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Publishing Children's Books

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on November 5, 2012 at 10:22:14 pm
 

Publishing Children's Books

 

PUBLISHING A CHILDREN'S BOOK: 

 


 

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW:

 

 

A mentor text is a piece of writing that writers use to learn more about some aspect of the writing process or craft. A mentor text inspires us to write, to revise, to publish. We will be reviewing example children’s books to use as mentor texts and models for our own writing.  Search out a children’s book written in a style that captures your attention, that is written like the story you would like to write. And once you've found your mentor text, complete the form below.

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE OF BOOK:

  

AUTHOR OF TEXT:

WHAT TO ANALYZE

 

YOUR ANALYSIS

Who is the SPEAKER?

  • Who is telling the story?
  • Is the story written in first-person (I, me, mine, etc.) or is it written from an outside, third-person perspective (he, she, it, etc.)?
  • Identify the main voice within the text. Is the story written in the voice of a child or written in the voice of an all-knowing, unseen narrator?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the ORGANIZATION?

  • The text of a children’s book is usually organized into simple sentences and short paragraphs. How is the text organized in the book that you have chosen to review?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What about the main CHARACTER?

  • Describe the personality of the main character.
  • Identify two character traits of the main character that young children identify or sympathize with.
  • What was the main problem that the main character faces in the book? How is this problem similar to a problem that most children have faced before?
  • Sometimes a children’s book character will solve the main conflict on his or her own. How did  the character in the book you selected turn to self-reliance to solve the main conflict of the story?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What about the VISUALS?

  • Some picture books have an illustration on the front cover that presents the main conflict or point of the story. Identify two or more elements from the front cover of the book you are reviewing and explain how they relate to the story.
  • What is the primary medium (collage, drawings, photographs, etc.) used in the illustrations?  
  • Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a majority of the illustrations.  Explain how these elements support the story. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the STYLE?

  • Children’s book authors often employ literary tools to help make the story more vivid in the readers’ minds. Commonly used literary tools are rhythm, alliteration, repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile, personification, rhyme, and imagery. Identify three different areas in the text where a literary tool has been employed. For each example you identify, state the type of literary tool that is used and how the employment of the tool helps support the story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


EXAMPLE WRITING PROCESS

 

 

 

 


 

TIPS FOR WRITING A CHILDREN’S PICTURE STORYBOOK 

 

Definition

  • Children’s Picture Storybook—A work written for children that uses both text and illustrations to present a simple plot.

 

Format

  • Most picture books average 30 pages, consisting of 14 to 16 two-page spreads. A spread is the two pages of an open book.

  

Text

  • The text of a children’s book should be organized into simple sentences and short paragraphs.
  • The use of active verbs will keep the story vivid in the reader’s mind.
  • Children’s book authors employ literary tools to help make the story more vivid in the reader’s mind. Rhythm, alliteration, repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile, personification, rhyme, and imagery are commonly used devices.
  • Consider ending each page with a question or other method that sparks the reader’s curiosity for what will happen next.
  • Repeating a phrase throughout the story will help hold your reader’s attention.
  • Use a question at the end of the page to help move your reader to the next page.

 

Illustrations

  • Some picture books have an illustration on the front cover that presents the main conflict or point of the story. 
  • The illustrations are usually created after the text has been written.
  • Illustrations serve as a partner to the text.

 

Characterization

  • The main character should have one or two easily identifiable dominant traits.
  • Present the traits of your characters through both the illustrations and text.
  • Young children should be able to easily identify with the dominant traits.
  • Avoid using text to present detailed descriptions of what the characters look like.  Let the illustrations present the physical details of the character.  

 

Conflict

  • Limit your story to just one conflict that the main character must overcome.
  • The main character should be able to deal with the main conflict in concrete terms.  
  • The main character should resolve the conflict him- or herself.  
  • Four of the most common types of conflict are individual vs. individual, individual vs. society, individual vs. nature, and individual vs. self.
  • Some of the most common concerns of children include acceptance by others, family dynamics, physical growth (especially size and looks), and fear of the unknown (e.g., learning something new, participating in a new activity, going to a new place, getting lost).

 

Plot

  • A solid, well-developed plot is essential to creating a good children’s book.
  • The resolution of the conflict should teach a lesson. However, the lesson should not be told in a didactic way but instead be presented indirectly through the plot.
  • Jump right into the main conflict of the story. 
  • Flashbacks should be used with great caution.  They can confuse younger children.

 

SOURCE:   http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/children-picture-book-project-1022.html


BRAINSTORMING TOOLS

Brainstorming the Conflict

 

Our Assignment Packet

 

  1. What is the conflict? In one sentence, describe the conflict the main character will face in your story.
  2. How will it be dealt with? In the left column, list actions that the main character will take to deal with the main conflict. In the right column, list complications that would or could result from the action listed in the left column. 

 

ACTION

COMPLICATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

SKYPING WITH A BOOK EDITOR

 

On Tuesday, October 9th we invited Ms. Leah Nicholson into our classroom via Skype. Ms. Nicholson manages the production aspects of all custom book publishing at Jenkins Group. For each of the company's projects, Leah directs a wealth of talented designers, editors, writers and printers in their day-to-day activities. 

 

In speaking with her, not only did we learn about the different types of publication houses, but we also learned about how a book goes through production and about considerations editors make when bringing a book to final copy.

 

Speaking with a Book Editor from msward on Vimeo.

 

 

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