Writing a Children’s Book

TOP 10 reasons to share picture books with ALL ages!

10. Universal Themes = Universal Appeal9. Wonderful Art = Increased Artistic Appreciation8. Models of Excellence = Better Writers7. Visual/Verbal Connections = Successful Readers/Learners6. Succinct/Rich Language = Increased Vocabulary5. Sharing A Book = Common Prior Knowledge4. Varied Maturity Levels = Enjoyment On Multiple Levels3. Pictures and Words = Increased Understanding Of Concepts2. Words and Pictures = Powerful Emotional Impact1. Love Of Picture Books = Lifelong Love of Learning/Reading

1. Listen (Robert Munch)http://robertmunch.com/books/

• Each student will need a file folder & 2 pieces of paper!

- On one sheet of paper, write the title: What I notice? (example: lots of colour)- On the second sheet, write the title: Ideas! (as you read, what ideas can you think of to include in your story?)

Take a Look!

• With a partner, read one Robert Munsch children’s story!

– As you read, write down what you notice and ideas you think of to use in your own children’s story

– Take turns writing what you noticed on chart paper at the front of the room!

• Online Children’s Books/Stories• http://www.storylineonline.net/ (read by

celebrities w/ activities)• http://www.magickeys.com/books/• http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm• http://pbskids.org/clifford/stories/index.html (with

story builder – IPP)• http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/

home_tumblebooks.asp• http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/

customer_login.asp?accessdenied=%2Flibrary%2Fasp%2Fhome%5Ftumblebooks%2Easp

• http://www.biguniverse.com/readkidsbooks

1. Children’s Story Project Outline

2. Writing Picture Books for Children handout

3. Big Fox Graphic Organizer

4. With a partner, read a new children’s book, fill in “Big Fox” and add to “What did I Notice?” and “Ideas!”

Using Rhyme

Read aloud: – Green Eggs and Ham– A PIG’S TALE

How might rhyming be difficult?

Listen: http://www.inklesstales.com/stories/

Using Onomatopoeia

What is onomatopoeia?– Words that sound like what they are!

Example: “Pop!”

Read Aloud: The Librarian from the Black LagoonListen: Mr Brown Can Moo, Can You?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npU4tcd4Do8

Writing Picture Books for ChildrenElements of a Good Story

• Elements of a Good Story• Even though picture books are short they still

need to contain all the usual elements of a good story - a main character that readers can identify with and care about and a conflict that needs to be resolved by the end of the story. All picture books have a happy, satisfying ending.

• The conflict of a picture book must be something that children of the targeted age group have experience with and therefore understand. It should also be something that interests them.

What Goes in the Illustrations?

• A general rule is that whatever appears in the illustrations doesn't need to be mentioned in the text. Firstly, you don't have to describe your characters in a picture book. The reader can see what the characters look like from the illustrations. Secondly, you don't need to describe your settings because they also appear in the illustrations.

• Adults read picture books aloud to children. It is important that your story reads well aloud, that it has a lovely flow and rhythm. Hence, sentences should be short and easy to understand. Repetition of a sentence (or sentences) is popular in picture books as it adds to the rhythm and children enjoy joining in.10

The Importance of Language in Picture Books

• As you are working with a limited number of words, every word is vital. You should consider every word and make sure that it is necessary. You should also ask yourself if the words you are using are the best choices .Are they appropriate for the age group? Consider things like sound, meaning, interest, tension, page-turning

• I've heard many publishers suggest that writers of picture books avoid writing in rhyme. They say that it is extremely difficult to do well. The majority of rhyme-texts they receive simply don't work and thus are unpublishable.

• Many kids like onamatoepia – that is, words that sound like what they are. A very simple one everyone knows is “pop!” Words that are fun to say are great. Dr. Seuss makes up words that sre completely silly and don’t mean anything, but they make us laugh. Many times he succeeds in conveying an important message in a childlike manner. I love the line “A person’s a person no matter how small.” By Horton the Elephant in “Horton hears a Who.”

