CHILDREN'S WRITERS MARKETPLACE

November 2002

Welcome to the Children's Writers Marketplace at its new location! Applause goes to Children's Book Insider for hosting it! For those who weren't readers at Inkspot or later at my own site, my name is Margaret Shauers. I have been active in many writing areas over the past 30+ years, but writing for children remains my best love. Over the past several years, I've been working in the activity book and game book areas. I also freelance children's short fiction and puzzles and do some adult material. The magazine market list I sell grew from my own writing card file. I now include nonfiction markets, as well. Information about ordering the full 350+ market list is given at the end of this column.

If you don't subscribe to Children's Book Insider, consider it! Publisher Laura Backes' article, "What Do Editors Want," in the October 2002 issue was worth the price all by itself. As Backes states, today's tight economy and publication list size cuts, it's harder than ever to make a sale. Her tips came direct from editors on what can harm a writer's chances for success, and what can help. Find subscription information at http://www.write4kids.com. (Note: I found the information for the Delacorte Press contest in this same issue, along with the two workshop listings. Especially with the early November workshop, subscribers to CBI knew about it several weeks before my column went online.)

Clubhouse, 8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs CO 80920: Suzanne Hadley, Assistant Editor. This Christian publication is for children 8-12 years old. They use articles of 200-1000 words, fiction to 500-1500 words. Pays.15 to .20 word for nonfiction; $75-$200 for fiction on acceptance. They are open to some unsolicited material again. Buys 1st rights. They do not want contemporary fiction set in the US, but do want historical American fiction or embellished accounts of true events. They also want stories set in Asia, South America, the CIS and Canada. They list buying puzzles in some directories, but have told me they rarely have money for puzzles. They don't buy poetry or anything dealing with boy-girl relationships. Currently want stories about young athletes (with a Christian angle) and real-life drama. Website: http://www.family.org.

I received my free issue of Confetti. I don't think they pay, but I think they are open to non-subscriber submissions (contrary to a report I heard earlier). At least I haven't seen anything that says they don't. Their guidelines are online at http://www.confetti-celebration.com/Submissions.htm. To get a free copy, go to the homepage: http://www.confetti-celebration.com/. Children's submissions are used, as well as adults.

Spider, P.O. Box 300, 315 Fifth Street, Peru IL 61354: Submissions Editor. This secular publication is for 6 to 9 year olds (from publisher of CRICKET). They use nonfiction, 300-800 words and fiction of 300-1000 words. Likes real life and folk tales, science fiction and easy-to-read; also uses photo essays. Poetry to 20 lines. Pay is .25 word on publication for varying rights. They use puzzles and activities. Website: www.spidermag.com

Highlights for Children, 805 Church Street, Honesdale PA 18431: Rich Wallace, Senior Editor. This secular publication buys fiction of 200 to 900 words for children 2 to 12. (They now want beginning reader fiction of up to 500 words for 6-8 year olds--editor for this is Beth Troop.) They also want arts related material (to Kim Griswell). They pay $100 up for ALL rights on acceptance. They report and pay quickly, but may hold material for years before publishing. They assign writers personal editors after a sale. No pen and paper puzzles used here. HIGHLIGHTS has now piloted an international edition! (Canada & South Africa, primarily). This will use British English. They are open to writers with expertise in specific geographic areas. Email: eds@highlights-corp.com. Website: www.highlights.com.

Live Wire, 8121 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45231: Carrie Girton, Editor. This religious publication is for the older age group (5th & 6th grade) formerly served by R-A-D-A-R. They do not want fiction from adults (they will use both fiction and poetry from preteens) now has very restricted needs, mostly about actual kids today. Mostly short, to about 250 words. Pay is .06-.08 word. Buys 1^st and reprint rights. They no longer have a theme list. Puzzles are done only on assignment. It sounds as if they may also pay preteen writers something. Pay is on acceptance. They buy either first or reprint rights. Website: www.StandardPub.com.

