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LET’S CONNECT THROUGH… HUMOUR

1/25/2021

10 Comments

 
By Sharon Giltrow
Humour - “The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech.”
The Oxford Dictionary
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My daughter Kiana laughing

I love this definition because it combines humour and literature, which are two of my favourite things.

As a writer, I aim to include humor in all my stories. Why? Because humour leads to laughter and laughing is one of the first and most universal forms of communication.
When we share a laugh with someone, we share their experiences and feelings. It helps us to connect. As a writer, connecting with your reader is essential. It's also the #1 thing that hooks children in and keeps them reading.

When I wrote my debut picture book BEDTIME, DADDY! I wanted to connect to my readers, by sharing a laugh. So, I included as much humour and heart in my story as I could. I also wanted the adults and children who were reading BEDTIME, DADDY! to share a laugh and connect.

Here are some of my favourite humorous pages from BEDTIME, DADDY! with illustrations by the amazing Katrin Dreiling. I hope we can share a laugh and connect over the coming year.
BEDTIME DADDY
Written by: Sharon Giltrow
Illustrated by: Katrin Dreiling
Published by: EK Books, May, 2020

How do I write humorous stories? I keep my eyes and ears open for funny ideas. Especially the funny things that children say and do. Children are hilarious. My idea for BEDTIME, DADDY! came from my own children. One night my son was stalling bedtime. So, his dad  jumped into his bed and said “Okay then you can put me to bed.” Bedtime is not usually a funny time of day, but when it is a child who is putting their parent to bed, then that’s funny. Then I researched all the things that children do to stall bedtime. From that research, I chose the funniest stalling techniques, ramped up the humour added some heart and Hey Presto, comedy gold.

I hope that my future blog posts, which will feature humorous Aussie books, will help you to connect with the people you share them with.  

Share a laugh and connect with someone today.
BIO:
Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. Sharon has taught for all of her career. Previously a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, she now teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her humorous debut PB BEDTIME DADDY! was released May 2020 through EK books. Sharon’s humorous follow up picture book,  GET READY, MAMA! Is due to be released through EK books in 2022. Awarded the Paper Bird Fellowship for Writers in 2019, Sharon used this time to write her early middle grade book SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILITY BELT. Samara is due to be released in 2021 through Clear Fork Publishing’s new imprint &MG. Sharon is also a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy,
CONNECT:
https://www.instagram.com/sharongiltrow1/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/sharongiltrowwriter/
https://twitter.com/sharon_giltrow
https://sharongiltrow.weebly.com/

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10 Comments
Nell
1/25/2021 10:22:46 pm

Great article!

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
1/26/2021 06:00:17 am

Thanks Nell for reading and commenting :-).

Reply
Annette Schottenfeld link
1/26/2021 12:27:08 pm

Sharon, Great post! BEDTIME DADDY will bring smiles and laughs to many children and adults too. Well done!

Reply
Sharon Giltrow
2/3/2021 04:30:22 am

Thank you Annette it is nice knowing that I am making children smile and laugh (adults too).

Reply
Linda Staszak
2/23/2021 08:15:24 am

Bedtime Daddy looks like a great book for the kids and the readers! Can't wait to get it. Thanks for a great post!

Reply
Eleanor Peterson link
2/23/2021 08:54:06 am

Sharon, your book seems like so much fun. My GC, 5, has a great imagination as well. BUT...I love the Quokka! If only I could visit Australia one day. Did this little guy jump at you. I guess he wanted a hug. Cute!

Reply
Holly Vagley
2/23/2021 09:00:50 am

Thanks, Sharon! Love the Bedtime Daddy concept - will look for it here! Brava!

Reply
Joan Sloane link
2/23/2021 09:57:23 am

Thanks Sharon, this book looks hilarious. Congratulations to you.

Reply
Claire Freeland link
2/23/2021 12:20:57 pm

Thank you for sharing! Bedtime Daddy is adorable and hilarious. Congratulations from Baltimore, MD USA.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
2/24/2021 04:09:59 am

What a delightful book. I love the way Sharon found humour in the bedtime routine by turning it around. Katrin's illustrations are just gorgeous too.

Reply



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    We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our  awesome bloggers!!

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  • Home
  • WRITING
    • Mastering Great Graphic Novels >
      • 2023 Mastering Graphic Novels Registration
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
    • 2022 Kidlit Palooza >
      • 2022 Palooza Program
      • 2022 Palooza Faculty
  • ILLUSTRATION
    • NEW!! Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books Instant Access
    • Never a Dull Moment Workshop
  • TECH
  • About Us
    • Why Us?
    • Meet the Faculty, Lives & GT Judges
    • Testimonials
    • Books by Students
    • Our Bookshop
    • As Seen In
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Blogfish
  • MN Course Access
  • Community
    • Our Bookshop
    • Come Play With Us!
    • Resources
    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships
      • Larissa Marantz Merit & Need Scholarship