Resources for Further Reading
General
- Getting Out of the Slush Pile: Harold's article, mentioned in opening video.
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd edition. Harold's book, a useful resource for much of what we present in the course. Chapters 11 and 12 are the relevant ones for this session.
Reading Picture Books with Children, Megan Dowd Lambert (Charlesbridge, 2015). Mentioned in one of the discussions, this is not a writing guide but a guide to sharing picture books with children that has a lot to say about the elements of a picture book and how a picture book "works."
Websites
ALA award-winners:
- Newbery Medal
- Caldecott Medal
- More award-winners
- Booklist: This magazine is put out by the American Library Association, and reviews many children's books. It's a good place to read up on the latest titles.
- Cooperative Children's Book Center: The CCBC publishes good lists of recommended books in a variety of areas on their website.
- The Horn Book: This magazine not only reviews children's books but also covers developments and trends in the children's book world, and looks more deeply at books both past and present.
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People: An example of one of the many general and specific annual lists available.
- Publishers Weekly: PW is the weekly magazine of the publishing industry. You can find many articles on their site, read reviews, and sign up for a free daily email newsletter.
- The SCBWI: The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is the national organization those who write and illustrate books for children. They have a newsletter, a useful website, freebies for members, a comprehensive and well moderated discussion board, and local conferences all over the country.
Writing How-Tos
- From a list of “Writing How-tos” that Harold compiled as a supplement to his Idiot’s Guide. Titles with links go to reviews by Harold.
- Anatomy of Nonfiction: Writing True Stories for Children, by Margery Facklam and Peggy Thomas (Writer’s Institute Publications, 2011). This is the book to get if you are writing or want to write nonfiction for children. It covers everything you need to know.
- The Giblin Guide to Writing Children's Books (4th edition), James Cross Giblin (Writer's Institute Publications, 2006). A how-to by a noted editor and writer of nonfiction. This covers writing nonfiction, novels, and picture books from the valuable perspective of someone who has been on both sides of the desk.
- The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults, Cheryl B. Klein (W.W. Norton, 2016). Cheryl works at Lee & Low, and this book provides insight into her work as an editor and thoughts about the business as well as offering a comprehensive guide to the writing and revision process. Especially useful if you are writing novels.
Plot and Structure, James Scott Bell (Writer's Digest Books, 2004). Recommended by Tracey, who says she uses this regularly. Intended for writers of novels.
Self Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Browne & Dave King (William Morrow, 2004). Recommended to help you edit your own work.
Take Joy: A Book for Writers, Jane Yolen (Writer, 2003). Jane is to some a guru of children's writing. Her words on writing will inspire you, prod you, move you, irritate you--and get you writing.
- Writing It Right! How Successful Children’s Authors Revise and Sell Their Stories, by Sandy Asher (Writer’s Institute Publications, 2009). Twenty-one “case studies” of manuscripts ranging from picture books to novels, showing an early draft and showing (and explaining) how they were revised – and published.
- Writing Picture Books: A Hands-on Guide from Story Creation to Publication, Revised and Expanded Edition, by Ann Whitford Paul (Writer's Digest, 2018). This is a comprehensive and practical guide to writing and revising picture books--highly recommended.
- Find recommended books and online articles on revision in the Revision Resources page at Kid's Book Revisions.
For "Getting Feedback from Others":
The Writing and Critique Group Survival Guide, by Becky Levine (Writer’s Digest Books, 2010)
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