Write, design and illustrate a 12+ page children's book. Designing a Children's book
Working in teams of 2, Designer and Artist, you will create a 12+ childrens book. The books must have an even number of pages, 12, 14, 16.... No less than 12 pages
REQUIREMENTS
Together you will:
1. Brainstorm ideas
2. Brainstorm illustration concepts
3. Write the story
4. Rsearch your audience. Who will read my book? 3-5 year olds? 7-10 year olds?
Steps:
1. Read many children’s books. As you begin thinking of ideas for your children’s book, it’s very helpful to read others’ work. Go to your library or children’s bookstore and spend a few hours browsing. Think about which books appeal to you most, and why.
2. Consider which age group interests you as a writer. The term “children’s books” covers everything from board books with one word on a page to chapter books, novels and non-fiction factual books written for kids in middle school and teens (young adults). The plot, content and themes of your book need to be age appropriate for your intended readers for them to be appealing (remember that parents are the ultimate gatekeepers who can determine whether or not a child reads your book).
RESEARCH, RESEARCH RESEARCH
You will need to create, detailed sketches and detailed layouts of your book before you do final illustrations and before you create the final book.
Go into Barnes and Noble, or any other bookstore and make a list of childrens books you like. Be sure to write the names of the books down, and bring in your list next class of those books, with the reasons of what you like about the illustrations and the design.
Working in teams of 2, Designer and Artist, you will create a 12+ childrens book. The books must have an even number of pages, 12, 14, 16.... No less than 12 pages
REQUIREMENTS
- Book size is 12" Wide x 9" High
- Type cannot run across the middle of the page
- Illustrations can run across a spread.
- Open Book size is 24" x 9"
Together you will:
1. Brainstorm ideas
2. Brainstorm illustration concepts
3. Write the story
4. Rsearch your audience. Who will read my book? 3-5 year olds? 7-10 year olds?
- Picture books only are not acceptable. You must have a well groomed well thought out story, that has a moral ending.
- Artists create the illustrations for the interior and for the front and back cover of the book.
- Design Students will work with the artist and create the concepts.
- Design students will layout the book using photoshop or on paper.
- Design and Art students will decide on the fonts and placement of the illustrations
- Final product will be a PDF
Steps:
1. Read many children’s books. As you begin thinking of ideas for your children’s book, it’s very helpful to read others’ work. Go to your library or children’s bookstore and spend a few hours browsing. Think about which books appeal to you most, and why.
- Do you want your book to have illustrations, or will it be text-only?
- Do you want to write fiction or non-fiction? Non-fiction or informational books require research or knowledge of the subject matter and can be good if you're an expert about something like dinosaurs, meteors or machinery.
- For good fiction inspiration, read the classics. Don't limit yourself to recent works––go back in time and read stories that have withstood the test of time and try to find for yourself what it is about them that is so everlasting. For example, check out such books as: Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, The Polar Express, and other favorites.
- Check out fairy tales. The entertainment industry is currently experiencing a greatly revived interest in fairy tales and turning them modern. Since the majority of fairy tales are in the public domain, you're free to snaffle up characters and plots and take them to completely new places with totally new attitudes!
2. Consider which age group interests you as a writer. The term “children’s books” covers everything from board books with one word on a page to chapter books, novels and non-fiction factual books written for kids in middle school and teens (young adults). The plot, content and themes of your book need to be age appropriate for your intended readers for them to be appealing (remember that parents are the ultimate gatekeepers who can determine whether or not a child reads your book).
- Picture books are suitable for younger children. They tend to be in full color, which makes them more expensive to print, so bear that in mind. On the plus side, they tend to be shorter, but then your writing needs to be very good to grab interest and keep the story tight.
RESEARCH, RESEARCH RESEARCH
You will need to create, detailed sketches and detailed layouts of your book before you do final illustrations and before you create the final book.
Go into Barnes and Noble, or any other bookstore and make a list of childrens books you like. Be sure to write the names of the books down, and bring in your list next class of those books, with the reasons of what you like about the illustrations and the design.