Suzy Davies's Blog: Book News - Posts Tagged "children-s-classics"
"What Makes A good Children's Book" Part 3 - Settings By Suzy Davies. Copyright 09/21/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
As a qualified former teacher of English Language and a Literacy Specialist, I have known inner city kids who have never seen the sea, and country kids who have no notion of what living in the city may be like.
Some children have never experienced the vibrancy and energy of a city and its attractions. Others may have never gone fishing for tadpoles, climbed trees, gone blackberry-picking, gone beach-combing, skimmed stones or enjoyed leisure in the countryside or by the sea, among grime, mud and nature.
A good children's book will transport a child to urban, suburban, and country settings, with all the feelings and sensations "as if " they were there, first hand.
A good book, which has a well-paced plot, and a variety of settings, which illuminate the characters to the best advantage, will arouse kid's curiosity, imagination, and interest.
It is imperative that children's books introduce children to diversity, and encourage children to explore the world beyond their immediate surroundings and the confines of "the familiar."
Good books expand the experiential reference points of a child, and gently lead them to new horizons.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/21/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Some children have never experienced the vibrancy and energy of a city and its attractions. Others may have never gone fishing for tadpoles, climbed trees, gone blackberry-picking, gone beach-combing, skimmed stones or enjoyed leisure in the countryside or by the sea, among grime, mud and nature.
A good children's book will transport a child to urban, suburban, and country settings, with all the feelings and sensations "as if " they were there, first hand.
A good book, which has a well-paced plot, and a variety of settings, which illuminate the characters to the best advantage, will arouse kid's curiosity, imagination, and interest.
It is imperative that children's books introduce children to diversity, and encourage children to explore the world beyond their immediate surroundings and the confines of "the familiar."
Good books expand the experiential reference points of a child, and gently lead them to new horizons.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/21/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
"What Makes A Good Children's Book?" Part 4 - Voice and Language. By Suzy Davies. Copyright 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Voice.
The tone of a book, when writing for children is important, and the ideal narrator speaks to kids on their level. A sense of lightness, humor, and fun helps the book along.
The narrator should be like a very friendly neighbor, favorite aunt, uncle or grandparent, who has the kids' best interests at heart, guides them, entertains them, and gives them freedom to invent, and is not, in any way, patronizing or intrusive.
Language.
Sometimes, it is good to challenge children, to help them build vocabulary.
A good book will have a range of social sight words, and a richness of imagery and language to delight, and show forth the world of the book and its characters, in new and unexpected ways.
From dialogue in the book, children can gain social confidence, and mastery of social interaction. Children can learn to distinguish the different characters, and to "listen" to the voices that are speaking, in order to know about the personalities of the speakers. They may learn to draw inferences from what characters say, in order to predict how they will behave and act. Children learn about turn-taking in conversation, empathy, and reciprocity. They learn about role-making and taking, speaking and listening.
A good book will always contain elements of surprise, and the language of the book will add meaning and depth to the message within its pages, in fresh and unexpected ways.
Kids simply love onomatopoeia and alliteration! Experimenting and wrestling with sound is fun! And even new vocabulary will go down a treat if the descriptions are colorful and inviting.
The language in a good children's book will stimulate children to investigate, and think for themselves, and will motivate them to read, and read again.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
The tone of a book, when writing for children is important, and the ideal narrator speaks to kids on their level. A sense of lightness, humor, and fun helps the book along.
The narrator should be like a very friendly neighbor, favorite aunt, uncle or grandparent, who has the kids' best interests at heart, guides them, entertains them, and gives them freedom to invent, and is not, in any way, patronizing or intrusive.
Language.
Sometimes, it is good to challenge children, to help them build vocabulary.
A good book will have a range of social sight words, and a richness of imagery and language to delight, and show forth the world of the book and its characters, in new and unexpected ways.
From dialogue in the book, children can gain social confidence, and mastery of social interaction. Children can learn to distinguish the different characters, and to "listen" to the voices that are speaking, in order to know about the personalities of the speakers. They may learn to draw inferences from what characters say, in order to predict how they will behave and act. Children learn about turn-taking in conversation, empathy, and reciprocity. They learn about role-making and taking, speaking and listening.
A good book will always contain elements of surprise, and the language of the book will add meaning and depth to the message within its pages, in fresh and unexpected ways.
