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To Rhyme or Not To Rhyme?

© Arden Davidson

For years there has been a stigma attached to verse in the children's publishing world. Many editors are wary of rhyming manuscripts, primarily because they've read so many bad ones. They often complain that the stories are trivial, the rhyming is awkward, and the rhythm is too "monotonous or sing-songy."

However, this is not true of all editors. (Thank goodness - or we'd have never head of Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein)! Actually, many editors find rhyming picture books to be quite enjoyable - as long as they're done right. Playful, expressive poetry is fun for children and adults to read aloud. And, the repetition of sounds effectively helps children to build their vocabulary and other reading skills.

There are a few guidelines you can follow to make sure that you are using rhyme to its full potential. First, do not sacrifice elements of the story, just to make the rhyme fit. The story you have to tell should remain consistent with what you have outlined. This is not to say you cannot stray into other realms of your imagination as the story progresses. The key question is, are these changes truly for the better, or are you simply making them because the words rhyme?

Also, make sure your rhyming style and your stories are fresh. Too many authors try to mimic other writers rather than pushing the envelope of their own creativity. A writer has to be willing to explore every nook and cranny of their mind in order to create something new and "fresh."

For an excellent example of fresh, fun rhyming stories and poems, visit A Pocketful of Rhymes at http://members.aol.com/Bvsangl/pocket.ht... or visit some of the links on my list!

The copyright of the article To Rhyme or Not To Rhyme? in Children's Poetry is owned by Arden Davidson. Permission to republish To Rhyme or Not To Rhyme? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.