I recently launched my newest series, One Mad Cat. My publisher calls it a “graphic reader.” SLJ calls it an “early reader.” JLG calls it a “chapter book.” So what on earth is it? And does it even matter? I’m going to talk about the world of early readers, including the various formats, craft considerations, and pitching.
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
The cover of Song for a Whale drew me in like a moth to flame: the outline of a young girl, standing with her arms outstretched on a pier, conducting a song for the whale below. Immediately, questions swirled in my head! Why is she there? How did she get there? Can the whale hear her? I was hooked before reading the first page.
WRITERS' RUMPUS 