Crinkles, 17 East Henrietta St, Baltimore MD 21230-3910: Paula Montgomery, Editor. This publication for 8-14 year olds is by assignment only. Email first for theme lists. They cover sports, history, current events, folktales and myths, people, places, animal. They buy work-for-hire rights and pay $150 up. Email: paulam@crinkles.com. Website: www.crinkles.com.

J.A.M. (Junior Apostles Magazine, PMB 366, 3402 Edgement Ave., Brookhaven PA 19015: Joe Kieffer, Editor; Devon Sitaris, Articles Editor; Brandon Hopkins, Fiction Editor. This pay-in-copies/subscription publication wants material from young people ages 8-18. It is religious; nondenominational. Articles 500-700 words; fiction 40-2500 words; book reviews to 200 words. They also use poetry (to Margarita Gilberts, and fillers. They do accept articles by adult writers and artists about their crafts and how it is influenced by faith. They have contests; see magazine on website (but the listing I saw did not give the website!). Email: chuckjoy@bellatlantic.net.

Youthweekly.com, 8359 Elk Grove Florin RD, Ste 102, #188, Sacramento CA 95829. I find the guidelines page a bit hard to use, but they use middle grade and young adult material: fiction to 2000 words; nonfiction to 3000 words. They also use poetry and photos. They don't pay much yet, but buy one-time electronic rights only at $2.00 for each story or article; $1.00 per poem. Address Editor/Youthweekly.com, 8359 Elk Grove Florin Road, Suite 102, #188, Sacramento CA 95829. Email material to submissions@youthweekly.net. Website: www.youthweekly.homestead.com.

Junior Companion, PO Box 4060, Overland Park KS 66204: Arlene McGehee, Editor. This Church of God (holiness) publication is for 4th-6th graders. Wants fiction 500-1200 words. . Pays .005/wd on publication for 1st rights; .0025 for reprint rights. KJV. Has theme list. Email: sseditor1@juno.com. (This email probably works for the other CofG (holiness) publications with the same editor.

What!, 108-93 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 3B1 Canada: Barbara Chabai, Editor. This magazine is distributed to high school students across Canada. They use nonfiction, 675-2000 words and pays $7-$250 Canadian 30 days after publication for 1st NA rights. Target motivated young men and women. Email: b.chabai@m2ci.mb.ca. Website: www.whatmagnet.com.

Keys for Kids, Box 1, Grand Rapids MI 49501: Hazel Marrett, Editor. This religious devotional book is for children aged 8 to 14. They use stories of 300-400 words and pay $20-$25 for varying rights. No articles. Prefers KJ or NIV. GET SAMPLES; THEY HAVE SPECIAL PRESENTATION METHODS. Email: kfk@cbhonline.com. Website: www.cbhministries.org.

Guide, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown MD 21740: Randy Fishell, Editor. This Seventh Day Adventist publication uses TRUE stories only and no longer wants anything in fictional format, for young people 10 to 14--with the emphasis on the older age level. They pay .03 to .07 word on acceptance for stories 5-1200 words for 1st or reprint rights--pay tends to go up after you have sold them a few things. They use puzzles and games; want much the same as secular, newsstand magazines and books publish. Currently wanting true action/adventure and Christian humor. Does not use poetry. Wants sparkling humor and adventure stories. : Email: guide@rhpa.org. Website: www.guidemagazine.org.

With, Box 347, 722 Main, Newton KS 67114: Carol Duerksen, Editor. This Mennonite publication uses articles and fiction of 1000-2000 words for older teens. They pay .06 word for 1st or reprint rights--most pay for assignment writers. They now have a theme list and they are looking for humor--not necessarily religious. Once you sell them, you get special need mailings along with only about 40 other writers. They use some puzzles. Currently needs good Christmas articles, stories and humor--and especially true 1st person teen stories with a Christmas angle. Email deliag@gcmc.org .

