This summer, I had the opportunity to write lyrics for a children’s musical. It was a huge honor, but there was one problem – I had never written a song in my life! Sure, I like to make up little tunes as I walk around the house, but lyrics? That was a whole different ballpark….
Tag: children'stelevision
4 Tips for Writing Emotions in Your Christian Picture Book
Mister Rogers had a dilemma. Superman was at the height of his popularity, and every child in America was recreating the hero’s battles. Mister Rogers believed in the power of play as “the work of the child”. He knew play was integral to child development. But what he read in the newspaper that day shocked…
Why it Works: Writing Strong Characters with The Backyardigans
Nick Jr.’s The Backyardigans is known for its rich storytelling, excellent music, and detailed animation. While all of those things are wonderful, for me, the best part of the show is its brilliant characters. There’s Pablo, the determined penguin, Tyrone, the chill moose, Tasha, the bossy hippo, Austin, the shy kangaroo, and Uniqua, the kindhearted…
Writing Introverted Characters: An Ode to Toad
As a child, I wasn’t a fan of characters who were grumpy. I liked Ernie, but I didn’t like Bert. I wanted to befriend Pooh Bear, but not Eeyore. Then there was Frog and Toad. My sister and I loved these characters, but I didn’t fully understand them. Six-year-old me would tell you Frog was…
Ten Ways to Make Your Picture Book Interactive
“Picture Books” by Enokson is licensed under CC BY 2.0. When I worked at my church’s preschool, I discovered the magic of reading aloud to children. Little voices asked questions, little hands clapped, and little feet wiggled with excitement. As we sang, laughed, and played together, I learned that the best picture books were more than great stories…
Advice From Kiri and Lou: “Write. Every Day.”
Photo by Ashley West Edwards on Unsplash Writer, are you a perfectionist? Are you struggling to get just the right words on the page? Do you feel like your work is garbage? Then you should really watch the Kiri and Lou episode “Good Advices”. Kiri and Lou is a stop-motion animated preschool show full of big ideas. It’s…
How to Write Simply, Part 3: Humor!
Welcome back to my three-part series on writing simply, inspired by Oobi! If you haven’t read them already, here’s part one and part two. Enjoy! Little kids are the kings of comedy. Everything is funny to them since they’re discovering things for the first time. They love weird sounds, silly walks, and unusual characters. Preschoolers…
How to Write Simply, Part 2: Character!
This is part two of my series on Writing Simply, inspired by Oobi. You can read part one here. Characters are what draw readers to your story. A strong character in a children’s story should be both aspirational and relatable. They should be good role models, but have flaws, just like real kids. Each episode…
How to Write Simply – Part One: Dialogue!
One of my favorite TV show creators, Josh Selig, was once asked why he created such gentle preschool shows in an era of flashy CGI spectacles. His answer? “Simple is good.” Selig recognized that children see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Adults don’t notice the flower growing in the sidewalk crack, but a four-year-old will…
Emma Holley 