Kids simply love onomatopoeia and alliteration! Experimenting and wrestling with sound is fun! And even new vocabulary will go down a treat if the descriptions are colorful and inviting.
The language in a good children's book will stimulate children to investigate, and think for themselves, and will motivate them to read, and read again.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Part 5 - "What Makes A Good Children's Book?" - Illustrations - by Suzy Davies
A stunning cover, and good interior illustrations, are an essential component of a good children's book, and enhance, and complement the written word.
Children are attracted to colorful scenes, which make characters sparkle on the page, and appeal to the emotions.
Illustrations help very young kids interpret the action in a story, which may surprise them.
Vocabulary can be practised in a relaxed way; this helps hand and eye coordination, and cognitive development, when they take it in turns with you to point to the pictures, and say the new words as a memory aid.
Shared reading, and perhaps, discussion about the pictures, offers plenty of opportunities for language development, and for interaction and reflection. Kids enjoy being supported, and the visual aid of illustrations promotes confidence-building.
The hallmark of a good illustrator is that each illustration is instantly recognizable as their handiwork, and the characters in the book become lovable "old friends," who children, and their carers, hold close to their hearts.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Children are attracted to colorful scenes, which make characters sparkle on the page, and appeal to the emotions.
Illustrations help very young kids interpret the action in a story, which may surprise them.
Vocabulary can be practised in a relaxed way; this helps hand and eye coordination, and cognitive development, when they take it in turns with you to point to the pictures, and say the new words as a memory aid.
Shared reading, and perhaps, discussion about the pictures, offers plenty of opportunities for language development, and for interaction and reflection. Kids enjoy being supported, and the visual aid of illustrations promotes confidence-building.
The hallmark of a good illustrator is that each illustration is instantly recognizable as their handiwork, and the characters in the book become lovable "old friends," who children, and their carers, hold close to their hearts.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Part 6 - "What Makes A Good Children's Book - The Plot, The Pace and A Message by Suzy Davies.
The Plot and Pace.
The plot of a book should stimulate young kids, so they are fully engaged.
The pace of the story is important to encourage children, who have a lower attention span than adults, to read on, and find out what happens.
The read should be exciting and exhilarating, especially at the end of the chapter, so that they are rewarded, and want to turn the page onto the next one.
Some intricacy in the plot will teach concentration and help to develop abstract reasoning. Children learn deferred gratification, when their favorite character triumphs in the end.
A Message.
If a book has a deeper meaning, so much the better.
A message that transports the imaginations of children, from the particular, to the universal, will resonate with them, stay with them, and, maybe even, continue to entertain them, into adulthood.
These kinds of life-changing messages are found in Children's Classics, which reward even the adult reader, with deeper nuances and insights - each time he/she reads the book again.
Sometimes, a well-crafted children's story, with a message, may be a good way to manage children's introduction to "taboo" or "difficult" subjects: discrimination, bullying, sex education, global issues, and the natural life-cycle, for example.
When we "teach our children well" we have the opportunity to make a difference to this generation, and generations to come. To be a children's writer is a great responsibility, and privilege.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
The plot of a book should stimulate young kids, so they are fully engaged.
The pace of the story is important to encourage children, who have a lower attention span than adults, to read on, and find out what happens.
The read should be exciting and exhilarating, especially at the end of the chapter, so that they are rewarded, and want to turn the page onto the next one.
Some intricacy in the plot will teach concentration and help to develop abstract reasoning. Children learn deferred gratification, when their favorite character triumphs in the end.
A Message.
If a book has a deeper meaning, so much the better.
A message that transports the imaginations of children, from the particular, to the universal, will resonate with them, stay with them, and, maybe even, continue to entertain them, into adulthood.
These kinds of life-changing messages are found in Children's Classics, which reward even the adult reader, with deeper nuances and insights - each time he/she reads the book again.
Sometimes, a well-crafted children's story, with a message, may be a good way to manage children's introduction to "taboo" or "difficult" subjects: discrimination, bullying, sex education, global issues, and the natural life-cycle, for example.
When we "teach our children well" we have the opportunity to make a difference to this generation, and generations to come. To be a children's writer is a great responsibility, and privilege.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Paddington Bear Animator Takes An Interest in "Snugs The Snow Bear"
"Snugs the Snow Bear" is beginning to capture the hearts of people in America, and indeed folk all over the world. But, here is a surprise for you, since Snugs is a bear full of secrets and surprises!
