Tag Archives: Quramo Publishing

30 Tips for Writing Delightful Children’s Books Day 3

ARTICLES, LITERARY RAMBLES, Writing Picture Books Course, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS TIP #3: KNOW YOUR ONIONS, well, GENRES

Let’s talk about genres. Children’s books have been divided into so many genres and categories that it is so hard to keep up. But here are the major ones.

NB: This post features children’s books by Nigerian authors.

GENRES*

Picture Books

Heavily illustrated; ages 3 – 8; 100 – 1000 words

Greatest Animal in the Jungle by Sope Martins

Juba and the Fireball by Yejide Kilanko

Mayowa and the Masquerades by Lola Shoneyin

Early Chapter Books

Illustrated; ages 4/5 – 8; 1000 – 3000 words

Welcome Home, Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke

Feyi Fay and the Mysterious Madam Koi Koi by Simisayo Brownstone

Chapter books

Few Illustrations; ages 6 – 9; 5000 – 20,000 words

Mafoya and the Finish Line by Ayo Oyeku

No 1 Car Spotter by Atinuke

Middle Grade:

Rarely illustrated; ages 8 – 12; 25,000 – 50,000

A-Files by Victoria Afe Inegbedion

Akata Witch/What Sunny Saw in the Flames by Nnedi Okoroafor

Mirror on the Wall by Jesutofunmi Fekoya

Young Adult

Almost never illustrated; ages 13+ ; 40,000 – 100,000 words

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi

Other genres:

Concept Books

Diary of a Toddler by Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi

A Fun ABC by Sade Fadipe

Plays

Mouth Almighty by Salihah Agbaje

Graphic Novels

Anike Eleko by Sandra Joubeaud and Alaba Onajin

Comics

1897: Okiojo’s Chronicles Series

Nonfiction*

My Nigeria, Peoples, Places and Culture by Constance Omawumi Kola-Lawal

Social Justice Books

Eno’s Story by Ayodele Olofintuade

The Red Transistor Radio by Fatima Akilu

OTHER CATEGORIES

Action/Adventure

Ginika’s Adventures by Nnenna Ochiche

The Adventures of Obi and Titi: Queen Idia’s Mask

Series

Illesanmi Twins Series. Book #1 Mystery at Ebenezer Lodge by Dunni Olatunde

Half Hour Hara Series. Book #1 The Case of the Broken Eggs by Ugo Anidi

Science Fiction

Zahra the Windseeker by Nnedi Okoroafor

Folktales/Fairytales

Folktales are Forever by Efe Farinre

Biographies

Idia of the Benin kingdom by Ekiuwa Aire

Please note: This list is by no means exhaustive!

  1. Action: Get a library subscription

Try Bookworm Café. This outfit specializes only in children’s books and its Director is a children’s literature connoisseur.

Try ZODML, Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries too!

OR

Be like me, buy every single book on this list … AND MORE 😊

2. Read.

Read 2 to 3 books in each genre to determine which one appeals to you😊

Then when you find your niche, read as many books as possible in that genre. Good luck!

Get the next tip in your inbox. Click on the link below to subscribe to my newsletter!!

*post on nonfiction coming soon

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Dad Goes To School

AGES 4 - 8, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , ,

dadgoestoschool-Screen Shot 2016-06-06 at 8.46.38 PM

Title: Dad Goes to School

Author: Mandy Collins

Publisher: Mango Books, an imprint of Quramo Publishing

Number of pages: 32

Type of Book: Fiction; African

Age: 4 – 8

Buy it here: http://quramo.com/content/dad-goes-school-0 ; Terra Kulture, 1376 Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island Lagos.

Price: N1000; N1200

MY SUMMARY

Nandi wanted Dad to stay in school with her so she wailed and wailed and wailed until Dad promised to go to school with her for a whole day. The very next day, he did just that. But things didn’t quite turn out the way Nandi hoped…

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: This book was shortlisted for the 2014 Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Books, one of the best prizes for African Kid’s Lit! Perfect for every child with a love for early morning tantrums, it reminds me of the line, ‘Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it!’

