Welcome back to my vlog 'KidLit Corner'!
In Episode #2, I wax lyrical about eight picture books I love with one theme in common - 'being different'!
Learn about fabulous current and vintage books, pick up some new recommendations, and learn a bit about just why I adore picture books so much...

BOOKS FEATURED IN EPISODE 2
1. Too Loud, Lily! by Sofie Laguna & Kerry Argent
2. Luke's Way of Looking by Nadia Wheatley & Matt Ottley
3. Little Puggle's Song by Vikki Conley & Helene Magisson
4. Bunyips Don't! by Sally Odgers & Kim Gamble
5. I Am Thomas by Libby Gleeson and Armin Greder
6. Fey Mouse by Hazel Edwards & Kilmeny Niland
7. The Famous Wispy Bell by Gwenda Smyth and Craig Smith
8. Bev and Kev by Katrina Jane and Mandy Foot - Children's Books

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube here or by simply clicking this link https://youtu.be/FsTziAoCELs?si=myDbnyMMf9Ze4wvV

The first episode of my vlog, where I share, promote and rave passionately about all things children's literature ('kidlit').

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY!
I recorded a video to share a stack of recent children's books I have recently read and loved.
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Take a few minutes to watch my video and see if you agree with my assessments. Maybe you'll even pick up a few new titles to read.
Hope you all get time to read a children's book today! What book did you read?

Books featured are titles by Robert Vescio; Amelia McInerney; Pamela Rushby; Annaleise Byrd; Gabriel Evans; Kristin Kelly; and Jackie French.  

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Robert Vescio is an internationally published award-winning author of children’s picture books, based in Sydney.
 Many of his picture books have been translated into other languages such as German, Italian, Polish, Chinese and Korean.
 His picture book Finding you was selected for the 2023 National Centre for Australian Children's Literature list of Picture Books for Older Readers, The Voyage was selected for the 2020 Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. 
Finn and Puss and Eric Finds A Way were both shortlisted for the 2018 CBCA Bilby Awards and Window of Hope was the 2nd Prize Winner in the 2021 Forevability Book Awards Picture Book Category. The Polish edition of Under the Same Sky was the Main Prize Winner in the 20th Edition of the Child-Friendly World Competition 2022, in Poland.
 
Robert’s books are included on the NSW, VIC and QLD Premier’s Reading Challenges, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Australia.
Recently, his picture book Under the Same Sky was read on the hugely popular UK children’s show CBeebies as a bedtime story by award winning actor, Tom Hardy. And, Into the Wild, The Art of Words and Seal Child were read by the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, on her YouTube channel Storytime with Fergie and Friends. Robert is an Australia Reads ambassador and a Books in Homes role model. His aim is to enthuse and inspire children to read and write and leave them bursting with imaginative ideas.

Robert's latest release is the picture book 'Today', illustrated by Felicity Byrne and published by Little Pink Dog Books in April 2024. 

​Q1. Thanks for being here, Robert. Your picture book 'Today' illustrated by Felicity Byrne and published by Little Pink Dogs has just come out. Congratulations! Can you please share how the idea for this story originated and your process in bringing the book to fruition?

Thanks for having me on your blog, Brenton. It’s great to be here.
​Love your enthusiasm and support for the KidLit community.
And I look forward to seeing your work in bookstores and libraries, one day.
Remember, persistence is key and success always starts with failure.

I’m really happy with how Today turned out and Felicity’s work suits the story perfectly.
​Big thanks to Little Pink Dog Books for their vision and for pairing us together on this project.
Today is a joyful picture book that reminds us to find the extraordinary in the ordinary and
that every moment can hold many surprises through playful exploration.

Today is a book about looking for the wonder in every day. The little moments that are filled with surprises, fun and memories when we are present.
​The unexpected friendship between a boy and a bear guides the reader to keep their eyes open so that each day doesn’t slip by. 

With so much happening in the world at the moment, it’s important to remind ourselves to treasure the present and try to hold on to the now. There are certain moments in life that can slip by so quickly, if we don’t stop and take the time to enjoy them. Who can’t relate to that? Right?!

My writing process is very unorthodox. I’m definitely not a planner but a pantser. I might start with an ending and work my way back or halfway through a story and continue to the end and then work my way back to the beginning. But I can divide my writing process into four categories: drafting, revising, editing and publishing.

