Resources for Writing Rhyming Picture Books

Should you write your picture book in rhyme?

Take the following quiz to find out!

1.     If you take the rhyme away, do you still have a good story? (With multidimensional characters, a structured plot, good pacing, and a satisfying resolution?)

2.     Do your sentences follow normal sentence structure (and not sentence structure used by Old King Cole or Yoda?)

3.     Have you avoided forced rhymes or near rhymes?

4.     Have you avoided common, one-syllable, predictable rhyme schemes? (cat/hat/rat.)

5.     Do you know the following terms: scansion, meter, stressed, unstressed, anapest, iamb, trochee, and dactyl?

6.     Have you read and studied hundreds of rhyming picture books?

7.     Can you identify the types of rhythms in picture books?

8.     Are you in a critique group? Or have you had a professional critique from someone well versed in poetry?

9. Do you practice writing in rhyme consistently?

10.     Have you taken a course in poetry/rhyming picture books that will help you answer yes to all of the above?

If you can answer YES to all of the above, then go for it! You are ready to write your picture book in rhyme. If you answered NO to any of the following, then you may want to check out the resources below that will help get you on your way!

 

Read, Read, Read!

http://www.pinterest.com/mandycyates/rhyming-read-alouds/

http://www.amazon.com/BEST-Funny-Rhyming-Picture-Books/lm/2PSSOX34Z9W6U

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/rhyming-picture-books


Online Tools:

http://prosody.lib.virginia.edu/

http://www.rhymezone.com/


Helpful Articles, Blogs, Websites, and Posts:

http://taralazar.com/2012/03/13/why-do-editors-say-not-to-write-in-rhyme/

http://hopevestergaard.com/writers/articles/rhymes-and-misdemeanors/

http://www.rhymeweaver.com/

http://www.themetermaids.blogspot.com/

http://www.dorichaconas.com/Icing%20the%20Cake%20page.htm

http://kidlit.com/2009/09/05/rhyming-picturebooks-a-rhyme-with-reason/

http://www.thomastaylor-author.com/2011/03/18/how-to-write-a-rhyming-picture-book-and-get-it-published-part-1-a-writers-perspective/

http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-not-to-write-rhyming-picture-book.html


Craft Books:

Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication Paperback by Ann Whitford Paul http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Picture-Books-Hands-On-Publication/dp/1582975566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392602226&sr=8-1&keywords=writing+picture+books

The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books by Linda Ashman

http://www.amazon.com/Bolts-Guide-Writing-Picture-Books-ebook/dp/B00FSOUF9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392602298&sr=8-1&keywords=nuts+and+bolts+to+writing+picture+books

Poem Making: Ways to Begin Writing Poetry by Myra Cohn Livingston

http://www.amazon.com/Poem-Making-Ways-Begin-Writing-Poetry/dp/0060240199/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1392602363&sr=8-2&keywords=myra+cohn+livingston

A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver

http://www.amazon.com/A-Poetry-Handbook-Mary-Oliver/dp/0156724006/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1392602426&sr=8-6&keywords=mary+oliver

Rules for the Dance by Mary Oliver

http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Dance-Handbook-Writing-Metrical/dp/039585086X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z

A Poet’s Ear: A Handbook of Meter and Form by Annie Finch

http://www.amazon.com/Poets-Ear-Handbook-Meter-Form/dp/0472050664/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392602578&sr=1-5&keywords=A+poets+handbook

The Poet’s Handbook by Judson Jerome

http://www.amazon.com/Poets-Handbook-Judson-Jerome/dp/1582971366/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392602578&sr=1-1&keywords=A+poets+handbook

The Poet’s Companion by Kim Addonizio

http://www.amazon.com/Poets-Companion-Pleasures-Writing-Poetry/dp/0393316548/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392602578&sr=1-3&keywords=A+poets+handbook

In the Palm of Your Hand by Steve Kowit

http://www.amazon.com/Palm-Your-Hand-Portable-Workshop/dp/0884481492/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392602932&sr=1-1&keywords=In+the+palm+of+your+hand

Ordinary Genius: A Guide for the Poet Within by Kim Addonizio

http://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Genius-Guide-Poet-Within/dp/0393334163/ref=pd_sim_b_8


Train Your Ear with Poetry Books:

Douglas Florian: MAMMALABILIA

MaryAnn Hoberman: SEVEN SILLY EATERS

J. Patrick Lewis: THE LITTLE BUGGERS

Alice Schertle: HOW NOW, BROWN COW?

Linda Smith: WHEN MOON FELL DOWN

Janet Wong: GRUMP

Groups to Join:

RhyPiBoMo (Rhyming Picture Book Month)

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

"RhyPiBoMo is a combination of a learning experience and writing challenge...the challenge is to write better rhyme and poetry. I will offer daily lessons, the bloggers will offer daily inspiration and the participants will apply this to their Rhyming Picture Books! Hopefully, each writer will have one RPB ready for submission on May 1st. The Golden Quill Poetry Contest will be open to RhyPiBoMo participants during the event...more details coming soon! Also, Mira Reisberg and Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen are doing a webinar on April 30th about their upcoming course...Yay!" - Angie Karcher, Creator of RhyPiBoMo

RhyPiBoMo Mission Statement:
My goal is to guide those aspiring to write rhyme and poetry through the process of learning the craft and offering resources, short lessons, writing prompts and the wisdom of experienced folks in the business to improve the reputation and quality of rhyme and poetry for children.

Courses:

Children’s Book Academy with Mira Reisberg and Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

The Craft and Pleasure of Writing Poetry for Kids starting May 2014! 

http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/

Mandy Yates is currently an elementary reading specialist and children's book writer. She has nearly finished her MFA in creative writing from Spalding University and has been published multiple times in Highlights Magazine. 

She is also assisting Mira in teaching The Craft and Business of Writing Children's Books. http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-childrens-picture-books.html

Find some of her teacher resources over at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mandy-Yates.

And you can follow her on Pinterest, Twitter,and Facebook.