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Raina Telgemeier’s Share Your Smile Helps Readers Tell Their Own Stories
Fans of Raina Telgemeier’s bestselling graphic novels are anxiously awaiting the release of her new book Guts out September 17. But readers don’t have to wait until fall for their Telgemeier fix. The creator of graphic memoirs Smile and Sisters and fictional graphic novels Drama and Ghosts, as well as the adapter and illustrator of the first four Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels, has a brand-new guided journal—Share Your Smile: Raina’s Guide to Telling Your Own Story, out April 30—for budding young authors, illustrators, and comic-makers.
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Over the course of four chapters—using excerpts, examples, and background information from her four original graphic novels—Telgemeier guides readers on their own journey to telling their unique stories. She asks important questions for getting started and overcoming that initial writer’s block—what stories are important to you? Are there any funny family stories you tell again and again? What experiences have made you into the person you are today?
With her signature illustrations and approachable and encouraging writing style, she takes kids through her creative process, including building out her ideas, sketching images, inking them, digitizing and coloring the comics, and more. She also features photographs from her childhood that she dug up for Smile and Sisters, as she wrote both from memory, and has space for readers to paste in their own photos for inspiration as they work to get their own stories on the page.
In the first chapter, readers get the lowdown on Telgemeier’s tools and techniques as she shows them the pencils, paper, and pens she uses to bring her comics to life. She also demonstrates a step-by-step process for character drawing and offers plenty of space for kids to practice drawing their friends and family, their own facial expressions, and more. Most importantly, Telgemeier provides lots of support and encouragement for kids as they get started, reminding them that getting to be an accomplished artist takes a lot of practice and that she’s still learning and growing every day as an artist.
In subsequent chapters, the interactive journal offers prompts for kids to make lists of family memories, brainstorm ideas for stories about travel and school, fill out questionnaires about triumphant and nerve-racking events, create the right atmosphere and setting for their story, and more. She even takes readers through the process of researching a topic for a book like she did for Drama. Plus, in each chapter, there are blank lined pages for writing complete stories and blank comic panels to start drawing the stories.
Telgemeier ends the book with “Raina’s Tips for Creativity,” which includes some awesome tips and tricks for every young (and old!) creative to use in their process. For example, keep a journal, ask for criticism, and read, read, read! Telgemeier’s advice cheers kids on and propels them forward.
And as a bonus for Telgemeier’s super-fans: There’s also a special sneak peek at her upcoming graphic memoir Guts—a true coming-of-age story about Telgemeier facing and conquering her fears—including some early sketches and what those completed comics look like in the book.
What do you think of Share Your Smile?