
Word-Painting
by Joy Moore
BY
Come visit me at my new website
word-painting.com
Same great stuff.
Come visit me at my new website
word-painting.com
Same great stuff.
Example: Breaking The Fourth Wall with the Aside

THE LYING KING
written and illustrated by
Alex Beard
There once/ was a king -/--/
who liked/ to tell lies.-/--/
He said/ it was day -/--/
Beneath/ the skies. -/-/
“Good Morning!”
“Not a cloud in the sky!”
Image a stage, when the actor stops and speaks to the audience. The invisible wall that separates the audience from the actor is the fourth wall.
Why does this work and how can it help me?
An aside is but one way to break the fourth wall. But why would we want to do that in our writing? What are the benefits?
In story picture books with a character arc, you must have emotional resonance. This is the most difficult part of writing a picture book. It is made more challenging when trying to do so in rhyme.
The aside achieves this by speaking to the reader. The aside can communicate important information and makes the reader a confidante.
- Did you notice that the aside does not need to rhyme?
- Did you notice that The Lying King is expressing his emotions to the reader?
- Did you notice how this technique pulls the reader into the experience?
Example: Rhyming Story Picture Books

Pirate Nell's Tale To Tell
by Helen Docherty
art by
Thomas Docherty
The day/ Nell joined/ the pi/rate crew -/-/-/-/
was full/ of hope;/ a dream/ come true! -/-/-/-/
For great/ ad ven/tures filled/ her head -/-/-/-/
from ev/er y tale/ she’d e/ver read. -/--/-/-/
Nell won/dered what/ she ought/ to pack. -/-/-/-/
Of course!/ Her pi/rate’s al/ma nac. -/-/-/-/
It taught/ her all/ she’d need/ to know -/-/-/-/
from how/ to steer/ to how/ to row; -/-/-/-/
Which way/was east/ and which/ was west... -/-/-/-/
But Capt/ain Gnash/ was not/ im pressed. -/-/-/-/
Often picture book writers are told NOT to rhyme. Agreed, there are challenges to overcome. Challenges like: Is the story serving the rhyme, or is the rhyme serving the story. Are we losing the plot, tension and character arc in the process?
Do not lose heart for these challenges can be overcome.
So, why does THIS story work and how can it help you?
Here are the "W" questions every story needs to ask.
- Who is the main character?
- Where is the story taking place?
- What does the main character want?
- Why does the main character want this?
Let’s see how these questions are answered with this story.
- Who-Nell
- Where- A pirate ship
- Wants- To be a pirate
- Why- For great adventures
So, in the spirit of Nell, I say forge ahead! Don’t let anyone stop you. Write your story in rhyme. Make you character memorable and multi-dimensional. Answer all of the "W" questions in the first few paragraphs.
If someone tells you it is a hard sell to write a certain type of book, maybe it’s because they haven't seen YOUR book yet!
Example: Cadence

THE PROPER WAY TO MEET A HEDGEHOG
And Other How To Poems
Selected by Paul B. Janeczko
Art by
Richard Jones
HOW TO BUILD A POEM
By Charles Ghigna
Let's build a po em -/-/-
made of rhyme /-/
with words like lad ders -/-/-
with words that climb, -/-/
with words that like -/-/
to take their time. -/-/
Cadence can be described as: a rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words. In poetry, it is what sets the pace of a literary piece.
Why does this work and how can it help you?
- Did you notice how the hard beats of the poem above appear to match the pounding of a hammer?
- Did you notice the structure of this poem appears to match that of climbing a ladder?
Cadence connects the sounds and senses to each other. It helps you not only read the words but experience the words. Cadence can make you feel. It has the power to get under your skin, linger and sometimes unsettle you.
Example: Hypercatalectic and Catalectic

