Help me! I've fallen and I can't get up!

I'm trying to think of the perfect idea for a picture book that would WOW the publishing world with its unique approach to a universal theme. Particularly, I would hope to find something publishable by Deseret Books' Shadow Mountain imprint. They are incredibly fussy, especially with the present economic issues. So---put on your thinking caps and tell me what you're looking for in the perfect picture book for your family.
ps Deseret Book has already rejected my book on Annie-dog and the collection of poems celebrating the Sweetwater Corridor in western history, and the fairytale I wrote about the girl who wishes and wishes and finally turns into the wishing star.

Frumpola Heroine

I've been impressed by Susan Boyle's story. She's the 47-yr old spinster from England that appeared on Britain's Talent show and shocked the world with her impeccable voice. I find it refreshing that she has such an instant fan club, and global approval. It tells me this old planet is not hopelessly blind or universally corrupt. Besides being able to sing, this gal had the courage to aim for a stage usually denied to all but the young and sexy. That the world audience recognizes her grit and applauds it is just ducky. If you haven't taken time yet to hear her utube victory, you should. Watching the judges react is pure delight, even if you don't like Susan's song. But she chose the perfect song: "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables. Hooray for Susan! Hooray for Us!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho--

I've been thinking about the economic crises. There are far more jobless people than jobs to go around. While we're waiting for the stimulus package to address that, how about we send off all these unemployed dudes to Somalia and let them be pirates for a few months? After all, piracy seems to be incredibly profitable. I read a report that those guys have collected about 80 million in ransom moneys this last year. And it seems to be pretty secure. Nobody has a clue how to deal with them. They don't answer to anybody. And think how romantic! Move over Jack Sparrow. Consider all the cool stories for the grandkids:
"How did you get by during the depression of 2009, Grandpa?" "Well, my boy, I tried cleaning carpets and selling Pampered Chef, but I really didn't hit my stride till I ran off to sea and became a pirate." "What about Grandma?" "Oh, she stayed home and scrapbooked all my adventures. Later she wrote a book, My Swashbuckler, and the rest is, uh, family history."
Shucks, maybe president Obama should consider privateering as a means to fix the national debt. Governments have done it before, like Queen Bess and her hero, Sir Frances Drake. Maybe National Pirate could be a cabinet post...and he wouldn't even get in trouble for taxes!

Ice-Cream

I was invited to accompany Shannon and her girls on an outing yesterday to visit the Beehive House. It was the "field trip" part of their study of Brigham Young. It was great fun. And afterwards, we stopped at McDonald's for ice-cream. Alyssa was doing her best not to be messy, but somehow that stuff got all over her chin. I watched as she used the heel of her hand to wipe it off, and then licked her hand. She reminded me of a little kitten.

I miss ice-cream more than any other dessert. It was part of nearly every special memory from my childhood. Uncle Jim sometimes just showed up, stuffed us all in his car and took us to eat ice-cream. We went to Snelgroves for my high school graduation celebration. More than once we went to Ice-Berg Drive-In for milk shakes, wherein we all ate our favorite flavor first, and then ordered another in someone else's favorite flavor to experience the whole package. Then we'd finish by all having an ice-cream cone.

One glorious day, Mom took me to the doctor to see why my skin was so scaly. He wrote out a prescription for ice-cream! Told me to eat as much of it as I liked. This is true.

Share your ice-cream memory!