Table of Contents

Acknowledgments. Introduction. PART ONE: A Closer Look at Children's Books. 1. You, the Children's Book Writer ... Maybe Defining Your Goals. 2. What Is a Children's Book? The Variety of Books Published Today. 3. How to Become an Expert Getting to Know Children's Books. 4. Lessons from the Past A Short History of Children's Books. PART TWO: Developing Your Ideas. 5. Where Did You Get That Idea? How to Find Ideas and Work with Them. 6. Sabotage Made Easy Procrastination and What to Do about It. 7. Learning Your Craft How to Become a Better Writer. PART THREE: Writing Your Book What You Need to Know and Do. 8. Writing Picture Books. 9. Writing Easy-to-Read Books. 10. Writing Early Chapter Books. 11. Writing Fiction. 12. Writing Nonfiction. 13. Writing in Verse. 14. Writing Plays. PART FOUR: Selling Your Book. 15. Who Cares? Queries and Proposals. 16. Submitting Your Manuscript Presenting Yourself to a Publisher. 17. For the Writer Who Is Also an Illustrator What the Illustrator Needs to Know. 18. Changing Markets Finding the Right Publisher for Your Work. PART FIVE: A Publisher in Your Future. 19. Out of the Slush Pile and into the Fire What Publishers Do. 20. Your Editor-Friend or Dragon? Working with an Editor. 21. Joining the Writing Community Taking an Active Role. APPENDIXES. I. Book Lists. II. Reviews. III. Children's Literature-History and Criticism. IV. References. V. Marketing Information. VI. Books on the Craft. VII. Services, Studies, and Support. VIII. Even More Titles by Genre. Index.

About the Author

BARBARA SEULING is the author and illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including the popular chapter book Oh No, It's Robert and its sequels, as well as picture books including Winter Lullaby, illustrated by Greg Newbold, and Whose House?, illustrated by Kay Chorao. She worked for nine years as a children's book editor for major publishing houses. Seuling is also the director of The Manuscript Workshop in Vermont.