GENRE: *Diverse, Social Anxiety, SEL
WORDS: 587
Query:
Dear Agents and Editors,
ANYTHING AUBERGINE is a 587-word picture book for ages 4-8 combining the social anxiety in SCRIBBLY (Adamson 2021) with SWEETY’s joy of finding your people (Zuill 2019) for a new, plant-filled take on being brave enough to bloom.
Chloe would rather chat with her chives and talk with her tomatoes than risk being called a nerd again. That is until the French-speaking new girl, Awa Delphine, invites Chloe to her “Anything Aubergine” birthday party. If Awa loves eggplants, then unearthing the perfect gift might sprout a new friendship! Because, that’s what “aubergine” means, right?
I’m a Chicagoland based author-illustrator who, like Chloe, loves giving gifts from the heart and struggles with social anxiety. I have 15 years of experience in creative fields including graphic design, copywriting, marketing, theatre, and public relations. I’m an active member of SCBWI, Storyteller Academy, and the Lliterary Llamas critique group. I won second place (Maryn Arreguín, Sourcebooks) and third place (Brian LaRossa, Scholastic) in SCBWI-IL’s PWID 2023 Illustration Contest, I was a 2023 PBParty Illustration Finalist, and I received Honorable Mentions for PBParty 2022 and PBRisingStars 2022.
By telling stories close to my heart, my goal is to help anxious kids relax and lonely kids to know they’re awesome. My portfolio is available at RachelRCreates.com. Additional dummies and manuscripts are available upon request. Thank you for your time and consideration!
Excerpt:
Chloe easily talked with her tomatoes, chatted with her chives, laughed with her lavender, and bantered with her basil.
But put her around people, and Chloe closed up tighter than a tulip at night.
It started with Diana’s birthday party…
[Diana opens present]
[Chloe:] “It’s a carnation puzzle! Carnations’ scientific name is Dianthus, and your name is Diana!”
[Kid:] “Nerd alert!”
Everyone laughed – even the grown-ups – and Chloe wilted.
What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:
The word “aubergine” came to me during Storystorm 2023. What if there’s a kid who wants “anything aubergine” for her birthday? Or, what if there’s a kid attending that aubergine party, and she gets the definition wrong? In front of everyone?! Gah!!! When my heart clenched, I knew I’d found my story. Like Chloe, I struggle with social anxiety while simultaneously longing to make friends. I’m also a nerd whose love language is gift giving. I feel such a pit in my stomach for Chloe who enthusiastically gives with her heart and publicly realizes she’s made a huge mistake – again.
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