PICKING PAGES Picture Book Peeks: Acorn Was A Little Wild

Welcome to my blog series Picking Pages: Picture Book Peeks where we pick our favorite Picture Book pages! Today we’re looking at ACORN WAS A LITTLE WILD by author Jen Arena and illustrator Jessica Gibson. It was published by Simon & Schuster in 2022.

This is a new blog series that I decided to create in order to highlight the visual nature of picture books, and how the words and illustrations are so closely tied together. The purpose is to promote amazing books, and to give a little “peek” at the interior. Each post will also allow you to vote (“pick”) your favorite page out of two choices.

I wasn’t sure which book I was going to feature first, but I had already picked out ACORN WAS A LITTLE WILD as one of the choices — and then I met the author in person at an event! How cool is that? Kismet, one might say.

She even autographed it! See:

Jen was so sweet! I loved meeting her and hearing her talk on an author panel. I also enjoy introducing my kids to authors — the people behind the books! — and getting the autographs made out to them.

Without further ado, may I introduce: Acorn.

The main character of this book, a little acorn, is a high-spirited and joyful soul. It is so much fun to follow Acorn on his journey as jumps from his tree. He’s been cautioned not to jump — the world is dangerous! But he craves adventure.

He does meet a few obstacles in his journey, of course, but luckily for Acorn, things work out in the best of ways. After all he’s been through, he stays true to himself: he’s still wild.

And I have to say, this is the first time I’ve deeply identified with an acorn. But I really do. This books represents me in a way that almost makes me cry every time I read it, and I love reading it to children. Even my own not-so-young-anymore children.

As to a favorite page (or spread if you prefer), I believe this one is my fave. I call it “the roll.” Here is our little Acorn buddy, escaping from mundanity but rolling down a hills full of hungry squirrels. He’s even caught. Danger abounds! But he faces that danger head on.

Of course there’s also this page. I call it “the seasons.” I adore when I find hidden treasures like this inside picture books. The story progresses in such a way that we can teach kids about an important concept. Here it’s the changing of seasons. The passage of time. It’s done so beautifully that I had to add it in as a contender for favorite.

How about you? Which page is your favorite?

Vote here:

Thanks for voting!

And remember, the best ways to support your favorite authors and illustrators includes buying their books, leaving them reviews, marking them as “want to read” on Goodreads, checking their books out of the library, and sharing how much you love the books on social media.  Here are some helpful links:

And if you’d like to Pin this blog post for later, you can save this image on Pinterest:

Have you read ACORN WAS A LITTLE WILD? Share with me your thoughts in the comments.

Happy Reading!

xo Rosemary

50Precious Words for 2024: Fairy Garden

This month began with another 50 Precious Words entry!

Cutting words is always a challenge for me. I have such a hard time letting go!

But narrowing down a story to only 50 words? Whew. Tough stuff.

Anyway, this year I’d been reading over one of my faves: A CHILD’S GARDEN OF VERSES and I kept seeing images of fairies and forests and hearing a bouncing rhythm in my head. I thought about writing in rhyme but that didn’t last long.

What I ended up with wound up also being inspired by my garden. Or… the weeds in my yard. Whatever. The pretty flowering things.

Here is my entry:

FAIRY GARDEN
by Rosemary Lynn
(49 words)

There were fairies in her garden.
They liked the roses and
the daffodils.
At least they did last Saturday,
but didn’t anymore.
She checked the wilted roses.
Between the drooping daffodils.
No fairies.
None.
She watered. Waited. Watched.
The sun returned and –
BUZZZZZ!
So many fairies in her garden.

Check out Vivian Kirkfield’s blog for more 2024 entries! And please share with me if you’ve entered as well.

Oh and don’t forget to follow me on Bluesky: @roamingrosie.bsky.social

Happy Reading

xo Rosemary

[photo: Purple Flowers in Bloom; Simon Berger; Pexels]

50PreciousWords 2023: To Catch a Falling Star

ay I posted my short story for #50PreciousWords. It’s such a great exercise for me – I’m terrible with wordiness. Cutting down words to the bare minimum is always a challenge. And, as it so often does, it ended up with me shifting to poetry.

The spaceship was there in my head. Perhaps because we just sailed out of Port Canaveral and I’ve been thinking about NASA? Either way, it demanded to be in my story.

So here it is – my entry to #50PreciousWords!

TO CATCH A FALLING STAR

My rocket ship
went very far.
The sky was very dark.

I tried to catch
the falling star.
It landed in the park.

It bounced so high,
I got so close,
But it was just my luck.

As I reached out
my falling star
was eaten by a duck.

The end. That’s 49 words and, hopefully, an entertaining story.

Happy writing!

xo Rosemary

Pumpkins Like Stars: #FallWritingFrenzy Story

Happy October!

Today I’m sharing a picture book story that I wrote for the #FallWritingFrenzy contest – which is such a fun way to start this spooky month.

October is one of my very favorite months, and I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to write a quick tale about Halloween based on a photograph.

Enjoy!

My inspiration: “Halloween” by Selina Wing for Bing

PUMPKINS LIKE STARS

By Rosemary Lynn

We went to the farmer’s market today and returned with our baskets full.  I got right to work. 

First the potatoes, then a tomato, then a pepper and a few not-quite-ripe bananas.  It was hard to carve the jack-o-lantern faces all by myself, but I couldn’t give up!  The baskets were still nearly full. 

Next up: a squash.  Then a turnip, hard as a rock, and a whole pile of teeny tiny Brussels sprouts.  Halfway there!

I worked my way through a bushel of carrots, a whole head of broccoli, and enough onions to make me cry buckets. 

By the time the baskets were empty I was exhausted.  Jack-o-lanterns were everywhere, on every counter, shelf, table, and chair.

When my mom walked in she was so excited about my accomplishment that she was speechless! 

Then we went to the pumpkin patch and left with a trunkful.  Now the porch is decorated top to bottom with shining pumpkin jack-o-lanterns. 

So many jack-o-lanterns lighting the night it looks like stars!

The perfect backdrop for our many, many bowls of potato-pepper-squash-turnip-carrot-onion soup. 

The end.

Hope you enjoyed my Halloween tale!

xo Rosemary