Lou and David Sears

I recently paid a picture book author (from Verla Kay’s Blue Boards) to critique my latest manuscript.  Several of her suggestions were good, but she mentioned something called the “magic of threes.”  I think this technique would fit with certain stories, but not necessarily with all stories.  During more than 29 years of reading picture books to children, I’ve learned that some follow a formula but many are simply telling a good story with a beginning, middle, and end.  They include a problem and a solution with believable characters that kids can identify with.  I probably won’t pay for another critique from someone who isn’t an editor or agent.