Suzy Davies's Blog: Book News, page 30
September 22, 2016
Part 8 - "What Makes A Good Children's Book?" By Suzy Davies - Magic!
Magic is not just for films! Good children's books invent extraordinary new worlds from the mundane. Add a sprinkle of fairy-dust, and a good book will engage young minds to suspend disbelief, and enter the enchanted world of the book.
The attention-grabbing escapism a good book allows, comforts and relaxes a child. Good books also help them to develop good concentration, and use their imaginations, as well! Good books make learning fun!
If a book stirs the natural wonder in a child, that book is a success.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
The attention-grabbing escapism a good book allows, comforts and relaxes a child. Good books also help them to develop good concentration, and use their imaginations, as well! Good books make learning fun!
If a book stirs the natural wonder in a child, that book is a success.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Part 7 - "What Makes A Good Children's Book?" by Suzy Davies - Educational Value
Good children's books have something valuable to teach a child, for example, about emotional intelligence, relationships, and feelings.
Sometimes, education systems tend to prioritize "thinking" over "feeling." In my view, the social aspects of a child's education are just as important as any academic success, and we should endeavor to achieve a holistic balance.
Good books may teach kids about Art, Science, History, Geography and Culture. They are essential to children's cognitive development, language acquisition, and social and emotional awareness.
Books may be used to create interactive lessons in schools, or for home schooling. Whether a book is fiction or non-fiction, every good book has something to benefit young minds.
Good children's books can be employed as a springboard for comprehension, and as a stimulus to writing and discussion. They may be used for creative activities, in Drama, Music, and Art, too.
Children are encouraged, when they have a favorite book, to participate in activities outside the home, such as membership of a local library, exploration of new hobbies or taking part in Children's Book Clubs.
It is through common interests - perhaps developed through a common love of reading - that children make, and keep, new friends.
Copyright Suzy Davies 09/22/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Sometimes, education systems tend to prioritize "thinking" over "feeling." In my view, the social aspects of a child's education are just as important as any academic success, and we should endeavor to achieve a holistic balance.
Good books may teach kids about Art, Science, History, Geography and Culture. They are essential to children's cognitive development, language acquisition, and social and emotional awareness.
Books may be used to create interactive lessons in schools, or for home schooling. Whether a book is fiction or non-fiction, every good book has something to benefit young minds.
Good children's books can be employed as a springboard for comprehension, and as a stimulus to writing and discussion. They may be used for creative activities, in Drama, Music, and Art, too.
Children are encouraged, when they have a favorite book, to participate in activities outside the home, such as membership of a local library, exploration of new hobbies or taking part in Children's Book Clubs.
It is through common interests - perhaps developed through a common love of reading - that children make, and keep, new friends.
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.
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.
"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.
"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 2 - Adventure By Suzy Davies, Copyright 09/21/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Adventure.
Clearly, while characters promote empathetic understanding in boys, as well as in girls, a sense of adventure in a children's book will help develop self-assurance and assertiveness in a child, irrespective of gender, so that they are prepared for when they venture out, and discover the world for themselves.
Books provide a risk-free rehearsal for life, from the relative safety of home. When kids read, they find out, through this virtual kind of travel, their own likes and dislikes, and their preferences. They discover who they are, their potentials and their possibilities.
When children read about tales of derring-do, the world seems to be an exciting place; when different escapades are introduced, and the characters gain mastery over their environment, this is all to the good.
Children sense that they have some power in the world, and that they can adapt to circumstances and situations, as they emerge and change.
Indeed, good children's books inspire kids, and make the world a bigger, more inviting place, to explore and enjoy.
In the next part of this article, I will introduce more key elements of what makes a good children's book.
Copyright Suzy Davies, 09/20/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
Clearly, while characters promote empathetic understanding in boys, as well as in girls, a sense of adventure in a children's book will help develop self-assurance and assertiveness in a child, irrespective of gender, so that they are prepared for when they venture out, and discover the world for themselves.
