Josh Funk
@joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
3.1K followers 1.2K following 500 posts
I write picture books for adults to read to children so that children fall in love with reading. Books like Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, Dear Unicorn, My Pet Feet, How to Code a Sandcastle, & more. linkin.bio/joshfunkbooks
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Announcing the WHODONUT Fall Tour: 19 shops, festivals, and more across 7 states, along with *loads* of author and illustrator friends! Which one will I see *you* at?⁠

#kidlit #whodonut #authorlife #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #storytime
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
This Sunday I'll be at the Warwick Children's Book Festival in Warwick, NY. It's gonna be a fantastic day with a whole bunch of amazing children's book creators!⁠

And apparently you can read to dogs?⁠

#kidlit #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #reading #dogs #picturebooks
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Just picked up @zombicatures.bsky.social’s newest at the @concordbookshop.bsky.social!

#kidlit #booksky #graphicnovels
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
This Saturday I'll be at the Morristown Festival of Books in Morristown, NJ for the first time! Don't miss this awesome event with a star-studded lineup of creators. And also me.⁠

#kidlit #bookfest #booksky #picturebooks #authorlife #edusky #skybrarian
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
yeah, if you know linguistics (I don't), wild is probably like one and a half syllables, or one long syllable, or something.

sparkly is a classic example of "is it two or three syllables?" SPARK-LEE or SPARK-UH-LEE
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
no, that's just poor rhyming. or only works if you're from Boston.
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
But as I've mentioned before, picture books will be read aloud by strangers. So we have to cater to everyone that speaks the language, not just you, the author.⁠

Got any other tips about rhythm? Throw them in the comments.⁠

Want more #kidlit #amwriting tips? Visit
Josh Funk, Author of Children's Books
Josh Funk is the author the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to CODE a Sandcastle, Lost in the Library, It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk, Pirasaurs!, and more!
www.joshfunkbooks.com
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Here's your Monday Writing Tip, friends. And today it's geared toward rhyming picture book writers. But it's not about rhyme - it's about rhythm.⁠

It took me years to realize these two gems. For some it might seem obvious.

#booksky #amwriting #kidlit
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Full stacks of signed copies at Wellesley Books!

#kidlit #booksky #whodonut #authorlife #picturebooks
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
You'll be able to hear where they trip up, where certain words or phrases sound jumbled, and it will help you pinpoint exactly where you need to revise. (In theory you could do this with all writing.)

Want more tips like this? Visit www.joshfunkbooks.co...

#kidlit
Josh Funk, Author of Children's Books
Josh Funk is the author the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to CODE a Sandcastle, Lost in the Library, It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk, Pirasaurs!, and more!
www.joshfunkbooks.com
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Monday Writing Tip: Picture books are meant to be read aloud. By strangers. With any luck, LOTS of strangers.

So have other people read your picture book manuscripts aloud TO you.

#kidlit #amwriting #amrevising #writingtips #booksky
Revision Tip
for  Picture Book Writers

(according to author Josh Funk)

Have others read your manuscript ALOUD to you

Do certain phrases sound awkward?
Do people stumble over certain lines?
Does the language not flow properly?

If people don’t read it right, it’s not their fault.
Those are the parts you should revise.

Once published, you, the author will not be the one reading the book out loud.

Make sure to write it with that in mind.

Want more tips like this?
Visit joshfunkbooks.com/resources-for-writers
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Tomorrow afternoon join me and @valeriebolling.bsky.social at Barrett Bookstore for a *double* storytime!⁠

#booksky #kidlit #edusky #skybrarian #shopsmall #shopindie #indiebookshops
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Tomorrow! Chappaqua Children's Book Festival! Don't miss it!⁠

Art by @coilyandcute.bsky.social.

#booksky #edusky #skybrarian #kidlit #bookfestival #chappaquabookfest #authorlife
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
What’s this? Book mail? Proofs a secret book?

5.5.26 #dinodoor #kidlit #kidlitart #booksky #skybrarian #picturebook

@reneekurilla.bsky.social
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
This Sunday, me and my pal @valeriebolling.bsky.social will be reading our *brand new* picture books at Barrett Bookstore in Darien, CT! This is an all ages event - readers and writers of all ages are welcome! See you Sunday afternoon!⁠

#booksky #kidlit #skybrarian #edusky
Reposted by Josh Funk
santiagocasares.bsky.social
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Writing Tip is one of my favorite revising techniques. And frankly, it doesn't only apply to picture books; it applies to all writing

Do a quick Ctrl+F and search for the word "was." Then replace as many as possible.

#amwriting #picturebooks #revisiontips #kidlit
Reposted by Josh Funk
valeriebolling.bsky.social
Looking forward to this weekend with many amazing #authors at #ChappaquaChildrensBookFestival on Saturday, including @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social, and then with @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social at #BarrettBookstore on Sunday.
#kidlit #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #authorlife
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
This weekend's a busy one! I'll be at the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival all day Saturday and at Barrett Bookstore with @valeriebolling.bsky.social at 1pm on Sunday! Don't miss the fun!⁠

#kidlit #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #authorlife
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Come one, come all! This Saturday from 10am-4pm, join me and nearly 200 other children's book creators in Chappaqua, NY for the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival! One of the best days of the entire year!⁠

Festival art by @coilyandcute.bsky.social

#kidlit #booktok #authorlife #booksfestival
Reposted by Josh Funk
pjpurtee.bsky.social
I totally agree!
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Writing Tip is one of my favorite revising techniques. And frankly, it doesn't only apply to picture books; it applies to all writing

Do a quick Ctrl+F and search for the word "was." Then replace as many as possible.

#amwriting #picturebooks #revisiontips #kidlit
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
I guess it works for any kind of writing, really.
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
This weekend's a busy one! I'll be at the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival all day Saturday and at Barrett Bookstore with @valeriebolling.bsky.social at 1pm on Sunday! Don't miss the fun!⁠

#kidlit #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #authorlife
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
You'll be in awe of how much more vibrant and lively the language of your picture book will be once you've done it (and I realize the irony of using the word "be" twice in the previous sentence).⁠

Want more #writingtips like this? Visit www.joshfunkbooks.co...

#booksky #kidlit
Josh Funk, Author of Children's Books
Josh Funk is the author the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to CODE a Sandcastle, Lost in the Library, It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk, Pirasaurs!, and more!
www.joshfunkbooks.com
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Writing Tip is one of my favorite revising techniques. And frankly, it doesn't only apply to picture books; it applies to all writing

Do a quick Ctrl+F and search for the word "was." Then replace as many as possible.

#amwriting #picturebooks #revisiontips #kidlit
Reposted by Josh Funk
valeriebolling.bsky.social
Looking forward to this event with @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social at Barrett Bookstore on Sept. 28. We'll be reading and signing books. See you there!
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
Mark your calendars for *next* Sunday, 9/28 at 1pm when @valeriebolling.bsky.social and I will be reading our newest books at Barrett Bookstore in Darien, CT!⁠

#kidlit #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #authorlife #picturebooks #shopsmall
joshfunkbooks.bsky.social
What's missing from this picture?

@mizzkalwrites71.bsky.social and me! But we'll fix that tomorrow morning at 11am at the Blue Bunny in Dedham, MA!

#kidlit #picturebooks #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #storytime #authorlife