Writing
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10 Books You Mustn’t Leave Childhood Without Reading
Oh, the joy and pleasure of a great children’s book! There is something so special about the books you read as a child. They often have a far greater impact on us than the books we read at any other stage of life. From enchanting picture books to cherished novels, from long ago to recent times, here is my pick of the time honored tales that have captured children’s hearts decade after decade. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl What can be more exciting for a child than a tour of a chocolate factory? But imagine a chocolate factory that is staffed by Oompa Loompas, has rivers of…
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Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center
Charlie Brown and his friends have warmed the hearts of generations of children and adults. Charles Schulz was a genius at finding humor in the trials and tribulations we call life! I think that is part of the appeal of the Peanuts is their ability to make us laugh at life. I have been a big fan of Charles Schulz’s work and when I was a kid, my stuffed Snoopy went everywhere I went. Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my favorite holiday shows to watch with my daughter and it warms my heart everytime I see the crew dancing around Schroeder playing the piano. This week I was looking for some fun quotes…
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Scout Out Other Possibilities
There are stories I have worked on for months – years – that may not see the publishing light of day. Yet I invested so much time and brainpower in developing them, I hate to see that go to waste. What to do? Rewrite. A couple of years ago, I came across an article about Daisy Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts. I learned that the 100th anniversary of the organization was in 2012. After checking on Amazon to see what books were already written about her, I discovered that there were no current picture books. Aha! Opportunity! My book idea was filled with hooks – the Girl Scout…
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So You Want To Write Books For Kids
Kids have no patience for books (printed or eBooks) that don’t capture their attention. An author has three minutes, maybe four, to hook them. By the first page or two if they are not hooked, kids are “so out of there!” But, if your book does grab them, they’ll devour it. They’ll read it over and over again (or ask you to) until they’ve memorized it. A great book can give children a gift—the desire to read more. There is no need to “dumb down” writing for kids. Richness of language helps kids increase their vocabulary. Children will learn the “big words” if the words are written in an exciting way.…
