June 2002

Where Can I Find Publishers Of Novelty Books?

I'm looking for publishers of novelty books that break loose from the square paper binding, e.g., books that have moving features, books that make sounds, books with fragrance, books that transform into something else. Could you please advise me?

First of all, go to your local library and bookstore and look for novelty books. Make a list of the publishers. If you prefer to do an online search, go to Smarter Kids.com, click on novelty books in the left margin and find details about novelty books and publishers.

Once you have a list, check to see if you can find the publishers' guidelines in the Children's Writer's & Illustrators Market. I found a few you should check into. Golden Books is a division of Random House. Their web site says they don't accept unagented submissions, however their market guidelines indicate they do, including instructions how to submit. Scholastic's web site doesn't contain guidelines, but their market guidelines say they will look at unsolicited submissions. Before submitting to The Millbrook Press, you should send for specific guidelines with an SASE. Even though the web site for Candlewick Press says they are not accepting unsolicited manuscripts, the market guidelines say they are currently open to submissions. I suggest you query them first with a brief description of your project.

Workman Publishing isn't listed in market guidelines but you'll find author guidelines posted on their web site and they welcome unsolicited submissions.

This should give you a head start, while you begin your research. Be sure to read and follow the publishers' submission guidelines.

Good luck with your search!

How Do I Write a Children's Book From an Essay?

I have a 1,000-word essay that I would like to re-slant as a children's book. What do you recommend?

An essay is written in narrative form with the writer telling the reader information about a topic or theme. However, the key to creating a good children's book is to show, or illustrate, the theme of your story, rather than tell. The good news is, you can extract your one sentence story theme from your essay. What is your essay about? Let's say I write an essay about the perils of children who walk in their sleep. That's what my story is about, except a writer should never state the theme in a children's book.

Next you need to invent a character, with a conflict related to the theme of the story. I invented Cubby. He has a problem; he doesn't wake up in his own bed. Never at any time in the story, should I state the problem, or theme: Cubby walks in his sleep. The reader must discover the problem along with Cubby in order to make my story compelling.

Take some time to read plenty of books in the same genre as the book you plan to write. Be sure to pay attention to the theme of each story and how the author develops it.

Writing World has an excellent selection of articles by Laura Backes to start you on your way: "Understanding Children's Genres", "Throw Obstacles at Your Characters," and "Editing Secrets to Make Your Work Shine." For an overview of the elements of story, language, and imagery to help you bring your picture book to life be sure to read my article, Make Your Picture Book 'Sparkle'!" You will find these and more in the Children's Writing section.Ê

Happy writing!

How Do I Format My Picture Book For Submission?

I need your help. I am writing a book geared towards children between the ages of 2-5. It is a picture book with one sentence on each page. I want to know how would I go about forming a manuscript with only one sentence a page? Do I type each sentence on one sheet of paper or do I have it all on one page? I will send photos with the manuscript.

Lee Wardlaw, award-winning author of more than 20 books for children, ranging from picture books to young adult novels, says: "A picture book manuscript should be typed like any other manuscript: Double-spaced, with margins of one-and-one-quarter inches on all sides. This means that a typical 500-word picture book will run about two-to-three typed pages. Never use a separate page for each line of your story. This is the sign of an amateur."

Be sure to include you name, address, phone number, and the word count of your manuscript in the upper left hand corner.

As for submitting photos with your manuscript, unless your book is non-fiction and the photos are necessary to the content, then you should not submit them. For example, if your story is about the nocturnal habits of bats, and you have photos, then it would be a good idea to send them along with your manuscript. However if your story is about how Homer, the baby bat, learns how to fly at night, then bat photos won't help sell it to the editor.

Instead of submitting the photos with your manuscript, consider telling the editor about them in your cover letter. Describe the photos and offer to submit them separately if the editor is interested.

Editors always choose illustrators; writers seldom have any input in that decision. For more information on why you should not submit illustrations with your picture book manuscript, read "Who Draws the Pictures?" at Harold Underdown's web site, The Purple Crayon. He goes into more detail on why editors choose the illustrators.

I wish you success in getting your book published.

For more information:

Smarter Kids Novelty Books

http://www.smarterkids.com/playtips/default.asp?psku=7436&redir=true

Scholastic

http://www.scholastic.com/

Golden Books

http://www.randomhouse.com/golden/

Candlewick Press guidelines

http://www.candlewick.com/cwp/about_cont.html#Anchor-Submissions-11481

Workman Publishing guidelines

http://www.workman.com/content/pagemaker.cgi?1005854822.txt

Articles on Writing for Children at Writing World

http://www.writing-world.com/children/index.shtml

Lee Wardlaw: Children's Book Author

http://www.leewardlaw.com/

Who Draws the Pictures? by Harold Underdown

http://www.underdown.org/cig_ch14.htm

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