The Way to Write for Children: An Introduction to the Craft of Writing Children's Literature

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Macmillan, Nov 15, 1998 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 97 pages

In addressing "the way to write for children," Joan Aiken starts at the beginning. Is writing a children's book as simple as it looks? Do you want to write for children or about them? Do you want to write a picture book for young children, a book for new readers, or a chapter book for preteens? Why is Beatrix Potter so beloved? E. Nesbit? A. A. Milne? Maurice Sendak?

After more than fifteen years as a writing shelf classic, The Way to Write for Children has been completely revised and updated. From analysis of what makes the best-loved children's books so successful, to where to look for inspiration, to practical advice on how to structure a plot, Aiken delivers an extremely useful book for anyone who's ever considered writing a children's book.

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Contents

Chapter One
3
Chapter Two
3
Chapter Three
10
Chapter Four
22
Chapter Five
32
Chapter Six
46
Chapter Seven
58
Chapter Eight
69
Chapter Nine
84
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About the author (1998)

Joan Aiken (1924-2004) is the renowned author of over ninety books for adults and children, including plays, novels, and collections of poems and short stories. She has received much recognition and numerous awards for her work. The Wolves Chronicles, one of her best-known works, features The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, which has sold nearly 4,000,000 copies worldwide. Aiken lived in Pentworth, England, and America.

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