Due to the nature of the story, I felt that a lyrical style would suit Today best. The story is fun and uplifting and, as the characters are nameless, a lyrical approach helps to introduce the characters and make them more likeable.

Also, I was conscious about the sentence lengths and punctuation so that the text would sing and evoke emotion. I wanted to make the reader think and feel, simultaneously. 

Q2. Do you have a typical process when you write a picture book manuscript? What does the rewriting process look like for you? 

As a pantser, I really don’t have a typical process when writing picture books.  When it comes to finding an idea for a story, I usually make them up.
They come to me when I’m bored. Or I ask myself, ‘What if?’ Something to begin creating. The idea is not the hard part, it’s what comes next - the writing. The drafting. There are lots of books out there about self-esteem, empathy and creativity but what you need to do is make it your own and make it sound interesting and new.

As I love to write from the heart, my first draft is always the messiest. This is the best time for me to write, as I’m full of emotion. It could be when I’m sad or when I’m overwhelmed with joy and excitement. And that’s the fun part because that’s when you let loose and get messy.
The key is to let the words flow out and down on paper as quickly as possible. That’s how I capture raw emotion.

Revising is a much slower process and takes longer. Sometimes characters don’t like to behave and your story ends up going in a completely different tangent. Writing picture books can be frustrating and a struggle but that’s okay because that’s part of the creative process.
It’s fun! And the parts that don’t work in the story, I like to plant them elsewhere and watch them grow and bloom into another story.
And, before you know it, you have another idea for another story. So nothing goes to waste.

Editing is all about culling. Cull. Cull. Cull. You don’t need to be too descriptive when it comes to picture books. That’s what the illustrator is for. They’re called picture books for a reason. Make sure you leave enough room for the illustrator to tell their side of the story
through the emotive language in the story for them to work with.

I like to put my work aside for a couple of days or for a week and come back to it with fresh eyes. Do you know how many times I’ve come back to my story and have said, ‘What was I thinking?’ Trust me, it works.

My end goal is to make sure my story is perfect, polished and ready for publishing. It has to be the best it can be because publishers deserve that. I recommend a manuscript assessor to go over your story with a fine-tooth comb.
You’d be surprised what you can miss, especially when you’re too attached to it.

Q3. Is there any one thing, or multiple things, you know now about writing and publishing that you wish you knew when you began? 

Don’t write a story to please everyone. It will only stress you out and that’s when you will fail. You cannot force a story to happen. It has to come naturally.
Write what you know. We’ve all lived life and experienced things and picked-up life lessons along the way.
So, you naturally employ those life lessons into your work.

It’s easy to write but for me writing from the heart is very different. It’s putting words together in a meaningful way that can change a person’s life.
Words truly have power to change your reader and you should use them for good - to inspire others and add value to their lives.

The more heartfelt the words on the page are the more your writing will stand out and shine. And that’s why I tend to finish the first draft of my story in one sitting to capture my emotion before they disappear.

When you’re writing from the heart, you’re writing about something you’re passionate about. By writing what I care about, I’m putting my heart into my writing. This is what makes it come alive. If I write creatively on what I know and believe then I’ve achieved what I’ve set out to do.

Words are precious. They provide a way into reality. Writing is one of the best ways to connect with other people and become influential. 

Q4. For you, as a writer and a reader, what makes a perfect picture book ? 

I love picture books that teach, move and touch the heart. That’s why I love to write picture books because of the way they express ideas and emotions in simple ways. If you are hurting, healing or learning to open your heart up again, a good picture book will find you when you need it the most.

I’ve worked with some incredible illustrators over the years. The best part about being a picture book author is seeing my work come to life in a way that I could never do. There would be no me without them.

Many successful picture books have the following things in common:
i) Illustrations that are colourful and full of movement. I love picture books that surprise the
reader by the art - using a different perspective (looking from different angles i.e. high than
below, close-up rather than far away) or using mixed media.
ii) Characters that are loveable and children can identify with.
iii) Universal appeal - characters that are fun.
iv) Humour - if you can pull it off.
v) Repetition - a line that is frequently repeated in a story.
vii) Re-readability - kids love to have the same book read to them over and over again. 

A truly delicious book must contain multiple layers. And it’s these ingredients or layers that help to make a great book stand out.

Q5. You're a big fan of the magical world of Disney. Your books also often feature incredible themes of creativity and imagination. Firstly, what is your favourite Disney film? Secondly, why is imagination in stories so important right now? 

