GENRE: Character Driven, Humor, Fantasy
WORDS: 449
Query:
Dear Agents and Editors,
I’m an author/illustrator, and I’d like to thank you for taking the time to read a sample of my work! This excerpt is from my 449 word picture book manuscript, Hats Off to Penelope, which is written for children ages 4-7. It’s a story about challenging cultural norms and pursuing dreams, like “Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers,” but written with humorous storytelling similar to “Mr Tiger Goes Wild.”
Penelope adores hats…just like everyone else in the land of Poplin. She dreams of working in a fancy shop and sewing hats for the Queen of Poplin herself. There is only one problem. No one believes that a pigeon can make hats! Especially not Madam Petrova, who owns the most elegant hat shop in all of Poplin. No matter how hard Penelope tries, Madam Petrova will not allow her in the shop. So Penelope does what any determined pigeon would do. She gets creative. This adorable story will empower all pigeons (and humans) to challenge the roles they are told they can play in life, and wear the hat that fits them best.
I’m an illustrator from far Northern California. I have a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Brigham Young University, Idaho. I homeschool my four children, ages 15, 14, 12, and 5, so I get to teach a wide variety of subjects, ranging from high school mathematics and science down to beginning reading. And yes, just like Penelope, I like to make things out of fabric. I’ve sewn everything from hats, to wedding dresses, to up-cycled jean tote bags. I’m an active member of SCBWI. I recently participated in a year-long workshop based on Ann Whiteford Paul’s book “Writing Picture Books,” with a group from my local SCBWI chapter. I’m also a member of two regular critique groups. Other memberships include SVS Learn and Domestika, which I use to continue my art education.
If you enjoy Hats Off to Penelope and want to read more samples of my work, I have other manuscripts available. You can view my online portfolio at https://kirstenmcgonigalart.com. I am active on Instagram as @kirsten.mcgonigal.art where I post process videos of my illustrations, as well as artwork.
Thank you again for your time! I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Excerpt:
Penelope lived in Poplin, where everyone loved hats.
Penelope loved hats, too. But she didn’t only want to wear them. She wanted to make them!
She spent her days peering into shop windows, longing to join the creative bustle inside.
She dreamed of making hats for the Queen of Poplin herself.
But…
Pigeons were not allowed in hat shops. Even pigeons as posh as Penelope.
What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:
I wrote Hats Off to Penelope during a time when I was struggling to understand the ramifications that the religious ideals of my childhood have had in my life. This little story was my way of giving voice to something I wish I could have understood much earlier; that it’s ok to follow my heart, even if it takes me away from the cultural ideals of others around me. Penelope’s tenacity in pursuing her dream, and her eventual triumph, reflects my hope for what I’m trying to create in my life as I choose bravery, rather than conformity.
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