For more exciting info about this book visit the Naked! facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/barebook?fref=photo

And be sure to check out Debbie's webpage! www.debbieohi.com/naked

RhyPiBoMo Registration (Hurry! Ends April 16th )

http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/rhypibomo-registration/

RhyPiBoMo F.A.Qs

http://angiekarcher.wordpress.com/rhypibomo-countdown/

RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group (for those registered)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/173920209485707/

And Friday, April 25th at 6:00 pm PST there will be a free webinar!

Mira Reisberg and Sudipta Bardhan-Quallan’s live Webinar

3 Things You Must Know About Writing Rhyming Kids’ Books!

You won’t want to miss this!

And they have a marvelous Poetry class coming up too!

The Craft and Pleasure of Writing Poetry for Kids starting May 2014! Many children's book people have a passion for writing poetry. Here's a fabulous interactive e-Course co-taught with the fabulous Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen teaching you how to do so properly while exploring the many kinds of poetry. More information coming soon. 
www.childrensbookacademy.com 


And speaking of the fabulous Sudipta Bardhan-Quallan, she has had some amazing books come out recently.  Two of my favorites are Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! And Snoring Beauty.

I love these books for many reasons, but I especially love the rhyme schemes.

The most common and predictable rhyme scheme is a rhyming couplet. A rhyming couplet is a two-line stanza where the end words rhyme. Dr. Seuss wrote mainly in rhyming couplets. 

For example in Green Eggs and Ham

I do not like green eggs and ham.     A

I do like them Sam I am.                     A

I do not like them in a boat.               B

I do not like them with a goat.           B

I do not like them in a house.             C

I do not like them with a mouse.        C

While these are perfectly fine to use, I feel that when I read a book that has a totally different rhyme scheme, it makes me love it even more. The rhyming couplet is also what most beginning writers go to.  So my suggestion to writers would be give a new rhyme scheme a try.

Lane Frederickson has a fantastic site called Rhyme Weaver, which is all about writing Rhyming Picture Books.

http://www.writingrhymeandmeter.com/

Her definition of Rhyme Scheme:

·       A Rhyme Scheme is a pattern that describes where the rhyming words fall within a given stanza or verse. Rhyme Schemes do not tell you anything about Meter or line lengths, they only delineate the number of, and placement of rhymed words.

Let’s take a look at the beginning of Tyrannosaurus Wrecks!

Apatosaurus colors.             A

Pterandodon inspects.         B

Velociraptor glitters.           C

Tyrannosaurus…Wrecks!   B

So in this stanza, Sudipta uses ABCB. I also love the short simple sentences: Noun/Verb.  Using this kind of structure forces a writer to use a really strong verbs.

Snoring Beauty has a great rhyme scheme!

The night before this wedding day,    A

The skies were dark and dreary.        B

But in his house,                                    C

A little Mouse                                         C

Was dreaming of his dearie.                B



Mouse grinned a goofy little grin,       A

And settled in for dozing.                     B

He needed rest                                       C

To look his best,                                     C

But as his eyes were closing…              B

This rhyme scheme is just so much fun to read.  Plus, I love that the last line in the second stanza continues on to the next stanza. It really has a way of pulling you forward and turning the page. Very clever!

There are so many different rhyme schemes to try. Take a look at the examples that Lane gives: http://www.writingrhymeandmeter.com/?page_id=2260

So when deciding to write a rhyming picture book, why only limit yourself to a rhyming couplet?  Try a new rhyme scheme and see where it takes you!