WAYS TO WELCOME
By Linda Ashman
Art by
Joey Chou
Waves and / shakes /-/+
And hel/los /-/+
Eye to /eye /-/+
And nose to/ nose. /-/+
Sooth ing/ words /-/+
An ex/pert guide /-/-
Step by/ step /-/+
And side by/ side. +/-/+
When it comes to rhythmical poetry we only count hard beats.
Poets have a variety of tools at their disposal. One of which is rhythm. Poetry is an art form where each word is weighed and measured. It can set a tone, spur emotions, make ideas memorable and create music.
Hypercatalectic is when a soft beat is added. Catalectic is when a soft beat is subtracted. Notice how this is done in the poem above.
I have scanned it as trochaic/dimeter. That means the first syllable has a hard beat followed by a soft beat. Each line has two hard beats.
- Did you notice that the first line in the first stanza is missing a soft beat at the end? That is catalectic.
- Did you notice that the last line in each stanza has an added soft beat added at the beginning of the line? That is hypercatalectic.
- Important to note is usually no more than two hypercatalectic/catalectic beats per line. Otherwise the poem loses its musicality.
When we introduce children to the music of reading, it becomes a pleasure. They will go on to read chapter books, novels and textbooks.
Sometimes the picture book or poem in your hands is the first step to a thoughtful, educated and well-read adult.
Example: Cumulative Story Structure

THIS IS THE MESS THAT WE MADE
by Michelle Lord
art by Julia Blattman
This is the mess that we made.
These are the fish that swim in the mess that we made.
This is the seal that eats the fish that swim in the mess that we made.
This is the net that catches the seal, that eats the fish that swim in the mess that we made.
This is the boat of welded steel, that dumps the net, that catches the seal, that eats the fish
that swim in the mess that we made.
- Each event reinforces the initiating problem of the story and a new attempt at solving it. It helps children to think of different solutions.
- Did you notice the problem, initiating event, character intentions and desires, and moral are there?
- This is fun because children soon pick up on the refrain and increase their own vocabulary.
- Did you notice how each event add momentum? Thereby increasing tension.
Example: The Refrain

A Southern Child's Garden of Verses
by David Davis
art by
Herb Leonhard
THE HOUSE ON WISDOM HILL
Far down/ the road, -/-/
past Bird/song’s mill, -/-/
near Caut/hen Pond, -/-/
so deep /and still, -/-/
I climb/ the path, -/-/
in aut/umn’s chill, -/-/
to the house/ on Wisd/om Hill. --/-/-/
The boards/ are warped -/-/
and gray/ with age, -/-/
like curled/.+ scraps -/+/
of parch/ment page; -/-/
the lean/ing fence, -/-/
a rust/y cage -/-/
for the house/ on Wisd/om Hill. --/-/-/
I mount/ the porch -/-/
and try/ to see -/-/
past tangl/ed vines -/-/
and hist/or y -/-/
when Grand/pa was -/-/
a boy/ like me, -/-/
at the house/ on Wisd/om Hill. --/-/-/
Why does this work and how can it help you?
- Did you notice the refrain at the end of each stanza? Also known as a catch phrase.
- Did you notice that this refrain has a different number of feet? It shocks you out of your boredom. Makes you pay attention.
- Did you notice that the refrain does not rhyme with all of the verses?
- These techniques turns a story that is good into something exceptional.
Example: Picture Book Poem

Finding Kindness
by Deborah Underwood
art by Irene Chan
Kindness is sometimes /--/-
a cup and a card -/--/
or a ladder, a truck, and a tree; --/--/--/
a scratch and a cuddle, -/--/-
a rake and a yard, -/--/
a cookie, a carrot, a key. -/--/--/
it’s seeds and a feeder, -/--/-
A seat on the train, -/--/
A daisey, A peach, or a pie; -/--/--/
A wave at a baker, -/--/-
a boost on a crane, -/--/
A sandwich shared up in the sky. -/--/--/
Why does this work and how can it help you?
- Concept poems are perfect when trying to use rhyme in picture books.
- Did you notice that you are not forced into a dramatic arc.
- Did you notice that this is a list poem?
- This sets a lyrical, rhythmical tone. Not heavy in end rhymes. The rhyme is gently interspersed, like a flavorful spice.
This poem does all the heavy lifting of a story book. But it does more, it tells us how to be kind and compassionate while making us feel good.
Example: Poetry Within Prose

