What makes a picture book shine? What separates a so-so story from a must have? What does an acquisition editor see in a great picture book manuscript? Picture book agents and editors are bombarded with manuscripts. Some are fresh twists on a classic idea. Others are revolutionary in every way. Yet, most picture book manuscripts never get off the ground if ever out of their author’s head. Join along as we dive deep into picture books by interviewing recent picture book teams. We’ll learn what made them shine and why the editor signed on the dotted line.

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Today we get a behind-the-scenes tour of two books; MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER and WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR. Their teams weighed in and the insight in tremendously raw and straight forward. You’ll want to take some notes and look for these two books on store shelves. Each book has been placed in parallel below so you can see why both books shined so well from similar people on both book teams. Or you’ll just be confused. It’s a chance I’m willing to take!

• In MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER, Oliver observes class guinea pigs Mac and Cheese and learns friendship skills–they’re the best of friends! When Oliver tries to snuggle, cuddle, and nuzzle his classmates like a guinea pig would, they don’t seem to like it. With the help of his teacher and classmates, Oliver learns that being a friend means respecting personal space. This story is written by author Jolene Gutiérrez who has worked as a teacher-librarian for 25 years and witnessed many students struggling with personal space.
  • Editor – Callie Metler-Smith with Clear Fork Publishing
  • Art Director – Dr. Mira Reisberg
  • Illustrator – Heather Bell
  • Agent – Unagented

• In WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR, Roxy and Stumpy, two clever raccoons, are known for their dumpster diving abilities. Most mornings, their bellies are full and sleep comes easy. Until one day, they aren’t so lucky. Tired and hungry, Roxy and Stumpy meet a handful of unique animal friends who eat prickly pear cactus. Yes, that’s right – CACTUS! Join the raccoons as they decide whether or not this spiny food is worth the trouble. This story is written by author Tina Mowrey and is her debut picture book. While she loves writing picture books, she also enjoys playing the piano and guitar, swimming, and hiking. She is an 8th grade language arts teacher and a mom of two daughters.
  • Editor – Callie Metler-Smith with Clear Fork Publishing
  • Illustrator – Sarah Williams
  • Agent – Stephanie Hansen with Metamorphosis Literary Agency

From the Editor’s Desk

What’s so special about this book that you had to have it?

I loved that the book presented a common issue that most kids struggle with in a format that was easy for them to understand. My son had a huge issue with personal space and I wish there had a been a book like this when he was little.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Callie Metler-Smith

I loved that this book represented a true Texas element, Raccoons and Prickly Pear Cactus. As a young girl, I remember making prickly pear jelly with my grandmother and I loved that this book let people into that fun world.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Callie Metler-Smith

What does this book bring to the market?

It fills a hole in the current marketplace. While books about special needs are more prominent than they have been in the past, this is not a topic that is tackled often.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Callie Metler-Smith

I love any book that shares a little piece of a culture with those outside of that world. This book encompassed that and presented it in a fun way.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Callie Metler-Smith

What did you think or feel when you first read the manuscript?

I loved this manuscript right away and was excited to work on it more. Each time we did edits together I got more and more excited about a difference this book could make.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Callie Metler-Smith

I loved the manuscript right away and I loved that Tina was willing to work on it so hard to make it the awesome piece we have today.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Callie Metler-Smith

What stood out to you about the author and/or agent soliciting the manuscript?

Jolene was such a pleasure to work with. Her writing was very polished and unique. I really loved the perspective and her character development.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Callie Metler-Smith

I had worked with Stephanie Hansen before and knew what great taste she had in writers. I was very excited to have such a great manuscript to begin with and it just got better as we talked and worked through it. This was a great team effort.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Callie Metler-Smith

What made you select the illustrator for the project?

It was very important that the illustrator have connections to Texas and that they had a clear vision for the book. Sarah and I had exchanged emails about finding a project for her around the same time I acquired Tina’s book and I thought it would be worth seeing what Sarah thought of it. It was obvious that Sarah loved the project.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Callie Metler-Smith

What do you hope children, parents, or families get from this book?

