Let’s look a little at a literary and language lesson: alliteration. See what I did there? Alliteration is using the same letter or sound over and over again, especially at the beginning of each word. Using alliteration is a great way to grab the attention of your reader. This is because the brain is wired to see patterns, such as alliteration, and the brain picks up on patterns quickly. This makes a person really lean in to your writing and it is pleasing to the mind. Therefore, your reader will enjoy your writing more. Alliteration adds fun too. Just think of the tongue twisters you loved as a child. They were fun because of the alliteration. Remember, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood or Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers? Another pro to using alliteration is that when a string of words all start with the same letter, it can help group them. This can be helpful if you are trying to convey a theme or message in your writing. For example, if you wanted a fruit theme, instead of listing apples, bananas and oranges, try using pineapples, pears, peaches and papayas. I believe alliteration is especially beneficial in poetry and nursery rhyme because it is lulling and lyrical. The most beneficial reason to use alliteration for children is in teaching them to read. Repeating a letter over and over makes the reader pay attention to that letter and, more importantly for a new reader, to the sound it makes. This helps them sound out letters and words and learn to read faster. When a child sees the same letter over and over again and then hears the same sound over and over again, their brain puts it together faster that is the sound that letter makes.

I use alliteration in my Sounds from the… series. These books are based on sounds and I wanted them to have rhythm. I think using alliteration gives a manuscript rhythm. This is especially important for books for the very young because these books are being read aloud to someone else. I think and hope that the alliteration gives the reader a natural rhythm to make the flow better and therefore, to be more enjoyable for both the reader and the listener. As children's book writers, it is important to remember that you want the person who is reading aloud to enjoy your book as well.

Alliteration is also frequently used in book titles to make them flow better and to be more memorable. Think of Jane Austin with Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility or Charles Dickens with Nicholas Nickleby, A Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol. If you would like, try a writing exercise. If you have a manuscript with a theme or message, think of words for that theme or message that all start with the same letter or try to arrange your title to use alliteration or if you don’t have a manuscript, but have an idea for one, and know the theme or message, then do the same exercise with alliterative words or a title. One example, if the theme for your book is going back to school, then try listing that you need pencils and paper to practice punctuation. And your classes might include reading, writing and recess where you will read, write and run. Or your teacher may be amazingly awesome and attentive. In summary, alliteration provides many, many benefits to your manuscript such as being educational and enjoyable, providing flow and reinforcing your theme.