What do you write about?

• Write about something that interests you, that fires your imagination. If you’re bored with what you’re writing how can you hope to excite anyone else?

Children’s Books: Cover to Cover!

What do we see?

1. The Front Cover

•TITLE

•PICTURE

•AUTHOR

•ILLUSTRATOR

2. The Inside Front Cover

• Copyright (2010) All rights reserved• Publisher (you and the address)• ISBN #

• Optional: a dedication and/or other books by the same author

3. The Title Page

• Author• Illustrator • a Picture

4. The Inside Back Cover

Jim Bob is a grade 7 student at Madeline Symonds Middle School in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, Canada. Jim Bob, an enthusiastic athlete, has been a sports buff his entire life, which is why he chose to write a story about basketball! He lives in Hammonds Plains with his parents and sister. This is his first children’s book.

• About the Author • A picture of the Author

How to Write: About the Author

Start with a Tag Line: Jim Bob is a grade 7 student at Madeline Symonds Middle School in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, Canada. (A Tag Line is much like a headline but introduces you, what you do, and where you live all in one sentence)

The Bio: Jim Bob, an enthusiastic athlete, has been a sports buff his entire life! He

lives in Hammonds Plains with his parents and sister. This is his first children’s book.

Always write your biography in third person so it sounds as though someone else wrote it. If this is difficult for you, you can ask someone else to help you!

It should be short and sweet!

5. The Back Cover

• Summary of book• At the bottom: publisher, ISBN #, bar code, picture, price

6. The Spine

• Title • Author

How to: Peer-Edit

• Check SPELLING! (ex: watch there/their, etc. *use a dictionary!*)

• Check TENSE! (if the book uses “is” and “are” it cannot switch to “was” and “were” part way through!)

• Does it MAKE SENSE?• Does it F-L-O-W?• Complete “Peer: 2 Stars, a Wonder and a Wish”

worksheet

Before You Leave Today…

• Your ‘What we notice’ sheet should have examples of onomatopoeia & rhyming

• You should have your main character (s) selected (a sketch) –use coloring books for ideas

• You should have a brainstorm/jot notes of your main idea or conflict

Organize Your Thoughts!

• Graphic Organizer for Children’s Book• Episodic Notes

Graphic Organizer for Children’s Books

Main Character: ___________________________________________Description: ______________________________________________

Traits & Abilities: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Characters: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Setting: __________________________________________________Place: ___________________ Time: __________________Plot:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Events:1. ______________________________________________________2. ______________________________________________________3. ______________________________________________________4. ______________________________________________________

Resolution and/or Moral (Lesson Learned): ______________________________________________________________________________

Episodic Notes

• Remember you will complete 30 boxes– 28 pages + a cover and back cover

Episodic Notes Name ______________________________________ Date _________________Topic ______________________________________ Period ________________

Purpose: lay out your story; organize your pages .Determine the most crucial stages, scenes or moments in the story or process.Draw in the box what happens and what you ?see? in the text. Be as specific as possible.Remember these are notes, not works of art: try to capture the action and important details of the

moment.Explain (in the notes section under the box) what is happening or writing your story line.

______________________ ___________________________ _______________________________________________ ___________________________ _______________________________________________ ___________________________ _______________________________________________ ___________________________ _______________________________________________ ___________________________ _______________________________________________ ___________________________ _______________________________________________ ___________________________ _________________________

Now what?1. After you have finished your episodic

notes, begin your rough draft on the paper booklet provided!

2. After you complete your rough draft, find a partner to PEER-EDIT (spelling, grammar, etc.) and complete Peer: 2 Stars a Wonder and a Wish worksheet (peer-conference)

Wrap it up!

Once you have completed your rough draft, Peer: 2 Stars a Wonder and a Wish, and have made any necessary changes……

Start your FINAL COPY (on the hard cover book provided!)

Book Launch