PBParty 19: HIS PLEDGE

Title: HIS PLEDGE
Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book
Word Count: 520

Query:

Dear Agent:

Millions of U.S. students recite it every morning. It took two hours to write. One man wrote it but didn’t get credit until decades later…

HIS PLEDGE is my proposed nonfiction picture book that tells the little-known story behind the origin of America's Pledge of Allegiance and the man who wrote it. Now is the perfect time for this story to hit the marketplace, as 2017 marks the 125th Anniversary of the Pledge of Allegiance.

I’ve been a freelance copywriter since 1997 and a writer in the children’s market since 2009. An SCBWI member, I’ve had articles published in AppleSeeds, FACES, Hopscotch and Highlights. I was also a 2014 Rate Your Story Writing Contest finalist in the picture book category. Please note that I have several other works for your consideration.

Thanks for your time—I hope you’d like to see the full manuscript.
 

First 50 Words:

It was eight weeks before the first National Public School Celebration, and Francis Bellamy had every detail on schedule.

Except for one. The most important one…

A Salute to America’s Flag.

Francis knew it had to be something huge.
Something memorable.
Something that would outlast us all.

But he had one night to write it.