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Website
Harold D. Underdown

The Importance of Following Illustrating Guidelines

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent resource for understanding the specifications of submitting artwork to a publisher. Titled "The Specs on Specs," author Tugeau offers several crucial pieces of advice for illustrators looking to be published.
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Activity
Harold D. Underdown

Publishing: What's in a Deadline?

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An informational article that explores the many issues surrounding meeting deadlines for publication. Gives practical advice as well as information for potential submissions for publication.
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Website
Harold D. Underdown

Review: Illustrating Children's Books: Creating Pictures

For Students 9th - 10th
A book review of "Illustrating Children's Books: Creating Pictures for Publication," including critical contents and comments. Also provides information about who would benefit from reading this book review. A good resource for those...
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Unit Plan
Harold D. Underdown

The Purple Crayon Review: Writing With Pictures

For Students 9th - 10th
A book review of "Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books." Includes critical information, contents and comments, as well as a link to the book's Amazon.com page. A good resource for anyone interested in...
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Activity
Harold D. Underdown

The Purple Crayon: How to "Cook Up" a Great Picture Book

For Students 9th - 10th
An article outlining (in culinary form) the process of developing a successful picture book, from brainstorming to publication. Excellent tips and advice from a successful writer.
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Professional Doc
Harold D. Underdown

Open Minds: Nonfiction for the Very Young

For Students Pre-K - 1st
An interesting article from The Purple Crayon, a website for children's literature. Discusses the recent trend in children's books toward nonfiction and offers terrific insight into the realities of exposing young children to it.
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Article
Harold D. Underdown

The Purple Crayon: The Writing & Publishing Process

For Students 9th - 10th
Follow Amy Timberlake's steps as she tells about how she wrote the picture book "The Dirty Cowboy." She discusses ideas, drafts, revisions, and publication, and gives helpful hints to aspiring writers along the way.
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Website
Harold D. Underdown

October 2005 Blog: Defining Historical Fiction

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A good resource for understanding the genre of historical fiction, especially when applied to the characteristics of children's literature. From The Purple Crayon: a website devoted to children's literature.
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Website
Harold D. Underdown

Dangerous Myths/ Terrible Truths in Children's Writing

For Students 9th - 10th
A list of myths and truths about writing elementary or children's literature. Very helpful and informational for any student or adult looking to begin writing children's literature.
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Activity
Harold D. Underdown

The Coretta Scott King Award Winners, 2002 Current

For Students 9th - 10th
A short list of winners of the Coretta Scott King Award in children's literature. Includes award-winning authors and illustrators since 2002.
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Website
Harold D. Underdown

The Scott O'dell Award, 2002 Current

For Students 9th - 10th
A list of previous winners and a brief description of this important award, given each year for a "meritorious book" of historical fiction.
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Website
Harold D. Underdown

The Mildred L. Batchelder Award, 2002 Current

For Students 9th - 10th
A short description and history of this prestigious award, along with a list of winners since 2002. Also includes a link to the award's official site.
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Professional Doc
Harold D. Underdown

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Award, 2002 Current

For Students 9th - 10th
Includes a brief description of the award itself and lists the winners of this informational award from 2002 until the present. Includes links to each award winner's "Amazon.com" page.
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Website
Harold D. Underdown

Rhyming Picture Books: For Those Who Must

For Students 9th - 10th
An informational site which provides the rules of rhyme and meter for picture books. Also includes links for further reading and study.
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Activity
Harold D. Underdown

The End of the Line: Why Agent Relationships Fail

For Students 9th - 10th
An article concerning the relationships between artists and agents. Discusses why many agent relationships fail, but can be used as a good resource for researching agent relationships for publishing.