GENRE: Character Driven, Humor
WORDS: 400
Query:
Dear Editors, Agents, and PBParty Judges,
Thank you for the opportunity to share my wild and fun, character-driven picture book manuscript, TONY DAZZLES (complete at 400-words).
Recovering circus-zebra Tony could charm the suspenders off a clown but . . . turns out there are no clowns (or suspenders!) in the wild. So, when his would-be, could-be, new zebra friends request that he “dazzle” them, Tony will stop at nothing (NOTHING!) to prove how awesome he is.
Pairing hilarious, illustration-friendly misunderstandings akin to I Am Not A Chair (by Ross Burach) with a lovable, determined character reminiscent of Molly Lou Melon, TONY DAZZLES is a zany, cumulative, friendship story designed to tickle the funny bones of picture book readers ages 6-8. Friendship and inclusion themes aside, Tony will also dazzle teachers with a subtle, second grade collective noun tie-in.
I spent over three years as Chief Operating Officer at Storyteller Academy, fortunate to spend both my work days and nightly “free time” immersed in the world of children’s literature. I am an active member of SCBWI, The Courage to Create community, and was honored to be Kelly DiPucchio’s 2020 PBChat mentee and a PBParty finalist in 2021 and 2023. I have additional manuscripts available upon request.
Excerpt:
Tony [zebra] could charm the suspenders off a clown.
But when he left the circus for the wild, there were no clowns,
no suspenders,
and no friends . . . yet.
[spots zebras.]
“Hi, I’m new here.” said Tony, “I’d love to join your group!”
“. . . Dazzle,” said the zebras. [confused]
Dazzle? thought Tony. Odd request, but no problem!
Tony bedazzled himself with
a little sparkle,
a bit o’ glam,
and glitz, glitz, GLITZ!
What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:
Honestly, TONY DAZZLES is simply about silly fun. I love clever stories that have a character to root for, illustrations to adore, and laughs for days. When I learned that a group of zebras was called a dazzle, I knew it had the potential to be exactly that type of story, and Tony was born.
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