DOWN: None.

RATING

4 Stars

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

Watch the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB2cV0Dkp1s 

CHALLENGE: Dad Goes to School

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Draw Nandi and Dad in Nandi’s class (4 – 6 year olds)
  2. List 2 characters in the book? (7 – 8 year olds)

Find them in the crossword puzzle below (7 – 8 year olds)

Z D C Y H N M K D G J B X
V N C H D O N D S A M N O
K S A R I D I E A I D A E
H J O N T D W D O M H I N
I D T H D O L A R O E I T
O D S J A I S K T N S U S
O C N K I L T E E O D N A
L X S D A N G L S A K L F

 

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 4 – 8 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Friday, February 9th 2018.

Next Book of the Week:

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

 

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photo credit: quramo.com

 

 

 

 

Malaika’s Magical Kiosk

AGES 4 - 8, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

maliakasmagicalkiosk-screen-shot-2016-06-06-at-8-37-30-pm

Title: Malaika’s Magical Kiosk

Author: Shaleen Keshvjee-Dulam

Publisher: Mango Books, an imprint of Quramo Publishing

Number of pages: 21

Type of Book: Fiction; African

Age: 4 – 8

Buy it here: http://www.quramo.com/content/malaikas-magical-kiosk-0; Kindle edition: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Malaikas-Magical-Kiosk-Shaleen-Keshavjee-Gulam-ebook/dp/B01KV6VX5I;  Terra Kulture, 1376 Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island Lagos.

Price: N1200; 3.66GBP; N1300

MY SUMMARY

Michelle and her sister Wanjiku lived in small village in Kenya filled with happy people. That year, the rains refused to come, the crops dried out and everyone was scared they wouldn’t have enough food to eat. The adults became grumpy and mean people who barely spoke and the little children stopped laughing. Things changed one day when a mysterious woman named Malaika – and her kiosk – appeared in the village market. Malaika gave all the things in her kiosk to the villagers for free, she made grouchy Mrs. Karanja smile and turned Mrs. Karuki’s brown teeth sparkling white. Everyone loved her. Read the book to find out who the mysterious Malaika was and what she did to the girls and their small village.

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: This book was shortlisted for the Golden Baobab Prize for Picture Books in 2014, one of the best prizes for African Kid’s Lit! I was really excited when I got a copy and it didn’t disappoint. It had a feel good ending, the type that keeps a small smile on your face hours after you’ve read it. The illustrations were good too. I have a thing for illustrations especially in picture books, they have to be perfect. So much depends on them. This book had good illustrations. Young readers will gain a sneak peek of rural living in Kenya and will learn a word or two in Swahili. It also features a small glossary for the Swahili words used in the book.

DOWN: None.

RATING

4 Stars

TRIVIA

  1. “Jambo” “Habari” are forms of greeting in Swahili, the language spoken by Malaika and the girls in this book and by a lot of East Africans especially Kenyans.

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

  • Watch the book trailer here:

CHALLENGE: Malaika’s Magical Kiosk

 

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. List 5 items on Malaika’s body and find the items in the grid below (6-8 year olds)
Z D C Y H N M K O D G J K B X
V G O F T S J T O E G L E N O
G H W G T D R E S S 1 I I A E
H J R H T R W E T O E P N I N
Y U I A E A R R I N G S A K A
I F E H S O L A C R A T W I T
O F S J A V S K E T C I O U S
O C N X D E J E W E L C G N A
L X S B A N G L E S A K A L F
I N O V S A M E X T A S E A G
  1. Draw and colour Malaika and a magical kiosk. (4-5 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 4 – 8 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Wednesday, December 7th 2016.

Next Book of the Week:

THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER by The Brothers Grimm

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