Here is a kids fantasy chapter book published by Wildling Press. We know there aren't a lot of read alouds of kids chapter books because honestly, it's a big undertaking! But we've done it, and this one is a fabulous story that has a missing father, talking birds, and a lot of fun banter. We also have lesson plans, fun activities to go along with the book, and your kids can even submit questions for the author! I hope you check it out :). https://www.kidsaskauthorsanswer.com/laleh-and-the-language-of-the-birds

Hello all! Are you able to recommend a book (a plus if published recently) with a character who is super talented at something or is really prideful in their skillset of some sort and is still easy for young readers to root for despite this? I would expect the character to change by the end of the book!

My son (11) has become really fascinated with the story of Moby Dick. I’m guessing it’s the adventurous pull of life on the high seas. He really wants to read the actual classic book but as I recall, it’s a really dry read. While I’m willing to let him try, I’d like some back up options in case he really dislikes it. I feel like I remember reading an abridged version when I was about his age-any suggestions for a good one? Or books that might hit that same vibe? TIA!

Does anyone have any ideas on where to find beta readers or even manuscript swaps for middle-grade writers?

My 11 year old son just started middle school. He’s having a super hard time adjusting. He’s a voracious reader. He reads a few books every week. I’d love to find some good humor books to help cheer him up. He’s read all the popular humor books (captain underpants, diary of a wimpy kid, etc). This summer he read the whole James Patterson Middle School book series and liked those. Any suggestions?

My 13 year old daughter really enjoyed this Halloween read.

Curse of the Wax Witch

My daughter is actually wanting to read! But not anything “boring” and her ideas are too grown-up and mature themed for me. She is wanting something dealing with friendship and romance that is modern.

Lately I've been thinking about a book I read about thirteen years ago that I can't remember the title of and jhope that if anyone on here has read it, they could remind me. I don't think it was a new book but could be wrong. The premise was some girl gets invited to the house of her estranged uncles and one of them thinks he is a dog due to getting called on stage for some stage magician hypnotist years ago along with his stepdaughter. The magician turned the girl into a bird and made the man think he was a dog, then was mortally wounded by a falling sandbag and tried to tell the secret from the hospital but died instead.

The heroine learns that the magician's secret involved transporting people either mentally or physcially into some other dimension (I think called Hypnosia or something like that) with real magic, and also that someone was trying to kill her uncle with that sandbag, with it turning out that the killers (a bitter guy he'd accidentally wounded with a prop weapon during a stage play and a servant fired for stealing) have since began impersonating her other, long-lost uncle and his wife. I feel like the uncle who thinks he was a dog is named Charles, the one being impersonated is Les or Giles, and the villains' real names (not sure of the spelling for either) are something like Simon Steele and Flora or Fiona Simley.

I loved talking with Anne Kimzey, and I love that the entire podcast is two minutes, which is plenty. Thank you, Alabama State Council on the Arts xo

Hey everyone I’m looking for some recommendations on some CHAPTER books for a grade 5 student! I’m not sure of his interests so anything would help!

Hi everyone! As I wait for the manuscript edit to come back, my illustrator and I have been working on the all-important book cover. One of the core principles for Capyhero is to have everything be hand made and give absolutely no chance of ai generated writing or art. Nick (the project's illustrator) is a traditional artist and is doing all of Capyhero's 100+ illustrations in fountain ink. In that vein, we'd like the book cover to be traditionally painted.

Nick has been brushing up on his painting skills as we plan the front cover. Here's a practice piece (gouache paint) of Jake, the Piper, a minor character from the book.

I’m loving the natural brush strokes and handling of lighting and fur rendering. It’s been great to see this and imagine our main protagonist, Capy, receiving similar treatment for the cover as well.

How do folks here feel about traditionally painted book covers versus the much more common digitally illustrated covers these days? And especially kids. Would a traditionally painted cover not be attention-grabbing enough for kids?

I'm trying to evoke a bit of Redwall nostalgia with Capyhero, but book covers for kids these days are super vibrant and contrast-y. If you were to see a book at a bookstore with a cover like this, would it not grab attention enough because the books next to it are "louder"?

And what do folks here (and their kids, if any) think of this practice piece of Jake, the Piper? We're quite fond of him 😄

Thanks for reading!

Guys, I'm new to this writathon.

But, from my background Imma 11yo KDP author, with multiple published books on Amazon, Goodreads, Abebooks, Bribooks, and BookFinder, with an IBOR world record, and SBWF national best seller rank #8 and national first ink best seller rank #3.

So, could somebody pls tell me Abt ur experiences in Writathon?

So I can learn much more Abt this competition?

I need some of the rules and regulations, and what kinda manuscripts are accepted and blah blah blah.

But, for the category 'comic'. Can somebody pls let me know if text heavy graphic illustrated novella's style comics is allowed? (not traditional panels or dialogue bubbles). The story is already created and submitted tho.

But just wanna know.

Bc my school 'Woodlem park Hamidiya Ajman' didn't provide me with proper guidelines.

Could someone pls kindly let me know?

family friend's 4th grader loves to read, and currently loves the nevermoor (by jessica townsend) series. are there any books with a similar female lead/fantasy aspect that i can gift her? she's always been an advanced reader, college-level currently, but i would prefer no mature themes 😖 thank you so much!!

Just curious, looking for a wide spectrum of ages here. Also feel free to comment on literature your own children are being taught. Please include around what year this was if you’re comfortable.

Why aren't there more books that feature characters 13-15? It seems like such a pivotal point in a young person's life. It's frustrating because these are the stories I want to write... but there doesn't seem to be a place for them in the market! I didn't have much success during my querying journey (bunch of rejections, 1 partial request that didn't go anywhere).

Thoughts?

My 12 yo child wants to read this series. should I allow it?