Books provide a risk-free rehearsal for life, from the relative safety of home. When kids read, they find out, through this virtual kind of travel, their own likes and dislikes, and their preferences. They discover who they are, their potentials and their possibilities.
When children read about tales of derring-do, the world seems to be an exciting place; when different escapades are introduced, and the characters gain mastery over their environment, this is all to the good.
Children sense that they have some power in the world, and that they can adapt to circumstances and situations, as they emerge and change.
Indeed, good children's books inspire kids, and make the world a bigger, more inviting place, to explore and enjoy.
In the next part of this article, I will introduce more key elements of what makes a good children's book.
Copyright Suzy Davies, 09/20/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
"What Makes A Good Children's Book" Part 1 Characterization. By Suzy Davies Copyright 09/20/2016. All Rights Reserved. No Copying.
With so many Children's Books on the market, it takes discernment to pick a good one! What makes a good Children's Book? Here is my take on it! In the first part of my article, I will examine the most important aspect of any Children's Book.
Characterization.
In a previous article, I stated that Children's Books help children develop empathy.
Through identification with their favorite character, and the experience of shared reading with parents, caregivers, siblings, and peers, children develop a rapport, which strengthens emotional bonds, and a sense of belonging. Reading is a journey which children and their significant others take together.
Children learn that there are diverse people in the world through their reading, and a good Children's Book will teach children about diversity, in a way that helps them celebrate difference. Children can develop a strong sense of their own identity; they discover how they are similar to a character in the book, and how they are different from them.
Compelling characters are vivid but not over-written, and are always three-dimensional. These characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, invite kids to identify with their hero or heroine, and be curious about them.
Good characterization gives children the opportunity to make strides in their emotional development, so vital to their lives. Children learn about abstract concepts, such as: friendship, tolerance, loyalty, compassion, love, trust, faith, courage, endurance, sacrifice, conflict resolution and problem-solving, patience, teamwork, and so on.
Children love to be shown appealing characters who resolve difficulties, and who are positive, and good role models.
A story which demonstrates the triumph of a character, and a happy resolution to difficulties, will instill self-confidence, and help children rise above their own challenges in life. A good children's book has characters which inspire kids to have a can-do attitude.
In my next article, I will talk about other aspects of the question, "What Makes a Good Children's Book?"
Characterization.
In a previous article, I stated that Children's Books help children develop empathy.
Through identification with their favorite character, and the experience of shared reading with parents, caregivers, siblings, and peers, children develop a rapport, which strengthens emotional bonds, and a sense of belonging. Reading is a journey which children and their significant others take together.
Children learn that there are diverse people in the world through their reading, and a good Children's Book will teach children about diversity, in a way that helps them celebrate difference. Children can develop a strong sense of their own identity; they discover how they are similar to a character in the book, and how they are different from them.
Compelling characters are vivid but not over-written, and are always three-dimensional. These characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, invite kids to identify with their hero or heroine, and be curious about them.
Good characterization gives children the opportunity to make strides in their emotional development, so vital to their lives. Children learn about abstract concepts, such as: friendship, tolerance, loyalty, compassion, love, trust, faith, courage, endurance, sacrifice, conflict resolution and problem-solving, patience, teamwork, and so on.
Children love to be shown appealing characters who resolve difficulties, and who are positive, and good role models.
A story which demonstrates the triumph of a character, and a happy resolution to difficulties, will instill self-confidence, and help children rise above their own challenges in life. A good children's book has characters which inspire kids to have a can-do attitude.
In my next article, I will talk about other aspects of the question, "What Makes a Good Children's Book?"
September 15, 2016
Snugs!
Everything is complete, and now the book is being edited! How exciting!
September 10, 2016
The Snugs Series
All the color illustrations are done! Just waiting for the back of the book cover. So thrilled!
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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