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Writing for children: tips to improve your manuscript

As summer comes to a glorious end and we start thinking about school again, the teachers are sure to come out with the dreaded reading list. But wait. Maybe that list deserves a closer look. How many books on your teacher's list have you already read? Did you learn about something new from them? Most of all, did you enjoy them? They were actually pretty good books, weren't they? Why not start out with one or two of them from your school library, and see what all the hype is about.

What Makes a Princess? - Hallmark Recordable Book (Disney)

Have you checked out the wonderful selection of Hallmark Recordable Books? This exciting addition to the line takes your little girl on an imaginary tour of all the Disney princesses, and makes her feel like a real live Princess....all being read to her by Mom, Grandma or someone else near and dear to her, that she can listen to for years to come.

Tumford the Terrible by Nancy Tillman

Selected by Amazon as one of the best books of the year (so far) In spite of the manners he often forgot, Tumford would not say, “I’m sorry.” Oh no, he would not.” With these memorable words we get to know Tumford, a well-meaning but stubborn kitty, who has a habit of hiding when his mischievous ways call for an apology. Tumford’s owners' love for him never wavers, and after an incident with the Queen of the Fair he finds the courage to say, “I’m sorry.”, Tumford the Terrible is beautifully illustrated and reassuring for little ones, reminding them that love is no matter what.

The Case of the Beagle Burglar (Jack Gets a Clue) by Nancy Krulik

The Case of the Tortoise In Trouble (Jack Gets a Clue) by Nancy Krulik

Two new offerings from the popular Jack Gets a Clue series....

The day I found out I could talk to animals did not start out well. First, I couldn't find my lucky T-shirt. Second, my dog, Scout, dragged me around the yard chasing squirrels. And third, the squirrels threw a bunch of acorns at my head. After I was hit, I realized I could talk to animals! It sounds crazy but it's true. I could understand Scout, the squirrels, and every other animal--even bugs!

And then in the Case of the Tortoise in Trouble: As if babysitting a tortoise wasn’t bad enough, things got worse when Tut disappeared. My mystery-solving partner, Elizabeth, and I had to interview all the cows, horses, goats, and flies on the farm as we looked for clues. It was up to us to find Tut before the end of the day, and we were on the case!

The Full Moon (Faeries' Promise) by Kathleen Duey

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. Each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.
Young Adult.

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

"A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel with great depth and humor."

Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class-5,000 points! Running in the hallway-10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm-50,000 points! But when Rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding.

The Mystery of the Missing Message (Jodi Mystery Series for Young Adults) eBook - Virginia Ann Work

Jodi Fischer and her best friend Lexie Marshal get entangled in a puzzling and dangerous mystery when they find a lost wallet and a knitted baby's sock. On a ride on their horses in the woods near their homes in British Columbia, Canada, they come across a deserted log cabin. But is it deserted? If it is, why did they hear a board squeak like someone stepped on it?

They fight against time to save a baby's life, yet they cannot make progress in understanding the mysterious note someone knitted right into the baby's sock. Threatening phone calls, an encounter with the town bully, and lost horses all add up to danger.

Jodi must face her biggest fears as she and Lexie unravel the strange events surrounding the kidnapping of a child from Vancouver. Could this baby be held by kidnappers? How can they save the child's life? Why are the police so interested? And why is there a light in the loft of the Marshal's big barn?

TIPS FOR WRITERS:

Writing for children: Tips to Improve your Manuscript

WEB SITES FOR KIDS ALL AGES

1. www.kidsreads.com/
2. www.teenreads.com/