"Once upon a time, a valiant dragon-
slaying knight protected a mighty
kingdom. But when the most
dangerous, most frightening, most
spine-tingling -
A fairytale?
Really?
They're so old.
And I could never
slay a dragon.
I mean look at this guy.
He's so cute!"
Clever and inviting, this book begins with flying saucers surrounding a spaceship piloted by our narrator. Brave and confident, he knows just what to do. Or does he? With fear in his eyes and a knowledge that someone is responsible for what is happening on the page, he asserts that this is 'not my story'. The author argues the point; the spaceship captain capitulates.
The story continues. The captain insists with every turn of the page that he is not meant to be in this tale! The author checks a messy idea sheet and agrees that it is the wrong story. Rather, the boy's story is about a rodeo. No way! He has no talent for being a cattle wrangler. Is there another idea? A knight fighting a dragon? A vampire in a Transylvanian castle? A Paris date with an angry poet? An easily solved mystery? A science textbook?
The writer agrees they are getting nowhere, and asks for help. Cold and shivering in his underwear, the boy suggests an illustrator whose cozy pajamas inspire some thoughts. The writer finally gets it - magic pajamas that ... no way! After more objections, the author decides to give up. The excitement generated by the boy when he wants to do some of the writing will have readers giggling.
In final pages, the author provides a list of the variety in genres readers might like to try for their own stories. What kind of story will you write?
Zany artwork enhances the action throughout as the two banter back and forth about the trajectory of each genre. Expressive and full of fun, they garner attention and add context to the many revisions that take place.
This is a great way to learn about the development of ideas and the writing process itself.
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