Little Red Rhyming Hood
by Sue Flies
art by Petros Bouloubasis
Once there was a girl who spoke only in rhyme. This drew attention.
“Want to ride the swings with me? /-/-/-/
Race our bikes or climb a tree?” /-/-/-/
“Look, everybody, the sad little rhymer has no friends,” teased the Big Brad Wolf.
“You don’t bother me, big Brad. /-/-/-/
Nasty words won’t make me sad.” /-/-/-/
But his word did bother her.
One day after playing at the park, she said to her grandma,
“I wish I was not this way. /-/-/-/
May I hide in here today?” /-/-/-/
Why does this work and how can it help you?
- Did you notice this has tension, page turns and an emotional arc?
- Did you notice that the rhyme happens only when the girl is speaking? This works because there is a reason for it. In this story we are learning about a girl who can only speak in rhyme. How this causes her problems and how she overcomes these problems.
This works because the story is not serving the rhyme.
Example: Cumulative Story Structure.

Kate who Tamed the Wind
by Liz Garton
art by Lee White
Once there was a man
living all alone in a creaky
house on the tip-top
of a steep hill.
The man lived all alone
in the creaky house on the
tip-top of a steep hill where
a soft wind blew.
The man lived all alone
in the creaky house where the
curtain swung and chimes spun
as a soft wind blew…
and blew…
and blew…
A cumulative tale is one that builds on the strength of repetition and theme.
Why does this work and how can it help you?
- Did you notice that a cumulative tale can rhyme, or not. This story has rhyme lightly sprinkled making it lyrical and fun.
- Because you are not restrained by the formulas of rhythm, it enables you greater liberty in telling your tale.
When children know what to expect in a story, they become familiar with language. Familiarity with language enhances their ability to read.
Ability to read makes them more confident learners. Thus, ends my short cumulative explanation.
Example: Lyrical Prose

Loving Hands
by Tony Johnston
art by Amy June Bates
A child/ is born/ one win/ter day -/-/-/-/
His moth/er calls/ him lamb. -/-/-/
She hums/ a tune/ that has/ no words -/-/-/-/
and holds/ her bab/y’s hands. -/-/-/
The bab/y wakes./ The bab/y sleeps.-/-/ +-/-/
And grow./ One day/ he stands.-/+-/-/
He falt/ers like/ a wob/bly colt. -/-/-/-/
His moth/er holds/ his hands.-/-/-/
Why does this work and how can it help you?
- Did you notice that the first stanza has two near rhymes and the second stanza has true rhymes.
- Did you notice it holds its rhythm all the way through?
This concept book has more near rhymes that true rhymes. A rhyme crime in poetry.
However this is lyrical prose, that just happens to have a rhythm of iamb and anapest. Something that confuses the poet,
yet, engages the reader.
A poignant story that in my opinion, is well done!
Example: Spondee

just add
GLITTER
by Angela Diterlizzi
art by Smantha Cotterill
Bored,/ ignored,/ or feel/ing down? -/-/-/-/
Need/ some fanc/y in your/ town? -/-/-/-/
Want/ some shine/ upon/ your crown? -/-/-/-/
Just add glitter! / / /
Why does this work and how can it help me?
- Did you notice the use of the Spondee in the last line? This gives a heightened feeling. Giving an emotional experience for the child.
- Did you notice that the last line rhymes with nothing?
This gives the writer greater freedom. Children love repeating the line with you.
Example: Metrical Variance

Bear Can't Sleep
by Karma Wilson
art by Jane Chapman
In his home/ in the forest, --/--/
While the cold/ + wind blows, --/--/
+ Bear snug/gles in his/ + quilt +-/--/+/
From his nose/ to his toes.--/--/
While the snow/+ flakes fall--/+-/
And the drifts/ + pile high. --/+-/
+ Bear toss/es and he/ + turns, +-/--/+/
+ Bear moans/ and he sighs. +-/--/
He stares/ at the wall; +-/--/
he’s not tired/ at all. --/+-/
And the bear can’t sleep! --/ / /
Why does this work and how can this rhyme scheme help you?
- Did you notice the metrical variance of two beats, two beats, three beats, two beats.
- Did you notice the refrain and the use of the spondee?
- Did you notice the variance with in the refrain, with two beats, two beats, three beats.