Please welcome the ever entertaining Shelley Moore Thomas who is joining us to discuss picture books and easy readers. Shelley is the author of several picture books for young children including the acclaimed Good Knight series (Dutton). Her middle grade book, THE SEVEN TALES OF TRINKET recently sold to Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
In the vlog, I talked about the relationship between characters being very important when writing an easy reader. When you think about it, easy readers get read a LOT. They get read by parents to their kids, (often over and over) and they get read by the kids themselves (hopefully over and over.) If the characters in the easy reader are engaging and their relationships resonate with children, this makes the child want to read the book many times. (Hello, Frog and Toad, anyone?)
And I didn’t harp about this in the vlog, but the entire purpose of an easy reader is to create children who want to read! If we can scaffold the process so that it supports them as they grow, develop and learn, they will challenge themselves to read more difficult material in time. (And they’ll be carrying around that thick old Harry Potter before you know it.)
However, for the easy reader to do its job, the writer has to consider not only the characters, their relationships and the plots that arise from such (see vlog), but the language of the story as well.
When I write an easy reader, I strive to remember the following when telling my story:
• Be concise. In other words, don’t use more words than you need.
• Be creative. Try and use fun words. My wonderful editor let me keep “Methinks” in the Good Knight books. How cool is that?
• Be conscious of the rhyme and rhythm. I use some rhyming patterns and rhythmical phrases in my easy readers because my ear likes them. Rhyme, rhythm and pattern are fun for the human brain to play with, and great at helping beginning readers make predictions about what will happen next. (And the ability to predict is such an important skill in reading.)
So, all of you out there that are thinking of trying their hand at writing an easy reader, I say go for it! Children who are just beginning to read need excellent reading material, too!
You are the most hilarious, wonderful kidlit author EVER! That had me rolling. Did you study theater? Love the voices. And I soooo love the Good Knight.
I shall forever remember to screw in the lightbulb and be aware of relationships between characters.
Hilarious! I bet story time is fun with you
It is true how important relationships are to children. And how the stories are timeless. I thought Frog and Toad were too old-fashioned but my 4 yo daughter asks for their book a lot. Of course, she is a voracious bookworm like mommy 
Shelley, our favorite easy readers are yours, Cynthia Rylant’s and the Elepahnt and Piggie series, by Mo Willems. Relationships are SO important. Thanks for this!
I have a question: Did your books start out as picture books or easy readers? I’ve seen them as both. And could you tell us about your publication story? You didn’t have an agent at that point. Did your editor pick your manuscript out of the slush? Were you trying to sell it as an easy reader or a picture book? You don’t have to answer all of my questions, but I really am curious.
I’m looking forward to reading your novel! Thanks again!
Very entertaining and informative too! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with all of us who want to write for the easy reader crowd.
LOL! You are such a crack up, Shelley.
) I’m so showing my daughter this, who is a big fan of yours. And as far as the advice, thank you! Easy readers are right at that critical moment when kids gain or lose confidence in reading–the more books there, the better!
Shelley! So informative and entertaining, lol. Had to watch it twice…thanks!
Oh my gosh! Shelley, I love seeing you live. You are beyond fabulous and I want you to move in with me and read to my children every night. With the British accent, of course.
sf
Um, that didn’t
Sorry about the random phrase at the end. I’m trying to post from my phone
Oh, thank you guys so much! It was fun to vlog…..except that my voice sounds much deeper in my own head. No wonder people ask when I answer the phone if they can speak to my mom…..and the HAIR! Holy cow, I think I look like Lucius Malfoy’s twin sister.
Might be time to visit Supercuts again.
And my upper arm was little wobbly…no, don’t go and watch it again just to see it.
Shelley
SHELLY!!!! Do not be self deprecating! You looked fantastic.
It was wild to see and hear you! And such sound advice. Nicely done.
Hello Shelly! Your accent was fab. It’s so nice to see you “in real life” on the vlog.
Great job!
Methinks this was a great vlog. Thank you for your time!
Yaaaaaayyyy!! I love when I can see clients in person (well…almost in person). You rock, Shelley! I’m going to call Nancy and Sara over to see this!
That was really funny! And of course you made some good points. You must be great at story time.
Jo,
hahahahaha! Now you know what you’ve really gotten yourself into!
(And the fake British accent is just one of many, my friend…..you should hear my Irish leprechaun imitation….or maybe you shouldn’t.)
Lol!!! That was great!
I’m just starting out, and I find that I don’t know a whole lot about easy readers. I outgrew them really fast as a kid, so I have trouble figuring out what easy actually IS.
I’m going to go see if the nearest library has Good Night, Good Knight.
Also, I liked your tiara.
YOU are adorable!!!! And I love the accent!!!
So glad to see you live here, Shelley! Great accent, great points about relationships, and I’ll always remember to screw in the light bulb, not wash the windows
You sure make wonders in a classroom! Kids should adore you! Loved the fake accent and the way you talked.
Thanks for the info on the relationships. Yet another layer to think about on my chapter book. Will be trying to forge the relationship to engage readers. Thanks!
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to help make WriteOnCon an incredible experience for everyone.
Great advice! I’m looking forward to reading THE SEVEN TALES OF TRINKET
That was so fun! Thank you. And I’ll remember to screw in the lightbulb and not wash the windows when I wave. LOL
Thank you, Shelley! You’re so fun!
[...] 3:30 PM: Picture Books and Easy Readers by author Shelley Thomas [...]
Thanks Shelley. You make some interesting points. I especially liked you mentioning these books should be made with being read again and again in mind. Thanks.
Thank you! And, oh, I want your tiara.
We haven’t read the Good Knight easy readers yet but will look for them when my daughter advances a little more with her reading skills. Two other things that we look for in easy readers…a little humor and enticing illustrations.