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Writing Creative Fiction for Children
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Popular Children's Books
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Everyone who writes for children should keep up to date with what is popular with children. A good way to get a feel for what works for publishers and readers is to read as many good books as you can. In no way should you try to copy the style of the authors but by reading others work, it will help you to understand more about plots, characters and language-level to use for each age group.
Notice how the first sentence always draws you into the story immediately and should keep your attention right to the last page. If you have no children of your own, read to others in your family - neices/nephews/grandchildren/even a friends child. Watch how they react to different stories. That will tell you alot about what makes a good story and what doesn't.
I read to my kids every night so I need to know that the story I'm reading isn't going to bore me. I want to enjoy it too, especially if I have to read it again and again. Below I've listed some of my favourite children's fiction for a variety of ages.
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Children's Fiction You Should Read
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The Little Reindeer by Michael Foreman
(Anderson Press)
Pumkin Soup by Helen Cooper
(Corgi Books/Transworld Publications)
Charlie & Bethan by Martin Hall
(Magi Publications)
Mystery Tour(funny bones) by Allan Ahlberg & Andre Amstutz
(Little Mammoth)
The Honey Hunters by Francis Martin
(Walker Books)
Animorphs (Series) by K.A. Applegate
(Scholastic)
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K.Rowling
(Bloomsbury)
Percy The Park Keeper Stories (The Rescue Party/One Snowy Night/After The Storm/etc) by Nick Butterworth
(Collins)
Kipper Stories (Kipper/Kipper's Snowy Day/Where, oh where, is Kipper's Bear/Kipper's Toybox/etc) by Mick Inkpen
(Hodder & Stoughton)
Sam's Science (4 book series)
*I know where my food goes
I know how we fight germs
I know how my cells make me grow
I know why I brush my teeth
by Kate Rowen (*by Jacqui Maynard)
(Walker Books)
(4 book series)
Frog is Frog
Frog is a Hero
Frog and the Stranger
Frog is Frightened
by Max Velthuijs (Anderson Press)
Search Amazon Books for these and other children's books, below.
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Search Amazon Books for Children's Fiction
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