Read These Publications If YOU Want to Write for Children

If you want to learn to write for children, be sure to subscribe to these informative publications for children’s writers.

Children’s Writers Newsletter is published by the Writer’s Institute in West Redding, Connecticut.

Children’s Writer brings you these regular features to keep you on top of the market every month:

Marketplace: Three full pages to provide even more news about what editors are looking foright now! PLUS . . . tips, updates, new faces, new specs, start-ups, shutdowns, mergers, and acquisitions.

Contest Announcements: Including Children’s Writer’s own contests with cash prizes of up to $500 for the grand-prize winner plus publication in Children’s Writer.

Commentary: Award-winning author Patricia Curtis Pfitsch delves into important and controversial developments in the children’s field in this regular feature.

Profession and Craft: Two regular columns where guest writers discuss key aspects of the business side and the writing side of being a professional writer.

Of course, as you might expect from the Institute, there’s even more:

* Book editors discuss their wants and needs;

* Interviews with authors who help shape the market;

* Profiles of magazines that are setting the pace.

Find out more about this publication and how to subscribe HERE.

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Children’s Book Insider is another publication children’s writers can’t be without!

Each issue of Children’s Book Insider includes:

NEW MARKETS. The first thing you’ll see when you pick up CBI each month is “At Presstime,” two pages of fresh and exclusive market news. This publication tells you about new imprints, changes in editorial direction, calls for submission, contests, grants and much more. CBI editors use their exclusive network of sources to provide readers with the hottest leads. And they put it all right up front, because they know your first objective as a writer is to sell. “At Presstime” is the source to find out who’s buying.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK. CBI extensively covers the nuts and bolts of submitting your work, with information that will make it easy for you to take action. Their Editor Profile series brings you up close to top editors, who will tell you — in their own words — exactly what they’re looking for and how they like to be approached. Plus, CBI’s feature articles cover every aspect of the submissions process — from formatting your manuscript all the way through signing a contract.

WRITING SECRETS. Their straightforward “how-to” pieces about writing give you the do’s, don’ts and golden rules of children’s literature. From picture books through young adult novels, CBI tells the secrets that can turn rejection letters into book contracts.

ADVICE FROM TOP AUTHORS. CBI brings you the advice, encouragement and wisdom of America’s top children’s writers, through their series of exclusive interviews. Judy Blume, Jane Yolen, R.L. Stine, Gary Paulsen, Walter Dean Myers….these are just a few of the big names that have appeared in CBI. (Apply the lessons these folks have to offer and, who knows, maybe someday CBI will be interviewing you!)

Find out more about this publication and how to subscribe HERE.

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Become a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and you’ll automatically receive the SCBWI Bulletin.

This bi-monthly publication contains comprehensive and current information in the field of children’s literature. Features include the latest market reports, articles on issues in writing, illustrating, and publishing, information on contests and awards, reports of events in the field, news of SCBWI members, as well as information about ongoing SCBWI activities throughout the country. The Bulletin is an invaluable source of information and inspiration to writers and illustrators of children’s literature.

Find out more about SCBWI and how to become a member and start receiving The Bulletin HERE.

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Ideas For Some Good Old-Fashioned Family Fun and Games

byAmyM.O’Quinn

WiththecurrentrageofWii,Xbox,and everyotherelectronicgame/deviceimaginable,manychildrenhavelosttheabilityto usetheirownimaginationsorexercisecreativity.Inaddition,
theirlevelsofphysicalactivityhavedecreased,yetchildhood obesityisontherise.Whatisthesolution?

Whynot dustoffsometried and trueideasand activitiesfromthepastthatthewholegang willenjoy? Considerdigging out theboard gamesfromtheback ofthecloset,thecroquet set fromthegarage,somefavoritebooksoffthebookshelfforreading aloud,ortheicecreamchurnfromthestoragearea,and crank upsomegood old-fashioned familyfun.

What’stheBig Deal?

Familiesaresobusythesedaysthatgoodqualitytimespenttogetherisbecoming scarcer.
However,inorderto keep thefamilyunitstrong,parentsand childrenMUSTmaketheeffortto
find timetobetogether.Notonlywillthelinesofcommunicationstayopen;thememoriesthataremadewilllastalifetime!Inaddition,childrenwhospend timewiththeirparentsand siblings,
enjoying activitiestogether,willbemoreaptto dothesamething withtheirownfamiliesoneday.

ResourcesAndIdeasRound-Up:

Old Fashioned Children’sGames:Over200 Outdoors,CarTrip,Song,Card and Party
ActivitiesbySharonO’Bryan

Disney’sFamilyFun Crafts:500 CreativeActivitiesforYou and YourKids(DeannaF.Cook,
Editor)and theEditorsatFamily Fun Magazine

ReadersDigest Great Big Bookof Children’sGames-Over450 IndoorandOutdoorGamesforKidsbyDebraWise

Fun on the Run!:324 InstantFamily ActivitiesbyCynthiaL.Copeland

TheAmazing Family GameBoard BookbyEricBerlin

Celebrating Board GamesbyNinaChertoff

TheOutrageousOutdoorGamesBookbyBobGreyson

ClassicKidsOutdoorGamesStillHaveAppeal:GamesThatParentsand GrandparentsUsed to
PlaybySusanAdcoxatAbout.com

Old Fashioned Fun: Getting YourFamilyBack to BasicsbyDianeLaneyFitzpatrickatSuite101

TheTreehouse: Children’sCraftsand ProjectsatOld Fashioned Living

Read-Aloudsand Reading AsAFamilyatAbout.comIceCreamInABagIceCreamRecipes

Orhow about thisoneforsomething alittlebitdifferent?