Guideposts for Kids Online, 1050 Broadway, Ste. 6, Chesterton IN 46304 has gone to an online format only. www.gp4k.com. They will use freelance fiction, celebrity tips and submissions for the section called "god's Mysterious Ways. Pays $50-$350 ($100-$350 for fiction). For ages 7-12. You can get guidelines by snail mail for SASE. Buys all electronic rights and first print rights. No disk or email submissions. Prefers NIV.

High Adventure, 1445 Boonville Avenue, Springfield MO 65802: Rev. Jerry Parks, Editor-in-Chief. This Assembly of God Royal Rangers publication is for boys 5 to 17. They buy fiction and articles, 500-900 words. Pays .04 to .06 word on acceptance, $12 for puzzles.. They buy 1st or reprint rights. I have had the best luck here with teen stories. They now have a theme list. Uses some puzzles. email: royalrangers@ag.org. Website: www.rangers.ag.org.

My Friend, 50 St. Paul's Avenue, Jamaica Plain, Boston MA 02130-3495: Sister Kathryn James Hermes, fps, Managing Editor. For Catholic children ages 6-12. They want well-written fiction that grabs imagination and gently teaches a lesson. Also uses articles 150-800 words, puzzles and jokes. Pays from $7 to $150. Email: myfriend@pauline.org. Website: www.myfriendmagazine.com.

Nature Friend, 2673 Township Road, 421, Sugarcreek OH 44681-9486: Marvin Wengerd, Editor. This religious magazine uses fiction of 200 to 1200 words for children 4 to 14. All stories must have a nature tie-in, but you can have animal characters. Articles are 300-1500 words; true stories (can be fictionalized), 300-1200 words. The magazine primarily goes to rural families who hold a literal view of creation. They do not use holiday stories. The pay is .05 word on publication for one-time rights. They use KJV puzzles.

On the Line, 616 Walnut Avenue, Scottdale PA 15683-1999: Mary Clemens Meyer, Editor. This Mennonite/Herald Press publication is a monthly for 10-14 year olds. My experience is that they purchase with an eye toward the older age range. They use articles of 300-500 words, fiction of 1000-1800 words, poetry of 3-24 lines, games, cartoons, jokes, party ideas, puzzles. Pay is .03-.05 per word for one-time or reprint rights. Fillers and poetry pay $10.00 to $15.00. Email: otl@mph.org . Website: www.mph.org/otl.

Spellbound, 135 Shady Lane, Bolingbroke IL 60440: Rachel Henderson Moon, Fiction Editor. This quarterly uses fantasy short stories and poetry for 9-14 year olds. Each issue has a theme and a "creature" of the issue. Fiction, up to 2500 and poetry up to 36 lines pays $5 and 2 copies on publication for FNASR. They also use recipes, games, puzzles, etc. Submissions should be sent in the body of an email. Fiction goes to spellbound@eggplant-productions.com. Poetry goes to poembound@eggplant-productions.com .

GL (Girl's Life), 4517 Hartford Rd., Baltimore MD 21214: Sarah Cordi, Senior Editor. This publication is for girls ages 10-15. They do not use short fiction or poetry from adults and they want queries only on nonfiction. They use The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. They want assignments done in MS Word 5.1 or similar program on disk. Pays .50 word for features, $300-$500 for departments on publication for 1st rights. Wants briefs of 100-200 words; features of 1000-2500 words. Has "Last Laugh" department, which uses quizzes and jokes. Website: http://www.girlslife.com.

North Light Books has a new address: 4700 E. Galbraith Rd, Cincinnati OH 45236. Acquisitions Editor now is Tricia Wadell. Her email is Tricia.Waddell@fwpubs.com.

E.M. Press in Warrenton VA is no longer accepting submissions. Writers who have not had a response from them can assume E.M. Press is not interested in their submissions.

Raven Tree Press, 200 S. Washington St., Ste 306, Green Bay WI 54301: Amy Crane Johnson, Editor. This publisher wants bilingual, English and Spanish, elementary and picture books for young readers to age 10. Nothing longer than 750 words because both languages appear on the same page. They only publish fiction. No early readers, chapter books or YA novels. Guidelines available online (see below). Likes to see the entire manuscript by regular mail only. Send a SASE. Pays by advance against royalties. Website: www.raventreepress.com.

