A Hard Look at Easy Readers

Children six to nine still love to cozy up to a parent orfeel that if children are reached at an early age, it is
grandparent and hear a story. But they're alsoeasier for them to become bilingual."
starting to formulate their own reading likes and"We realize that pop culture is part of kids' lives
dislikes and to choose their reading material. They'retoday," says chickaDEE's Bain, "so we try to bring
moresophisticated about content than many wouldpop culture into the magazine; otherwise, we aren't
think, but still new enough readers that format has toappealing to the needs of our readers. But, we bring
be just so.in pop culture in an educational way. If we tell about
"Writing for this age is truly an art form," says Hilarya popular movie, we focus on educating kids about
Bain, Editor in Chief of chickaDEE, part of the OWLsome aspect of this movie.
Group of Children's magazines. "It is difficult to writeWith Mighty Joe Young, we showed kids how the
for a child who is just learning to put words togethercreature was created for this movie and how
in print, yet make the material interesting enoughcomputers were used to make it so lifelike."
that the child wants to read it."Today's busy lifestyles and the ever-increasing role of
The effort has a strong payoff for children's writers:technology in children's lives have brought about a
an appreciative audience and many opportunities atnew publication that appeals to beginning readers.
magazines. Easy reader stories are always in demand.Jennifer Reed and her husband, Jeff, decided to
Distinct Needscreate Wee Ones, an online-only magazine for kids
Children in early years of reading have distinct needs.and their parents. Reed says, "Often, children aren't
"Beginning readers need a layout that won'tgetting the attention they deserve and that means
overwhelm them, text that invites them in, with artmany are not getting read to. We are trying to fulfill
and short captions," says Highlights for Children Seniorthat need by incorporating technology with good
Editor Marileta Robinson. "Our stories for beginningliterature for both children and adults. Children are
readers are set in larger type than stories for oldergravitating toward computers and the Internet at
readers - 13 or 16 point versus 10 pointalarming rates. Wee Ones wants to make sure there
- and are shorter - a 500-word maximum versus 800is something good and wholesome out there for
words."parents and kids."
While writers don't need to worry about type size,Missing the Mark
they should consider layout. According to Robinson,Writers unfortunately often continue to make the
"A story for beginning readers should have severalsame mistakes in beginning reader submissions.
opportunities for different illustrations." It should alsoRobinson still sees too many "stories that tell rather
be divided into short simple paragraphs. These "chunkthan show. Beginning readers need stories that appeal
up" the text, for easier reading.to all the senses. Stories that have appealing
Bain also advises, "Use short words in short, simple,characters, action, and dialogue, and that use humor
and direct sentences. A story or article should have aand suspense, and have a voice."
single concept, just one focus or layer."At Spider, editors see too many stories that
Heather A. Delabre, Assistant Editor at Cricketcondescend to the child reader. Delabre advises,
Magazine Group's Spider, explains, "Since children this"Don't use baby talk or oversimplify your ideas.
age are new readers, they need to be entertainedRespect your audience. Spider doesn't want stories
and challenged by the material they read."that are too preachy, didactic, or message-driven."
Writers don't have long to engage children at thisInappropriate anthropomorphism is something else to
age: "I think it's especially crucial with beginningavoid. "Only use talking animals if they are integral to
readers to capture their attention in the firstthe plot," warns Delabre. "Too many times, these
paragraph," says Terry Harshman, Editor at Children'sanimals are merely children with fur. If you were to
Playmate, one of the Children's Better Healthshift your talking animals into children, would you still
Institute (CBHI) publications. "A story should be livelyhave a strong plot? Or, is the novelty of your story
and fun, carrying the reader along on this magictied up in the animals alone?"
carpet to journey's end."Editors also don't want stories that disregard word
Bain explains that part of the challenge in writing forlimits, but writers do just this - often. "These word
this age is in not assuming too much. Often, kids arelimits aren't just arbitrary numbers," says Delabre.
familiar with a word when they hear it, but it's quite"Since we have only about 30 pages in which to
different when they read it. For example, exceptionalpresent the stories, poems, and activities in the body
is a word most children know. But when they read aof Spider, we want to be able to give readers as
line of text and come to this word, it might slowmany stories as we can, which means
down their reading as they try to sound it out. It hasstrictadherence to word limits."
too many syllables, and as young readersPublications from the Children's Better Health Institute
concentrate on sounding out, they lose their train ofhave a specific mission. "Often submissions are not in
thought and forget what they're reading about.keeping with our mission," says Harshman. "It's
Beginning readers also need to be able to identifyobvious that the author has not looked at our
with the characters, but not be bored with too muchpublication. Since we are health and fitness
similarity. Delabre cites "An Ordinary Boy," by Katemagazines, we have a particular focus."
DiCamillo (Spider, August 2001). "In this story, kidsAnother common mistake writers make is to assume
read about a boy their age who is followedeasy reader stories don't need to be just as well
everywhere he goes by rain. There's enough of thewritten as stories for older children. "Some writers
familiar to give young readers the identification theyseem to think that with less words, there doesn't
crave, yet enough of the unfamiliar to keep themneed to be a plot. Many stories I see lack structure,
intrigued and having fun with what they're reading."plot, and theme," says Reed.
Robinson reminds writers that "playful use ofBreaking In
language and stories with built-in repetition areIt's more difficult to break in at some easy reader
appealing to beginning readers."magazines than others. All fiction at chickaDEE is
Tried & True & Newassigned. It sets up articles and stories for each
Magazines for easy readers are breaking into twothemed issue about a year in advance. The best way
camps: Those responding to changes in popularto break in at ChickaDEE is for writers to become
culture and those not interested in reinventing thefamiliar with the scheduled themes, which may be
wheel. But all want material that works, and theyrequested, and submit a story on a theme far in
want it fresh.advance of the scheduled publication date.
Highlights isn't changing its approach. "We still strive toA rebus story of about 120 words is the best way
provide materials for a wide range of reading abilities,to break in at Highlights. "But the author should study
while keeping a wide age-range appeal for all of theseveral issues worth to see what makes them tick,"
material in the magazine," says Robinson.advises Robinson.
While many magazines that publish easy readerAlthough you've heard it before, studying the market
stories seem to focus much more on popular cultureis still excellent advice for any writer wanting to
- musicians, television, video games - than in the past,break in at a particular publication. "Read back issues
Cricket Magazine Group publications don't follow theseof the publications you'd like to submit to, in order to
trends, says Delabre. "We look for fresh, innovativefamiliarize yourself with the styles, genres, and age
stories that stimulate young minds without the useranges of the magazines. Also, be sure to use a
of media trends."publication's writers' guidelines.
Aileen Andres Sox, Editor of Our Little Friend and"These guidelines will make you aware of length and
Primary Treasure, two Seventh-day Adventisttopic restrictions," says Delabre. Many publications
children's publications, says, "Following a formula thathave their guidelines available online.
has worked for more than 100 years, we willFiction and nonfiction for the beginning reader must
continue to focus on true, Christian stories."be easy to read, but that doesn't mean they're easy
But, as the world changes, some easy readerto write. Yet, consider the distinct needs of both the
publications are changing, too. "Our focus at theyoung readers and the editors who cater to these
Children's Better Health Institute is expandingbeginning readers, and you just might make an easy
somewhat," says Harshman. "We have begun tosale.
introduce French and Spanish in our publications. We