I was given courage to go ahead and write even more books to the series than I had originally planned to do, when Sheila Graber, world-famous animator of the original Paddington, and animator of Rudyard Kipling's "Just So Stories," discussed with me the possibility of animating my book, and supported me with her wonderful generous comments. Through email and telephone conversations, she helped me, an unknown writer, have faith in my artistic integrity and ability. Sheila complimented me on the activities of my characters!
People who have followed me will know that I also have another series planned, "Florida Critters" a series of short stories about the animals I meet here in Florida, at home, and on my travels. I shared some of these stories with Sheila, and she seemed to admire the "gentle humour" in them.
So why did Sheila Graber take an interest in my work? Well just read "Snugs The Snow Bear," and find out!
Copyright Suzy Davies, 12/12/2016. All Rights Reserved.
I was given courage to go ahead and write even more books to the series than I had originally planned to do, when Sheila Graber, world-famous animator of the original Paddington, and animator of Rudyard Kipling's "Just So Stories," discussed with me the possibility of animating my book, and supported me with her wonderful generous comments. Through email and telephone conversations, she helped me, an unknown writer, have faith in my artistic integrity and ability. Sheila complimented me on the activities of my characters!
People who have followed me will know that I also have another series planned, "Florida Critters" a series of short stories about the animals I meet here in Florida, at home, and on my travels. I shared some of these stories with Sheila, and she seemed to admire the "gentle humour" in them.
So why did Sheila Graber take an interest in my work? Well just read "Snugs The Snow Bear," and find out!
Copyright Suzy Davies, 12/12/2016. All Rights Reserved.
Thanks Snugs Supporters!
A festive "Hello" to all the Snugs supporters out there, and thank you for spreading the word about my book! Some of you have commented you "can't wait" to see my creation, and I have to say, I couldn't have done it without the artistic genius of Peter Hall, my very accomplished illustrator, and the brillance of the publishing team at Snow Leopard Publishing U.S.
Christmas time is traditionally the busiest time for Children's Books on Amazon, and unknown authors such as myself appreciate your support for our work.
Snugs Book One is an exciting start to my "Snugs Series" and I hope your children will grow with Snugs and develop an enduring friendship with him through the years.
Christmas time is traditionally the busiest time for Children's Books on Amazon, and unknown authors such as myself appreciate your support for our work.
Snugs Book One is an exciting start to my "Snugs Series" and I hope your children will grow with Snugs and develop an enduring friendship with him through the years.
Snugs Storytime!
Hello, and I wish you all a Very Happy New Year!
In the next few days, I am taking Snugs "on the road" and doing live storytime to entertain a local audience!
The spoken word is very dynamic and powerful, and I look forward to meeting the kids and sharing Snugs' story.
In the next few days, I am taking Snugs "on the road" and doing live storytime to entertain a local audience!
The spoken word is very dynamic and powerful, and I look forward to meeting the kids and sharing Snugs' story.
Tune in to Snugs!
For those of you based in the U.K, some exciting news! Very soon I will be chatting with Radio Solent Presenter, Jonathan Hines, about my brand new Children's Book, "Snugs The Snow Bear" Watch this space for details!
Snugs On Air!
Super-excited to be recording an author's interview on my old home ground with Jonathan Hines of U.K Talk Radio! Really looking forward to our chat tomorrow, and I will let you know when it is going to go live. Be sure to watch this blog for details of "Snugs The Snow Bear," my latest creation on Amazon Worldwide!
Snugs Radio Interview!
I'd like to thank Jonathan Hines, U.K Talk Radio Presenter and Television Personality, for his very professional interview of me about my brand new Children's/Young Adults Fiction Book, "Snugs the Snow Bear" The chat will be broadcast very soon, and I will let you know when to tune in to the show. It was very useful for me to review my progress, too, and to think about "The Snugs Series," and where we will go with it in the future!
Book News
"The Flamingos Who Painted The Sky," our new picture book is NOW fully available to bring in #Christmas #sunshine, #flamingo #sunsets, and #happiness #worldwide Illustrated by the talented Shirin Mass ...more
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