Rhyme Doctors
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Fees
  • Contact
  • HOUSE CALLS

This section will not be visible in live published website. Below are your current settings (click inside this section to edit the settings):


Current Number Of Columns are = 2

Expand Posts Area = 1

Gap/Space Between Posts = 7px

Blog Post Style = card

Use of custom card colors instead of default colors =

Blog Post Card Background Color = current color

Blog Post Card Shadow Color = current color

Blog Post Card Border Color = current color

Publish the website and visit your blog page to see the results

Poetry Prescription: Alliteration

9/20/2022

0 Comments

 

​​It’s time for another blog post about the use of poetic devices in picture book writing. Today, we’ll take a look at the poetic device: Alliteration
 
Picture
Alliteration is the repetition of a sound at the beginning of words.
​Its effect:
- heightens the relationship between words
- adds a musical quality
​- captures a certain mood through repeated sounds


​Rhyme Doctor Patricia Toht uses alliteration to great advantage in her picture book, PICK A PUMPKIN (illustrated by Jarvis). Listen to the bouncy “p” sounds in her opening line . . .
 
Pick a pumpkin from the patch . . .

Patty’s “p” alliteration sets up a spirited and energetic mood for the pumpkin hunt!
​
Picture
 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​​My nonfiction book SWEET DREAMS, WILD ANIMALS (illustrated by Laurie Caple) uses rhyming stanzas to detail the different ways some animals fall asleep. Here is a line about the Magnificent Frigatebird:
 
This seabird soars high in the sky
She glides with grace and flair . . .

​
I use repeating “s” sounds to create a softer, peaceful mood to match the feeling of seeing a bird soaring in the air.
Picture
Take a look at the poetry collection FINDING TREASURE: A Collection of Collections by Rhyme Doctor Michelle Schaub (illustrated by Carmen Saldana). In the poem, “Whose Forgotten Treasures?” consider this stanza:
 
Stashed in the attic,
a small shadow box
holds rows of old keys
long lost from their locks.


​​I so enjoy the repeated “l” sounds in Michelle’s final line of the opening stanza. This use of alliteration adds a lilting mood to this piece celebrating old treasures discovered in the attic.
Picture
Picture


​Using alliteration adds a wonderful musical quality to your phrases and can also set the tone you wish to convey in your piece.

Do you have a poem or picture book in progress where you can utilize alliteration in a line or two? What type of mood would you like to create?  

​Poetic devices are a great tool in your writer’s toolbox. I’ll see you back here next month.
Happy writing!
 
by Eileen Meyer, Rhyme Doctor

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Hello from THE RHYME DOCTORS!
    We're expert picture book authors. We love providing critiques of rhyming and lyrical picture books. In this blog, we share poetry prescriptions, mentor text referrals, and occasion posts from visiting "doctors" to help you get your manuscript in tip-top shape! ​
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Fees
  • Contact
  • HOUSE CALLS