WRITING FOR CHILDREN**UPDATED New Chapter: How to write a metafiction picture book**POPULAR EBOOK NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINTKids and books--they just go together. Children's picture books are an addictive passion! You love reading to kids and wish that you could read one of your own. Now, you can make that dream a reality.Writing illustrated picture books for children can seem deceptively simple. You must tell a complete story in less than 1000 words, and less than 350 words is best. Characters grow and change and keep the reader emotionally invested, while also giving the illustrator great possibilities for the art. It's a balancing act all the way around.Writing teacher and author of over a dozen children's books Darcy Pattison explains the craft of writing children's picture books. You'll learn why format matters, how to appeal to kids and parents, how to write a read-aloud friendly book, and much more. Pattison provides tips on writing, editing, and marketing your manuscript to publishers.If you like detailed writing guides, plenty of contemporary examples, and practical worksheets, then you'll love Darcy Pattison's guidance on creating your own masterpiece that will fascinate generations of young readers. TABLE OF CONTENTSPICTURE BOOK BASICSPicture Book Structure: Why 32 Pages?Does EPUB Change the 32-page Illustrated Picture Book?Dual Audience for Children's Picture BooksPicture Book Settings: Exotic v. FamiliarChildren's Picture Book Characters: Folk Tale or Modern Story PICTURE BOOK GENRESHow to Write a Children's ABC BookHow to Write a Read Aloud Friendly BookHow to Write a Rhyming Picture Book, Part 1How to Write a Rhyming Picture Book, Part 2Rhyming Picture Book BibliographyHow to Write a Poetry Collection Picture BookHow to Write a Picture Book MysteryHow to Write a Humorous Picture BookHow to Write a Children's Picture Book BiographyHow to Write a Creative Non-Fiction Picture BookWRITE A PICTURE BOOKGood Writing: The BasicsPlotting a Picture BookPlan Your First Draft17 Picture Book Topics to Avoid10 Suggested Directions for TitlesDid You Write a Picture Book or Magazine Article?Let's Make a Dummy or a Mock-up of Your Picture BookFrom Shakespeare: 2 Ways to Look at Picture Book StructureRevising Your Picture Book Text5 Ways to Make the Reader Turn the PagePhonics for Picture Book WritersCreate a Compelling Voice for a Picture BookPage 32: The Last Page of a Picture Book SUBMIT YOUR PICTURE BOOKThe Self-Publishing QuestionThe Biggest Mistake You Can Make in Submitting a Picture BookThe Illustrator Doesn't Tell YOU What to DoTitles and Subtitles Sell Your WorkHow Do I Find an Editor's Name for Submission?RESOURCES WORKSHEETS