top of page

Great Writers Are Great Readers
Honing the craft of picture book writing through close reading.



Tips for Writers Inspired by Ben Hatke's "Nobody Likes a Goblin"
Goblin lives in a dungeon with his friend, Skeleton. One day, a party of adventurers storms the dungeon and steals everything, including...
Maxine Marshall
4 min read


Close-Reading "Madeline" by Author and Illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans
You know how it goes, “In an old house in Paris / that was covered with vines / lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.” The...
Maxine Marshall
3 min read


Take-Aways for Writers from “Knuffle Bunny” by Author and Illustrator Mo Willems
Trixie takes her beloved stuffed animal Knuffle Bunny to the laundromat with her dad. Later, she realizes that Knuffle Bunny has been...
Maxine Marshall
3 min read


Lessons for Writers from "Llama Llama Red Pajama" by Author and Illustrator Anna Dewdney
Baby Llama starts feeling lonely after getting tucked in for bed. He calls for his mother, but she takes too long to come! He gets all...
Maxine Marshall
3 min read


Close-Reading "Knight Owl" by Author and Illustrator Christopher Denise
Despite his size, a little owl follows his dream to become a knight. While working the night shift, he befriends the dragon who’s been...
Maxine Marshall
2 min read


Welcome to "Great Writers Are Great Readers"
Each entry is close-reading a successful picture book. I unpack the craft elements (like plot, rhyme, characterization, and more) that...
Maxine Marshall
1 min read
bottom of page


