This week Bronwyn, from The Hobart Bookshop, shares an amazing array of recent publications designed to help children and teens put pen to paper to create their own stories. Enough to make you want to write yourself!
As a Bookshop we focus on the power of reading as a way to open children’s minds and imaginations to all the possible worlds, lives and ideas beyond their own experiences. But what about writing and even drawing? What about young people’s capacity to create?
Teaching children to express their own ideas is a powerful motivator to improve both vocabulary and comprehension, and it seems quite a few children’s authors agree, with the recent release of several books designed to encourage children to create their own stories, whether through narrative, verse or imagery.
Poetry is accepted as a tool that can build awareness of the sounds in words, and the repeating use of rhyme can make it easier for young learners to anticipate what another word will sound like, especially in short text formats for young or reluctant readers. But to engage any younger readers, the poem must capture their attention – which is where humour can play a role. (Enter masters of humorous children’s books, such as Andy Griffiths – see his entry in this list below!)
Drawing is another form of communication that enables children to explore, reflect on and share their experiences. Using the visual form can allow access to nonverbal stories and ideas, and a pathway to exploring the creativity that can flow alongside words.
Make Believe by Mac Barnett
The United States has appointed Mac Barnett as their National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and he has written Make Believe: a book for adults that contemplates the way we interact with children and literature. Barnett is a strong advocate for the children’s ability to understand and grow from exposure to art and literature, and he believes that our human facility for appreciating these fields is awakened in early childhood, making the books that we provide to children deeply important.
The following list is a collection of recent publications that will entice children into the world of creative imagination through various forms of word and image.
Current Australian Children’s Laureate Andy Griffiths has written Let’s Go: a book that encourages children to both read and write (including writing in the book, so this one may be better for home copies than for libraries!). Let’s Go is full of stories, poems and comic strips that guide younger creators to create their own imaginary adventures with words and pictures.
One of our favourite authors of children’s novels, Katrina Nannestad, has also written a nonfiction book to encourage junior writers: The Story Writer’s Handbook. Aimed at a slightly older audience and with prompts to develop characters, the book also includes space to draw so that children can imagine everything about their characters – including what is in their pockets.
Creative Writing Magic by Andy Jones describes writing as ‘an act of magic’ and is full of tips and prompts to help young writers write and draw from their imaginations (and this one is library friendly, as you don’t draw in the book).
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| Three books to encourage junior writers |
Picture Book Makers Part 2 is a beautiful book features 13 picture book artists who share their processes behind their creations. While the book is targeted at adults and older readers, more as a reference book or coffee table book, it would also make an inspiring prompt for helping children to start creating, including lots of familiar images from well-loved children’s books.
Graphic Novel Builder by Edward Ross provides a step-by-step guide designed for teens to create their very own comic books. There is help with character development and plot formation as well as suggestions to help turn ideas into images that communicate a story.
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| Picturebook Makers and Graphic Novel Builder for illustrative inspiration |
In poet Brian Bilston’s book of poetry, A Poem for every Question, wonderfully illustrated by Joe Berger, each poem is the focus for the type of non-fiction facts that children love to devour. From prompts like ‘How Many Teeth Does a Crocodile Have’ to ‘How do Planes Fly Upside Down’, the book pairs a poem with an actual factual explanation so that both the creative and logical sides of the brain are being stimulated.
If I Could Eat the Stars is a middle-grade Australian collection of poems chosen by Rebecca Newman, containing examples of haiku, free verse and other forms of poetry. It features particularly fun and relatable poetry by a mix of award-winning, established and brand new writers.
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| Poetry inspiration |
By combining reading, writing and drawing, we can approach stories and ideas through multiple aspects of the reading process, encouraging a higher level of understanding of the words being read. In doing so, the world of stories and books become even more enjoyable and engaging for the child.
Bronwyn Chalke
The Hobart Bookshop
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