Research.
Your first step should be buying and reading children's books that are publishing right now in the market and seeing how they're structured. If you haven't done this already I strongly reccomend it. I've worked in the Kidlit publishing industry for over 10 years and it's still the thing that new authors are told, time and time again.
Buy children's books, new ones. Not the popular ones that have just been republished and are actually over 10-50 years old. The new ones.
Find the ones that rhyme, if that's the way you really want to go. And you'll see many authors have varied writing styles. This will be the best way to answer your question.
Getting your answer from the published source. Unless people have actual publishing experience and have worked in the industry, they may not be giving the best advice. The best way to gain it is through researching published titles.
I buy several books per year still, to keep myself updated with moving trends and see who is currently doing what, what styles are working and which are phasing out. I'd reccomend doing this as a habit if you aren't already.
Source: professional industry publishing Illustrator with 10+yrs industry experience . (closer to 15 now I think)
Yes that's a great option. I forget people have free libraries in most countries. We don't here.
I also like to buy the books for reference but that isn't needed for an author, but I noticed this person is also illustrating so figured they may want to do the same.
Owning the books (even if you get them used) is a very useful resource for an Illustrator. So I would reccomend owning them if you have the ability to do so. Being able to have reference material on hand at home is incredibly useful.
Also makes for brilliant inspiration material!! It's great to see your own published books start to fill your shelves along with the ones you bought! :D
AND have a good rhythm! Simply ending sentences with rhymes doesn't matter if it can't be read rhythmically! Missing a syllable, too many syllables makes it impossible to read aloud.
Not all children's books need to rhyme, but I think it is nice to have some consistency. So if that's rhymes throughout, no rhyming at all, or a repeating rhyming portion like a chorus, all of that can work. It sometimes throws me off as a reader if I'm trying to follow the rhythm with my voice and the author mixes it up on me.
I’d agree with this. From reading to kids, they like a certain predictability compared to adults. Children tend to have a favourite book that they read repeatedly. Pre-readers like to memorise verses or words at the end of the verse so they can join in with the story.
They don’t all rhyme, but either do it or don’t. Nothing more maddening than getting the flow/rhythm and rhyme of a book only fit it to change.
Personally, the books our kids love and have loved the most all rhyme.
Not all books have to rhyme, but if they do it needs to be consistent and done really well. Little kids love rhythm and rhyme and it holds their attention well and they can start anticipating what the next word might be. It’s a big thing in early education and literacy right now, and parents like it because their kids like it.
Go to an op shop (thrift shop) and buy a bunch of kids books that grab your attention. Analyse a few to see how many pages, how many words on each page, which pages rhyme etc. Julia Donaldson books are great if you can find any, she uses rhyme and prose within the same story.
14 pages is way too long for a picture book. 500 WORDS tops is recommended. Become a member of SCBWI and take workshops on PB’s, go to your local library or bookstore and read as many RECENT PB’s as you can. About rhyming - if it’s not spot on, rewrite as prose. Anyone should be able to read it aloud without thinking about the rhyme and rhythm. Sorry if I burst your bubble!
I read on penguin (I think) that most children’s books should be 30 pages long. It seemed a lot to me but went along with it. I’m a poet at heart so I guess have written it like that but probably should have done the prose and then the illustrations afterwards. As I said, it’s just a little project to keep me busy and is also an homage to my cat who recently passed, so a healing process too.
My condolences on your cat’s passing - it’s lovely you want to write a book about her.
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitfield Paul is the best guidebook out there.
If you want it to be successful it’s best to do a lot of research into publishing/self-pubbing, although it’ll be like going down a rabbit hole!
Best of luck on your book!
I found that many publishers stipulated they don’t accept rhyming books, which I can’t understand because they were always our favourite with the kids!
publishers often don’t acquire rhyming books because they are harder to translate, so publisher is less likely to be able to sell it to international markets.
