Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Why I Write for Children

JANICE:  Ever since I took a course in children's literature at Southern Methodist University, I have been in love with children's books. As a teacher my favorite part of the day was reading aloud to my fourth graders. Later, as a mother, I took joy in introducing our sons to all the best books. And finally I decided to try writing one myself, which became A Paradise Called Texas, a Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee


















I write for children because their minds are open, willing to embrace new ideas. Thus a children's author bears the huge responsibility to be true to life experiences of love and loss, joy and sorrow, the past and present, and the cultures of the world. I love the challenge to get it right for young readers. They deserve our best which requires thorough research and careful rewriting. Here I am reading one of the best to my sons Karl and Daniel. Because of this book, D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, they grew up loving Greek myths and still do. So do I.







My latest novel, Ariadne's Choice, is based on the myth of the minotaur. While it is being considered at several publishing houses, Tom painted this proposed wraparound cover. May it be an editor's choice too!