[jennifer-mone Posts: 3 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

Hi all,

I'm a new author with professional experience in the mental health profession.  I've been writing a PB for very young children, their siblings, and parents about a specific medical issue (a non-fiction, informative book).  As I write, the more it's clear to me the book has a dual focus: 1-simple education for children about the medical issue and 2- recognition and support for parents dealing with this medical issue.  My overarching question is this: How do I effectively portray the 2 different foci in the book?  When the info is directed at parents, not children, should it be considered a "sidebar?"  In my manuscript thus far, the audience/point-of-view alternates regularly between child-focused info and parent-info, so I'm not quite sure how to delineate this in the manuscript.  Has anyone seen this type of dual focus before? I realize I'm stretching the typical bounds of a PB here...
Thanks in advance for your guidance and suggestions!  This is an amazing group of people to be in touch with as I proceed down this winding, unfamiliar path!

[Pons Posts: 2,664 Status: Offline]

I think you need to decide who your primary target audience is. If it is the child, then write the story for the child. Because you have so much information that would be valuable for the adult - which would also benefit the child - find a way to incorporate it that doesn't intrude on the child's story. Sidebars are an option, and I often like them, but in this case with very young children, you might want to opt for a glossary or information page at the back of the book. I'm not sure if your story will be fiction or nonfiction, but I find sidebars in fiction annoying. That could very possibly just be me. 

[Vijaya Posts: 7,375 Status: Offline Encourage WWW]

Jennifer, sidebars are typically for the child--fun facts and such. I think what would be more useful is a section at the back titled: For Parents. You can also have a separate, companion book for parents. Good luck!

[anastasia-suen Posts: 11 Status: Offline]

Jennifer, sidebars are typically for the child--fun facts and such. I think what would be more useful is a section at the back titled: For Parents.

I agree! Save the text for adults for the BACK MATTER. The main text and the sidebars are for the children. 

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,936 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

I agree! Save the text for adults for the BACK MATTER. The main text and the sidebars are for the children. 

I agree also. Consider the developmental stage of your young readers.  Clutter from sidebars and sections that break the forward flow of the text may confuse them. Once that happens, you'll lose their attention. Adults who need support will happily look at the back matter.

[JulieM Posts: 944 Status: Offline WWW]

I was going to say the same too. Young children would likely not find adult-oriented text on the pages of "their" book very attractive. Also I think it would be hard to sell a book that has such disparate audiences on each page to publishers. I have seen picture books dealing with particular issues with For Parents pages at the back. They seem to work well by not interrupting the flow of the children's text while still presenting very important and relevant info for carers.

[jennifer-mone Posts: 3 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

Thanks to each of you for responding!  It's helpful, so incredibly useful, to have your feedback!

Jen