I hope that readers get a better understanding of how personal space can be hard for some people and how to accept and teach them boundaries.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Callie Metler-Smith

I hope readers enjoy this glimpse of Texas culture and it makes them curious about Prickly Pears. Usually we think of Cactus as useless plants, but after reading this book, that can change.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Callie Metler-Smith

Putting ‘Picture’ in Picture Book

How did you first learn about this project?

I had recently taken a picture book illustration course through Children’s Book Academy. A few months later, the art director, Dr. Mira Reisberg asked if I was available to illustrate an upcoming book.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER- Heather Bell

I received the project when I met Callie via Facebook through a mutual friend. I was looking for ways to advance in my artwork and felt like it would be a long shot that anyone would want to publish my artwork.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Sarah Williams

What was your reaction when you received the project?

After she described the story, I was hooked and immediately started working on character sketches.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Heather Bell

I got such great feedback from Callie that I was beyond excited when she offered me the position to illustrate a book.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Sarah Williams

What challenges did you face on this project?

I am currently still working on the interior spreads, so I’m sure there are challenges yet to come. Overall, however, I’ve had a wonderful experience as I’ve been lucky to communicate with both the art director as well as the author. In the beginning, I wanted a way to visualize where this story takes place, so I created a model school room (complete with miniature tables, stools, sinks, and cupboards) to help me with layouts.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Heather Bell

After reading through the story line a few times I started researching specific characteristics of each animal listed throughout the book. After learning that Roxy and Stumpy were based off of real raccoons, I was able to develop them into their own individual selves. The physical differences in the main characters will really help depict who is who throughout the story even though they’re both raccoons.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Sarah Williams

What perspective did you have while creating the art for this project and what are you hoping to accomplish through it?

I love the entire concept of this project! It hits home for me with it’s playful, yet heartfelt story of learning about personal space and relationships. I wanted to portray the main character, Oliver, as someone who is curious, loves learning, and is doing his best to engage with his classmates and friends. He is a caring child and I liked how the author, Jolene Gutiérrez, said that she wanted the reader to see Oliver’s notebook. It has been a goal to share what Oliver is learning through his own eyes.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Heather Bell

With Tina’s book, I’m just letting my imagination go wild. My kids and I read a lot of books on a daily basis, so I guess my perspective would be drawing something they would be proud of and really enjoy.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Sarah Williams

Did anything about this project excite you to illustrate?

Mac and Cheese! The guinea pigs that star in this sweet story have been a joy to illustrate. It’s fun to express different emotions in guinea pigs through illustration. You may even catch these little pigs doing some surprising antics in the book’s back matter.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Heather Bell

My family and my husband have been extremely encouraging and that definitely helps keep me motivated and excited to draw. Everyday is something new on the drawing board.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Sarah Williams

Are there any specific elements you tried to illuminate in your story within the story?

Definitely Oliver’s notebook. I wanted to show how he views his friends in relation to what he is learning about his favorite classroom guinea pigs. Although he struggles with understanding that even close friends have personal space bubbles, he is trying his best because he cares. I wanted to show this through his sketches so the reader can see the world through his perspective.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Heather Bell

Certain elements I’m trying to illuminate in my artwork is just being myself as an artist. We’re all different and unique in ourselves and art is an excellent way to help show just how creative you can really be.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Sarah Williams

Art Director

What made you select the illustrator for the project?

I usually prefer to work with people from my Children’s Book Academy classes because I know that they are well-trained and I tend to fall in love with them and want to help them continue their careers. I chose Heather Bell because she has a terrific skill set especially in terms of showing emotion and expressions and is also very open to making changes to make the book the best it can be. Plus she’s lovely – always a big bonus.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Dr. Mira Reisberg

What is it about the author and illustrator that make this book extra special?

They are both exceptional people with deep souls, which I think shows in both the words and pictures. The story is about a kid who might be on the spectrum who has no sense of spatial boundaries with other kids as he struggles to learn what is and isn’t appropriate. He loves studying the classroom guinea pigs to learn about friendship but gets it all wrong. Until, of course, he doesn’t.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Dr. Mira Reisberg

How does this book speak to you personally?

Personally, I’m a huge hugger and a super affectionate person and have had to learn to either watch for others cues of whether they like this or not or ask – can I give you a hug? I understand that not everyone is as affectionate as I am and that demonstrative behavior is different in different cultures and individuals.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Dr. Mira Reisberg

Is Mac and Cheese like anything else on the market that fans of that book would love this one?

