Writing books for children is both art and business. If you dream of becoming a children's author -- or even if you're well on your way -- this handbook can help you in writing sellable stories, getting them published, and promoting your books.Topics include common myths about children's writing, children's book categories, elements of successful stories, manuscript format, submission strategies, contract negotiation, the publishing process, career building, and children's writer r...

Fifteen years after publishing "The Business of Writing for Children" -- the all-time online bestseller among guides to children's writing -- award-winning author Aaron Shepard returns with a new collection of articles on the art and business of creating literature for young people.Topics include managing time in stories, structuring a chapter book, retelling folktales and legends, obtaining permissions, databases and business forms for children's writers, performance tips for auth...

"I want shoes that are spiffy, not iffy."Katie is tired of her same old shoes, so she goes to the store to buy new ones. But with so many wondrous choices, how can she ever decide? In this fun story told in lively verse, a young girl gets a peek at the many possibilities open to her in life and embraces them with joy. For ages 2 to 8./////////////////////////////////////////////Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen...

"Stories on Stage" is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted from stories by fifteen different authors, including Louis Sachar, Nancy Farmer, Russell Hoban, Wanda Gag, and Roald Dahl. Coming from such genres as humor, fantasy, and multicultural folktales, stories were selected for their dramatic quality, literary value, and appeal to young people. While focusing on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a wide range of reading levels.////////////////////...

A thousand years ago, in the Celtic kingdoms of Wales, great lords gave great feasts for their fighting men and courtiers. In timbered halls, for days on end, heaps of meat and bread were washed down with gallons of beer and mead. And in between the meals, when bellies were stuffed and spirits high, the storyteller rose and spun his tales of times long past.He told of lords, bold and generous. He told of ladies, grand and glorious. He told of friends, brave and faithful. But of all...

****A "CENTRAL TEXT" IN NEW YORK STATE'S COMMON CORE CURRICULUM****Want to try reader's theater but don't know where to start? Or have you tried it but want to find ways to bring it more to life? Or are you just looking for a fun, easy way to lure young people into reading fluency, cooperative effort, effective communication, and love of literature?"Readers on Stage" is a collection of resources for scripting, directing, and teaching reader's theater, primarily to ages 8 an...

A young, blind bard counts himself lucky when invited to live with the monks at a prominent Buddhist temple -- and more lucky still when asked to perform his epic verses at the court of a high-ranking lord. But why is his noble audience so violently moved by his tales of long-dead heroes?For ages 10 and up. Not illustrated!/////////////////////////////////////////////////Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "La...

Gentlemen might be in short supply today, but this little book of wisdom could be a cure. If you're a young man who cares about the quality of his mark on the world -- or if you know such a young man -- the aphorisms of "The Gentleman's Handbook" may prove a helpful guide./////////////////////////////////////////////////Aaron Shepard is an author, photographer, publisher, and aspiring gentleman. He lives with his wife and fellow author, Anne L. Watson, in Bellingham, Washin...

Traditional tales are retold by a master storyteller in this collection of folktales, myths, and legends from India and Pakistan. The stories are:THE GIFTS OF THE GRASSCUTTERWali Dad, a humble grasscutter, never asked for wealth -- so why can't he give it away?THE PRINCESS AND THE GODThe princess Savitri must use all her wit and will to save her husband from the god of death.THE MILLIONAIRE MISERSushil is so stingy, even a god takes notice.

"Folktales on Stage" is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted by award-winning children's author Aaron Shepard from his own folktale retellings. A wide variety of countries and cultures is represented, including Native America, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia, and China. While focusing on ages 8 to 15, the collection features a full range of reading levels./////////////////////////////////////////////////Aaron Shepard is the aut...

Why not give more?Van Amsterdam the baker was well known for his honesty as well as for his fine Saint Nicholas cookies. He always gave his customers exactly what they paid for -- not more and not less. So, he was not about to give in when a mysterious old woman comes to him on Saint Nicholas Day and insists that a dozen is thirteen!The woman's curse puts an end to the baker's business, and he believes it would take Saint Nicholas to help him. But ...

Quite by chance, San Francisco has become one of the carousel capitols of the world. It today hosts carousels from all three of the most important historic American carousel makers -- the only city anywhere with that distinction! What's more, each carousel has been restored close to its original condition."Circles of Delight" celebrates the beauty and diversity of these traditional, hand-carved wood carousels of the Golden Gate City. With its vibrant photos and informative profiles...