If you've been writing for a while, you've likely experienced it.

You have a great idea! You brainstorm. You research. You write and rewrite and rewrite again. You pour your heart and soul into your great idea. Then you see in announcement of an upcoming book or pop into a bookstore to discover a new book with the EXACT SAME THEME!

ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME, written by Charles Ghigna and Matt Forrest Esenwine, and illustrated by Andrés F. Landazábal, garnered high praise from award-winning poet Nikki Grimes: "Ghigna and Esenwine provide a vehicle to ferry young readers back to a time when the wonders of nature called to them more powerfully than any computer screen ever could. Once Upon Another Time's glorious poetry and paintings are a perfect pairing." 

In this previous HOUSE CALLS post, we looked at the elements of bedtime books that make them conducive to children's writers who enjoy writing in rhyme: soothing language, soft cadence, a canvas ripe for poetic devices such as alliteration and assonance. 

​WINTER LULLABY, by Dianne White, illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford, is a wonderful mentor text for writers wishing to explore the bedtime book genre. In this cozy book, all the forest animals are busy preparing for winter. Little Bear wants to stay active too. With each page turn, Mama Bear gently coaxes Little Bear into a long winter's nap. Snuggle in, and let's take a look what makes WINTER LULLABY such a beautiful bedtime book. ​

When my older children were young, they liked this picture book biography:

Here at the Rhyme Doctors, we love poetry and we love metaphor. When we find a book that combines both, like Katey Howe's A Poem Grows Inside You, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee, our joy blooms! 

Ask Mr Google for the "definition of a lyrical book" and you will not get a definitive answer. The top results on my search turned up phrases like: song-like, poetic, deeply evocative, beautifully full of emotion, effective use of poetic techniques

With soothing language and a soft cadence, bedtime books can be a great genre choice if you’re a children’s authors who enjoys writing rhyming and lyrical picture books. You can even mimic the rhythm of a traditional lullaby like “Hush, Little Baby” or “Rock-A-Bye Baby” to build your book around a set structure.