[Sianey Posts: 12 Status: Offline]

I am writing a PB about an event in time.  It is inspired by someone I know having lived through that event and the character in my story is based on that someone, however she is a fictional character.  Does that make my PB historical fiction?  Can you even have a historical fiction PB??

Can anyone recommend any PB written in this way that I can study?  I am excited by my idea but am struggling to know where to start putting pen to paper!

Thanks in advance.

[Kell Posts: 1,202 Status: Offline On the other hand WWW]

There are historical fiction PBs, but not many! One that comes to mind that seems like a comp for you is ALL DIFFERENT NOW:Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson, illustrated by EB Lewis. It's about Juneteenth through the eyes of a fictional child.

[Mara Posts: 451 Status: Offline WWW]

Just off the top of my head:

ABE LINCOLN CROSSES A CREEK
KNIT YOUR BIT
BESSIE SMITH AND THE NIGHT RIDERS (has a fictional kid present at historical event)
RUTH AND THE GREEN BOOK
NEW SHOES
WHEN JESSIE CAME ACROSS THE SEA
THAT BOOK WOMAN
MISS RUMPHIUS
ME AND MOMMA AND BIG JOHN (by me; most of my other historical PBs are nonfiction)

Watch out for lists and even library catalogues; people often miscategorize narrative nonfiction picture books as fiction!

[KatyD Posts: 844 Status: Offline www.katyduffield.com WWW]

I was just dropping in to mention one of my all time favorite picture books--ME AND MOMMA AND BIG JOHN. I looooooove that book!

And another favorite--which I think would be considered historical fiction--Barb Rosenstock and Mary GrandPre's THE NOISY PAINT BOX.

And a third favorite--ACTION JACKSON by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan (illus Robert Andrew Parker) which at first glance may seem to be a pb biography, but it's "an imaginative account grounded in solid research" (PW)

[Vijaya Posts: 7,315 Status: Offline Encourage WWW]

I love HF picture books and kids love them too. They are also a great teaching tool. Our own Verla Kay has penned some beautiful books: http://www.verlakay.com/Books/ 

And here's a list on goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/historical-fiction-picture-books

Happy reading! V.

[Sianey Posts: 12 Status: Offline]

Thank you all so much for your input!  Being a fiction only girl up until now I'm very pleased that there are historical PB out there and I plan to get reading.  Looking forward to reading yours Mara! 

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,825 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Look at the works of Eve Bunting. Also, this is a great question for your librarian.