North York Central Library Blog

Hello Everyone,

Not Quite Miss Rumphius Here ... Welcome back to the blog for the Children's Department at North York Central Library.

Many people have an interest in writing picture books, those books for very young children that are heavy on pictures and light on words. And if you happen to be one of those people who has always wondered about writing for young children, then I have just the book for you.

Like the best picture books out there, this particular book for aspiring writers is very short and uses simple (but never condescending) language to speak to its readers. It's a small, slim book and one that's easy to miss on the bookshelves, as I discovered when I went looking for copies of it in our Children's Department.

But don't be fooled by this book's modest appearance. Sure, there are bigger, snazzier-looking books out there on the same general subject, but this book is the one you ought to be spending time with. It's filled with all kinds of valuable insights and practical information that you can't easily find elsewhere in one place.

And what is this amazing marvel of a book? Look closely ...

"Writing Picture Books: What Works and What Doesn't!" is by best-selling children's author, Kathy Stinson. She's the author of some beloved Canadian classics, including "Red is Best" and "The Bare Naked Book." Kathy Stinson knows what she's talking about when it comes to writing for young children (and older children too, because she's written successfully for that general age group as well.) You can find out more about her, and see all of her latest writing tips, on her website. Like her book on writing, it's loaded with lots of helpful information for writers.

Of course, you won't become a great writer by reading one book about writing, any more than you will become a fantastic cook by simply reading a cookbook. You have to actually crack a few eggs or, in the case of writing, set down some words and see what you come up with. Then you do it again ... and again ... and again ...

So is it all hard work and no play when it comes to writing? Thankfully, no. The fun part -- and an essential part too, especially for novice writers -- is immersing yourself in the world of published books. It's the only way to see first-hand what the range of possibilities are. And, as Kathy Stinson points out, it's a good way to find out what works and what doesn't.

You can find many of those picture books that do work well in the Children's Department here at North York Central Library. Picture books are a popular section of the department, especially during the summer, and you may find a toddler or two clutching some of the same books that you wouldn't mind getting your hands on.

Just remember the cardinal rules of the picture book area: Sharing is good, taking someone else's book is bad. Very bad. And never forget this: Babies and toddlers have surprisingly strong little grips -- and they're not afraid to make a big ruckus if someone dares to separate them from the book they've decided is working particularly well for them.