Help! Children's chapter book vs Picture book?

Trish · Mar 1, 2008

I am writing a book about a mischievous child, I am confused where this should go.The story starts with Molly's first day at school age five, but most stories are when she is seven. She is quite naughty, not mean, but is a disruptive, accident prone, dare devil and sometimes does dangerous things.

I have read these stories to children aged five up to nine and found that they seem to appeal more to the 7 to 9 age group. Even though the MC is five at the beginning of the book. Five year olds get a little distracted as it's not really a picture book. The eight year olds seem to love them.

Which way should I go? Start the book later (Molly age 7) as a chapter book or, as a picture book with Molly age 5.

I will appreciate any advice.

Mumut · Mar 2, 2008

Do you have the ability to produce the pictures yourself? If so, you could produce a prototype of each and see which age group enjoys the book when it is aimed at its preferred book type. Then you'll know whether to go with one, the other or both!

Trish · Mar 2, 2008

Thank you Mumut. I will try that.

Stijn Hommes · Mar 2, 2008

If I understand you correctly, the story encompasses at least 2 years of the character's life. That seems awfully complex for a picture book. Also picture books have very strict guidelines as to what words you can use and how long they should be. Perhaps you should look up those requirements. I suspect what you currently have is a chapter book.

Trish · Mar 2, 2008

Thank you Stijn Hommes. That is good news. I didn't really want it to be a picture book. I feel like it's more a chapter book. I might have to do some re search and some re writing.

timewaster · Mar 6, 2008

Stijn Hommes said:
If I understand you correctly, the story encompasses at least 2 years of the character's life. That seems awfully complex for a picture book. Also picture books have very strict guidelines as to what words you can use and how long they should be. Perhaps you should look up those requirements. I suspect what you currently have is a chapter book.

I think a two year span is quite difficult for an early chapter book too. You need the action go be fairly well contained and if it is for the younger end of the market you don't want to introduce difficult bits about time if you can avoid it. Can't you rework it to make it simpler?

Hillary · Mar 6, 2008

I'm also confused about why it spans two years... If you are just flashing back momentarily to her first day of school, that's fine, and then it's a story about a 7-year-old. But ask yourself what you're trying to accomplish by having her at different ages.

Maybe you're really trying to tell two different stories about two different aged children, and you should separate them into two characters? Just a thought.

Hedgetrimmer · Mar 6, 2008

Go, Molly!

Torgo · Mar 7, 2008

Trish said:
I am writing a book about a mischievous child, I am confused where this should go.The story starts with Molly's first day at school age five, but most stories are when she is seven. She is quite naughty, not mean, but is a disruptive, accident prone, dare devil and sometimes does dangerous things.

I have read these stories to children aged five up to nine and found that they seem to appeal more to the 7 to 9 age group. Even though the MC is five at the beginning of the book. Five year olds get a little distracted as it's not really a picture book. The eight year olds seem to love them.

Which way should I go? Start the book later (Molly age 7) as a chapter book or, as a picture book with Molly age 5.

I will appreciate any advice.

It's definitely not a picture book.

Trish · Mar 13, 2008

Thank you Timewaster, Hillary, Hedgtrimmer and Torgo.

The advice is great. I started writing about Molly and ended up with too many stories, starting with the day she started school. I couldn't stop writing them. She ages a few years so far, up to 7 years old. I have decides to concentraite on one book first, for younger children then do the next book for older children. I don't really want to make her into two different characters.

So, I thought, first chapter book, Age five to six. Second chapter book age six to seven.

Would this work? About 6000 words each book divided into five chapters.

timewaster · Mar 13, 2008

Trish said:
Thank you Timewaster, Hillary, Hedgtrimmer and Torgo.

The advice is great. I started writing about Molly and ended up with too many stories, starting with the day she started school. I couldn't stop writing them. She ages a few years so far, up to 7 years old. I have decides to concentraite on one book first, for younger children then do the next book for older children. I don't really want to make her into two different characters.

So, I thought, first chapter book, Age five to six. Second chapter book age six to seven.

Would this work? About 6000 words each book divided into five chapters.

I think the decision to deal with only one time period per book is a good one and the length is right. If you were to sell the first though it would make more sense to write a second pitched at the same age group.

While JKR has done the growing with the audience thing it is very unusual.
If you are successful in one age group you are expected to write more of the same, even if you also write for other age groups.

Trish · Mar 13, 2008

Thank you timewaster, I really appreciate you wasting your time on me. LOL

I am trying to fit the stories together to complete a whole chapter book. If I had to choose which age group to use, I would have to choose the age six to seven. But I don't want to change her name if possible for the, five to six chapter book.

I have enough material to write ten books for both age groups at the moment. I would have no trouble writing another ten books, but I have to re write some of the stories I have written, as some words have to be changed and the content of some have to go.

Couldn't I write the two books, about the same character for the two different age groups? She won't let me change her name.

timewaster · Mar 13, 2008

Couldn't I write the two books, about the same character for the two different age groups? She won't let me change her name.[/quote]

You can write whatever you like - see what works best. It only becomes an issue with publication and then you take advice from your agent/publisher.

Trish · Mar 13, 2008

Thanks again timewaster. I will just carry on then, and deal with agent/publisher, problem when I finally get to it. Your advice has helped me.

Help! Children's chapter book vs Picture book?

Trish

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

Trish

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

Trish

timewaster

present

Hillary

Neural Trailblazer

Hedgetrimmer

What happened, just there?

Torgo

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

Trish

timewaster

present

Trish

timewaster

present

Trish