Picturebook Draft and Checkpoint...

Several years ago, I started writing a series of children's books called "Copper County Calls". The object has been to develop different characters involved in law enforcement and emergency services for children to relate to by developing stories with a lesson that would be fun and exciting for children to read and learn. To date, I have finished three stories entitled Ranger Ray Saves the Day, Trooper Trey the Right Way, and Deputy Dave A Life to Save. Other stories under construction include:  Patrolman Pete Walks the Beat, Fireman Fred Sees Red, and Emmy EMT and Me.  

My picturebook for class will be Ranger Ray Saves the Day. I have included in this blog the text and a draft of the activity guide.  I hope that the words and imagery together, once finished, will portray a great story that children will enjoy and will teach a lesson about one aspect of the job as a park ranger. 

COPPER  COUNTY  CALLS  ADVENTURE  BOOK  SERIES

RANGER RAY SAVES THE DAY

The campfires are burning low

As daylight is letting go

Of another great day in the park

Fireflies are getting their start.

The moonlight glistens on the lake

As the boats on shore move with the wake.

Bullfrogs begin their evening song

Shadows taking form but not for long.

Ranger Ray is making his rounds

A thrash can bandit to be found.

Will there be four legs or two?

There will be no exception to the rules.

Making a mess around the park

Coming out only after dark

To scatter papers, food and cans

Forcing the rangers to take matters into their own hands.

A tasty treat waits inside

He can run but he can’t hide.

The trap is set and Ranger Ray will wait

For the evening bandit to take the bait.

Returning to the scene of the crime

Our nighttime crook is caught this time.

Mr. Raccoon is escorted to the wildlife area today

Thanks to the quick thinking of Ranger Ray.

Activity Guide:

Text 

1. The text of a children's book is usually organized into simple sentences and short paragraphs. How is the text organized in this picturebook? Explain whether this organization was sufficient for the story that this book is telling. 

2. Children's book authors often employ literary tools to help make the story more vivid in the reader’s minds. Commonly used literary tools are rhythm, alliteration, repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile, personification, rhyme, and imagery. Identify three different areas in the text where a literary tool has been employed. For each example you identify, state the type of literary tool that is used and how the employment of the tool helps support the story. 

3. Identify two areas in the text that use a question or other device to help move the reader to the next page. 

Images

1. Some picture books have images on the front cover that presents the main conflict or point of the story. Identify two or more elements from the front cover of the book you are reviewing and explain how they relate to the story. 

2. What is the primary medium (collage, drawings, photographs, etc.) used in the images? 

3. Identify the image that in your opinion is the most effective in developing the story as a whole. Explain how two or more elements in the illustration help support and develop the story. 

4. Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a majority of the images. Explain how these elements support the story. 

5. Find an example of how the images and text work together to create irony, metaphor and/or metonymy. 

Characterization 

1. What is the easily identifiable dominant trait of the story's main character? 

2. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the text. 

3. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the images. 

4. Identify two character traits of the main character that young children identify or sympathize with. 

5. What was the main problem that the main character faces in the book? How is this problem similar to a problem that most children have faced before? 

6. Sometimes a children's book character will solve the main conflict on his or her own. How did the character in the book you selected turn to self-reliance to solve the main conflict of the story? 

https://storybird.com/books/the-camping-capers/?token=yfdbf66ty9

Above is the link to my picturebook.  I had to make some changes as I developed it in Storybird, so my story as I wrote it originally is somewhat different.  You learn a lot as you go; and obviously, that is the object here.  If I was going to publish in PowerPoint or with an illustrator, I would emphasize Ranger Ray as the main character.  I had to downplay Ranger Ray when using Storybird because of the group of pictures I selected as I was looking for a raccoon .  When I went to a lake or camping group, there weren't any pictures of raccoons.  I kept thinking that I could select from different groupings and put them together, but found that I couldn't do that.  However,  I have to say, though, that it was amazing how this selection of pictures fit my storyline.  I loved the way it turned out, and I hope you do as well.   As you can tell from the link, the title changed to The Camping Capers. I hope that this blog entry is not too confusing. I am leaving my original blog entry when I starting the Picturebook Draft and Checkpoint blog earlier this week.  I think it is important that you know where I started and how I ended up here.