I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Children’s book copyright issues?

Asked by: Claire Scott

Can you read children book for YouTube?

YouTube “Read Aloud” Book Videos for Kids



So you don’t have to go digging, here is that list of suggested YouTube channels and playlists that provide videos of books being read aloud for children. Beyond these example, there are SO many more channels and playlists on YouTube with books being read aloud.

What childrens stories are public domain?

List of Public Domain (Free) Books for Kids, by Grade Level

Book Title Author Grade Level (approx.)
My Father’s Dragon Gannett, Ruth Stiles 4
The Velveteen Rabbit Williams, Margery 4
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Baum, L. Frank 5
The Adventures of Buster Bear Burgess, Thornton W. 5

Can I post a video of me reading a book?

The copyright owner has the exclusive right to make derivative works of their work. Likely reading a book aloud and showing the pages in video form – would be considered a derivative work. Someone can use another’s copyrighted work…

What to avoid in children’s books?

Here are three common mistakes to avoid when writing children’s books:

  • Making the moral of the story too transparent: Most children’s books contain lessons, however, they don’t spell them out right away. …
  • Lack of research on the publishing market: …
  • Overwriting in picture books:


Can I read books out loud on YouTube?


No. You can't the books are copyrighted.

Can I record myself reading a book?

Strictly speaking, it would be a violation of copyright law. You are essentially making a derivative work (an audio recording) of the original story.

What fairy tales are not copyrighted?

Most of the classic fairy tales that get turned into animated movies are based on works in the public domain, like Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid, and so many others. The stories of Jane Austen and William Shakespeare are freely available to adapt and remake.

Is Winnie the Pooh in the public domain?

The Unprotected Pooh



To give some background, Milne’s 1926 book is in the public domain, but changes to Winnie-the-Pooh, the character, from the original 1926 book are still under copyright protection.

Is there copyright on nursery rhymes?

Nursery rhymes do have copyright, although it may have expired in the case of many of the older rhymes. You should always check before performing or reproducing a nursery rhyme in public, especially for commercial purposes.

What should you not do when writing a book?

Avoid making common mistakes by following these writing tips:



  1. Don’t write sporadically. …
  2. Don’t ignore story structure. …
  3. Don’t second guess yourself. …
  4. Don’t abandon your first novel. …
  5. Don’t pigeon-hole your process. …
  6. Don’t start off slow. …
  7. Don’t switch POV. …
  8. Don’t create flat characters.

Why do children’s books have 32 pages?

Picture books are typically 32 pages because books are produced in page-count multiples of eight.

Are children’s books written in first person?

While picture books are still often told in an omniscient voice, books for older kids and YAs usually use either a first-person or a third-person limited point of view. When you write in the first person, you are telling the story in the voice of one of your characters, usually, but not always, the main character.

How do you write a successful children’s book?

These are the 12 steps to writing a children’s book.

  1. Find Your Best Idea.
  2. Develop Your Main Character.
  3. Write the Right Length.
  4. Start the Story Quickly.
  5. Figure Out the Main Problem.
  6. Use Repetition.
  7. Write for Illustrators.
  8. End the Story Quickly.

What is point of view in reading for kids?

Point of view is the narrator’s voice: first, second, or third person. If the narrator’s voice uses the words I, me, us, ours, it is usually the first person. Sometimes it’s a character in the story. When the writing puts YOU directly in the story, it’s called the second person point of view.

What books are in third person?

Kids’ Books with Third Person POV



  • Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel. …
  • Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. …
  • The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. …
  • The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. …
  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding. …
  • Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar. …
  • The Diviners by Libba Bray. …
  • The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.

What POV is Harry Potter written in?

third person limited point of view

Rowling wrote all seven Harry Potter books using a third person limited point of view that made Harry the focal point. The narrator can tell us what Harry’s thinking, feeling, and seeing—as well as zoom out to tell us more about the precarious situations he finds himself in.

How do you start off a book?

How to Write a Good Hook & Start Your Novel with a Bang!

  1. Startle readers with the first line. …
  2. Begin at a life-changing moment. …
  3. Create intrigue about the characters. …
  4. Use a setting as the inciting incident. …
  5. Up the stakes within the first few pages. …
  6. Introduce something ominous right away. …
  7. Set the mood.