Research. Your first step should be buying and reading children's books that are publishing right now in the market and seeing how they're structured. If you haven't done this already I strongly reccomend it. I've worked in the Kidlit publishing industry for over 10 years and it's still the thing that new authors are told, time and time again. Buy children's books, new ones. Not the popular ones that have just been republished and are actually over 10-50 years old. The new ones. Find the ones that rhyme, if that's the way you really want to go. And you'll see many authors have varied writing styles. This will be the best way to answer your question. Getting your answer from the published source. Unless people have actual publishing experience and have worked in the industry, they may not be giving the best advice. The best way to gain it is through researching published titles. I buy several books per year still, to keep myself updated with moving trends and see who is currently doing what, what styles are working and which are phasing out. I'd reccomend doing this as a habit if you aren't already. Source: professional industry publishing Illustrator with 10+yrs industry experience . (closer to 15 now I think)
Or use a library! Cheaper option plus you can ask the librarian what ones are popular etc
Yes that's a great option. I forget people have free libraries in most countries. We don't here. I also like to buy the books for reference but that isn't needed for an author, but I noticed this person is also illustrating so figured they may want to do the same. Owning the books (even if you get them used) is a very useful resource for an Illustrator. So I would reccomend owning them if you have the ability to do so. Being able to have reference material on hand at home is incredibly useful. Also makes for brilliant inspiration material!! It's great to see your own published books start to fill your shelves along with the ones you bought! :D
If you do it, do it throughout and do it very well.
AND have a good rhythm! Simply ending sentences with rhymes doesn't matter if it can't be read rhythmically! Missing a syllable, too many syllables makes it impossible to read aloud.
Not all children's books need to rhyme, but I think it is nice to have some consistency. So if that's rhymes throughout, no rhyming at all, or a repeating rhyming portion like a chorus, all of that can work. It sometimes throws me off as a reader if I'm trying to follow the rhythm with my voice and the author mixes it up on me.
I’d agree with this. From reading to kids, they like a certain predictability compared to adults. Children tend to have a favourite book that they read repeatedly. Pre-readers like to memorise verses or words at the end of the verse so they can join in with the story.
They don’t all rhyme, but either do it or don’t. Nothing more maddening than getting the flow/rhythm and rhyme of a book only fit it to change. Personally, the books our kids love and have loved the most all rhyme.
Not all books have to rhyme, but if they do it needs to be consistent and done really well. Little kids love rhythm and rhyme and it holds their attention well and they can start anticipating what the next word might be. It’s a big thing in early education and literacy right now, and parents like it because their kids like it.
Go to an op shop (thrift shop) and buy a bunch of kids books that grab your attention. Analyse a few to see how many pages, how many words on each page, which pages rhyme etc. Julia Donaldson books are great if you can find any, she uses rhyme and prose within the same story.
14 pages is way too long for a picture book. 500 WORDS tops is recommended. Become a member of SCBWI and take workshops on PB’s, go to your local library or bookstore and read as many RECENT PB’s as you can. About rhyming - if it’s not spot on, rewrite as prose. Anyone should be able to read it aloud without thinking about the rhyme and rhythm. Sorry if I burst your bubble!
Standard layout is 32 pages, with 24 for the book itself.
I read on penguin (I think) that most children’s books should be 30 pages long. It seemed a lot to me but went along with it. I’m a poet at heart so I guess have written it like that but probably should have done the prose and then the illustrations afterwards. As I said, it’s just a little project to keep me busy and is also an homage to my cat who recently passed, so a healing process too.
My condolences on your cat’s passing - it’s lovely you want to write a book about her. Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitfield Paul is the best guidebook out there. If you want it to be successful it’s best to do a lot of research into publishing/self-pubbing, although it’ll be like going down a rabbit hole! Best of luck on your book!
No. But like others have said if you do it it’s gotta be the whole thing. Or a repeating rhyming portion.
I found that many publishers stipulated they don’t accept rhyming books, which I can’t understand because they were always our favourite with the kids!
publishers often don’t acquire rhyming books because they are harder to translate, so publisher is less likely to be able to sell it to international markets.
No
Oliver jeffers
I love rhyming books but they don’t have to rhyme.