I love anything Disney. Picking my favourite Disney movie is not easy but, if I had to choose one, it would be ‘Mulan’. Great story. Great characters. Great action. Great sidekick - Eddie Murphy made Mushu shine!

Imagination is a powerful tool. It influences everything we do and helps us to be creative. It brings hope, magic and changes things for the better.

When I write, I’m writing for a reader. I want to arouse their imagination and curiosity. I want to strike a chord and provoke them. Make them think and build good communities together. Stories can help us do that. They invite us to explore.
Whether they are set in real or fantastic worlds, they take us out of ourselves and encourage us to imagine being someone else. 

Q6. Tell us about your writing space? 
My writing space changes from sitting at a desk to sitting on the couch with my laptop.  Sometimes, I’ll use pen and paper to begin with and then transfer my notes to a laptop. It’s just easier that way to make changes.

However, when I get an idea, and that can be anytime i.e. in the middle of the night, I’ll use a notebook which I have scattered all around the house for when inspiration strikes. We’ve all been there! Right?!

Q7. And a fun question for last, to make you really think! If you put 3 Robert Vescio books in a time capsule to be opened in 1,000 years, to give future generations the best understanding of who Robert Vescio is as a writer, then which 3 books would you choose and why? 

That’s a tough question and a great one too. 
It’s really hard to just pick three, as most of my books are a creative journey in empathy.
As a father and a storyteller, I feel that it is my duty or responsibility to educate, not only my children but other children, about the world we live in right now. I want to give a voice to those who have been ravaged by war, violence or natural disaster like in The Voyage and Finding You. I like to write picture books that help children cope with changes in their lives and to better understand their world and relationships. 

​But if I had to choose three books to put in a time capsule to be opened in 1,000 years, they would be Under the Same Sky, Seal Child and The Art of Words. These three books represent who I am, as a person and as a writer. Here’s why: 

i) Under the Same Sky is a story that shows when you’re feeling lonely or knocked down, someone out there is thinking of you. It will help to transform people to become more compassionate and help convert despair into love and cultivate the best of humanity. It’s a story about hope, empathy, kindness, and inspiration.

The story allows the reader to see something in a new way. It encourages children to channel their loneliness with imagination to find hope and new friendships. It explores the beauty of the natural world and the natural phenomenon that exists between them by teaching children that what may start out as something impossible, can be possible, if we only look harder. A spirit of adventure and exploration.

Under the Same Sky is an empowering story about love and healing. Friendship is not about touching the hand or the skin of another, but rather it’s about the touching of their heart. It reminds us that by adding a simple act of kindness into the world is sure to eventually make
its way back to you. Under the Same Sky invites us to live with others in mind. All it takes is one simple act.

ii) Seal Child is a story to never give up hope when all is lost. This story is perfect for discussing life’s toughest challenges either a big move, long-distance separation, migration, natural disasters and displacement, as we are currently seeing, at the moment. Seal Child is a story about loss and survival. The story shows the highs and lows of a child’s journey trying to find her family and a place to call home again. We see the child grow as a
person and become resilient through all the challenges she faces.

​I am the son of migrant parents. My father and mother came to Australia from Italy in the late ‘50s. Here, they both met and married. I can only imagine how hard and challenging it must have been for them to leave their home after the war and adapt to a new country, a new language and a new lifestyle.

The motivation for this story derives from a strong desire to keep their stories alive and for the many other migrants who have made the journey to find peace and start a new future elsewhere. I hope this story will help children talk about the different reasons people are forced to flee.
The fact that sometimes life becomes so frightening or dangerous due to war, poverty, violence or natural disaster and that is why families have no choice but to leave and build new lives elsewhere.
Stories like Seal Child can help build awareness and admiration and have a greater understanding of the many different paths people follow.  

iii) The Art of Words shows readers that there is also a fun side to me, as well. This interactive story is about the magic of words and the interplay of the verbal and visual aspects of each word told in a fun, unique way.  Words are powerful. They have the ability to convey messages, evoke emotions, and
spark your imagination. Everything I believe in. Basically, this book is me in a nutshell. Children will learn that even books without pictures can be fun and deserves a place on the shelf with all their favourite picture books.

From these three books, readers will understand why I love picture books. Picture books open discussions and invite the reader to discover what it’s like being someone completely different.
But the biggest takeaway is that stories will live on forever, long after we are gone.

Visit Robert Vescio and find out more about his books at robertvescio.com
His wonderful new picture book 'Today' is in bookshops now!