Way to go, Barbara Cairns! Barbara was offered a contract from Penguin Putnam, with a good advance and royalties for a nonfiction book she's writing about Winslow Homer. (Barbara, I'm delighted to say, is in one of my fiction writing courses. I'd wager that she'll be getting contracts for her fiction soon, too!)

Another student, Jacki Kellum, won an Honorable Mention in the Writer's Digest Spring Contest! Jacki also asked if everyone who entered received honorable mentions and if they were worth receiving. The answers are no, not every entry gets mention at all, and yes, they are well worth receiving. The WD contests get many thousands of entries. Way to go for you, too, Jacki!

Geary Smith does plan to publish a book with First Books. He's checked out their work, as well as their prices, and is impressed.

to Shirley Ramaley who sold a story to Wee Ones. See the "Thank You" section for information about this online magazine Shirley also passed along.

and to ME…This is not a children's piece, but one of my articles, "The One That Got Sway," has been selected to appear in Chicken Soup for the Romantic Soul. This particular Chicken Soup edition will be available in bookstores by January 16, 2003.

CHECK OUT my classes for children's short story writers:

http://universalclass.com/arts/creativewriting/classes/2371.htm

and http://universalclass.com/arts/creativewriting/classes/3499.htm

WORKSHOPS:

If you read this early in the month, you might just get into the "by popular demand" Children's Authors' Bootcamp at the Radisson Hotel in Saddle Brook NJ (minutes from Manhattan) on November 9-10. Led by Children's Book Insider publisher Laura Backes and children's book author Linda Arms White, Bootcamp is two fun, intensive days of instruction on writing fiction for children of all ages. For more information, see www.WeMakeWriters.com, email CABootcamp@aol.com or call (303) 747-1014.

The Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop will be at The Big Sur Lodge in Pfeiffer State Park, CA on December 6-8. Weekend workshop designed for writers searching for insights into children's books or have a finished manuscript and want encouragement from an editor or agent. Agent Andrea Brown is Conference director. Speakers include well-known editors from numerous publishing houses. For more information, see www.henrymiller.org/CWW.html, email Magnus Toren at magnus@henrymiller.org or call (831) 667-2574.

Many thanks to Sally for the website and guidelines sight for Discovery Trails: http://www.radiantlife.org/pdf/dt_guidelines.pdf

and http://radiantlife.org/pdf/dt_themes.pdf

Shirley writes: "Hello. Highlights has asked for some changes on an article I submitted to them, and of course I will do so. In the letter the editor states that their maximum word count is 800 words, and I guess they really stick to that. While my submission is non-fiction, from the way the letter reads, I think they mean for fiction, too.

Shirley also wrote: Wee Ones was very happy I submitted a bibliography with my story. They plan on listing bibliographies from now on so the children can do some research of their own.

Thanks to Mary who reports that Surprises Magazine is no longer publishing

Thanks to Kathy who wrote that Explore! Magazine in Asheville NC is no longer publishing. Shirley also wrote that the link I had no longer works.

Thanks, Rachelle, for the link to Fact Master. It's part of Time for Kids. Check it out at www.factmonster.com.

The 21^st Annual Delacorte Press Contest for a First Young Adult Novel is open to US and Canadian writers who have not previously published a YA novel. Submission should be a book-length manuscript (100-224 typewritten pages) with a contemporary setting. Age aim is 12-18. Each manuscript needs a cover page listing the title of the novel, the author's name, address and phone number, and a note stating whether or not you wish the manuscript returned. The title should appear on every page, and a brief plot summary should be included with the submission. Type the manuscript, double-spaced using at least 10 point type, and number pages consecutively. If you don't want the manuscript back, send a business-sized SASE for notification. If you want your actual manuscript back, include SASE that is large enough (and has enough postage) to accommodate it. By entering the contest (up to two manuscripts, but not anything you've entered in one of their previous contests), you agree not to submit to other publishers while you’re the submission is under consideration for the prize. Keep a copy of all submissions. One $1500 cash prize along with a hardcover/paper book contract with a $6000 advance against royalties will be awarded. Manuscripts must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2002. Contest results will be announced by April 30, 2003. Send submissions to Delacorte Press Contest, Random House, Inc., 1540 Broadway, New York NY 10036.

