Comics Are Great! 58 – Writing for Kids
June 16, 2012 by Jerzy Drozd
Filed under CAG Podcast, News, Podcasts
Whether or not one should make any special considerations when writing for kids is a topic that goes round and round on the twitters. Is it better to shield young people from the difficulties and terrors of adulthood, or should we be preparing kids for this? Are there advantages to both?
It’s a philosophical episode with a packed house of panelists as we’re joined by Dave Carter, Paul Storrie, Sharon Iverson, and Brandon Dayton. Brandon helps frame the discussion by presenting two popular models in kids’ storytelling: the Disney Model and the Pixar Model. Pinocchio gets his wish, while Buzz Lightyear learns to reconcile with a disappointing truth. Together we evaluate the differences between these models and what their strengths and weaknesses are, with plenty of interaction in the chat client!
Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting them!):
- Ed Catmull talks storytelling (video)
- Maurice Sendak talks storytelling (video)
- Maurice Sendak on the Colbert Report
- Vogons
- Kid Devil and KD jumps through a hoop
- The Legend of Korra
- Pinocchio
- Toy Story
- The Uses of Enchantment
- The Frog Prince
- Grave of the Fireflies
- Up
- The Graveyard Book
- University of Michigan’s Coursera online classes
- Pablum
- Megatron
- Game of Thrones
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Commando
- Serenity
- Dave Roman
- The Kids’ Comics Revolution podcast
- The Kids Read Comics Librarian/Educator/Cartoonist mixer, July 8 at 10:30 am
Comics and Book Recommendations:
Upcoming Events and Appearances:
Here’s the video from this episode’s live stream (audio player at the bottom of this post):
Live streams every other Wednesday at Comicsaregreat.tv!
Audio hosting provided by Ka-Blam Digital Printing. This episode was recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library.
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Thanks for having this episode. For the last ten years I have attempted to write a children’s book, picture book or poems, and I have been unable to generate my thoughts into what I wanted to give the world in a book. I will not give up. I am still writing from time to time. It will be simple and your comments on the sensitivity around what we create maybe from our inner child to give to the world-even if its for families and children- can be filtered, interpreted, judged, embraced, fail or succeed. When is dark and death appropriate? Does fantasy disorient the child? With us big people trying to social reference as best we can given the art and words coming from those who are able to generate, it is like moving on a mental tightrope. Not necessarily dangerous but worth a slow move each time. I like to think the best thing to give anybody, young or old, is a box of crayons and the radio. Just to listen, move, and draw is always a good start. Maybe the best thing we can all do is forgive, learn, create, and expect by doing this the place we want our work, and our childrens attention and focus to rest, will just present itself. Not we are all up against anything more like a series of mental suggestions and decisions that our faith, talent, prayers, motivation, circumstances and humor lead us through with a real effort on our part to do our best. Period. And that our best, highest good self, will meet what can help us protect our children, feed our artsy self, and just enjoy what is possible when the only outcome we agree upon is delight. Thanks for having Dave Carter on again.
Great show– I agree with the love for Manga Studio, and am using it for my newest graphic novel.
I always love discussions on the original Grimm’s tales, and thought this was a perfect place to discuss this.
Also, Paul Storrie is a treat!