Fundraising Children's Book Help

by Sian Evans
10th November 2014

Hi there, I am writing a children book for fundraising purposes (more info on my profile) and I would like some feedback if this is a good plot for one of them. The books are based on a mascot called the BeKeHaBu.

Beginning:

Meet BeKeHaBu.

Lost on the street amazed by lights.

Middle:

Scouts find him.

Invite him to have Christmas with them.

Teach him about Christmas:

Ending:

BeKeHaBu has a great time.

Carry’s on travelling the world.

Replies

You have got to write the book first, Sian.

The plot is a little happy-heavy: the beginning is the mascot in trouble, but the middle and end are the mascot safe and well. Maybe the middle has to be more of an adventure? There must be a reason why the Scouts finding him is such a good thing - you need contrast between pre-Scouts and life with them.

'BeKeHaBu' is enough of a mouthful for a seasoned adult, let alone a child.

5-10 is a huge age range: would any ten-year-old be happy reading a five-year-old's book? The vast difference in abilities between these age groups would make this idea untenable. The younger age is still learning to read; the older is enjoying Harry Potter. Choose one, and stick to it.

Looking at your profile, you're going to have to brush up on your spelling and punctuation: children is a plural noun, so you need no s for plural, and apostrophe s ('s) for possessive - children's book.

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Lorraine
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Lorraine Swoboda
11/11/2014

The age for my books will be between 5 to 10. I have not done a draft yet as I hve only just started writing it. I was thinking as it is for a young age range to keep the words basic, sentences short and language simple. And thanks for replying I didn't think anyone would.

Thanks,

Sian Evans

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Sian
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Sian Evans
10/11/2014

Hi Sian, I have to say it is a laudable intention and I wish you well. I am wondering, only because you haven't said, if you have finished your first draft of the book/s, if you have the next question is have you redrafted and done all the usual things such as reading it out loud to make sure it reads properly. Get someone to read through the story, someone who will be honest and tell you where it gets sticky and maybe needs some more work. The more you write the better you will get, don't let any criticism ever EVER put you off, use it to improve. To answer your question, I think it is a perfectly good plot that will improve as your writing does. You haven't said what age range you are writing for?

My best wishes for your venture, Regards Paul.

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Paul
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10/11/2014