If Vonni M. is a reader of the column, please go to Universal Classes and change your email. Everything

Geary wants someone to edit, take a close look, and critique the manuscript he will self-publish at First Books. It is based on his experience working with children through the church: Christian principles for successful living. If you have interested in this work, email Geary. Give your former critique/copyediting experiences, along with a price range for approx. 10,000 words. Geary's email is: Geary.Smith@mhmr.state.tx.us

Geary also would like to know about more contests. I list what I find, but expect other writers find ones I don't. Please share for all contest lovers. Thanks, in advance.

Note to letter writers: Thank you for your emails. I read them all and I try to answer as many varied questions as possible. I also have a backlog so it can take time. If I don't use your letter in the column within two months, it's for one of the following reasons. (A.) I've answered a very similar question in the past. Please check the FAQ section and the Archives. (most now available at http://www.odsys.net/bookbarn/Childmkt_Archives/. (B.) I no longer publish letters where I must do more than very minor grammar and spelling corrections. This includes the many letters I get where no capitalization is used. Editing letters takes too much time–and such letters hardly indicate a serious commitment to writing. Believe me, editors never take poorly constructed writing seriously! (C.) I do not critique writing and no longer respond to emails requesting such services.

Hi. This depends on the magazine. For some, it is a must, and I've noted theses as "religious emphasis required" or similar in market listings (here and on the master market list). This changes, though, at times so it's good to keep up with the actual magazines. And do watch rejection slips (yes, they are good for something!). Most have a check box if this is required and will check it.

Not all religious publications do require a specific religious emphasis. Some, like winner, which is distributed in public schools, actually reject religious emphasis material.

All children's magazines, religious or secular, do seek sound moral value. So mostly it's a matter of getting to know the markets--and keeping up with them once you have studied them.

Thanks for writing--and for letting me use this letter. (Sue is in one of my classes and sent the question to me through it. It seemed something a lot of writers might wish to know so I asked to use it here.)

Margaret

Dear Mbanefo:

I am not an agent. I just have an online column for writers who find their own markets. Books listed at www.writersdigest.com include at least one of various agents within the U.S. By subscribing to the Online Writers Market, which you can also find through the main site, you can find a number of agent listings as well. The online ones are updated as WD receives new information instead of just once a year.

Thanks for writing. I hope you can find someone who can help you.

Margaret

Hi, Chitra.

I think you can submit it either way. I know it's perfectly acceptable just to put (picture" after the word in the text. The magazine will have its own artist do the illustrations. I would also give a list of the words at the end of the story.

And thanks, Chitra (another student) for allowing me to use your class question in the column. It's another I'm sure many writers wonder about.

Margaret

Geary, I don't think either of them is accepting much of anything right now--and Child Life uses only reprints. The other Better Health Institute magazines (Jack & Jill, U.S. Kids, Humpty Dumpty, etc.) also are buying very little material just now. The current economic situation, I suppose. Children's Playmate is open to poetry and other very short material, I think, but I believe that's about all.

Most children's magazines do use health-related topics so I'd try your story elsewhere for now.

Margaret

And again from Geary:

Geary! It's highly positive. Really spend time doing what the editor requests and you could have a sale.

Actually, it's usual to have to rewrite quite a bit for any book publisher. And in answer to your later question about how you know when you've rewritten enough: It's a matter of judgment. Do try to do your best, put it aside for a week, read again and see if you still think it's enough. Then resubmit the piece. If you've at all lived up to the editor's hopes for the manuscript, he or she might well ask for still another rewrite. (Yeah. Writing can be work!)

