Hi guys. I hope everyone is staying healthy, safe, and mostly sane. I volunteered to share some thoughts on the Chapter 17 in What Editors Do, “Once Upon A Time Lasts Forever – Editing Books for Children.”
I found this chapter to be super interesting and I have a ton of thoughts on it. One thing that stood out to me right away is how much pressure there is for editors of children’s books to find a happy medium in so many different aspects of the books they’re working on. They need to juggle text and illustration, figure out how to entice an adult to purchase the book (a new gatekeeper!) but also appeal to the child reader, and educating without being condescending. All of these things are a lot to keep in mind, and showed me that children’s book publishing is a lot more complex than I originally anticipated.
There are so many differences between children’s publishing and adult publishing. One thing that really struck me was when Siscoe says you need to consider when you want the page to turn to maintain suspense and interest. This is not something editors usually need to contend with, as it doesn’t matter where a page ends in the plot of a novel. This must add a whole extra layer to the editing process, as you need to delegate what needs to happen on each page to maximize space and keep the reader entertained. One thing remains the same between the two genres of publishing: books must try to be as precise and concise as possible. Children and adult audiences don’t appreciate unnecessary fluff that distracts from the story.
I found this chapter to be refreshingly optimistic, especially in comparison to other texts we’ve been reading in regard to publishing. Following the somewhat depressing Amazon piece, hearing an editor talk passionately about their work was reassuring to hear. I loved so many parts of this chapter, specifically when she says “I want to help create the books that will delight and inspire the next generation of readers” (177). This is something I really resonate with, and I imagine many of you feel the same. Most, if not all of us, probably took this class because we enjoy reading books and maybe have an interest in making them. I think we all had that one book (or books) that we adored as children, that started our love for reading. I want to help create books like that, whether its for children or for adults.
With that being said, the pressures of the publishing industry are definitely still present in the world of children’s publishing. We all know that the two questions of publishing are is it any good and will it sell? It seems there is a bit more at stake with children’s publishing, as Siscoe quotes Richard Jackson, who said “Does this story convince me? Do I care what happens to these people? Is the voice authentic? Has a young person’s nature somehow caused the action? Have I read this before?” (179). While I do think some of these questions are present in adult publishing as well, it made me think about all the things children’s publishing needs to do fundamentally. While yes, children's publishers need to produce books that are good and will sell, they also need to focus on educating and entertaining children.
Okay, I’m done rambling now. All in all, I really enjoyed this chapter. I have some questions that I’d like to know your thoughts on:
- How do you think our experience reading as children has changed for children today? (reading on kindles/iPads etc).
- Do you think technology makes children more resistant to reading books? If so, how do you think publishers should deal with this challenge?
- Would any of you want to pursue publishing children’s books?
- Has this chapter persuaded or dissuaded anybody from children’s book publishing?
- What are some of the books your loved as a child? (This includes YA too!)
- This is an unrelated question, but does anyone have any book recommendations while we’re all social distancing?
I agree with you, this chapter absolutely felt much more hopeful and inspiring than a couple of the more depressing pieces we’ve read. After reading this chapter, it’s made me consider how to get a job in children’s publishing. Something about the extra layer children’s publishing has to it really interests me. While in adult publishing, it’s exciting to think you may be publishing a new classic. I find it just as exciting in children’s publishing to think you are publishing a book that will give some kid a passion for reading.
ReplyDeleteOne quote that really stood out for me in this chapter was “Children’s books last.”. I find this to be absolutely true, during the attendance question in class, I always found myself looking through my Goodreads to remember recent books I’ve read. But I could tell right off the top of my head my favorite picture books or first chapter books from when I was a kid, and what they were about. The way the books you read as children stay with you and the optimistic and passionate voice the author had in this chapter make me really consider children’s publishing.
