How to write a children's book

amother

Tue, Dec 05 2023, 11:57 am

I have some amazing ideas on children's books but don't know where to start

Can anyone provide basic step-by-step instructions on where to turn and hope to reach out to I've been pushing this off for too many years

GLUE

Tue, Dec 05 2023, 12:29 pm

Years ago I was in the public library and on the shelf was a book called
How to write a non-fiction book

Maybe there is a book on how to write a children's book.

amother

Dustypink

Tue, Dec 05 2023, 12:34 pm

Did you already write the book?

Look at popular children's books and see how many pages they are.
Make sure your book is approximately the same length.
Read your book to some children of the targeted age and make sure it is interesting to them.
If your book rhymes (it doesn't need to and probably shouldn't unless you are unusually talented) have some other people try to read it to make sure the rhyme scheme is easy to use.

Many publishers do not need you to find your own illustrator. They just want the manuscript. (Don't expect to make much money though.)
Write the book, submit it, and they can take care of the rest.

If you want to control the whole project, look for artist portfolios and find one whose style you like.
Decide if you want to self-publish or go through a publisher.

Want me to say more?

Lovable

Tue, Dec 05 2023, 3:46 pm

amother OP wrote:

I really enjoy writing!
You can Pm me if you'd like

amother

Amber

Tue, Dec 05 2023, 4:03 pm

amother PlumPink wrote:

Hatzlacha !
I know an illustrator, if you're interested.

How much do illustrators charge usually?
Im a speech therapist and love writing, was thinking to make a jewish children's book targeting several speech skills/goals like inferencing, receptive language skills etc...

amother

Lime

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 5:16 pm

Bleemee wrote:

Don’t make it rhyme. 😎

this is bad advice. Are you a poet?
professional childrens rhyming books are great! I can still recite Labels for Laibel by heart

realsilver

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 5:25 pm

Bleemee wrote:

Don’t make it rhyme. 😎

I came here to say that I just read a shimmy shambone book to my kids and my six year old said, " its such a good rhyming book!" I thought it was great as well, it practically reads itself, and its easy on the ears.

in other words- rhyming books can be painful if not done correctly, but if done right, are a lot more enjoyable than non rhyming books.

amother

PlumPink

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 5:35 pm

amother Amber wrote:

I think there's a wide range... Some charge hourly and some (most?) charge a flat fee. Could be as low as several hundred if you hire a newer illustrator, but will be several thousand for a very experienced illustrator.

Bleemee

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 5:47 pm

amother Lime wrote:

this is bad advice. Are you a poet?
professional childrens rhyming books are great! I can still recite Labels for Laibel by heart

Why is my poetry relevant?
I think many (most?) frum kids books that do rhyme are very poorly done.
They are the focus instead of the device, often feeling forced.

amother

Dustypink

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 6:05 pm

amother Lime wrote:

this is bad advice. Are you a poet?
professional childrens rhyming books are great! I can still recite Labels for Laibel by heart

If you can write like Dina Rosenfeld, yes rhyme! Otherwise, especially if you don't even know what "meter" is, please don't. Decent prose is worlds better than bad rhymes.

amother

Lime

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 6:40 pm

amother Dustypink wrote:

If you can write like Dina Rosenfeld, yes rhyme! Otherwise, especially if you don't even know what "meter" is, please don't. Decent prose is worlds better than bad rhymes.

I'm actually great at poems, if I may say so myself
I've been asked and have written poems for family and friends since elementary school
My issue is creativity. I don't have much of that
So I would love to partner with someone who has ideas. And an illustrator

amother

Lime

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 6:43 pm

Bleemee wrote:

Why is my poetry relevant?
I think many (most?) frum kids books that do rhyme are very poorly done.
They are the focus instead of the device, often feeling forced.

Sorry
I guess you just hit a raw nerve
My 7th grade writing teacher always discouraged us from writing poems and I resented it a lot. Poems are my specialty and hobby.
Bh my 8th grade writing teacher was the exact opposite and strongly encouraged poetry, rhyming or not.

shaqued_almond

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 6:55 pm

Reedsy has great articles and lectures by industry professionals that can help you. Usually you start out with the story and an illustrator will figure out how to visually translate it to the page.
I agree that unless you're excellent at poetry to avoid having it rhyme.
In my opinion the most important aspect of children's literature that all successful stories have is whimsy. There need to be some eccentricities in your story that make children curious and interested to return to your world.
Whimsy should also exist in your word choice and prose, I doesn't require rhyme as previously stated. Usually the truly great books have whimsy words, whimsy characters and a whimsy plot.
Read lots of children's books to familiarize yourself with your audience.

As far as frum books, I really like "If I went to the moon" by Sara Blau, that book about a kid falling into a kiddush cup, and the Yossi and Laibel books because their artstyle is gorgeous.

amother

Dustypink

Wed, Dec 06 2023, 7:24 pm

amother Lime wrote:

I don't know you and have never read your poetry, so it may be amazing.

But many of the people I know who consider themselves excellent at poetry, even those who are called upon to write poems for others, write very tortured rhymes. I would suggest finding a highly critical reader to make sure that your poems flow smoothly and have good meter before writing a rhyming children's book.

For example: https://www.imamother.com/foru.....03133

amother

PlumPink

Thu, Dec 07 2023, 10:51 am

amother Lime wrote:

Here's an illustrator: kelilahorowitz@gmail.com

Bleemee

Mon, Dec 11 2023, 5:33 pm

amother Lime wrote:

My advice still stands.
Most kids’ authors should avoid rhyme.
Excellent advice about the whimsy.

amother

Mon, Dec 11 2023, 6:28 pm

Thank you for all the advice

I would probably attempt to rhyme too if needed... kids love rhymes. Even when it makes no sense lol

For more on that see Dr Seuss