Recommended Reading for Adults
Dear Genius, The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom, collected and edited by Leonard S. Marcus, HarperCollins Publishers, 1998. Charming and wonderful.
Writing With Pictures, How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books, by Uri Shulevitz, Watson-Guptill Publications, 1985. This book is a must read for any children's book author or illustrator. Even if you don't want to illustrate, I think it gives authors an understanding of what goes into the design of a picture book and will help the writing process.
Words and Pictures, by Quentin Blake, Jonathan Cape, The Random House Group Limited, London, 2000. Excellent book for the aspiring illustrator by one of my favorite author-illustrators. Especially good for the artist who gets picture book ideas and wants to transition into writing as well. I found this in London this past winter, it's available from Amazon U.K.
Children's Books and Their Creators, An invitation to the feast of twentieth-century children's literature, edited by Anita Silvey, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995. An excellent resource book.
It's a Bunny-Eat-Bunny World, A Writer's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Today's Competitive Children's Book Market, by Olga Litowinsky, Walker and Company, 2001. Fascinating view inside an editor's office.
Guide to Writing for Children, by Jane Yolen, The Writer, Inc., 1989. An excellent book.
Escaping Into The Open, The Art of Writing True, by Elizabeth Berg, HarperCollins Publishers, 1999. Full of wonderful writing exercises.
Bird by Bird, Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamott, Doubleday, 1994. Funny, charming and true.
A Poetry Handbook, A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry, by Mary Oliver, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1994. Excellent.
Riverbank Review of Books for Young Readers, quarterly magazine publication, reviews and articles about the best of children's books past and present. Wonderful teacher resource.
The Horn Book Magazine, published bi-monthly, reviews and excellent articles of newer children's books.
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Copyright 2000 by Joan Cottle. May be freely copied and shared for any educational, non-commercial use.