Are there any books written in 2nd person?

“Bright Lights, Big City” by Jay McInerney was published and immediately took libraries and bookstores by storm. The novel is written in the second-person: in it, the main character – that is, you, the reader – tells his story in real-time.

Why do authors use 2nd person?

“The second person POV brings the reader closer to the narrator, making the reading experience more intimate and less detached. When the narrator turns the reader into one of the characters, the story feels immediate and surrounding.”



Is there a fourth person point of view?

The 4th person is a new emerging point-of-view. It is a group or collective perspective corresponding to “we” or “us”. A global top-down perspective. The 4th person functions as a collection of perspectives rather than a single objectivity.

What is 3rd person limited point of view?

What Is Third Person Limited? Third person limited point of view (or POV) is a narration style that gives the perspective of a single character. Most novels are written in one of two styles: First person, which involves a narrator who tells their story.

How do you know if a narrator is unreliable?

Signals of unreliable narration

  1. Intratextual signs such as the narrator contradicting himself, having gaps in memory, or lying to other characters.
  2. Extratextual signs such as contradicting the reader’s general world knowledge or impossibilities (within the parameters of logic)
  3. Reader’s literary competence.




Can first and third person mix?

There is no rule that says that all parts of a story must be written in the same POV. Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling novel Dragonfly in Amber mixed first person and third person POV throughout the story. The reader was never confused. And that’s what matters — you want your reader to never be confused.

Can you have dialogue in third person limited?

1. Use tone in limited third person narration to show feelings. Third person limited POV works well for showing how others’ actions impact your viewpoint character. Because you can only share what your viewpoint character knows or guesses, other characters’ actions keep all of their mystery.

What are the 4 types of point of view?

In order of how common they are, the 4 most common types of point of view include:

  • Third-person, including: Third-person limited point of view. Third-person omniscient point of view.
  • First-person point of view.
  • Second-person point of view.


Is Harry Potter third-person limited or omniscient?

third person limited



Harry Potter is written in third person limited, with almost all of the action from Harry’s perspective (except for the first chapter in the first book, which is third person omniscient).

Children’s book copyright issues?

Asked by: Claire Scott

Can you read children book for YouTube?

YouTube “Read Aloud” Book Videos for Kids



So you don’t have to go digging, here is that list of suggested YouTube channels and playlists that provide videos of books being read aloud for children. Beyond these example, there are SO many more channels and playlists on YouTube with books being read aloud.

What childrens stories are public domain?

List of Public Domain (Free) Books for Kids, by Grade Level

Book Title Author Grade Level (approx.)
My Father’s Dragon Gannett, Ruth Stiles 4
The Velveteen Rabbit Williams, Margery 4
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Baum, L. Frank 5
The Adventures of Buster Bear Burgess, Thornton W. 5

Can I post a video of me reading a book?

The copyright owner has the exclusive right to make derivative works of their work. Likely reading a book aloud and showing the pages in video form – would be considered a derivative work. Someone can use another’s copyrighted work…

What to avoid in children’s books?

Here are three common mistakes to avoid when writing children’s books:

  • Making the moral of the story too transparent: Most children’s books contain lessons, however, they don’t spell them out right away. …
  • Lack of research on the publishing market: …
  • Overwriting in picture books:


Can I read books out loud on YouTube?


No. You can't the books are copyrighted.

Can I record myself reading a book?

Strictly speaking, it would be a violation of copyright law. You are essentially making a derivative work (an audio recording) of the original story.

What fairy tales are not copyrighted?

Most of the classic fairy tales that get turned into animated movies are based on works in the public domain, like Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid, and so many others. The stories of Jane Austen and William Shakespeare are freely available to adapt and remake.

Is Winnie the Pooh in the public domain?

The Unprotected Pooh



To give some background, Milne’s 1926 book is in the public domain, but changes to Winnie-the-Pooh, the character, from the original 1926 book are still under copyright protection.

Is there copyright on nursery rhymes?

Nursery rhymes do have copyright, although it may have expired in the case of many of the older rhymes. You should always check before performing or reproducing a nursery rhyme in public, especially for commercial purposes.

What should you not do when writing a book?

