Books don’t start out in libraries. They start in a writer’s head. Slowly, word by word, the writer moves the book from idea to page. This summer, your child could have the same experience. She could write—and publish—a book of her own. Here are some tips on helping your child become an author:

• Make writing easy. Keep pencils and paper stashed around the house.
• Raise the idea. Say, “I’ll bet you could write a book. You’d have the whole summer to work on it.”
• Help your child think about the characters in the story. Have her pretend to be a character. Pretend you’re a reporter and interview her. “What do you look like? What clothes are you wearing? What do you like to do?” These questions will help her clarify the picture in her head.
• Publish the story she’s written. Type it on a computer. Have your child design a cover. Then put it in a folder or binder.

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