The Rhyme Doctors' HOUSE CALLS Blog

THE RHYME DOCTORS' SUMMER PICTURE BOOK READS

6/17/2025

The House Calls blog will be taking a break for the summer! But before we say, "See you later, Alligator!", we'd like to share a few rhyming/lyrical picture books for you to enjoy this summer. Each Rhyme Doctor has chosen two books -- one of their own books, plus another favorite.

Michelle's book, A Place for Rain, illustrated by Blanca Gómez (Norton Young Readers, 2024) focuses on pouring rains, stormwater runoff, and the plans to build a rain garden to constructively deal with all of the rain. Although the story is primarily set in springtime, the theme also fits the "gullywasher" storms on summer days in Illinois, where Michelle grew up,

A favorite of Michelle's is From Park to Playa: the Trails That Connect Us, by Nell Cross Beckerman, illlustrated by Sophie Diao (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2024). In addition to being a poet, Michelle is a nature-lover and hiker, so this book speaks to her. She says:

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Using a Picture Book Mentor Text Journal

6/3/2025

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Here at the Rhyme Doctors, we’re big fans of mentor texts. Studying published picture books while working on your own picture book is a great way to gain all sorts of insights, from fresh ways to approach a topic to unexpected structural strategies. That’s why we suggest specific mentor texts to clients. And it’s why we use mentor texts ALL THE TIME while writing our own picture books.

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TO RHYME OR NOT TO RHYME: SIX THINGS TO CONSIDER

5/20/2025

William Shakespeare’s character Hamlet (in the play of the same name) utters these famous words: “To be or not to be, that is the question . . .” as he grapples with thoughts of life and death.

Children’s book writers who love rhythm and rhyme often pose a similar (though less existential) question as we begin a new project:

To rhyme or not to rhyme, that is the question. . . .

The PICTURE BOOKS THAT ALMOST RHYMED

5/6/2025

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When the Rhyme Doctors work with clients, we urge them 1) to polish meter to flow consistently and smoothly and 2) to use true (exact) rhymes. Recently, two picture books have hit the market that ignore the second part of this advice. They rhyme properly in some places but not in other spots. This was hardly done in error -- the authors did so on purpose, and to wonderful effect!

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ADDING POP TO PICTURE BOOK TEXT WITH POETIC DEVICES—PLUS A NEW RELEASE!

4/15/2025

If you’ve been a subscriber to the Rhyme Doctors’ HOUSE CALLS newsletter for the past few years, you’ve seen my posts about using poetic devices in your projects. (See archives on our website in the House Calls Blog, Poetry Prescriptions files.) I adore poetic devices, those tools we use to create rhythm, strengthen meaning, and establish a mood in our writing. They can help us build a stronger connection to readers, too.

Children's Poetry Collections Done Well

4/1/2025

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If you've ever considered writing a children's poetry collection, you've probably heard the words "poetry is a tough sell."

Hmmm. Yes. This may be true. However, educators teach poetry to students year after year, and they need vibrant mentor to capture kids' interest. I contend that there's always room in the market for new poetry collections, if they are done well.

stack of poetry picture books with spines showing

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From Our Shelves: Resources for Kidlit Rhymers

3/11/2025

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Usually, the Rhyme Doctors' Mentor Text posts share picture book and poetry collection titles that you can study and learn from. But today, we're stepping away to share the craft books we keep on our own shelves that educate and inspire us. We hope you will find them helpful in your own writing journeys.

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Page Turn Appeal with Guessing Game Books

2/18/2025

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Grab your readers! Make them look!
Add some guessing to your . . .

BOOK!

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Exploring the Children's Magazine Market (Part 2) - An Interview with Heidi Roemer

2/4/2025

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I'm back again sharing more insights about writing poetry for the children's magazine market. We're continuing our discussion with Heidi Bee Roemer, poet extraordinaire, and author of over 450 magazine poems plus ten children's books.

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Exploring the Children's Magazine Market (Part 1) - An Interview with Heidi Roemer

1/21/2025

Here's a trivia question about the Rhyme Doctors . . .
Early on, how did Patty, Michelle, and Eileen achieve some kidlit publishing successes?

Answer: All three writers earned sales early in their careers by placing poems in children's magazines!

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