I never really thought about publishing children’s literature at all until I read this. The thing that stood out the most to be was where she explains that she wants to be a part of shaping the next generation of readers. She says, “Most people can remember their first favorites in great detail. They are like cherished friends–first loves. But try to recall the plot of a book you read two or three years ago… Children’s book last” (177). That really resonated with me because one of my favorite books (which I don’t want to reread in case it ruins it) is a book I read in 4th grade that made me like reading in the first place. Or even at a younger age.. like a few years ago somehow The Rainbow Fish was brought up, and I hadn’t thought about that book in YEARS; it brought back so many memories. Authors, editors, publishers, etc. in Children’s Literature harness the ability to shape young minds and have certain ideas or stories stick with people for practically their entire lives. I haven’t read too many children books recently, but it would be interesting to see whether or not they have strong, subliminal messages in them. For example, books aimed at the future generation can educate on climate change (on a basic level or like what an individual can do on a personal level –– like I told my baby cousin plastic straws kills turtles and she stopped using them…. books can do that but nicer and in a less intense way especially with illustrations) or since Siscoe said kids use books to learn about the world, exposing kids to same-sex couples and interracial relationships can normalize it at a young age. A main message was not to be preachy, condescending or moralizing, so I imagine it’s difficult to find a balance of education and entertainment.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I wasn't necessarily passionate about publishing before, but something about this chapter and children's publishing just clicked for me, so you could definitely say that this chapter persuaded me into children's publishing. It's interesting because I hadn't even really considered that children's books need to go through the process of being published just as much as adult books, though I obviously knew that they were published. Children's books, especially illustrated, just seem so different from adult books and seem to have to go through such different processes. Like you said, when a page ends is not really considered in a full-length novel. Although, now that I think about it, maybe when a page ends can be compared to when a chapter ends. Often suspense needs to be maintained between chapters as well.
ReplyDeleteI resent the idea that children need to be treated like less than adults, so I like how the author (and you) pointed out that children should be educated but never in a condescending way. I think this is important for all books really, because no one likes to be condescended to but a lot of authors are trying to make a point, so it's important that the message is not obnoxiously written, which is probably harder in children's books.
I'm a big believer in technology not being the worst thing that happened to reading, so I'd like to think that children are still able to effectively read nowadays. I don't have any younger siblings or anything so I don't know how that would go and I'm kind of curious. Are there illustrated books available for easy consumption on a tablet or e-reader? Do people still mostly buy physical books for their children. It'd probably be interesting to compare the statistics of physical versus e-book purchases between different age groups.
- Michaela (because I think it's going to comment as unknown)
Side note: When I was very young, I loved the Katie Kazoo Switcheroo books (I think that's how it's written) and Andrew Clements books. When I got a bit older, I was very into YA (and uh, still am probably).
Delete- Michaela again
I personally never read on an iPad or Kindle until I was in high school so I never felt that it affected my experience reading as a kid. I do, however, think that now technology is making kids feel less inclined to read. I’ve heard of apps that kids can use that go through almost a virtual story and make it a game and so this might be where books for kids are heading.
ReplyDeleteI hated reading until I was in the fourth grade and first read The BFG by Roald Dahl. I also loved the Percy Jackson series and think it is still one of the best things I’ve ever read. YA is also still my favorite genre so even though I am no longer a teenager I can’t seem to let go of it.
Book Recommendations:
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lani Taylor is the first of an amazing fantasy trilogy and I just think it’s so beautiful well written.
and
Simon v.s the Homo Sapiens Agenda is great if you’re looking for a quick fun teen love story.
One of the things I really liked about this chapter was the line that children's books last, which is true, but I never really thought about it before in terms of how that affects creating the product. Another thing which stuck out to me was that children's books are written for children but bought by adults, which really made me wonder how my favorite children's books would differ if I had the choice to pick them out. They probably wouldn't be as good, or I would've just chosen books by their covers at that age.
ReplyDeleteI like to think for the most part reading for children today is the same today as it was for us back then. I know whenever my mom buys gifts for her nieces or nephews, she still buys them books, though most of them are using iPads now. Reading physical books has probably decreased a bit, but reading is so fundamental for a child that I hope parents today are still doing what their parents probably did for them!
My parents have always tried to nudge me towards pursuing children's books, which I think could be a really fun profession. I think their reasoning is that it seems easier, and like the chapter stated, those books last. (For me, the book that has lasted is "Where the Wild Things Are.") I wouldn't necessarily say this chapter persuaded or dissuaded me since the idea of children's publishing has always been on the back burner for me, but I agree with you that it was an enjoyable read.
Like I said, I loved "Where the Wild Things Are" and another classic that comes to mind is "Goodnight Moon." "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats also sticks out to me, and I can never remember the title itself, but the cover always comes back to me (will figure out how to put that picture somewhere).
As for book recs, I haven't read it myself but have heard "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong is a good one! (Hopefully, I'll get to it during this time as well, haha.)