Guest post by Fiona Ingram Getting kids enthusiastic about reading and even doing their own creative writing may seem like a monumental task when you see all the techno-competition around—video games, movies, computer games etc. They focus on the electronic stuff which, like an electronic babysitter, is doing all the thinking for them. Children…
Category: children’s books
The Business Side of Publishing a Picture Book
In a children’s picture book workshop, the editor (from Scholastic) delved into why editors are so choosy when finding their next project. ‘Children’s books’ is a business. And like any other business, publishing houses think profit and loss. The editors are very aware of this and their reputation depends on them finding stories that will…
Working with a Children’s Ghostwriter – The Process
It easy to understand that the idea of having a children’s book ghostwritten can be nerve-wrecking. You’ll no doubt have a number of questions: – Does the ghostwriter know what she’s doing? – Is she qualified? Is she a skilled writer? – Does she know the genre you want a book in? – Is she…
Writing – Trimming The Fat
Guest Post by Penny Lockwood (Ehrenkranz) If you check market resources both for printed and on-line publications [picture books], you’ll find a number whose word limit is below 1,000 words. How do you trim the fat from your manuscript to fit within the tight confines of those word limits? First, check your manuscript for “weak”…
The 3 Levels of Picture Books
Children’s picture books have 3 levels or purposes in regard to the reader and purchaser. Think of it as the structure of a house: there’s a basement, a first floor, and often an upper floor. Level 1: The basement, or Surface Level, is geared toward the youngest reader (or listener if too young to read)….
Book Review of The Lucky Baseball
As a children’s author and writer, I’ve done my share reviews of children’s books. Occasionally, I’ll be sharing them with you. It’s important to make note of ‘good’ books for kids. The first one up is: Title: The Lucky Baseball: My Story in a Japanese-American Internment Camp Author: Suzanne Lieurance Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc. ISBN:…
Talking about A Caterpillar, a Bee, and a VERY Big Tree in the Classroom
“A Caterpillar, a Bee and a Very Big Tree,” written by brother and sister pair, Dicksy Wilson and D. B. Sanders. This rhyming picture book teaches cadence and rhythm and has a sing-song feel in places. The charming characters and illustrations will inspire young minds and immerse children in the action from the first page…
Days End Lullaby Video Book Review
Thanks to Amy Robbins-Wilson, creator of Lullaby Link, Day’s End Lullaby is in a video. Amy did a Google search for “lullaby” and came upon my book. She contacted me and offered to include my book as a review video on her site. But, she didn’t stop there, she offered to create a video of…
Know Your Reader – Writing for Children
Guest post by Charles Suddeth I am primarily a children’s writer. I belong to SCBWI (Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators). The rule of thumb is that children like to read books with the main character their age or slightly older. Recommended ages for readers and main characters vary from publisher to publisher, so…
Tips for Marketing Your Children’s Book
Guest post by Fiona Ingram When marketing your children’s book, a better result comes from a finely-tuned approach. Simply honing in on your target market the right way will reap great benefits. Here are my tips. 1. Have a top quality product. Your book must be entertaining or educational, well written with age appropriate language,…