A Paleo Diet children's book - an experiment in group creativity
- Thread starter NewOrleans
- Start date
NewOrleans
Jedi Master
The alligator character is a great idea, 3D student! Perhaps it can be incorporated. I've done a few children's books - both published and unpublished - and the best formula is a simple story - it's a seed of an idea.The CONTEXT is a parent reading to a child, so it's a story and storytelling can't encompass the whole complexity that we call Paleo Diet choices. But there is a way to enlarge the scope: Anything that is in-depth information can always be incorporated into back pages for further adult reading. Think "a fun read". If it's not fun it's pedantic. There's always a place to start if it's handled with honesty and gentle humour. We can do it.
The parts needed most - and here is where I'm not as good a writer - are specific aspects of food choices beyond "this is good, this is bad" kind of language. The story, as I've conceived it so far - has the pleasant Paleo family talking to our little Time Traveler Polly at lunch. Any suggestions to this?
The parts needed most - and here is where I'm not as good a writer - are specific aspects of food choices beyond "this is good, this is bad" kind of language. The story, as I've conceived it so far - has the pleasant Paleo family talking to our little Time Traveler Polly at lunch. Any suggestions to this?
Muxel
Dagobah Resident
1. Children's books are told in pictures, not words. Pages of beautifully intricate visuals, with a few words or none at all. Have you read The Boy Who Was Followed Home? Every little detail tells the story. Or a story. That's why children's books appeal to both parents and children. What the child sees may not be what you intended, but it makes an impression on him.
2. Children's books appeal to the child's mind. It is illogical; it does not judge. To a child, all is possible. You do not need a "time machine" to go back in time. That is adult thinking. Children's books are surreal.
For example, the girl's loving father has cows in the house. A towering metal contraption with cows sticking out here and there, some tastefully decapitated. The girl watches a gruesomely obese lady with heavy makeup sitting in a restaurant, surrounded by stacked plates of pasta, pizzas, jellies, mac n' cheese, ice-creams. Eating everything. The obese lady reaches out one carb-dripping manicured hand to the girl, wanting to eat the little girl.
You create a world to tell your story. Don't fall over yourself trying to "teach" the future reader, but allow him to learn.
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With that said, here's what I like:
1. Patience and hunting. Magical bow-and-arrows for the girl?
2. Laura's archaeologist father-figure.
3. mkrnhr's hero archetype - yeah! Like the Narnia books - start with sick mother, return with healing apple. Shane's backstory too.
4. Ditto bngenoh and aurochs. Historical consistency > The Flintstones.
5. whitecoast, I agree! "Clues given out like an adventure mystery" - that's how children's books should be. About interaction between the two families: could it be a war instead? While the food war rages around her, the child quietly and calmly makes her choices.
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The thing about children's books is that there is no "cognitive dissonance." The main character in The Boy Who Was Followed Home never says, "This doesn't make sense!" Rather, he is surprised, hesitant, interested, and at the end, happy.
2. Children's books appeal to the child's mind. It is illogical; it does not judge. To a child, all is possible. You do not need a "time machine" to go back in time. That is adult thinking. Children's books are surreal.
For example, the girl's loving father has cows in the house. A towering metal contraption with cows sticking out here and there, some tastefully decapitated. The girl watches a gruesomely obese lady with heavy makeup sitting in a restaurant, surrounded by stacked plates of pasta, pizzas, jellies, mac n' cheese, ice-creams. Eating everything. The obese lady reaches out one carb-dripping manicured hand to the girl, wanting to eat the little girl.
You create a world to tell your story. Don't fall over yourself trying to "teach" the future reader, but allow him to learn.
-----------------------------
With that said, here's what I like:
1. Patience and hunting. Magical bow-and-arrows for the girl?
2. Laura's archaeologist father-figure.
3. mkrnhr's hero archetype - yeah! Like the Narnia books - start with sick mother, return with healing apple. Shane's backstory too.
4. Ditto bngenoh and aurochs. Historical consistency > The Flintstones.
5. whitecoast, I agree! "Clues given out like an adventure mystery" - that's how children's books should be. About interaction between the two families: could it be a war instead? While the food war rages around her, the child quietly and calmly makes her choices.
-----------------------------
The thing about children's books is that there is no "cognitive dissonance." The main character in The Boy Who Was Followed Home never says, "This doesn't make sense!" Rather, he is surprised, hesitant, interested, and at the end, happy.
Muxel
Dagobah Resident
Okay maybe not like that. Don't wanna scare the kid too much. But I mean, something more than just "family educates girl," you know? Why not "girl observes world" - like evil food corporation putting cows into machines. (The girl is never harmed because it's only a story and she receives the guidance of the Universe.)
NewOrleans
Jedi Master
Interesting conversation! Muxel did raise an important point: Children's books are told in pictures. Maybe it's best that I just START now, having a handful of suggestions from people. I'll just do it and incorporate what seems like a good fit. When I get to a stage where I can present full color pages maybe we can have a new presentation and response. Some new ideas were presented that have possibilities and things I didn't consider before, so, THANK YOU everyone. Onward. :)
NewOrleans
Jedi Master
Here's what I was thinking...a new page, maybe, still in progress.....
bngenoh
The Living Force
Definitely looking and sounding good NewOrleans:
It was funny to me, Muxel definitely has a unique sense of humor which has grown on me. That being said, probably not age appropriate, but we do have Ursula from the little mermaid as a precedent, but from what I remember she wasn't a cannibal.
But how to put it into an age appropriate context is the question.
Tigersoap said:
Foxx said:
It was funny to me, Muxel definitely has a unique sense of humor which has grown on me. That being said, probably not age appropriate, but we do have Ursula from the little mermaid as a precedent, but from what I remember she wasn't a cannibal.
Muxel said:
But how to put it into an age appropriate context is the question.
bngenoh said:
Seems to me you may be putting more value on what entertains you than the efforts being made here.
bngenoh said:
The image Muxel described was disturbing, and I don't think appropriate for any age. "tastefully decapitated"!? What?!
bngenoh said:
Disney probably isn't a precedent we want to follow.
truth seeker
The Living Force
Hi bngenoh,bngenoh said:
I've noticed that sometimes when there are conflicting viewpoints in a thread, you seem to feel the need to 'make nice' or try to smooth over such situations. Not to derail this thread, but perhaps you might want to consider why you may feel uncomfortable with differences of opinion. Perhaps it's that you identify with those you perceive as being attacked? This may be a good opportunity for you to network about in your own thread and get to the bottom of if you choose.
bngenoh, I think that you also missed the point about the fact that it was brought up to Muxel's attention that this is not a one-time thing concerning his attitude, but rather something quite recurrent:
It was not about his "sense of humor" in this particular thread.
Foxx said:
Laura said:
It was not about his "sense of humor" in this particular thread.
