top of page

MOWMT Day #26: Robin Currie Never Bores of Board Books


Never Boring Board Books

by Robin Currie


Board books have extra thick coated pages that small hands can turn and chewing babies can sink their teeth in. Browse any discount store and there will be shelves full!


3 Reasons Board Books are Popular

1 Cost

They cost under $10, even less if reduced for warehouse and big box stores. They make excellent last-minute gifts, stocking stuffers, and spontaneous check-out purchases. Sometimes they cost less than the card that accompanies them!


2 Durability

Babies will grab and chew on the pages. Just wipe off. Small enough to throw in a bag to use in a waiting room or restaurant. No torn pages or ripped covers.


3 Fun

With attention-grabbing colors and not too much story, having two or three read at bedtime is possible. Babies can be distracted and begin to learn stories and simple concepts.


3 Types of Board Books

1 Concept

The focus is on one specific concept (ABC, shape, color) without much of a storyline.


2 Experiential

The physical experience (lift the flap, sound buttons, touch, and feel) is the book's focus.


3 Reductions

It might be an entire picture book reduced in format, with words and pictures smaller than the original, or sections of the story omitted.



3 Tips on Writing a Board Book

1 Words

Board book manuscripts are 10-14 pages and often under 150 words. Con


cept books need a storyline, or they will be developed in-house.


2 Pictures

They will be larger than the words. The plan page turns carefully. Make sure each page of text can be represented in one clear and simple picture.


3 Series

Develop ideas for a series with a connected theme and art. Holidays and seasons, families, ongoing characters!


3 Stumbling Blocks to Finding ORIGINAL Board Books


1 Reprints

Art and text may be reduced from the original picture book.

2 In-House Development

The publishing staff comes up with an idea, and staff members assemble the text; hire an illustrator.

3 Novelty

The point of the book is the touch and feel or sound production.

3 Truly Original Story Board Books



1 One Sky by Aaron Becker, Candlewick, 2022.


2 On Baba's Back by Marianne Dubuc. Princeton Architectural Press, 2022.


Remember, with board books, the best reviewers are droolers and chewers!


Multi award winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, in library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! Her latest publication is an original board book How to Dress a Dinosaur from Familius Publishing.


*.*.*.*


NOTE: As you comment on each post, please note whether you have shared this post, bought the book for yourself or as a gift, whether you have followed our guest blogger or Rate Your Story on social media (and where), as well as whether you have left a review of the guest blogger's book (and where) for extra entries (for each show of support) and to be eligible for surprise prizes.


Feel free to click the links to buy the books mentioned and help support our Weekly Mentor Text Talks.







Comments


bottom of page