Formatting Children's Books

[Maggie Ann]

My friend asked me to help you with a children's book she's written. It's only 13 pages so I'm assuming it's for very young readers.

I plan on proofing it tonight and I need to know about formatting. Double space? Block style? I want to get it right for her and any tips will be appreciated.

[Vijaya]

Maggie, if it's for kids to read by themselves you want to make sure the font (it should be easy to read. I like Georgia for it's roundedness) is large enough (16 pt) for them to use finger tracking. Esp. important for emergent readers, who are 5-6 yrs old. By age 7 many are reading well on their own (I drop it down to 14 pts) and it's amazing how the reading ability levels out around age 8 to 9 even if the child learned to read later then his or her peers. I don't double space. 1.3 to 1.5 is enough to separate from one line to another.

[Maggie Ann]

Maggie, if it's for kids to read by themselves you want to make sure the font (it should be easy to read. I like Georgia for it's roundedness) is large enough (16 pt) for them to use finger tracking. Esp. important for emergent readers, who are 5-6 yrs old. By age 7 many are reading well on their own (I drop it down to 14 pts) and it's amazing how the reading ability levels out around age 8 to 9 even if the child learned to read later then his or her peers. I don't double space. 1.3 to 1.5 is enough to separate from one line to another.

 

Thanks, Vijaya. Very helpful information.