Rhyming...To Do or not to do...that is the question

Want To Rhyme?

Read Time: 2 minutes

My second picture book will be published in 2026. I'll be 56.I didn’t set out to write a rhyming picture book. In fact, I was hoping it wouldn’t rhyme at all.

Why?

Because writing a rhyming picture book that uses "true" rhyme is a tricky beast. ("True" rhymes match both the ending sound and the final stressed syllable (e.g., cat / hat, not cat / back).)

What do I mean?

Many of us can rhyme: the dog thought he was a cat, put on a hat and begged for a pat.

But...It’s not just about matching syllables or making sure the ends of lines rhyme. You also need to get the stress and emphasis of each word just right. That means identifying the meter of your story and choosing a rhyme scheme like AABB or ABAB, for example, that supports the rhythm.

In terms of language, use words children can understand, but don’t shy away from introducing new and exciting vocabulary. I always like to push the envelope in this department as children are much more clever than many of us give them credit for.

There are a few websites I found that had many rhyming words which helped me, not only find certain words, but also expanded my creativity and gave me ideas.

And while you’re doing all that… you still have to tell the story you actually want to tell. Story always comes first. If your story is not fulfilling, readers won't come back to read your book over and over, which is what you want.

I drove myself a bit mad trying to do it all but it was worth it.

Let Me Be Me will be available next spring for purchase.

Moral of the story: if your story insists on being in rhyme go for it…but brace yourself for a little frustration:)

To recap:

• Never sacrifice rhyme for story.

• Use a variety of words and phrases.

• Use a number of rhyming word websites.

• Hire an editor who specializes in rhyming books to help if needed.

• Revise a lot!

 Keep writing and keep creating!

Sam

Coming Spring 2026!