Picture Book Help

Why do you need to describe the sibling rivalry at all? Most PBs that do well in the mass market are focused entirely on plot. Show us everything about the sibling rivalry through what the girls say and do.

I can't say, of course, without reading your book, but I'm afraid that if you "describe" the rivalry, it's going to turn your STORY into a Book With A Message. Kids love exciting, silly, funny, heartwarming, engaging stories. They don't really enjoy being told what to think or feel. They really, really don't like being lectured to. And describing the rivalry may end up sounding like a lecture...

I think most kids know enough about sibling rivalry from their own experiences that you can just launch into the story. Kids will figure out pretty quickly what the relationship is between the sisters.

mel480 said:

I'm writing a picture book on sibling rivalry. I've revised it many times and still need a little help with how to start it. I have two options:

1.) Start out describing the MC and her little sister's sibling rivalry. Then go into the plot - MC's sister ruining her grandma's birthday party (in the MC's eyes).
or
2.) Start out with "Today is Grandma's birthday..." Then, go into the sibling rivalry and go back to the party later in the story.

I hope this makes sense. Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

Hard to tell. Maybe if you post about 200 words in the SYW forum you'll get more targeted input.

ETA: Listen to JudScotKev above.

What JudScotKev said. We really can't tell without seeing the manuscript. In general, for young kids, it's best to tell a story chronilogically and move from one event to another. The idea is that some kids have trouble following a plot or story that jumps around. Personally, I think that because children are exposed to stories that jump around a lot on television and videos, it's not a problem for this generation. But I know that some editors disagree.