Gaah! What MADNESS made me think it was good to start a newsletter in Book Week Month???
But here I am – though perhaps with a little less polish than I would like, for my second Substack.
You might remember that last newsletter I was pondering three things that make a good picture book, inspired by my Yr 3 Tasmanian PenPals. And I promised I’d share some thoughts on what my young Tassie penpals think makes a good picture book. Or rather, on one answer that popped up, a lot!
Some of their thoughts about what makes a great picture book included.
• makes you feel an emotion,
• includes good, descriptive words,
• has more pictures than words,
• shows action,
• teaches people,
• has pictures and words that explain the story,
• has characters who seem different and strange,
• uses fullstops and capital letters.
But there was one answer that stood out above all others. In fact, half of the penpals had this on their list. Can you guess it?
A great picture book needs rhyming words.
Now, I might be a little biased. Because three of my four picture books rhyme. (And the one that doesn’t is all up, down, up, down ... So I think that counts – yes?) But I was especially happy with this answer, because without any influence from me, these boys demonstrated what I’ve been saying for many years.
Kid’s love rhyme!
Kids love rhyming picture books. They NEED rhyming picture books, because rhyming picture books engage and entertain - and we want kids to be engaged and enthralled by books. Because we all know the importance of reading.
Do I mean that all picture books should rhyme? No. Not at all! But it’s hard work publishing in rhyme. Rhyming picture books get a lot of knocks. (For valid reasons.) So some love of rhyme from the target audience is validating – and impetus to keep pushing when the writing and submitting (The Rejection!) gets tough.
I understand that rhyme is hard to translate. In fact, I once had a publisher ask if I would rewrite a rhyming picture book manuscript without the rhyme – because rhyming picture books are hard to place in the international market. The publisher loved the rhyme. And loved the story. (The manuscript had just won a significant Australian competition, that the publisher judged) But the prospect of trying to sell a rhyming picture book into a non-English speaking market is daunting. (Unfortunately, that publisher left the company before my manuscript was signed - and it fell through the cracks. But that’s a whole other story… And so is my answer to her question. Because I’m on a timeline here. Gah!)
I know that rhyme is hard to get right. Or rather, that the rhythm of rhyming picture books is hard to get right. And rhyme done wrong gives rhyme a bad name. But not all rhyme should suffer as a result.
I’ve just this morning run a poetry workshop with my PenPals online (Hello 3C!) and we touched on rhyme – and talked about how tricky it can be to get the rhythm and rhyme right. We also looked at Terse Verse, which is a fun way for kids to play with rhyme. Without the stress of rhythm and emphasis.
Here are two terse verses, inspired by my books.
I for sure believe that rhyming picture books are worth the risk.
But more importantly, they are also worth the time taken to get them right.
So - top marks to my Tassie PenPals for recognising that rhyme makes great picture books.
What do YOU think? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And thanks for visiting on this busy day - when CBCA Book of the Year Winners are announced! Happy Book Week!
I love that your pen pals love rhyme! Well-written rhyming picture books are my favorite!
Yes, yes, yes. I love rhyme and our brains love rhyme. Just finished a 145 word text and cannot count the hours or challenge—or joy in the work. Worth every minute