I think one of both Callie’s and my orientations with Clear Fork/Spork is having books that help with diversity in its many forms, especially neuro-diversity and disability. Another book that I helped edit and art direct is Rock and Roll Woods by Sherry Howard and Anika A. Wolff. This book is about a bear with sensory issues in the form of sensitivity with sound. It is very wonderful.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Dr. Mira Reisberg

Did Mac and Cheese meet the demands of any current or timeless trends in the publishing industry?

Yes, I believe it is meeting current and future (needs rather than trends) as neuro-diversity becomes more relevant in the children’s book social justice initiatives on diversity and inclusion.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Dr. Mira Reisberg

Literary Agent

Why did this book idea stand out to you?

When she sent me this manuscript I automatically fell in love with its playful tone.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Stephanie Hansen

Of all the unpublished solicitations available in the industry, why does the world need this book on store shelves?

The manuscript depicts the importance of being open to new experiences and I find that not only important but timely in a classic kind of way.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Stephanie Hansen

What is it about the author and illustrator that make this book extra special?

I first discovered Tina Mowrey during a #DVpit event and have enjoyed her creations ever since.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Stephanie Hansen

How does this book speak to you personally?

The manuscript gives a unique perspective and I’m always on the hunt for something unique.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Stephanie Hansen

Author Experience

How did this idea come to be?

I’m a teacher-librarian, and personal space is something that some kids (and adults) struggle with. I wanted to explore this in a way that would allow readers to have fun and provide opportunities to learn and discuss.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Jolene Gutierrez

This story was born from two different parts of our yard. In the front, we have a cactus garden with a large bunch of prickly pear cactus. In the back, we have two raccoons who visit us frequently at night to feast on the leftover cat food we leave out. When members of my family started harvesting the pears from the cactus to make jelly, I became interested in all the animals that eat prickly pear cactus. When I learned that raccoons do NOT eat any part of this plant, the seed idea was planted in my story-telling mind!

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Tina Mowry

What was it like sharing your ‘baby’ idea with other people?

A little scary! Honestly, I wasn’t as confident in this manuscript as I was some of my other stories, so I sought help and signed up for a critique with Callie Metler-Smith.

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Jolene Gutierrez

This was a fun one to share with critique partners because I had never written a story with talking animals before. Also, one of these partners is a native Texan, so she was able to help me with some of the local phrases I needed for the dialogue and descriptions of the area.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Tina Mowry

How did you bring the idea and manuscript to the attention of your agent or editor?

During Callie’s critique, she suggested some edits that really resonated with me and said she’d love to see the manuscript once I made the changes. I experimented with Callie’s suggestions and then shared the new and improved story with her, and she offered me a contract!

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Jolene Gutierrez

After a few rounds of revisions last summer (2018), I sent it to my agent, Stephanie Hansen. I knew there were a few publishers in the area that might be interested in a story like this, so I was hopeful. It was very different than the manuscript that Stephanie already had, but I was hoping she would like it. I remember she wrote back to me and said she couldn’t wait to get it out to editors. That made my day!

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Tina Mowry

What’s been the most challenging aspect of the publishing process so far and how have you gotten through it?

Hmm. . .I think the most challenging aspect has to be waiting to see the book baby we’ve all worked so hard to create! The writing world teaches me patience every day, and this is a perfect example. To push my impatience to a back burner, I write other things, network, and plan for my book release by participating in awesome opportunities like this!

MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER – Jolene Gutierrez

I’m not sure I’ve experienced the most challenging part yet! The marketing aspect is new to me, so I am learning as I go. Thankfully, there are so many members of the writing community who are willing to share their knowledge in this department, I feel like I have many people guiding me through the process.

The waiting, of course, is challenging. I don’t think I will ever find that part bearable. But, with the waiting, comes the possibility of some pretty amazing news.

WHAT A PRICKLY PEAR – Tina Mowry

Your turn, reader-writer extraordinaire! Did you like this behind-the-scenes glimpse of these two picture books? If so, please consider saying thank you to both teams by sharing the post on social media with the buttons below. We would also LOVE to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. Have a question? Type it in and I’ll chase down the answer!

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