Josh Weiss-Roessler

Oh no!

Maybe the pitch is helpful in getting back to the heart of the story?

#kidlitchat

Underrated movie. #kidlitchat

I've tried to do a combination. "The humorous tone of X with the found family of Y." But I always feel like there are better comps I'm missing.

How do you all feel about using non-books as comps? Recent movies... I've even heard of people using things like songs or paintings.

#kidlitchat

Oddly, I think the few times I've had to do really short ones it was kind of freeing because I was like -- "500 words? Okay, guess we're just talking beginning, middle, and end then. Hope it makes sense." #kidlitchat

Nice.

I have honestly seen little difference when I try to personalize, but I'm sure it's worked for some people. #kidlitchat

Ooh, my grammar there.

Right? So many rules! And you're expected to know what's selling PRETTY good -- but not too good -- and heaven help you if you find a "perfect" comp that utterly tanked. Not the best look. #kidlitchat

Spoilsport. #kidlitchat

I THINK I'm pretty decent at queries, pitches, and log lines... but synopses are exhausting and comps are the bane of my existence. #kidlitchat

Okay, our dog is very insistent that I need to stop chatting because it's walk time, and delaying never wins that argument.

Night all!

#kidlitchat

Interesting...

#kidlitchat

I don't remember reading it as a kid, but few books were more fun to read to my kids than Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree. Big laughs every single time.

#kidlitchat

Yes! I read those in middle school, I think, in my effort to devour anything fantasy.

#kidlitchat

Unrelated side note, my wife is still kind of terrified of that movie because she was scared of dogs as a kid and it had A GIANT FLYING DOG.

Talk about nightmare fodder.

#kidlitchat

I think if I realized as a kid that the MOVIE The Neverending Story, which featured the BOOK The Neverending Story was itself actually a book, it would have blown my mind.

#kidlitchat

Totally agree. Surprisingly terrifying for a "kid" book. And they DO hold up even now!

#kidlitchat

Ooh, did anyone else have Read Magazine in school? I remember loving the short stories and sometimes they would have plays the teacher would have us read aloud. I was THAT kid who was really into it that everyone else thought was embarassingly hilarious. Good times.

#kidlitchat

As I got a LITTLE older I remember being pretty into horror. Fear Street in the... lets say 8-10 range. And the Scary Stories books. Then pretty quickly into Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker from 11 plus. Def read some things I probably shouldn't have. #kidlitchat

I'm not sure what my favorite Seuss was. I seem to remember a lot of love for Fox in Socks.

#kidlitchat

Love this. #kidlitchat

Bonus points if THEY don't remember the name of the book and we're helping them solve a mystery. #kidlitchat

Right? Obviously derivative of that fantasy world Tolkien sort of invented in countless ways, but

1) I didn't know or care as a kid and

2) I stand by (my memory versions of) his characters being WAY stronger and more involving

...I don't know why I'm obsessing over the Tolkien thing

#kidlitchat

How much did your name have to do with it? I mean that literally -- did you clock that it was Kirby and go, "Cool!" #kidlitchat

Hey, I read Pippi to my 10-year-old when she was little and for a while it was her favorite, so there's no dating yourself -- they're timeless. #kidlitchat

I love, love, loved reading it to my kids when they were little... and only partially because it's just too fun to do the Grover voice. #kidlitchat

James and the Giant Peach for me. There was just something about that found family of bugs being so much more human and endearing than his awful aunts. Plus, you know, just all the crazy, clever stuff with the peach. #kidlitchat

Oh, as a REALLY little kid, hands down There's a Monster at the End of This Book. It doesn't need explanation, does it? #kidlitchat

Perhaps oddly, I also have a pretty strong love of Terry Brooks' The Sword of Shannara, which I also read in that 7-9 age range (and still kind of like it more than Lord of the Rings -- sorry, Tolkien people). #kidlitchat

Oof. I read A LOT. But I have a distinct memory of FINALLY finishing my beloved Chronicles of Narnia at age 7 and being pissed that it was all a Christian allegory. I mean, the least Lewis could have done was make it less explicit in book 7 for all of us who just wanted fantasy. Jeez. #kidlitchat