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Look At My Book!: How Kids Can Write & Illustrate Terrific Books

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Brainstorm for ideas! Get started on some fascinating research! In no time at all kids can be off on a literary adventure that they can create as they go along. With the help of some spunky and humorous characters, Loreen Leedy tells kids everything they need to do to become authors, illustrators, editors, and designers of their own fantastic books. She provides step-by-step instructions as well as tips for incorporating the wildest and most original ideas. This innovative book will inspire young authors and give them the practical information they need to reach new heights of creativity.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2004

3 people are currently reading
76 people want to read

About the author

Loreen Leedy

62 books38 followers
Loreen Leedy is the author and illustrator of over 40 picture books with math, science, language arts, and other curriculum content. Her books showcase information in a kid-friendly format, often with characters and entertaining stories.

Honors and awards for her books include: ALA Notable Book, Science Books and Films finalist, Reading Rainbow feature book, Chicago Library Best of the Best, many Scholastic Book Fair selections, Florida Book Award, Parent's Choice Award, many Junior Library Guild selections, and Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teachers Association.

Loreen has spoken at hundreds of schools and many conferences such as the International Reading Association, the American Library Association, the Mazza Summer Conference, and the UVU Engaged Reading Forum.

She lives in central Florida with her husband Andy, who is a scientist and a cat named Knickers who has an easily triggered purrometer. They love to travel, read, and watch movies.

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5 stars
31 (40%)
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31 (40%)
3 stars
13 (16%)
2 stars
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
2,367 reviews31 followers
June 6, 2019
Read this to the class. It's actually okay, but it did nothing for me. It seems dated.

It takes a student through the writing process offering three examples (a boy, a girl, and a dog). Those examples run throughout the book.

One thing that detracts is that the revise and edit sections are so basic. The examples provided I fear may give students the feeling that these steps can be done without much work.
Profile Image for Vo Khon.
186 reviews2 followers
July 22, 2021
A good book to know how a book make.
Which I know in this reading time:
_ What is binding book
_ Some new kind formatting book: other shape, item in a book in pocket, pop-up or shape.
_ Why need learn some new words about character.
Profile Image for Angie.
1,412 reviews9 followers
May 21, 2018
Great ‘how to’ book for writing!
Profile Image for David Haggett .
363 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2019
An ideal introduction for kids about how they can write and illustrate terrific books.

Check out the pictorial plan on the back!
Profile Image for Claudia.
42 reviews3 followers
May 7, 2008
(CIP) Provides ideas and simple directions for writing, illustrating, designing, and binding books.

(Claudia) Leedy provides admirably clear and straightforward directions and suggestions for creating a book, step-by step, from the writing process – brainstorming ideas, choosing a genre, imagining characters – through designing, illustrating, and binding the final product. The information is imaginatively embedded in lively illustrations that follow a brown-haired boy, brown-skinned girl, and brown-spotted dog as each creates a book. The picture book style pages are so rich with humorous and informative details that the book is entertaining simply to read. And the book-making process looks like such fun, that the book may well inspire children to give it a try … and very likely succeed. Gr. 2-6.

(SLJ) “.. more than just a "how-to" book; it is a jumping-off point for all kinds of projects. … It's difficult not to get caught up in the excitement generated by this creation.”

(Booklist) “… this resource will help teachers engage their students in authentic (as well as fun) activities that impart fundamental rules of rhetoric. The inviting layout … makes the book accessible even to emerging readers and writers.”
Profile Image for Alyssa.
193 reviews2 followers
May 5, 2015
This is a great book for children that are getting started with language arts and creating works of their own. This book will be a great one to keep in the classroom library for independent reading. Children can go to it to get ideas in starting writing their own book or more experienced writers can get tips on how to make their creations even better. The book utilizes step-by-step lists of instructions for getting started on certain aspects of writing. It also provides an index of resources that children can use when they are writing.
178 reviews3 followers
August 31, 2011
Excellent overview of the steps to create an original book. I highly recommend you read this together with your child over the course of several days, discussing each step. In my opinion, best to read the entire book together before you try to take any of the steps.

This would be a great recipe book for parent and child to each create a book according to their own interests, side-by-side, and compare processes, successes, struggles, and product.

Great to have on your reference shelf.
Profile Image for Dolly.
Author 1 book670 followers
December 13, 2012
This is a nicely detailed book that explains step-by-step the process in creating a book. The narrative is simple and the steps are easy to understand. The illustrations are colorful and will inspire a child's creativity. I liked the words of encouragement and the overall theme that making a book is easy and fun. Our oldest loves this book; she's always starting a new book project and this book shows her how to put it all together.
Profile Image for Kalynda.
583 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2016
This story takes more of a non-fiction approach to the writing process, and does so through the examples and thoughts of three main characters. I loved the organization and features that puts it in the non-fiction category, but also the consistent characters and development that gives it the beginning, middle, and end of fictional stories. This book can be read all at once, or with support of a teacher or facilitator who focuses on section by section.
Profile Image for Michele.
826 reviews55 followers
March 12, 2009
Looks nothing like a textbook, yet contains plenty of guidance on the essentials for developing a book.
Profile Image for Elaine Duree.
57 reviews10 followers
Read
September 9, 2010
Really like this book by Loreen Leedy has a clear outline of how to write and illustrate books.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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