Drawing, Writing, and Creating

The Art of Storytelling

Famous Children’s Stories

Important Parts of a Children’s Story

PlotCharactersSettingConflictHero(es)Resolution Moral Illustrations

PlotIs the plan or main idea

for a story. The plot should be the

beginning framework for a story.

The plot can be funny, serious, exciting, or imaginary.

The plot explains what the story is about, and what is going to happen throughout the book.

Example: The plot of a story may be about traveling.

Protagonist Main character in

the story.Prominent leaderA supporter of the

cause and action of a story.

Often a hero in children’s literature.

Opposes the main character.

Works against the protagonist.

Challenges the main character.

Characters

Antagonist

Choosing Characters When writing a children’s story,

one option is choosing characters that are familiar. (Always make sure to change people’s names.)Turn family members into

animals.Someone personally

inspiring can become the hero of a story.

A cartoon that is inspiring can become the protagonist or antagonist. However, the character should be changed slightly for creativity.

SettingAs defined by Webster’s Dictionary: The time, place, and circumstances

in which something occurs.

The setting should be fun, exciting, and very detailed.

The setting sets the frame for the entire story.

Settings for stories should be well thought out and explained.

Once the characters and plot have been chosen, pick the setting based off of the both

the characters and the plot.

The setting should flow well with the protagonist and antagonist that are chosen.

A setting could be a favorite vacation spot, a dream vacation spot, or a favorite room in the

house.

How to pick a setting for a story!

Conflict Most children’s

stories involve conflict.

The conflict occurs between the protagonist and antagonist.

A conflict may be internal (thoughts, emotions, and feelings) or external (physical; outside the body).

ResolutionA resolution usually occurs in children’s stories.

The resolution is a solution to the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist.

The resolution usually consists of the protagonist winning against the antagonist. However, sometimes stories end with the protagonist helping the antagonist become a better person.

Moral of the Story Children’s books

often have a moral at the end of the story.

The moral is a lesson that is learned from the outcome of the story.

The moral is usually a wise piece of advice that children can use everyday.

Be happy with what you have.Do not blame others.Hard work can do wonders.The memory of a good deed lives.Slow and steady wins the race.Self-help is the best help.Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

Examples of Morals

Illustrations

Illustrations are important to help children:Understand the action of the novel

Visually see the characters, setting, and plot of the storySee written words in pictorial form

Illustrations should be colorful.

Pictures throughout a story should not be distracting and overpowering.

Most children’s novels have professional illustrators that construct pictures for the book.

DrawingsPaintingsFigures

PhotographsSketchesCartoons

Types of Illustrations

When writing a children’s story it is important to brainstorm for ideas.

Think about the plot of the story (what do you want your reader to hear, learn, or think about)

Explore possibilities of characters.Think about who your audience is (young

children).Use age appropriate language, illustrations,

and characters.

Writing a Children's Story

Introduction: (Explain the setting, plot, and characters.)

Body: (Includes the main action, conflict, and foundation for the story.)

Conclusion: (Involves the resolution, moral, and closure for the novel.)

Basic Format

The front and back cover are also important.The front cover should draw the reader’s

attention.The cover should state the author(s), title,

and illustrator. The back cover can have:

A picture continued from the front cover.A list of related books or topics.A picture of the author.A brief biography of the author.

Basic Format Cont'

Publishing After writing a story, the

story should be published. The author should put

together the story (in order), and should also sign the book that he/she wrote.

Famous authors have publishers that put the work together for them.

The publisher can also distribute the work for the author.

Picture of an old printing press.

Famous Publishers of Children's Books

Bloomsbury USA and Walker and CompanyChronicle BooksGood BooksHandprint BooksHello Friend Books Inc.Kids DiscoverLittle, Brown Books for Young ReadersMeadowbrook Press

Presentation A book should always be

able to be presented.The book should grab the

audience’s attention, be exciting to listen to, and cause the audience to want to hear more books by the author.

The book should be in a professional and presentable manner. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling should be correct.

The story should be delivered with:Appropriate tone

Suitable expressionsProper pace

Correct pronunciation of wordsThe audience in mind

Proper time to show illustrations

Presentation Cont'

Before ReadingThe audience

should:Be able to guess

what the story is about from the cover

Have an assumption based off of the title.

Feel drawn to the book through an exciting book cover.

The audience should:Know the charactersKnow the setting,

plot, and moral of the story

Feel pleased by the book

Want to read more works by the author

What the audience should expect.

After Reading

Famous Children's Book AuthorsLouisa AlcottBeverly ClearyGary PaulsenE.B. WhitePhyllis NaylorKatherine PatersonDr. Seuss Lois LowryShel Silverstein

http://4win.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/when-did-dr-seuss-win-the-pulitzer-prize-02.jpg

http://www.publishersglobal.comhttp://www.eddery.comwww.merriam-webster.com/dictionaryhttp://www.vigoco.k12.in.us/~fuqael/coolproj/

summer2000/author.htmhttp://pics.teach4learning.comhttp://morguefile.comhttp://pdphoto.org

References