Great Migrations meets Fantastic Beasts.

• Virginia House Bergquist shared a well-crafted and important story about water scarcity in “Emma’s Bucket: The Water Train.”

• And I fell deeply in love with Matt Gallagher’s “The Leafy Beasty,” a delightful story about a hedgehog and tortoise who love to tell stories and pretend they are brave.

Every one of the submissions I reviewed honestly deserves honorable mention, and if I had the space, I’d share more about what I loved about each one.

I look forward to working with Jeff as we explore Alice and her world together and bring more of his insightful stories to life!

For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.

Cara J. Stevens has written more than 70 books for children. She is most well-known among reluctant readers and young gamers for her series of unofficial Minecraft graphic novels, video game and movie novelizations, and activity books, guides to Pokémon Go!, fidget spinners, and K-pop bands. These days, Cara spends a lot of her time diving deep into the world of popular preschool franchises like PAW Patrol, Dr. Seuss, and Blue’s Clues and You! to introduce young fans to the joy of reading and storytelling. Her book, Picture Perfect: An Insider’s Guide to Writing Picture Books is now available on Kindle.

Author photos provided by authors. Article image by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com.