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Write a Children's Book: From Great Ideas to Publishing

In this 10-week live and engaging course, students will take their ideas for a children's book from brainstorming to writing to illustrating and publishing.
Kendra Fletcher
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(521)
Star Educator
Class

What's included

10 live meetings
8 hrs 20 mins in-class hours
Projects
2-4 hours per week. Our main project will be the completion of each student's children's book. Smaller projects to that end include planning, writing, and layout.
Assessment
included

Class Experience

US Grade 8 - 11
Beginner Level
In this 10-week live and engaging course, students will take their ideas for a children's book from brainstorming to writing to illustrating and publishing.

We'll begin by analyzing award-winning children's books to discern which elements make them such compelling pieces of literature and art. We'll discuss each book's purpose: to entertain, to inform, to inspire, or to teach a life lesson. 

After analysis, we'll move on to the planning stage. What do you want your book to be about? Which elements of storytelling should you include? Open discussions and brainstorming in the classroom can be an element of our time together, but we will also respect the author who likes to contemplate their work on their own.

Next, we'll work on writing. Will your book include poetry? Free prose? Is it wordless? This is where the writing and revising begin.

Our course will include thinking critically about the work of children's book authors before us as well as our own work so that we can become the best cheerleaders for our creativity and ideas.

Finally, we'll become familiar with the publishing industry. What does it take to get a children's book published? How can you publish your book independently? I'll take us step-by-step through self-publishing and give you the tools you need to query your book to the publishers of your dreams.
Learning Goals
Our ultimate goal will be for each student to write and consider publishing a children's book.
Other goals will be to learn to analyze children's books, plan the writing and layout, seek critical advice, and navigate the world of book publishing.
learning goal

Syllabus

Standards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
10 Lessons
over 10 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Class Intro and Analyzing Great Children's Books
 Hello and welcome! In this first class session, we will spend time reading some classic children's books and some new titles, too. What makes these books so compelling? What can we borrow from their formats and ideas? 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Analysis of Books You Love
 In Lesson 2, we will look at children's books you love and have analyzed at home. We'll discuss strengths, format, and take-aways. 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Planning Your Book
 In Lesson 3, we'll discuss how to plan your children's book. How do we go from great ideas to writing and illustrating? Will you write it yourself? Illustrate it yourself? Do all the work it takes to get to publication? I'll give you strategies and we'll work through brainstorming checklists. 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Presenting a First Draft
 In Lesson 4, we'll look at first drafts. I'll write one, too, and together we'll talk about what works, what doesn't work, how to use words effectively, and what might need to be improved. If you are creating a wordless book, we'll discuss illustrations, strategies, and what is working for you. 
50 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Supply List
Planning handouts will be provided.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
We will be analyzing a variety of children's books, including: Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina The Giving Tree, by Shell Silverstein The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter The Monster at the End of This Book, by Jon Stone The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats
Joined April, 2019
5.0
521reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of the Pacific
I am the author of two books, one traditionally published and one self-published.

Reviews

Live Group Course
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$19

weekly or $190 for 10 classes
1x per week, 10 weeks
50 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-4 learners per class

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