You're getting close, though. Hang in there!

Margaret

Hi, Holly:

As I stated in my letter to you, I'm opening this one to reader feedback (HELP! all of you nice people.) My own opinion is that it's highly likely the woman who rejected the manuscript in the end was the same one who originally wrote a note to you. Often, editorial assistants do the first reading, and often the replies. Including many acceptances.

I've had this happen to me, too; shortening a story and then not having it work. A good number of times, though, I've managed to sell the shorter story elsewhere. And remember what the critiques were to keep in mind when you send another story to Discovery Trails.

As stated above, I would like reader opinions (and experiences at any magazine) about this one.

In the meantime, good luck with the story! Since you had encouragement on it once, you know it's worth submitting again. But elsewhere, I'd suggest.

Margaret

Hi, Lucy.

I wish I could be more helpful, but all I can do is recommend you read some of the books on marketing and also those written especially for people who wish to publish cookbooks. The Writer's Digest link given elsewhere in this column would be the place to start looking for books. At least find titles there. Then you might want to check www.amazon.com and www.half.com for used books. Only buy new marketing directories so they are up-to-date. Used books on general topics like cookbook writing can be just as useful as news ones. And some booksellers do ship out of the U.S. (Some are out of U.S. sellers, too.)

Best of luck! Ethnic cookbooks often tend to do well.

Margaret

NOVEMBER TIP:

My tip this month isn't really mine, but comes from a student in the plotting course. We do a section on how to study a magazine. I'm including Lynda Allison's study of three Carus group publications. She did a better job at this than the teacher does! Try doing the same things she does here with other magazines:

Lynda's study:

http://www.cricketmag.com/cgi-bin/cricket.cgi?tpl=/guidelines&session_id=10328966420863#ladybug

Ads

Ladybug has no ads. Carus Publishing’s Cricket Magazine Group publishes it 12 times a year. Subscriptions to this and other magazines from this publisher.

Actual pages done by children

Ladybug has no pages done by children. It does have a supplement for parents, which began as a smaller insert, grew to a magazine sized insert and is now online. The parents page provides tips for cooking, artwork, parent letters, book suggestions, artist profiles, music, activities and items to purchase. It indicates the emphasis on parental interactivity with child and magazine.

Requests made by the editor

There is no letter from the editor or requests made to children. Letters of opinion are requested from parents in answer to a question. For instance, "How do you help your preschooler deal with your absence?" and "What is your favorite summer backyard activity?"

Articles and fiction titles

"Max and Kate" - 65 word story - Max sleeps over at his friend, Kate’s house. When he can’t find his friend Mo, a stuffed moose, Kate share’s her stuffed duck with him.

"Ladybug" - Two line poem (web site listed for profile of author)

"Night-Night" - Eight line poem (eight words in Spanish)

"Night Eyes" - 600 word story - When a small opossum is confronted by the family dog, it pretends to be dead until the dog goes away and it can go home undetected. (possum game noted on website)

"Hush, Little Sister" - Eight line poem.

"Are You Sleeping" - Two verse song (tune on web site).

"The Box" - Twelve line poem (activities with boxes on web site).

"Bridget’s Box" - 500 word story - When her family gets a new washing machine, Bridget uses the box as a cave, a dollhouse and a car. After the rain ruins the box she notices that her neighbour gets a new appliance, she asks for the box. (article on pretending listed on web site)

"The Yellow School Bus" - Six line poem

"Uno, Dos Dogs" - Thirty line poem - concept poem on counting in Spanish

"Kitty’s Day" - Eight word poem - Action words with illustrations

"Mop and Family Midnight Commotion" - three page comic on taking care of a hamster when for a friend who is away

"My Shadow" - Three line poem - concept poem about counting backwards

"Counting Sheep" - cut out activity about counting

"Molly and Emmett" - one page comic - Molly naps on a rainy day and Emmett is stuck outside on the roof until she wakes up

Interests covered

Technique/structure/complexity

Typical reader

What reader wants to read

Stories - that incorporate concepts and daily issues faced by 2 - 6 year olds.

