It's a 'guided journal' which features twenty authors for young people.
They are all well-known and cover a variety of genres. You'll get to read about their writing styles and inspiration, and learn what made them unique.
With Dr Seuss, for example, you'll learn how he used rhyme and repetition, and how he was challenged to write an un-put-down-able book for children with a limited list of words.
Other authors include: A A Milne with his succinct dialogue; Roald Dahl and his inventive characters and verse; and Eoin Colfer and his 'modern fairy tales' and strong characters.
With the information about each author comes a series of short writing exercises that relate to that author's style. For J K Rowling, you are encouraged to write a speech that the headmaster could give to the new students at Hogwarts, a wizard's biography in only 123 words, a list of homework tasks for a school specialising in magic, and a description of two characters of your own encountering and overcoming something (or someone) blocking their path.
The Children's Writer's Notebook is hardcover and includes plenty of space for writing. It is a notebook after all.
You'll get to work on developing your characters, dialogue, fantasy worlds and other settings, rhymes, opening lines and even recipes, amongst other things. Not to mention your imagination.
There are 70 writing exercises in total. More than enough to keep you going for quite some time.
Children, parents and teachers will all find valuable advice and ideas in the Children's Writer's Notebook, whatever their level of experience. Right now, I should get back to my own writing!
Title: Children's Writer's Notebook
Author: Wes Magee
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: January 2018
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760295080
For ages: 8+
Type: Non Fiction