How ToMakeHomemadeButterInAJar

Getthewholefamilyinvolved andbrainstormsomegreat ideaseveryonewillenjoy.
Remember—old-fashioned funisneveroutofstyle!

Amy M. O’Quinn is a pastor’s wife and former schoolteacher-turned-homeschool mom of six.
She is also a freelance writer who enjoys jotting down ideas around the fringes of family life.
She specializes in non-fiction and educational writing, and her work has been published or
acquired by various magazines and websites. She is also a product/curriculum/book reviewer for
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and a regular columnist for TEACH Magazine. The O’Quinns
live on the family farm in rural south Georgia. You can visit Amy at amyoquinn.comorhttp://www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.

The Green Green Pear

Reviewed by: Kristi Bernard
Title: The Green Green Pear
Author: Manjula Naraynan
Paperback: 16 pages
Publisher: Author House 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1-4389-6957-2

The Green Green Pear is a story that teaches why we should love the skin we are in. It also incorporates colors, shapes and animals. This is a great way for kids aged 6-9 to interact and learn about themselves.

Green green pear wants to know why he isn’t red like an apple, yellow like a banana or orange like an orange. He wants to make sounds like cows, pigs, sheep and dogs. He wants to smell like flowers, taste like candy and fly like butterflies. He wants to be anything other than green.
One night when a wishing star sails through the night sky Green Pear makes a wish. But, he learns after 3 wishes that he doesn’t want to be a red apple, a meowing cat or a circle. He just wanted to be a green green pear.

Reviewer Kristi Bernard

Brigitta of the White Forest

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine

Title: Brigitta of the White Forest
Written by: Danika Dinsmore
Soft cover: 208 pages
Ages: 9-12
Publisher: en theos press
ISBN 10: 0-9754042-5-3
ISBN 13: 978-0975-404256 Published: Spring 2010
Price: $12.95

Brigitta longs to find her place in the White Forest. Always one to daydream and to question authority her progress to achieve changes to her wings to mark her destiny does not come easy for Brigitta. Coupled with her endless responsibility to look out for her younger sister, Himalette, Brigitta struggles to break free.

Until the day while on an errand with Himalette on the outskirts of the White Forest an eerie hush blankets the White Forest turning all fairies and creatures to stone. Except for Brigitta and Himalette and the Hourglass, which protects the White Forest. With the sands of time slipping away, Brigitta wishes she could just turn the Hourglass over to continue the protection to the White Forest. Alas, this was not to be for the Ancients long ago set the law in place that only the Elder’s had the knowledge and power to do so.

Forced to seek help outside the White Forest, Brigitta and Himalette embark on their journey to save all within the White Forest. Will Brigitta and Himalette be able to decipher the legends and folklore as they come to life with good versus evil intertwined? For all is not as it appears. Who is friend? Who is foe? One does not know until decisions are made and actions are set in place.

Come along on this magical journey of discovering ones true destiny in most unusual circumstances.

To learn more about author, Danika Dinsmore visit: The White Forest

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine

The Guardian of Kelmar-Book 1 of the Kelmar Trilogy

reviewed by Donna McDine

Title: The Guardian of Kelmar – Book I of the Kelmar Trilogy
Written by: Laura Sepesi
Paperback: 613 pages
Publisher: Infinity Publishing / May 2009
ISBN: 0-7414-5336-3
Price: $26.95

Come away where anything goes in the fight over good versus evil. Unbeknownst to Baby Carmen her destiny was slated even before she was born. The evil Desorkhan will stop at nothing, destroying all who get in his way to reach Carmen. Death if necessary.

Hidden away from the clutches of the dark forces, Carmen lives a solitary life with her grandfather, since being orphaned as a baby. Her true destiny is kept secret from her, until her fifteenth birthday. When on this coming of age milestone birthday her grandfather presents her with an unusual gift. A golden skeleton key engraved with the initials BSGAD. Her grandfather’s aloofness baffles Carmen as to what this unusual key could unlock.

Quite unexpectedly Carmen comes across an old locked book engraved with “The Book of Kelmar” on the book cover. With the skeleton key in hand, Carmen unlocks the “Book of Kelmar” and unleashes her true destiny and is transported to the city of Kelmar.

Will Carmen find true understanding and courage she so desperately needs to overcome the dark forces once and for all? Come along for this fascinating journey into a magical world of self discovery.

Learn more about the mind tinkling world of Laura Sepesi at: Laura Sepesi

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine –

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