Dialogue/Narrative/mixture/viewpoint

Lots of dialogue in stories

Narrative is plot driven with lively characters

Told in past tense

POV child/animal

Third person present/past tense

Read to solve daily issues of a child/animal and to spur activity between child and parent.

Issue Themes

Night

Counting

Boxes/cages

Respect for reader

High level of respect for reader since they approach parenting from a philosophy of high involvement in child’s every day life.

http://www.cricketmag.com/cgi-bin/cricket.cgi?tpl=/guidelines&session_id=10328966420863#ladybug

Ads

Spider has no ads. It is published by Cares Publishing’s Cricket Magazine Group 12 times a year. Subscriptions to this and other magazines from this publisher.

Actual pages done by children

Spider’s Mailbox is like a letter to an editor page but is letters to Spider. Spider responds to questions. Spider’s Corner is pictures/poems/stories/essays by children on specified topics like "Something I Wish For", "A Special Gift", "New Year’s Resolution", Outside Spring activities…

Requests made by the editor

Requests made for submissions to Spider’s Mailbox and Spider’s Corner.

Articles and fiction titles

Spider’s Mailbox

"Kate’n Toady" - 500 words story with internal poem - Kate shares with Toady a story about a boy who loses his imagination and inspires Toady to use his imagination to see shapes in the clouds.

"Heads and Tails" - 7 match the tails to their owners

"A Girl Called Porkchop" - 900 word story - Jane asks everyone not to call her by her nickname, Porkchop" but it is not until they choose her nickname from a hat in a name the town draw that they consent to calling her Jane.

"Rosalinda’s Special Gift" - 1100 word story - Rosalinda wants to write an original story about her special gift so Miranda doesn’t call her a COPYCAT, so she writes her story about her special neighbour.

"’Fraidy Cat" - 8 line poem

"Make a Wish"- A play for two friends - A traveler encounters a genie of the rock that grants three wishes. The genie fears he’ll never get to go home since he can’t fulfill the wishes because he is untalented. As a last wish, the traveler that the genie would go home.

"Which Way Worm" - one page maze for a worm to reach the other side of the apple

"The Adventures of Lewis and Clark: Part 1: A Great Adventure Begins" - 750 words - First part of a non-fiction article on the journeys of Lewis and Clark to discover the west.

Spider’s Corner

"Ophelia’s Last Word" - Activity done by German children returning to school

Cricket Reading Club

"Make a Schultute" - Craft

"Arachnid Bros. And Bugum & Beatley Circus - find the items hidden in the picture

Bug comic across the bottom of the pages that comment on stories

Interests covered

Technique/structure/complexity

First person present/past tense.

Third person past tense

Child’s pov

Typical reader

a magazine for children ages 6 to 9 who enjoy reading, writing, using their imagination, discovering, like to ask questions, like to share comments

What reader wants to read

First person accounts of child issues and how obstacles overcome by child’s own initiative

Fiction and non fiction

Reader is worried driven by need to express them

Concern with what parents will say

Dialogue/Narrative/mixture/viewpoint

Lots of dialogue, much of it between children

Interesting use of names/nicknames

Non fiction written like an expanded journal of a historical journey

Issue Themes

No theme list.

Animal interest

Writing

Imagination

Child initiative to solve problems

Respect for reader

High respect for the reader due to my own love of reading, writing, arts, history, imagination, and child empowerment to solve issues.

http://www.cricketmag.com/cgi-bin/cricket.cgi?tpl=/guidelines&session_id=10328966420863#ladybug

Ads

Cricket has no ads. Carus Publishing’s Cricket Magazine Group publishes Cridket 12 times a year. Subscriptions to this and other magazines from this publisher.

