Tips for Writing and Publishing Children’s Books

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Children’s books have become very popular within the current literary and book markets. These books can include both fiction and non-fiction books and can be educational as well as entertaining.

If you are an aspiring author, you may want to consider writing children’s books as a possible creative outlet. You may find that this can be a very profitable endeavor. In addition, you may be writing the next children’s classic, such as the Harry Potter series.

Here are a few tips on successfully writing children’s books.

Write an age-appropriate outline for your prospective book. If your target reader is under the age of five, make sure you will be including plenty of pictures.

Make sure your story has relatable characters and global, universal issues. It’s a great idea to try to teach a lesson.

When writing, make sure you are not talking down to your audience. It’s a good idea to actually write at a higher level than your audience, as this will provide a challenge to the children reading your book.

If you have the ability to illustrate your book, do it. Publishers do have illustrators on staff if you need help with pictures and illustrations.

Study the children’s market using resources such as the Writer’s Digest for Children’s Books. There are also great online resources that can help as well. Doing this research will help you properly target your market when you are ready to submit your book. Make sure you follow all the guidelines for submission properly.

Turn your Love of Children’s Literature into a Career

Children’s literature is a fun and exciting literature niche. There are just so many books and short stories that can be enjoyed that it could fill any person’s waking hours. What if there was a way that you were able to combine a passion and love for children’s literature with a full time career? There is.

A career in children’s literature is not impossible. In fact, it can be quite easy. All a children’s literature lover would have to do is pursue a degree in a number of chosen fields and the career in children’s literature will follow. People have often found successful careers by pursuing some of the following college degrees.

Children’s Literature Degree. There is a whole college degree devoted to the various children’s literature out there. This can include classics, modern, fantasy/sci-fi, poetry and young adult. A degree in children’s literature can lead to careers as a children’s librarian, children’s book expert, children’s book publicist as well as an expert book reviewer with a focus on children’s literature. A children’s literature degree combined with an English degree can even be used to allow people to write and publish their own children’s books.

Library Management Degree. A library management degree will allow the degree holder to pursue a degree as a librarian or master librarian. Children’s librarians are responsible for choosing books for the children’s section, hosting children’s reading programs and even holding community reading events.

While there are many degrees that will lead you to a career in children’s literature there are few colleges that focus on this type of degree. By using sites like elearners.com you will be able to find a college that fits your needs whether it is online or a physical college location.

Remember even if you are not able to pursue a career right away in this field you will be able to find hundreds of children’s books that you never knew about and can share with your children!

Classic Picture books to enjoy with your Children

With new books for adults and children being published all the time, it can be a difficult task to find a good picture book to enjoy with your young ones. We all remember favorite picture books from our own childhood, but finding just the right book to spark your child’s interest can be hard. What makes a picture book a “Classic?” Many people today would agree that a good plot, strong illustrations and a fun character to identify with makes a classic picture book.

Some of the best illustrated and most loved Children’s picture books are stories like,”Chica,Chica, Boom Boom”by John Archambault and Bill Martin, Jr. and illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Brightly colored cut outs and fun wording tell a story about the alphabet letters climbing trees and is good for children practicing their letters, or just learning their alphabet.

“Goodnight Moon” By Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd is a well loved classic from the 1940′s about a bunny telling his bedroom and his possessions goodnight.Another well known picture book is “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” Written by Laura Numeroff and is illustrated by Felicia Bond. A silly story about the consequences of giving a mouse a cookie is beautifully illustrated and a select favorite of many.
“Where The Wild Things Are” written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak was recently turned into a big screen hit. Published in 1963 and put into paperback in 1984, it tells the story of little boy Max, who goes to bed with no supper and dreams of a land filled with wild beasts and monsters,how Max conquers the beasts,and wakes snug and safe in his bed.

These books have been around for years, and are all strong stories with wonderful illustrations and are considered by many to be “Classics”. Introduce your child to the wonder of reading with these well loved stories, and find yourself enjoying them just as much!

New books for children that could become quick favorites

We all have favorite books from our own childhood, and we all know which picture books have withstood the test of time, and remain favorites today, But what about picture books today? What books might our children remember fondly from their own childhood? A few book recommendations for your little ones from the foundation for early learning are;”Down by the Cool of the Pool” by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees a story about a frog and other animals dancing and having a great time cooling off in and out of the pool.

“I’m Bad” by Kate and Jim Mcmullan tells the story of a Tyrannosaurus Rex looking for food in the prehistoric Forrest, and how he is thwarted in his attempts to find something yummy to eat. “Tip Tip, Dig Dig” by Emma Garcia is a great story for your little man about a digger, a mixer, a crane, a dump truck, a bulldozer, and a road roller teaming up to work together at building a playground.

For those that have older children,  the  “Phantom Stallion” series by Terri Farley. A gret series for your horse loving girls, follow Sam as she tries to find out why there’s a palimino that looks familiar, but appears to bFor your older boy, the story “The puzzling world of Winston Breen:The potato chip puzzles” tells the story of Winston and his friends entering an all day puzzle contest to win money for their school. But they also must discover who is trying to keep them from winning! Included in this great book are puzzles for your little reader to solve throughout the story. Introduce your child to the love of learning new things and the love of reading these wonderful stories.