The Storytellers Rule

by Christy Mandin, Christy Mandin (Illustrator)

Overview

From the author-illustrator of Lucky, Christy Mandin, comes a humorous and charming picture book starring a group of exuberant writing supplies who help a young girl experiencing a creative block to finish her perfect story. 

Birdie usually has no problem creating masterpieces. But today is different: Her perfect story just won’t manifest itself.

But no fear, the Storytellers are here!

In this hilarious and sweet picture book, a young child’s pens, pencils, and markers are for more than just jotting down ideas. They inspire and spark wonder. 

Great for young creatives who enjoyed The Day the Crayons Quit and who need a touch of inspiration every now and then.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063047358
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/21/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	507,336
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Christy Mandin is an illustrator, author, and multi-passionate jill-of-all-trades. Lucky is her first book for children. Christy believes everything can be made a little more magical with the right pen and ink. You can visit her at www.christymandin.com.

Christy Mandin is an illustrator, author, and multi-passionate jill-of-all-trades. Lucky is her first book for children. Christy believes everything can be made a little more magical with the right pen and ink. You can visit her at www.christymandin.com.

Editorial Reviews

Positive message and great read-aloud potential with advice that will resonate with both writing-phobic kids and their adults. Recommended for all collections. — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

05/05/2023

K-Gr 4—In this ode to creativity, an enthusiastic pen, marker, pencil, and a ruler gather to help their owner Birdie's, "crisis of imagination." Once filled with ideas, Birdie now has an empty "awesome ideas jar" on her desk and a looming due date, circled in red. Worst of all: the dreaded blank page stares at her, empty, as she chews nervously on her pencil waiting for ideas. Airy illustrations, created digitally, offer sneaky details for kids to spot as the determined office supplies guide readers through three empowering storytelling rules: "Pay attention. Done is better than perfect. Only YOU can write your story." They also plant clues to fuel Birdie's lost creativity. It doesn't come easily, but Birdie finally finds her spark—and leaves herself (and the reader) an important message for the next time she's stuck: "Always begin with wonder." VERDICT Positive message and great read-aloud potential with advice that will resonate with both writing-phobic kids and their adults. Recommended for all collections.—Rebecca Kirshenbaum

School Library Journal

2022-12-14
A metanarrative about creativity.

A gaggle of cute-as-a-button office supplies hatch a plan as an end-of-year writing assignment looms for Birdie, a light-skinned girl. While the pens, pencil, marker, ruler, and eraser all have fun names, they mostly act as an ensemble. These anthropomorphic Storytellers plant clues to help Birdie follow the three storytelling rules: Writers should pay close attention to the world around them, remember that putting something on the page is better than nothing, and know there’s only one person who can tell your story: you. Birdie, unaware of her magic helpers, struggles for inspiration and energy but acts on the hints. The dialogue is rendered in a chunky black font, while text in a plain font shares a play-by-play on some spreads. A palette of warm, bright hues and neatly shaded illustrations calms otherwise busy scenes. The actual issue of writer’s block could be lost on some children, but they can enjoy the familiar wonder of walking in a park, working at a messy creation station, and letting one’s imagination take flight. After meandering outside and working through an idea jar, Birdie is ultimately motivated by a simple Post-it note reading “What if….” While there is beauty in this simple solution, it does not spell visual or narrative intrigue for an already cerebral topic. For all the effort spilled onto these pages, nothing very interesting happens. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Underwhelming despite earnest efforts to inspire. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews