EDUCATOR RESOURCES
Click Here for BATTLE OF THE BOOKS Teaching Tips and Read-Alike Titles
Click Here for CLARINET & TRUMPET Teaching Tips and Read-Alike Titles
Author Video on Using Poetic Devices in Picture Books
Here’s a fun Book Talk from a librarian’s perspective sharing CLARINET AND TRUMPET!
Click Here for HIP, HIP…BERET Teaching Tips and Read-Alike Titles
TIPS FOR WRITERS
- Become a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Check out all their wonderful resources.
- Read a ton of new books in the genre in which you’re writing. Hooray for libraries! Interlibrary loan is a beautiful thing.
- Attend an SCBWI conference or a local writing conference – a great way to learn and to meet other writers, agents, and editors. Look for writing workshops offered by your library, too.
- Join a writing critique group. SCBWI has resources to connect you to a local group or help you form your own group.
- Follow your favorite authors’ and illustrators’ newsletters! I always have fun reading author Julie Falatko’s newsy newsletter.
- Try a writing competition. The mentorship I won with author Beth Ferry through Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie’s “Writing with the Stars” contest helped me polish my manuscripts and build confidence.
- When your first book is coming out, join a debut group. You can help market each other’s books and support each other in all kinds of ways. My Soaring ’20s debut group has been an amazing resource and support system for me.
- Most importantly, write, write, and write some more!
A FEW GREAT SITES FOR WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
- If you love writing in rhyme, check out Rhyme Zone to search for rhyming words. Rhymeweaver.com is a wonderful resource for learning more about meter and rhyme.
- Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) – I follow Tara Lazar’s blog and participate in her January StoryStorm challenge every year. It’s a great way to generate new ideas for your books.
- Writing and Illustrating – At Kathy Temean’s blog, find agents looking for new clients, keep updated on industry news, and read about other writers’/illustrators’ journeys to publication.
- Nerdy Book Club – I get so many fantastic book recommendations from this site!
- Writing the World for Kids – Laura Purdie Salas shares her book news, tips for writers, and income information.
- Susanna Leonard Hill – Susanna shares debut books and her favorite picture books and offers evaluations of book pitches and writing contests with fun prizes.
- 12×12 – With a membership to Julie Hedlund’s group, picture book writers can network, find critique partners, learn about the craft of picture book writing, submit to agents, and be challenged to write a new picture book each month.
- KidLit TV – Authors read books and share craft activities with viewers.
- We Need Diverse Books – A non-profit advocating for changes in publishing to bring more diversity to the industry.
- Imagination Soup – Features book lists on all kinds of topics. (If you’re a children’s book writer looking for comp titles, check out this site!)
- Kidlit 411 – A roundup of all kinds of useful info for writers.
- Deborah Kalb – Book Q&As.
- Helen H. Wu – Interviews children’s book authors and shares book lists.
- Maria Marshall’s “Perfect Picture Book Buzz” – Fun author/illustrator interviews.
- Vivian Kirkfield – Interviews authors and offers a #50PreciousWords writing contest each year.
- Kid Lit Frenzy – Find reviews of excellent picture books for children.
- Rate Your Story – All kinds of useful info for writers here, including an opportunity to have your story rated by one of the author judges.
- Grog Blog – Many helpful author/illustrator interviews and picture book recommendations.
- Tonnye Fletcher’s PBJamz – In-depth video interviews with creators of music-themed picture books; also, lots of teacher tips.
- Nancy Tupper Ling – Fun “Author Acrostics” blog.
- Lynne Marie – Author interviews, mentor texts, critique services, and lots more.
- Only Picture Books – Picture book reviews and author/illustrator interviews.
And this list is just the tip of the iceberg! There are so many helpful sites for writers online. Have fun exploring!