We are so excited to have Michelle Vattula join us today to share information about Memoiristic Picture Books!
Michelle was born in Boston but spent most of her life in Erie, PA. After she received her Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio, she ventured back to Boston for her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northeastern University. Michelle currently lives in the beautiful rolling hills of North Pittsburgh with her Finnish husband, two golden retrievers, and two beautiful boys who are her true inspiration for writing.
Michelle’s debut picture book, THE STALKING SEAGULLS, was released by MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing on April 20, 2021. Michelle is part of the Western Pennsylvania SCBWI leadership team as their New Member and Critique Group Coordinator. She is also a proud member of the Twitter group #Newin19. Michelle is represented by T. J. Kirsch from JCH Literary. She is open for interviews and virtual visits.
How do we learn about our ancestors, our family? There are various methods of communication used to preserve our valued history in this day and age, like DNA testing. But how do you attach an emotional component to memories? Maybe through diaries, letters, pictures or our own experiences—which leads me to the topic of this blog, memoiristic picture books.
Memoiristic picture books give us the ability to reflect on a person’s experiences through written and visual representation. They allow us to feel big emotions, whether they come from a place of joy or pain. They allow the reader to relate to these emotions in order to have their own cathartic experiences. In more recent years, great examples of memoiristic picture books have been published and honored by the writing community for their emotional catharsis and relatability.
The 2022 Caldecott and Newbery Medal winner, Watercress by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin, encapsulates the memory of a young Chinese girl reflecting on her family and family history while surrounded by the task of picking watercress from the side of the road. The story reflects on the little girl’s embarrassment and unwillingness to accept this task until she learns the true reason for the seemingly irrelevant adventure at the side of the road. The memories, although painful, help the little girl understand and appreciate her family and their culture.
What can we take away from a book like this? As stated before, young readers can relate to the little girl’s feelings of awkwardness and shame, while adult readers will understand the emotional component of the mother explaining her desire to utilize a free crop at the side of the road. The story allowed the author to share her own experience with the world while sharing a message about how a different culture reacts to adversity and loss by keeping traditions alive.
So what if you want to write your own memoiristic picture book? When writing picture books that are relatable and filled with emotion, pulling from personal experiences will help capture the reader. Take an inward look at your own personal experiences and pull from those emotions. For example, so many people are now caregivers to their parents/grandparents. Honing in on the trials and frustrations that come from real-life experiences can increase empathy in others going through similar situations.
Personal experiences relating to culture can also raise awareness and increase curiosity about other traditions and cultures. Talk to a parent, discuss what life was like with a grandparent, ask yourself what traditions your family keeps alive and why. Don’t be afraid of difficult topics—most likely, someone else has experienced something similar but has not expressed how it has made them feel. Most importantly, be true to your own emotions! This will give your story the heart it needs to reach your audience. Best of luck!