Are these words and sentences accepted for Easy Readers for 5 to 7 year olds.

Trish · Apr 30, 2008

I’m just wondering if these words and sentences are acceptable for an Easy Reader for 5 to 7 year olds.

Here goes: The words, “Shut up!” and “Stupid!”

Also these sentences:

Kate pulled Molly down on the ground, tickling her tummy. “You and your silly old rag doll. She’s not real, you know. She’s a bunch of… rags.”

Molly stuck out her bottom lip. “Shut your head! She’s a real person!
GIVVVE HEEER BAAACK!”

Kate howled with laughter. “Mom probably used her as a duster.”

And this:

Molly snatched the doll. It was dripping wet. “Yuck! Why did you put her in your potty?”

Rosie put her hands over her mouth giggling. “Tina did a, wee-wee on the floor and used Jenny to wipe it up.”

And this:

Molly took one of Ben’s wet nappies from the laundry and ran upstairs laughing. She plopped the soggy nappy on Tina’s head.

Tina’s bottom lip quivered. “Waaa! Waaa!” she wailed.

And this:

Rosie ran down to tell her mom. “MOMMY…Molly put a wee-wee nappy on Tina’s head.”

If I take them out it won't be as funny. But if I leave them in I might offend some parents. Any feedback will help. Thanks, Trish.

MsJudy · Apr 30, 2008

Personally, I think you're pushing the limits of what would be allowed. On the other hand, it's not nearly as bad as Captain Underpants, so I'm not sure where the limit really is.

But "Early Reader" is probably not the right category. For one thing, in the US most Early Readers are either published by an imprint of Simon and Schuster or Scholastic, and they only accept agented fiction. The smaller early reader imprints work on contract--they hire you based on a writing sample, then they tell you what kind of book they want you to write. "A 500-word book with a simple plot involving third-grade students using fractions in real-world situations," for example. Either way, every early reader series has its own set of guidelines. Word lists, syntax limitations, etc.

If you're serious about seeing Molly published, you'd be better off making her stories shorter and trying the magazine market, or turning them into chapter books with a plot that connects the 5-10 chapters. (And in general the magazine market is fairly conservative. The potty is probably out!)

Captain Underpants is a third-grade level book, so apparently potty humor is okay for 8-year-olds.

Trish · Apr 30, 2008

Than you JSK. Well it's back to the drawing board then. I'm having trouble with what age group to aim for.

If I make the book for older kids, whom I think Molly and her antics would suit better, then, I have trouble with where to start the story. If I start her off at five, older kids wouldn't want to read about a five year old. So maybe I should just start her off at six or seven and make it into a chapter book. That way I can use some of these words. Does that sound okay?

I can quite easily make this story longer and big enough for a chapter book. I could make Molly about six or seven. Would those words be okay then? I have enough material in my head to stretch it too 6,000 words. I'll just have to be careful not to make any sub plots as you've explained before.

O'h, well, this is all practice for me too. Thanks again JSK.

Exir · Apr 30, 2008

Trish: I don't quite think you should be worrying about Molly's age if you're aiming for older kids. I've seen nine year olds read Junie B. Jones, and she's about the same age, I think.

(Edit: wait, I remembered: I've seen a person my age (fourteen!!!) read Junie B. Jones. I walked past him and he quickly whipped the book away, horrified!

)

(Edit 2: Another thing that you can do, if you are worrying about age, is to start the story when Molly is older. Then, when the reader's attention is hooked, you can perhaps fill in some of her stories at a younger age. Might be confusing, might be cliche if you use flashbacks, but I dunno, it might work.

Possibly.)

Trish · Apr 30, 2008

Thanks, Exir. That's something to think about. I'm happy that 14 year olds read Junie B. Jones. I have just read a few of those books. They are hilarious. I actually received one for my birthday. I love it. I also received Judy Moody. I like her too.

Thanks for the advice.

Looks like I'll be making it a chapter book. With a different title.

C.J. Rockwell · May 1, 2008

I know how you feel

Trish said:
Well it's back to the drawing board then. I'm having trouble with what age group to aim for.

I know just how you feel Trish. Isn't it weird that we write a story, and don't always know who it's best suited for?

JSK as always gave you good advice, which is helping me in a way too.
Since I don't have any confidence in wrting Early Readers (For all the reasons and restrictions JSK mentioned in her last post) I have great respect and admiration for those who can do it well.

If I were to write about a 5 or 7 year old, I'd be fighting the urge to keep things simple in terms of the writing of the story.

I know from reading chapter books and a few picture books that simple doesn't have to mean boring, but for some reason a lot of what I write is fairly advanced.

I've read in an interview with a writer that her mantra is, "Simple is good, simple is god." I'm just not there yet... :tongue

Trish · May 1, 2008

Hi CJ. Yes, it's hard getting it right sometimes. If, I cut out Molly's naughty words, then she's not Molly. She becomes someone else. I'm trying to write how children speak, sometimes they say naughty words. I try not to use words that are too bad. I think. Maybe I should do what, Toothpaist said and just infer things, but...MOLLY WON'T LET ME!

The sentence, "Shut your head!" is what I changed from the Aussie slang for ,"Shut Up!" The saying is, "Shut your neck!" So I changed it to head. I thought it sounded better.

Anyway, I will go and make it into a chapter book for older kids instead. (Maybe the older kids will let their little sisters read it. Shush!")

MsJudy · May 1, 2008

One of the reasons kids older than 6 enjoy Junie B. is because they get to feel superior to her. She does things they're now too smart to do! Molly would work in very much the same way, I think. Let her be the age she needs to be, and write the story in the language it needs to be in. Then go back and rewrite every piece to make sure it forwards the plot while keeping the outrageous humor going. I bet 7 and 8-year-olds will enjoy her.

jennifer75 · May 1, 2008

JudScotKev said:
But "Early Reader" is probably not the right category.

Yea, isn't Early Reader something like "The dog is brown" or "he went up the big hill and came back down"???

Trish · May 1, 2008

jenifer75! Are you my Jenny? My long lost rag doll, Jenny? She went missing in 1970 when my husband threw her out of our bed. We'd only been married one week. I never saw her again. Don't know what he did with her. Are you her? Where are you?

The first book I ever read was, "Janet and John" That was a bit like what you've described.

Trish · May 1, 2008

Thanks, JudScotKev. That clears it up then, I'm at the moment doing just that, thank you.

I wish you were one of my teachers back when I had Jenny. Then I wouldn't be asking all these questions. Ha-ha, I feel like I've gone back in time. LOL

brittanimae · May 1, 2008

I was just at the bookstore, and chapter books were listed under the heading Early Reader. I think some here may be referring to "Easy Readers" as "Early Reader." Although it's enough to make your head spin either way.

Trish · May 2, 2008

Thanks, brittanimae. That information is helpful. Yes, it all gets confusing sometimes.

I will just write it as a chapter book and follow the advice from JSK and everyone else that has made great suggestions. With all this help how can Molly not get published one day. If not she will stay forever in limbo, living on the AW forum and driving everybody mental.

Are these words and sentences accepted for Easy Readers for 5 to 7 year olds.

Trish

MsJudy

Trish

Exir

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking

Trish

C.J. Rockwell

Not so new, really

Trish

MsJudy

jennifer75

SupahStah!

Trish

Trish

brittanimae

making a fresh start.

Trish