Your next Project will be to write a story and create a picture book for a child 5-8 years old (Kindergarten
-3rd grade).
1. Read
two children’s books and complete two analysis sheets.
You can access my google book shelf to find popular children's books here:
2. Select a
conflict.
This should be something to which a child this age can relate. Relate this to a theme that is positive in nature. Don’t blurt out the theme. Let it emerge from the story. Don’t be preachy. If you must come out and say it, do so in dialogue,
not in narration.
·
Problem/solution: The basic sequence stages are arrival of the
conflict, initial success of the main character, reversals, final victory, and
outcome.
·
Adventure: The basic sequence stages are the situations
that are encountered in a chronological order.
·
Learning something new: The basic sequence stages will be the gaining
of the knowledge and the outcome of that learning.
·
Environmental issue: The basic sequence stages will depend on what
the issue is. Either of the above
mentioned sequences will work.
·
Social issue: The basic sequence stages will depend on what
the issue is. Either of the above mentioned sequences will work.
3. Plot and
organize
the story. *This
will be handed in!
4. Develop
characters for your story. *This will be handed in!
o Know
your characters well, so they come alive in the story.
o Limit
the number of characters. Too many are confusing
for a child.
o The
main character(s) should be someone with whom the readers can identify and/or
sympathize.
5. Write a
rough draft. Keep the action in chronological order. *This will be handed in!
6. Produce a mock-up. Decide what words and what pictures will be
on each page. Decide where the pictures and the words will be placed.
*This will be handed in!
7. Compose the final draft.
·
Minimum: 24 pages of story with text and pictures on each page.
·
Use dialogue whenever possible.
o Aim
to make dialogue at least one-third of your story.
o Avoid
big chunks of narration, especially description.
o Split
the narration into smaller pieces.
·
Language
o Don’t
talk down to your readers
o Use
rich and interesting language that evokes strong images.
o You
are creating a book that will be read to children of these ages, not read by
them. Therefore, you can use “bigger”
words.
8. Create
the illustrations.
·
Draw your own pictures but NOT stick people.
·
Use pictures from the internet.
·
Use pictures from the clip art file.
·
Use pictures from coloring books.
·
Use pictures from magazines.
·
Take your own photos
·
Other????
9. Design
the other pages
·
Front of book includes:
o Cover—title,
author, picture
o Inside
cover
o Dedication
page—to (whomever you want to give credit) Place this on the upper third of the
page.
o Copyright
page—Copyright @ (date) by (your name)
All rights reserved. Place this
on the lower third of the page.
·
Back of book includes:
o Back
cover--author page- biography and photo of the author
10. All parts
will be submitted and counted toward a final grade