Actual pages done by children

Letterbox - letters to Cricket

Art Contest - Drawings and paintings of imaginary bugs

Poetry Contest - Buildings or other structures that important to child/heroes/humourous poem about a remedy

Story Contest - Amazing creatures or monsters/musical instrument/

Favorite First Sentences - children send in favorite first sentences from books

Requests made by the editor

Letters to Cricket, entries for art, poetry and story contests, requests for favorite first sentences

Articles and fiction titles

"The Letterbox" - child letters to Cricket - no responses

"With the Flow" - 44 short line poem - working up a sweat playing basketball and cooling down with soda

"Carla Andangle" - 1,500 word story - When Carla falls down an old well while playing tag, she dangles, then falls but the whispers in the well bring her to the light.

"Suburban Swallows" - 5 line poem about birds playing basketball

"Playing to Win" - 1,500 word true life account - a young boy sports and becomes a pro tennis player despite too short arms and amputated leg plays

"Sidewalk Surfing" - 20 line poem - skateboarding

"Daniel’s Dig" - 1,200 word story - Daniel discovers Indian artifacts on the family farm and archeologists uncover an historic native town.

"Tumbleweeds" - 15 line poem

"Seneca Oil and Early America" - 500 word non fiction article on the role of Seneca Oil in early America

"Native American Fact Painting" - recipe for making Native American face paint

"A Boy, a Girl, and the Rainbow" - 1,000 word story of Native legend of how feathers in headdresses got their colour form the rainbow

"Roses After the Rain" - 4 line poem

"The Tale of A Ring" - 1,800 word - A Eastern myth about a young girl whose father curses her for not acknowledging him but finds relief through an antidote, her wedding band.

"Favorite First Sentences" - one page list of readers’ favourite sentences

"The Wicked King and His Good Son" - 1,000 word myth - A king who thinks he is God tries to destroy his son who believes in God but does not acknowledge the king as God. After three attempts he is unable to destroy his son. God deposes the king and replaces him with his son.

"Ugly Bird’s Royalty Crossword" Crossword puzzle.

"The Wise and Thoughtful King" - 800 word rags to riches story - A faithful servant is made king for a year. While he is king, he uses his authority to build a new home in preparation for his exile.

"Feast Cookies with Date Filling" - recipe

"Casting the Gods Adrift: Part 2" - 1,500 words - Part 2 of a boy with poor eye sight’s continuing journey. The boy sacrifices all he has in the temple is invited to stay with Pharaoh to sculpt.

"Cricket and Ladybug and Everybuggy" - comic strip across the bottom of the page

"Cricket League" - invitation to participate in poetry contest and poems from previous contest

"Old Cricket Says" - encourages children on a archeological dig in their home for treasures

"Cricket Reading Club" Book list of summer reading

Interests covered

Sports

Overcoming obstacles

Myth/legends

Native Americans

Spirituality

Technique/structure/complexity

Lively language more mature than Spider or Ladybug

Sophisticated telling of myths with many spiritual references

Typical reader

for readers ages 9 to 14

Sophisticated literate readers with interests in reading, writing, arts, sports and mythology

What reader wants to read

Retelling and original myths, legends

Sports related

Recipes, word activities, activities arising out of theme

Writing by children

Dialogue/Narrative/mixture/viewpoint

Issue Themes

No theme list available

Sports - basketball/tennis

Myths - Native American/Eastern/Greek

Royalty

Overcoming obstacles

Spirituality

Respect for reader

I am absolutely thrilled with this reader. Plays on many of my own interests that I would like to encourage in youth.

TO ORDER my complete 350+ Children's Writers magazine market list (paying markets ONLY; approx. 1/3 are Christian markets): send $5.00 for an email copy; $10.00 ($12.00 outside US) for print snail mail copy. If you cannot send funds drawn on an actual U.S.bank, please check if your country is eligible for PayPal (link below) or send an International Money order. PayPal is also acceptable from the U.S. and shipment will be same or next day. Please allow 7-10 days for snail mail; up to a month outside US. This list is updated whenever I get new information and is seldom exactly the same two days in a row. Margaret Shauers, 1411 12th Street, Great Bend KS 67530 USA.

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