Prolific (and Inspiring) Author PAT ZIETLOW MILLER'S Spring Picture Books

 I began my recent review of HOW CAN WE BE KIND? for toddlers and early readers (HERE) with a brief reference to Pat Zietlow Miller's NYT best-selling title, BE KIND (my Goodreads review HERE). The range of topics, themes, characters, and writing styles embraced in Miller's many picture books is impressive, and inspiring. In May and June alone she celebrates the release of THREE new titles, two of which are featured here. These two are particularly clear examples of her versatility and talent in exploring the intentions, audiences, and purposes for writing to make a perfect landing on the "just right" approach. She doesn't apply a formulaic personal style and yet her expert touch is evident in all her books. In my opinion (which is what this blog is all about, isn't it?) the most recognizable pattern in Miller's many picture books is her success in seamlessly weaving characters, text approaches, and voices into an effective whole. She utilizes these creative and craft skills in each particular book to achieve the story that she wants to tell, the intended impact, and to best reach the children she hopes will read/hear her content. 

QUILL TREE BOOKS, 2022

Both of Miller's new releases are contemporary and yet timeless. I was struck by her choices in point of view and voice for each. NOT SO SMALL, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Paolo Escobar, features young people as the stars. Kids are front and center on every spread, but the action is achieved through a third-person narrator rather than  using a more predictable direct address to the young figures, a "YOU" approach. 

In this manner the narrator uses sentences with more general phrases like "one person", a "small voice", "talkers", "writers", and "walkers". This approach allows space for the illustrator to portray young people of diverse backgrounds in various activism scenes, ones in which every child will feel they are the object of the narrator's message. Physical differences, identities, and demeanors in illustrations naturally extol every child to find  themselves within its pages. Each remains "small", in contrast with enormous buildings and issues. The steps that each ONE can take are stated and viewed in practical terms, but yield a powerful impact as they combine their voices, efforts, and commitments to be "heard". They leave an impact that is "not small...at ALL." 

I grew up in the Viet Nam protest years, which included multiple other actions and causes  involving public demonstrations, petitions, and campaigns, both pro and con. At that time there were few if any young children visible in newspaper or media coverage, except, of course, for teens/college students who populated  most of these events. The noteworthy exception to that were some of the many CIVIL RIGHTS demonstrations, sit-ins, and even arrests which came to include children (See MARCHING FOR FREEDOM:Walk Together Children and Don't Grow Weary, written by Elizabeth Partrtidge: VIKING BYR, 2009). 

There were no picture books addressing protest activity, and certainly none placing children front and center. None that celebrated the strength and authority of young children acting and using their voices to make a difference in an enormous world, yet the one they inhabit and will inherit. The marchers and their causes in this picture book do not advocate for or against, do not specify topics or themes, but allow any young person who feels committed to matters close their hearts to believe in and pursue their ultimate ability to make a difference. This, in fact, is a call to seek out others, to act locally and gradually see their global connections. It is a powerful call to arm themselves with clarity of thinking, collaboration, determination, community action, and commitment. 

Roaring Brook Press, 2022

By contrast, Zietlow's other picture book of Spring, 2022, is SEE YOU SOMEDAY SOON, In this case the author also avoids a predictable direct address, second person voice. This voice would be suited, of course, indicating through narration an understanding of the universal feeling of missing someone special in our lives. 

Instead, the young character is drawn with cartoon-style ambiguity regarding gender and ethnic identity, while their longed-for elder loved one is never named specifically as a grandparent, but is obviously an elder who is loved and deeply missed. The text and specifics are intensely personal, and yet the impact hits the mark directly in the reader's heart. 

Illustrator Suzy Lee is enormously talented at packing seemingly simple scenes with vibrant but not glaring colors, while using her remarkable cut-out skills to showcase key words, doubling the impact of colors, words, and expressions with unexpected reveals and smiles. Missing someone deeply is universally experienced. This small child's first person plea and promise are throughly authentic for the character, resonating with both crushingly real longing and a comfortingly reassuring resolution that has not a syllable or hint of schmaltz. This is a book with a highly specific character speaking in an intimately personal voice. even so, it reads as if it is revealing each reader's personal experiences.

Neither of these picture books is better than the other, and neither should actually be compared to the other, except perhaps in a craft examination such as this has been. Each stands strong on its own footing and with its own integrity and appeal. In fact, each of Miller's titles merits close reading and analysis by anyone hoping to write memorable and remarkable picture books. That, though, is advice for adults, when reading for themselves. These are titles that could well be used in instructional work as mento9r text for voice in writing classes. 

But these are books fully intended for the enjoyment of young audiences, and those audiences are the true test of a successful picture book. Try either (no, BOTH) of these new titles with young readers and see what they have to say. Whatever voice they use, I'm predicting a unanimous round of cheers.

Candlewick   June, 2022

If you recall, I mentioned that Miller has a third picture book that released just a few days ago. This is the first of several she has co-authored with e.E. Charlton-Trujillo: LUPE LOPEZ, ROCK STAR RULES.  Don't miss this new title, since it it the first of several upcoming books starring the irrepressible and lovable LUPE LOPEZ- kindergarten  rock star!