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When a Dragon Moves In Again Written by Jodi Moore Illustrated by Howard McWilliam Flashlight Press        9/01/2015 978-1-936261-35-2 32 pages        Age 4—8 “If you build a perfect castle, a dragon will move in, followed by. . . a baby?! Preparations are in fll swing o welcome a new family …

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Today, Kid Lit Reviews is pleased to welcome a young man with either a wildly creative imagination or one of the most interesting best friends a boy can have by his side. We’ll call him “Big Brother” since his newest story centers around the addition of a new family member in the form of a …

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April has been a busy, crazy, fun, busy, poetical, busy, bunny business month--and it's not over yet.
So before it gets any crazier, I'll share what I've been reading, doing, writing...

Who says libraries are just for books? Not the Lorain, Ohio children's librarians! They are encouraging kids to explore their creative side in fashions with "Sew Lorain Kids." A long time ago I worked in a couple of libraries in the Cleveland area. I'm so glad to see that the librarians there are continuing to be innovative. There are so many great craft how-to books in libraries, but why not give kids a chance to actually put the lessons into practice. My hats off to all of you in Lorain!!!


 I've been working on a variety of writing projects--one of them is an easy reader narrative nonfiction book on stars. So I was delighted to see a new book by Kathleen T. Isaacs which highlights picture books dealing with nature: BUGS, BOGS, BATS, AND BOOKS. Young readers--as well as their parents--often need help in finding age-appropriate books on various nonfiction subjects. This title also including science activities relating to various topics in the book. Look for this book at the library or ask your librarian to help you find some delightful nonfiction books to share with your children.


Kuddos to another librarian--this time with the focus on poetry. Thinking totally outside of the norm, Cathy Jo Nelson, a South Carolina educator, blogs about "The Unexpected Perks of Poetry." She and a teacher collaborated on a poetry assignment--encouraging the students to create poems from words in book titles: spine poetry. Ms. Nelson elaborates in her blog about the many bonuses of this activity for both students and faculty. Poetry always seems to expand the world for us.



I'm writing the rough draft of chapter book with a poetic ghost in it. Although the story didn't start out with a lyrical ghost, she just appeared out of thin air--so to speak. And who am I to tell her that she doesn't belong in this story. I might be haunted for eternity...so I continue writing.


 Apparently April is also NATIONAL HUMOR MONTH. Although I was unaware of this, I have been reading some humorous picture books of late. A couple of favorites are CREEPY CARROTS by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown. Here is a video by the illustrator explaining how he envisioned the sneaky carrots. My two-year-old grandson loves this books. We've read it over and over again. I've even made him his own creepy carrots with real carrots and a black sharpie. Beware biting into that next crispy, orange carrot! There may be many more lurking in the shadows--just waiting to pounce!!!




The other fun picture I've been studying of late is WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN by Jodi Moore, illustrated by Howard McWilliam. The author uses the "what if" storyline to create an elaborate beach day fantasy complete with fire-breathing dragon. And the illustrator brings the creature to life with humor and charm, sure to entertain children of all ages. But of course, there is the dilemma--once a dragon moves in how do you get him to move out??? Rather like the moles in my backyard, I'm afraid. :)



So here's hoping April is poetically humorous--and beware of carrot-eating dragons, or something like that!

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5 Stars When a Dragon Moves In Jodi Moore Howard McWilliam 23 Pages     Ages: 4 to 8 ........ .......... Inside Jacket:  If you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move in—and that’s exactly what happens to one very lucky boy on the beach. The boy and his dragon brave the waves, roast marshmallows, roam [...]

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Jodi Moore accepted the Library of Virginia’s Annual Whitney and Scott Cardozo Award for Children’s Literature for When a Dragon Moves In last weekend!  Here is her account of the event:

WOW! The evening – the weekend – was extraordinary… just amazing! I am still pinching myself…what a star-studded, lovely weekend I had!

Virginia is a beautiful state, filled with warm, wonderful people.

The day started out with a scrumptious luncheon at the Convention Center, where all nominees were honored with medals.

We were treated to a Q&A session with the incomparable Tom Robbins, who was honored with a Literary Lifetime Achievement Award. What a fascinating man!

Following the luncheon, people were encouraged to buy the honored authors’ books and we were positioned at tables for signing. I’m thrilled to report that lots of people “adopted” Dragons! I was also interviewed on Sirius radio!

Click to view slideshow.

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by Jodi Moore

It’s okay to write a 2,000+ word picture book.

*braces self for screams of disbelief, coffee cups dropped, any chance of securing another book deal/agent/critique opening vanish, my own editors paling in shock, possible angry mobs at my doorstep and Tara questioning why-oh-why did she ever ask me to guest blog for PiBoIdMo?*

Now, hold up. I didn’t say it would be publishable. I just said it’s OKAY to write one. In fact, sometimes it may be necessary.

As picture book writers, we are challenged to deliver big ideas in as few words as possible.  We are expected to fully develop our story, our characters, our plotline; captivate our audience; fashion a fabulous first sentence and create a satisfying end.

All while leaving room—and extending faith—for the illustrations.

It’s no easy task. So I ask…why would you limit yourself in the beginning with a word count?

Perhaps it may help to look at this in a different way. Let’s say I want to build a perfect sandcastle.  If I only look at a finished product, say, one of my husband’s illustrious creations, and size up the amount of sand comprising the castle itself, I may decide I only need a few large buckets of sand to complete the task.

But that’s not what he starts with. Larry begins with an entire sandy beach. Using a large shovel, he piles on tons of sand. He sifts through bucket after bucket of the grainy particles. He packs it high as a mountain, scraping up more sand than he could possibly need.

That proud hill is his main idea. It’s the structure. The mass from which he will carve out his masterpiece. It’s his 2000+ words.

And then, he sculpts. He edits. He revises until he can see the more subtle nuances of the castle. Sometimes, a wall will cave or a doorway will be in the wrong place. But that’s okay, because he still has plenty of sand left. He can add. He can rebuild. My husband hasn’t limited himself to a few buckets of sand.

Why should you?

From your comments and posts on both this forum and Facebook, I know that you’re all busy creating your own pile of ideas. Embrace them…and write what’s in your heart. Use every word that’s necessary and a few that – you may find out later – are not. Restricting your words too early on may constrict your idea, choking the very life out of it. Let it breathe; let it swell. Let those words FLOW.

There will be plenty of time to revise—and reshape!—later.

Writing picture books can be a DAY at the beach. Shed those limitations and dig in!

Jodi Moore is the author of WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN (May 2011, Flashlight Press) and the soon-to-be-published GOOD NEWS NELSON (Story Pie Press).  She writes both picture books and young adult novels, hoping to challenge, nourish and inspire her readers by opening up brand new worlds and encouraging unique ways of thinking. You can visit he

18 Comments on PiBoIdMo Day 18: Jodi Moore Says Take a Day at the Beach, last added: 11/18/2011

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Tabatha said, on 11/18/2011 6:14:00 AM

Fun post! And I love the cover of “When A Dragon Moves In”! Looks like a great book.

Cathy Mealey said, on 11/18/2011 6:20:00 AM

Ditto Tabatha’s comment – and look at the joy on the faces of the dragon and the boy!

Robyn Campbell said, on 11/18/2011 6:21:00 AM

Loved this post. I have to read When a Dragon Moves In. It looks great. And I did write a 2000 word picture book. I changed it to a chapter book. Ha!

M. G. King said, on 11/18/2011 6:23:00 AM

Love the perfect analogy of the sand castle! My first working draft of LIBRARIAN ON THE ROOF, (Albert Whitman & Company, 2010) had 1800 words. I trimmed it down considerably before submission, but through various rounds of edits with the editor we decided we needed a scene that would add visual variety to the story. One of my cut scenes ended up being the perfect addition.

Jodi Moore said, on 11/18/2011 6:30:00 AM

Thanks, Tabatha! I was blessed with an amazing editor and illustrator!

Kim Pfennigwerth (@kpfenni) said, on 11/18/2011 6:32:00 AM

Thank you Jodi! Love the analogy and When a Dragon moves in. Looking forward to Good News Nelson!

Jodi Moore said, on 11/18/2011 6:33:00 AM

Robyn – HA! Love it!

Jodi Moore said, on 11/18/2011 6:33:00 AM

Thanks, Cathy! Expanding on my comment from Tabatha…Howard McWilliam (brilliant illustrator) and Shari Dash Greenspan (awesome editor) were somehow able to crawl into my brain and put to paper what was in my heart. <3!!!

strugglingwriter said, on 11/18/2011 6:36:00 AM

You all need to buy her book immediately. Beautiful art and beautifully written.

I also agree wholeheartedly with this post. The advice applies to novel writing too. Or at least it does for those of us that are allergic to outlines.

- Paul L.

julesmae said, on 11/18/2011 6:38:00 AM

That was well illustrated. It’s all about removing barriers and self imposed structures and obstacles, isn’t it? Once those are gone, the sky is the limit.\
Thanks for this.

Pat Haapaniemi said, on 11/18/2011 6:41:00 AM

Great post! Loved the analogy!

Kathleen Cornell Berman said, on 11/18/2011 6:45:00 AM

Thanks for your post and advice–”let it breathe; let it swell. Let those words
flow”. That is one of the reasons I love to write. You are so right in not getting so hung up on the word count early on.

Kimberly Lynn said, on 11/18/2011 6:45:00 AM

This is so true, Jodi!

It’s amazing how much a manuscript changes through revision. Wish I had saved all of my originals. Hah!

Julie said, on 11/18/2011 6:52:00 AM

Yes! We need to liberate the ideas before they can be honed. Thanks for giving us the much-needed permission.

LOVE When A Dragon Moved In by the way. Now I know where the sandcastle inspiration comes from!

Lynn said, on 11/18/2011 7:01:00 AM

Jodi, I believe you just creaked open the door to my imagination a little wider. As I was reading your post I was thinking … just write it ALL down, prune out what is not needed but keep it for later editing in case it fits better than what I kept in. Once I’ve captured them I hate throwing any ideas away.
Thanks for this. And I love dragons, yours looks like a fun story. (I submitted my dragon story to a contest, still waiting and hopeful for when winners are chosen.)

Betsy Devany said, on 11/18/2011 7:11:00 AM

I discovered your delightful dragon book at Barnes and Noble last month! What a perfect post. I will keep the sand castle image in my mind as I expand on my PiBoIdMo ideas. Thanks so much. You made me smile

Janet O'Neil said, on 11/18/2011 7:12:00 AM

My first story was 2,300 words. (I know, right?) I’ve had revisions that got it down to about 600, but am thinking it may end up as a chapter book. Can’t wait to read When a Dragon Moves In!

Louise said, on 11/18/2011 7:35:00 AM

What an awesome metaphor! I’ll have to remember that for my next picture book – start with the idea, and prune the words after.

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