Billy B

PICTURE BOOKS THAT TICK ME OFF - #28 In A Series
John Agee's mind is in the gutter. That's where he puts a brick wall that protects our hero from dangers on the other side. But as water rises on his side of the wall a rescue comes from an unlikely source. Proving there are two sides to every story.

I know his tariff chaos is top of mind right now but let's not forget people far away are losing way more than money.

Thanks to the idiotic shutting off of Voice Of America, this latest lament on the dismantling of USAID seems doubly timely, doubly urgent. Please share...

Yes, the Trump/Musk travesties continue to abound but the shuttering of U.S.A.I.D. is still the most lethal. Please share this third message...

Trump, Musk, Trump Jr., RFK, Jr., and Johnson onboard jet eating McDonalds food. Second visual, a starving child with empty dish.

A second message about the dire consequences of shuttering USAID. As it says, please call, write or scream. And share…. #resist #usaid

I don't know about you, but I'm heartbroken over the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. who's done so much, for so many, suffering so gravely. The talented John Doyle and I have tried to convey our feelings on this travesty. If you concur, please share and pass this along. It's not much, but it's something.

My error: He "flouts" the rules.

PICTURE BOOKS THAT TICK ME OFF - #27 In A Series
Hey, picture books require 3 acts, character arcs, rising action. Except unless they don't. David Shannon flaunts such rules. The nerve! Just 75 words, all adult scoldings. No structure? Not funny, David! Except it really is, dammit.

Not to get political--but I will--I had to do SOMETHING so joined a rally protesting the Trump/Musk travesty machine. Just a tiny step. Much more is coming.

Re-oops. I had so many versions of my ONE HOT DOG story I failed to realize that I actually submitted the 206-word version. Dumb luck. Whew.

How many Martha Ragos can there be?

Oops. My PB is 4 words shy of the 200-word minimum. Guess my submission is out, so good luck to everyone else.🤞🏼

Entered the PBParty mayhem yesterday. Thanks to Mindy, and good luck to everyone but, you know, especially to me. #pbparty

PICTURE BOOKS THAT TICK ME OFF - #26 In A Series
Can a picture book that hasn't been released tick me off? And how! This understated, underwater work had me giggling just from the preview pages available. So simple, so brilliant. A forehead slapper. And can't order 'til April 8. Also ticks me off.

PICTURE BOOKS THAT TICK ME OFF-No. 16 In A Series
Creating humor in PBs is no laughing matter. I know, I try. So Elise Gravel’s OLGA made me "faugh:" fume and laugh. Her words and illustrations cross all ages to beget gales of giggles. Worse, her stories have true substance. Bless/curse you, Elise.

PICTURE BOOKS THAT TICK ME OFF - No. 17 in A Series
Dangit, Chris Harris has way too much fun. No protagonist, no 3-act structure. Just mega meta madness to make kids laugh. They're getting away with mirthder. Especially with Serge Bloch's antic art. So galling! As I'm giggling.

PICTURE BOOKS THAT TICK ME OFF. No. 14 In A Series.
Can even Mac Barnett conjure a complete, compelling story in just 70 words? Can and does. Gr-r-r. Credit Marla Frazee (Mac does) for spinning his sparse prose into a death-defying (three-act) act. A tall tale in black & white no less.

So much activity on BS here. Almost too much to track.

Well…done.

I am 99.9% sure I’m not already added, so plz do.
@bbwritesright.bsky.social

And..?

Terrific. Thank u.

Tickled that you liked my #SkyPitch yesterday for SLUG & SLOTH, FAST FRIENDS! So did Kelly Sonnack, and I have already queried her...so should I wait to reach out to you?

Your QM form doesn’t allow for a PB genre and says selecting an inaccurate genre will result in a rejection. A catch-22. Thoughts?

I liked that you liked my pitch (Slug & Sloth, Fast Friends.) Will query you tomorrow. Thx!

Thanks, K. It’s a series of three PBs with a 4th percolating.

THE NERVOUS TICK. Unlike the other ticks in his tree, Timothy's afraid to venture out into the world aboard a stranger, let alone sip its blood. He tries everything to avoid such a sucky life, until winter & hunger make him realize maybe being nervous is more dangerous than being brave. #SkyPitch

Wait, a book that's read from back to front? Yes, not as a gimmick but to enhance this story of a boy who rebels against the laughable laws of Backwardsia. Can youthful creativity (with the help of a sneaky librarian) outfox a most despicable dictator? BACKWARDS IS EVERYTHING #SkyPitch

Slug & Sloth may be slow but they're fast friends who like to push each other. In SPEED DREAMIN' they unleash the power of imagination to dream about how fast they could each be if they were other animals, or other things. Even a thing called love. SLUG & SLOTH, FAST FRIENDS. #SkyPitch

In 1896, Lt. James Moss believed new-fangled bicycles could replace the U.S. Cavalry's horses! He boasted he could lead a squad of Buffalo Soldiers 2,000 brutal miles in 40 days. The odds, the elements and most of the Army brass were against them. BICYCLES V HORSES #NF #SkyPitch