OFFICE HOURS: before class or by appointment
TEXT:Text - "How to write and illustrate Children's Books and get them published" consultant editors: Treld Pelkey Bicknell and Felicity Trotman -Quarto Publishing plc ISBN 1-58397-013-0

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL TEXT: The Everything Guide to Writing Children's Books: From Cultivating an Idea to Finding the Right Publisher All You Need to Launch a Successful Career (Everything Series) (Paperback)
by Lesley Bolton "No one can argue the importance of a child learning to read, think, and communicate, so how could anyone argue the importance of books for..." (more)
Key Phrases: Newbery Medal, American Library Association, Caldecott Medal (more...)

ISBN 1-58062-785-4 Adams Media [Amazon Price: $10.61]

and a blank (unlined) journal or large sketchbook, Handouts & Reference Bibliography

ATTENDANCE POLICY: The work for days missed is expected to be made up.

COURSE GOALS AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
This class will explain the process and execution of steps required to write and bring a children's Book to completion and to present it to a publisher for publication. In this class, we will incorporate traditional writing techniques and explore new idea generating concepts, methods, and materials. We will focus on original story making as a vehicle for generating image ideas and the process of constructing a book. Students will work from the models provided and develop individual projects in consultation with the instructor. In addition, the class will examine many twentieth-century children's book artists and art movements as we seek new ways to"make our mark" in this genre. Previous writing experience is recommended. Bring journal and note taking materials to the first class. Bring a children's book sample for reference & study in class.

This course encourages you to develop an original composition using a story idea and drawing medium and together with your imagination, intuition, and experience to exploring various ways of seeing, both visually and conceptually. In class projects we will create imaginative, fantasy, or dream works, and experiment with abstractions based on realism as well as sounds, ideas, and words. We study the relationship of media to subject while working with a variety of concepts and materials including illustrative concerns and choosing an illustrator/collaborator for the story.

The student will acquire critical skills to evaluate book writing in most currently available forms. The student will acquire additional skills in the materials and techniques of illustration selection to assist in getting the book accepted. This class offers a theoretical curriculum and a design curriculum, where evaluative skills are as important as acquired writing skills. Beginning students will be expected to learn the basics of a children's book writing, story building, values, composition, perspective and viewpoint. They will also learn the basics of non-objective and experimental writing,theme and project preparation for book publication acceptance.

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: For every assigned writing day inside class there will be an additional composition required outside class in the journal workbook. Each writing assignment will explore part of the techniques and goals of book writing, historically and explore the possible steps towards creativity. There will be class demonstrations on the practical aspects of writing. Students will meet with the instructor on a regular basis and will participate in constructive critiques.

IN CLASS ADDITIONS: The daily work will be digitally recorded (for those students amenable) and put online together with the class notes. These will allow a running review of all the student daily work, and provide a resource for the students to show their work, as well.

MATERIALS LIST:

1. class text- The Everything Guide to Writing Children's Books: From Cultivating an Idea to Finding the Right Publisher All You Need to Launch a Successful Career (Everything Series) (Paperback) by Lesley Bolton
2. lined journal notebook with removable pages with holes for a 3 ring binder
3. a 3-ring binder, with dividers
4. Writing & drawing implements, a set of color markers (for rough sketches)