Kiddie Craft | Cathy C. Hall Writes

As promised, I received THREE books in the mail, courtesy of ICL and Eve Heidi Bine-Stock! Also as promised, here’s what they look like:

And I’m sure they’re wonderful, though I haven’t had a chance to read them yet. So how do I know they’re wonderful? I know because Eve’s analyzed structure from such great children’s books as Where the Wild Things Are and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. And Eve’s using such classics as Frog and Toad are Friends and Harold and The Purple Crayon to investigate the building blocks of word, sentence, scene and story. And though it’s not pictured, Eve’s taking a look at figures of speech in such favorites as Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and Caps for Sale.

Now, honestly, how can you possibly not learn wonderful things about How to Write a Children’s Picture Book from those perfectly wonderful books? (And the wonderful Eve Heidi Bine-Stock, too!)

You know how I like to win stuff. And I can win a few children’s books just by telling you about this great transcript: http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/tr01/binestock.shtml. But I would have told you about it eventually ’cause it’s jam-packed with lots of great info about children’s picture books.

Now that I think about it, when it comes to jam-packed great children’s info, you can’t beat the weekly newsletter from the Institute of Children’s Literature. Check out their website to see how you can sign up for the free e-news.

Then you’ll get transcripts like this all the time. You’ll also get tips about kid lit websites. Like this great blog I just spent the morning reading: Editorial Anonymous. It’s penned by a children’s book editor who reminds me a little of Miss Snark. Maybe she’s just carrying on the tradition of telling it like it is from the editor’s perspective. So don’t expect rainbows and teddy bears. But do expect to laugh.

And expect to learn a little something about children’s writing. Just that one little bit might make all the difference!