ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN - Nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picture Books

Sage Merriman

ON THE NIGHT YOU WERE BORN Conveys the Specialness and Uniqueness of Each Child 

Nancy Tillman’s 2005 picturebook is the 3rd book to be nominated for The Grandfather List.

What talent... to be able to write and illustrate with Nancy's elegance and grace.

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The first iteration of The Grandfather List will be published in January 2017. Final selections will be made from among books that have been nominated.

Please suggest your favorite children’s picturebooks in Comments below or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.

THE BEAR IN THE BOOK - Nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks

Sage Merriman

Soft & Sleepy, THE BEAR IN THE BOOK is Just Right for Bedtime Reading 

Kate Banks is the author of this modern classic, published in 2012, and it is the 2nd book to be nominated for The Grandfather List.

Georg Hallensteben's illustrations provide the perfect accompaniment to her elegant story. 

Read it just above a whisper and don’t forget to say “Night Night....”

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The first iteration of The Grandfather List will be published in January 2017. Final selections will be made from among books that have been nominated.

Please suggest your favorite children’s picturebooks in Comments below or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS - First Nominee for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks

By Sage Merriman

1941 classic children's picturebook is first to be considered for The Grandfather List

Robert McCloskey’s elegantly simple book about ducklings in peril on the Boston Common is the first of many candidates to be considered for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picture Books.

The first iteration of The List will be published in January 2017.

Book suggestions for The Grandfather List can be made in comments or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.

The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks (FAQ with Sage Merriman, Part 1)

By Sage Merriman

Q: What Exactly Will This Grandfather’s List of Children’s Picturebooks Be... And How Will It Work?

It will be an evolving list of the best children’s books I can find, starting with picturebooks. 

In the narrowest, personal sense, I’ll want to buy our new grandson between 1-2 children’s books per month for several years, tapering off only when he loses interest. I need to know what to buy in roughly what order. 

But my intention in blogging about this is to avoid the narrow approach.

I want to broaden the concept and produce a list that is useful as a reference tool for others, particularly grandparents, but all others who hope to be significant reading-benefactors to children. 

I also hope to benefit from advice from readers of this blog. You may have ideas about what belongs on The Grandfather List - based on your experience in sharing books with children. I hope you will suggest worthy titles for consideration.

I see The Grandfather List as having the sort of “permeable membranes” that can yield a concentration of great children’s books, beginning with picturebooks, that are of universal interest and merit.

The list will be grouped initially by age (as a surrogate for developmental ability) so that users can use it as a guide through time in finding and sharing some of the best of children’s literature.

Q: When will The Grandfather List of Children’s Picture Books Be Ready?

Because it will be an “evolving list,” the question is probably: “When will it begin to acquire critical mass?”

I think the first signs of critical mass in a blog-published list will be in January 2017. We will see how it goes, but I’d like to have an initial list of 30-50 children’s picturebooks selected by that time.

Q: Is there an interim step or will the list be initially published “all at once”?

There will be many interim steps. Indeed, I hope to make this an iterative and open process.

I plan to announce the selection of individual books as they are added to the developing Grandfather List.

Before that time, I will be announcing “candidates” for the list as they survive my initial screening. These will be worthy books in my judgment. Most of them won’t make the final list, however. I will have read several children’s picturebooks for each book that becomes a candidate. 

More, I’m sure, on these and related matters... soon....

Please share your view in Comments or feel free to email me: Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.

“The Grandfather List” a Children’s Picturebook Project

By Sage Merriman

What Does a Soon-to-Be New Grandfather Do to Get Ready?

With one “in the oven,” due in November (and recently revealed to be a boy), the question is what do I do to prepare? Luckily our daughter has provided the answer:

“Dad, I want you to make a list of children’s picturebooks we should read with him."

That’s about all the instruction a future grandfather needs: Something good and worthwhile to keep me busy and thinking about the future star of our little show.

And thus...

“The Grandfather List - Of Children’s Picturebooks” Is Born

This now has “project status” with me, and I will be developing The Grandfather List - Of Children’s Picturebooks as soon and as well as I can - with heart and soul, all-in.

It’s fair to ask what it means for this blog.... 

It means I will be reading a lot of the classic children’s picturebooks and sharing with you what I think of them... as reading material for today.

I expect to find some have aged rather well and other, not so much. I’ll tell you which are which - one grandfather’s opinion. 

I’ll also be reading the best of what’s been written recently and what’s being published now - and sharing what I think.

I’ll be, in essence, publishing short reviews or rankings, and I’ll be picking the ones I like best for formal inclusion in The Grandfather List.

I am a couple of months into the reading part of this, so I have a rather large backlog of books-read and opinions-yet-to-be-shared - but that’s good. It gives me a running start.

How You Can Help With The Grandfather List - Of Children’s Picturebooks

Use the Comment button to tell me what children’s picture book treasures have meant the most to you. In other words, nominate a book, or handful. What would you have me read and consider? 

If you prefer email, please write me c/o Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.

About My “Sage Merriman” Pen Name

By Sage Merriman

What’s in a Name? Questions? Comments?

The story behind this pen name is probably obvious: Sage meaning wise. Merriman meaning a happy or fun-loving man. 

Together: a wise and happy man.

Am I these two things - wise and happy? Probably not (and if or when I am, it’s seldom on the same day). 

But I aspire to be both. 

And, as an author, I have the power to edit and reflect - and come closer.... 

It’s tempting to try....

And gender aside, wise and happy describes the kind of author I’d like my kids and grandkids to read.

Yours, too.

Why Use a Pen Name at All?

I have aspirations to write not only for young readers but for adults. Not only fiction but several kinds of nonfiction. 

I don’t want to mask my identity (full name Ryan Lee Petty); but I think it may be useful for readers if I establish a persona.

Maybe two or three, in time for different types of books - for different audiences - but each persona (pen name) tied to me. 

Questions? Comments?

For now, let me suggest we use email. I am happy to share more and will try to be wise, if you write:

Sage [at] [drum roll...] SageMerriman [dot] com.  

The first of the Sage Merriman books will be published next week here on Amazon.

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