Avoid making common mistakes by following these writing tips:



  1. Don’t write sporadically. …
  2. Don’t ignore story structure. …
  3. Don’t second guess yourself. …
  4. Don’t abandon your first novel. …
  5. Don’t pigeon-hole your process. …
  6. Don’t start off slow. …
  7. Don’t switch POV. …
  8. Don’t create flat characters.

Why do children’s books have 32 pages?

Picture books are typically 32 pages because books are produced in page-count multiples of eight.

Are children’s books written in first person?

While picture books are still often told in an omniscient voice, books for older kids and YAs usually use either a first-person or a third-person limited point of view. When you write in the first person, you are telling the story in the voice of one of your characters, usually, but not always, the main character.

How do you write a successful children’s book?

These are the 12 steps to writing a children’s book.

  1. Find Your Best Idea.
  2. Develop Your Main Character.
  3. Write the Right Length.
  4. Start the Story Quickly.
  5. Figure Out the Main Problem.
  6. Use Repetition.
  7. Write for Illustrators.
  8. End the Story Quickly.

What is point of view in reading for kids?

Point of view is the narrator’s voice: first, second, or third person. If the narrator’s voice uses the words I, me, us, ours, it is usually the first person. Sometimes it’s a character in the story. When the writing puts YOU directly in the story, it’s called the second person point of view.

What books are in third person?

Kids’ Books with Third Person POV



  • Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel. …
  • Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. …
  • The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. …
  • The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. …
  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding. …
  • Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar. …
  • The Diviners by Libba Bray. …
  • The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.

What POV is Harry Potter written in?

third person limited point of view

Rowling wrote all seven Harry Potter books using a third person limited point of view that made Harry the focal point. The narrator can tell us what Harry’s thinking, feeling, and seeing—as well as zoom out to tell us more about the precarious situations he finds himself in.

How do you start off a book?

How to Write a Good Hook & Start Your Novel with a Bang!

  1. Startle readers with the first line. …
  2. Begin at a life-changing moment. …
  3. Create intrigue about the characters. …
  4. Use a setting as the inciting incident. …
  5. Up the stakes within the first few pages. …
  6. Introduce something ominous right away. …
  7. Set the mood.

Are there any books written in 2nd person?

“Bright Lights, Big City” by Jay McInerney was published and immediately took libraries and bookstores by storm. The novel is written in the second-person: in it, the main character – that is, you, the reader – tells his story in real-time.

Why do authors use 2nd person?

“The second person POV brings the reader closer to the narrator, making the reading experience more intimate and less detached. When the narrator turns the reader into one of the characters, the story feels immediate and surrounding.”



Is there a fourth person point of view?

The 4th person is a new emerging point-of-view. It is a group or collective perspective corresponding to “we” or “us”. A global top-down perspective. The 4th person functions as a collection of perspectives rather than a single objectivity.

What is 3rd person limited point of view?

What Is Third Person Limited? Third person limited point of view (or POV) is a narration style that gives the perspective of a single character. Most novels are written in one of two styles: First person, which involves a narrator who tells their story.

How do you know if a narrator is unreliable?

Signals of unreliable narration

  1. Intratextual signs such as the narrator contradicting himself, having gaps in memory, or lying to other characters.
  2. Extratextual signs such as contradicting the reader’s general world knowledge or impossibilities (within the parameters of logic)
  3. Reader’s literary competence.




Can first and third person mix?

There is no rule that says that all parts of a story must be written in the same POV. Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling novel Dragonfly in Amber mixed first person and third person POV throughout the story. The reader was never confused. And that’s what matters — you want your reader to never be confused.

Can you have dialogue in third person limited?

1. Use tone in limited third person narration to show feelings. Third person limited POV works well for showing how others’ actions impact your viewpoint character. Because you can only share what your viewpoint character knows or guesses, other characters’ actions keep all of their mystery.

What are the 4 types of point of view?

In order of how common they are, the 4 most common types of point of view include:

  • Third-person, including: Third-person limited point of view. Third-person omniscient point of view.
  • First-person point of view.
  • Second-person point of view.


Is Harry Potter third-person limited or omniscient?

third person limited



Harry Potter is written in third person limited, with almost all of the action from Harry’s perspective (except for the first chapter in the first book, which is third person omniscient).