[shari-cassutt Posts: 30 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I'm really not sure if "formula" is the correct term. I'm looking for opinions on PBs that follow a time proven script such as the pattern of an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, or House that Jack Built?  I personally enjoy them and collected them when I was teaching.  They were great for "compare and contrast" conversations with kindergartners. But I don't know how agents and publishers view them. Thoughts?

[Anne Marie Posts: 2,855 Status: Offline VAMPIRINA season 3 is on Disney Junior now! WWW]

I think in general they're seen positively as long as, like any manuscript, they're fun and original. Is the term you are looking for cumulative stories?

Anne Marie

[shari-cassutt Posts: 30 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks Anne Marie -  I'm hoping you're right about them being well accepted. I don't think the term I'm looking for is "cumulative" because I'm thinking about patterns that are based on well known stories or songs. A story could be cumulative and still original. Maybe there is no term?

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,007 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

The two examples you give are cumulative in that all of the things that have been swallowed (etc) are repeated in each verse.

There are plenty of books with patterned text based on old songs. Be sure you use something in the public domain and make it your own. A unique spin on the old theme is everything.

[shari-cassutt Posts: 30 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm sure you'll be seeing the two I'm working on posted soon.