[Robertvs Posts: 54 Status: Offline 1 <3 PB WWW]

As a rhyme nerd, I must point out that children's poetry (whether short poetry or pb-length) does not need to be strictly iambic. It is perfectly acceptable (and common) to write in trochaic or anapestic meter. But yes, iambic is very popular! And I agree that children's poetry tends to be more "regular" than adult poetry.

Actually yeah, anapestic tetrameter is very common in Dr Seuss.

[SarahW Posts: 304 Status: Offline The extraordinary in the ordinary. WWW]

My take on it is this as someone who writes in verse. The  biggest problem with rhyme is that when I read it, it often comes off as tacked on for the sake of rhyming. I believe in natural rhyming, which is rhyming that naturally comes from human speech and conversation.

I generally tend to write my verse picture books in haikai no rienga chains, which is form that doesn't require rhyme.

[CarrieF Posts: 201 Status: Offline WWW]

That sounds interesting, SarahW - I'd love to see an example of that.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 5,947 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Here's a sticky with further info on rhyme: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?topic=14603.0

There is another sticky in the SCBWI critique section as well. In fact, I'll be taking some of the resources listed and adding them as links there too. Thanks for those.

[SarahW Posts: 304 Status: Offline The extraordinary in the ordinary. WWW]

Now I personally do rhyme, but it's one of those things its really really hard to do well.

[heather-macht Posts: 47 Status: Offline Daydreamer WWW]

I have a rhyming PB, titled You May Just be a Dinosaur coming out in Spring 2015. It took me 1.5 years to find the perfect publisher.  What I did, before I submitted to a publisher, was search their website for rhyming PB's. This helped me gauge who was interested in this material.  From there I'd look up the book on Amazon (from the look inside preview) or check out the book(s) in the library  and see what types of rhymes in general they published. This helped a lot!

I agree it's difficult and the rule of thumb is it has to rhyme, well.  The flow has to match throughout.  For each sentence , I even matched syllables as best I could and always had an end rhyme.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Write4kids Posts: 41 Status: Offline Write for your life! WWW]

As a teacher, I LOVE to read rhyming picture books to my class and they love to hear it!  Rhyming helps children learn how to read.  Keep rhyming!!!!

[Franzilla Posts: 1,000 Status: Offline Gah! WWW]

[Quote author = Write4kids link = topic = 56471.msg895028 fecha # msg895028 = 1405635802]
Como profesor, me encanta leer libros de rimas y fotos a mi clase y les encanta escucharlo! Las rimas ayudan a los ni?os a aprender a leer. Mantenga rima!!
[/ quote]


I'm not a teacher but I love rhyme for the same reason. Well, that and because it's just fun to read out loud. But only if it's done well. I can just about handle badly written prose but badly written rhyme just makes me want to throw the book across the room!

[SarahW Posts: 304 Status: Offline The extraordinary in the ordinary. WWW]

So is this a no rhyme, or no poetry? I don't mean free verse, but not all poems rhyme.

[Jayca Posts: 1,737 Status: Offline]

Well the OP asked specifically about rhyming in picture books, not poetry.

Some of my picture books rhyme. I also teach Pre-K, and to echo what others have said, rhyming picture books are wonderful...kids love them, parents/teachers love to read them to kids...IF they are done well. And it is very difficult to do it well. It takes a natural ear for it + lots of practice to write publication-worthy, rhyming picture books. (BUT I LOVE THEM!)

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 5,947 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

It's about having perfect meter no matter which format you use. If you are going to write in verse, do it well.