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…
Tag: simple
Review: Lost! by David McPhail
A city boy helps a lost bear find his way home to the forest. Lost! is a sweet book with gorgeous watercolor illustrations that start the story before we even read the first word. Children will spy a bear who stows away in a moving van. When he wakes up, he’s in an unfamiliar city….
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 