When looking at picture books for children, what is the difference between a "concept" book and "contemporary"

Question

I'm working on submitting a manuscript for a picture book for children ages 4-8. It is a work of fiction, and tells the story of a little girl who learns how to manage her feelings of frustration in an appropriate way (versus hitting, throwing things, etc.) I've found conflicting definitions in various publishing books I'm reading, and want to be sure which subject my book falls into before I start researching which publishers to submit it to. Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

I am also a budding picture book author. From what I understand, it can sometimes be difficult placing your book into a particular "genre" of picture book. The following website states that concept books are books that teach a concrete skill, ie colors, numbers, shapes, etc.
http://www.write4kids.com/colum44.html

And.... I think contemporary fiction deals with a particular issue that can be considered current, ie race relations, homosexuality, etc.

Looking at these two choices, I would think your idea falls into the contemporary category.

I wish you the best of luck. Never give up on your idea or your dream!

Answer 2

If it's a work of fiction telling the story of a little girl learning how to manage her feelings, it is NOT a concept book.

A concept book is nonfiction, helping a child, usually a very young child, understand a basic idea, or concept, like shapes, colors,and the like. Concept books usually are classified along with ABC books, counting books, and the like as books for very young children. The classic concept book is Push, Pull, Empty, Full: A Book of Opposites by Tana Hoban. Her other titles include Shapes and Things; Over, Under, and Through; Circles, Triangles, and Squares; Dig, Drill, Dump, Fill; and Panda, Panda.

Hoban, a photographer and the sister of author Russell Hoban, has produced some fifty concept books, illustrated with her dramatic photographs. For more information on her and other examples of her concept books, see

http://bccb.lis.uiuc.edu/0702true.html

If the little girl in your story is a present-day child, it is contemporary fiction. If she were to be a child from the long ago, it would be historical fiction. If she were to live in a world of magic or the future, it would be fantasy or science fiction. Many, many more contemporary story books are published each year than concept books. Some publishers/libraries have subcategories of contemporary stories, according to topic, ethnic background of the characters, or intended purpose/audience. From your description, your book might be "moral" fiction that would be published by a religious or church-related publisher. However, if the emphasis is on the character of the child and her story, the moral probably will be unstated (implied) or subtly developed.

Good luck in your quest for an appropriate publisher!

Answer 3

contemporary is someone else's threads

a concept is totally ideas

x x x