Must They Be Funny?

“Must they be funny?” It’s what Shonna McNasby asked following my last blog. And her thoughtful question calls for a response.

Shonna also said, “I am an aspiring author of picture books, and what I write, I’m told, is rather quiet and sometimes sad. Everywhere I look there are hilarious picture books, (which I do love), and I just saw a notice in SCBWI about a publisher who just can’t find enough, and is hosting a competition to find more.

“Of course this bothers me as a writer, but it also bo...