How I Write Tish Rabe: How to Write Children’s Books | How I Write
Tish Rabe, a veteran children’s author behind 200-plus books for Sesame Street, Disney, and Dr. Seuss, shares how she builds stories from the ending backward. She talks rhythm, rhyme, and Seuss-style meter. She explores why animal characters click, how page turns shape momentum, and how facts, feelings, and fun can live in the same book.
01:26:06
Research For Kids Then Simplify Again
- For educational books, research through children's materials first, then simplify again without losing factual accuracy.
- Tish Rabe built Seuss science books from library research, then rewrote facts like dusty Mars into rhyme and even reworked Pluto when the science changed.
Use Back Matter To Extend The Book's Job
- Add practical back matter when a book serves a real community need, not just a story need.
- Tish Rabe's Central Park book includes visitor routes, conservation tips, and a thank-you to the Conservancy so families know both what to see and how to behave.
The Business Runs On Longevity And Rights
- Children's book economics depend on volume, long shelf life, and unexpected rights income more than high unit prices.
- Tish Rabe gets some flat fees and some royalties, and decades later Paramount still paid to reuse her Turtle Christmas song in a movie trailer.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
From Sesame Street to 200 Books
01:55 • 3min
Why She Writes the Ending First
04:40 • 5min
Hooking Kids With Character and Age
09:43 • 3min
Editing for Rhythm, Names, and Readability
12:41 • 3min
Last Pages Leave the Lasting Impression
15:50 • 3min
Why Animals Work Better Than People
19:13 • 6min
Making Readers Care Fast
25:04 • 3min
Words First, Then Art Direction
28:05 • 1min
Opening Pages Need Familiar Momentum
29:28 • 2min
Pure Rhymes, Slant Rhymes, and Seuss Meter
31:25 • 3min
Writing Through the Child’s Eyes
34:08 • 4min
Books Can Grow Into Beloved Series
38:33 • 4min
Hopeful Stories With Real-World Use
42:37 • 2min
Covers Guide the Reader’s Eye
45:04 • 5min
Rhyming as Constraint and Play
49:49 • 7min
Teaching Facts Without Losing Story
56:47 • 6min
How the Children’s Book Business Works
01:03:07 • 6min
Creative Confidence Beats Preciousness
01:08:54 • 12min
Translation Risks and Timeless Books
01:20:44 • 5min
#76116
Fine Feathered Friends
All About Birds
Tish Rabe
Dick and Sally join the Cat in the Hat on a bird-watching tour around the world, learning about various birds like bee hummingbirds, ostriches, flycatchers, chickadees, bald eagles, ducks, and penguins.
The book covers bird characteristics such as beaks, tails, wings, feathers, legs, eggs, and eyelids, presented in Dr. Seuss’s beloved rhyming style with engaging illustrations.
It includes facts like how chickadees got their name, penguin parenting, and whooping crane dances, plus an index, glossary, and learning suggestions.
#50448
Sweet Dreams Ahead Time For Bed
Time for Bed
Tish Rabe
This restful book features adorable animals illustrated by Gill Guile, an easy-to-sing lullaby, and practical tips for parents to establish a calming bedtime routine.
Written by grandmother Tish Rabe in partnership with organizations like Beyond Bedtime and Pajama Program, it promotes healthy sleep habits for young children to learn and grow.
Available in English and Spanish editions.
#72800
I Believe Bunny
I Believe Bunny
Tish Rabe
In this rhyming story, the I Believe Bunny thanks God for his home but stays out in the rain to rescue a drowning mouse who can't swim.
Realizing he's too small alone, he prays and God sends his friends—squirrel, skunk, and raccoon—to help save the day.
Inspired by Philippians 4:13, the book teaches children about faith, putting belief into action, never giving up, and God's help in times of need.
#50361
Elmo's First Sleepover
Tish Rabe
My First Sleepover is a 2007 Sesame Street book and CD set that follows Elmo as he experiences his first sleepover at his grandparents' house.
The CD features read-along narration by Emily Bindiger, helpful tips for sleeping away from home, and original music by Mike Levesque with lyrics by Tish Rabe.
Sesame Street commissioned Tish Rabe to write the song 'Just One Moon' to accompany the book.
#67113
We Wish You a Turtle Christmas
We Wish You A Turtle Christmas
Tish Rabe
This bizarre holiday-themed direct-to-VHS musical special from 1994 stars the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in live-action suits from the 'Coming Out of Their Shells' tour.
Written by Tish Rabe, it includes songs like 'We Wish You a Turtle Christmas' (a parody of 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'), 'Deck the Halls with Pepperoni', and 'The Twelve Awesome Days of Christmas'.
The story involves the Turtles trying to find the perfect gift for Splinter while spreading holiday cheer in New York City.
#51935
There's No Place Like Space
The Cat in the Hat Learning Library
Aristides Ruiz
Tish Rabe
Join the Cat in the Hat, Thing One, and Thing Two on a whirlwind tour of the solar system, learning key facts about the eight planets, the sun, moon, constellations, and astronauts.
Written in Dr. Seuss's beloved rhyming style with vibrant illustrations, this revised edition reflects Pluto's reclassification as a dwarf planet.
Perfect for young readers, it includes a glossary, index, and sparks curiosity about space.
#99762
Huff and Puff Have Too Much Stuff!
Huff and Puff
Tish Rabe
Huff pulls the train and Puff pushes it as they collect big and small stuff until they are so full they can't move.
A farmer named Fluff comes along with a brilliant idea to use all the stuff on his farm.
With simple rhymes by Tish Rabe and vibrant illustrations by Gill Guile, this My First I Can Read book is perfect for shared reading and train lovers.
#106931
Is a camel a mammal?
Tish Rabe
In this engaging book from the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library, the Cat takes Dick and Sally on a Seussian safari to explore mammals worldwide.
It covers key mammal traits like warm blood, hair or fur, live birth, and milk for young, featuring diverse examples such as camels, kangaroos, shrews, bats, chimpanzees, and blue whales.
With rhymes and illustrations, it answers 'Is a camel a mammal?
' while highlighting where mammals live, what they eat, and unique adaptations.
#2566
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
The book narrates the journey of an unnamed protagonist, representing the reader, as he leaves town and travels through various landscapes and places.
The story includes encounters with successes, setbacks, and places like 'The Waiting Place,' where everyone is waiting for something to happen.
The narrative emphasizes the importance of resilience and adaptability, concluding on a positive note with the protagonist confidently moving forward.
#22719
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Sometimes a Part Always in My Heart
Tish Rabe
#23725
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Sleep Book
Dr Seuss
Dr.
Seuss's Sleep Book is a classic children's tale that follows the journey of various creatures as they prepare for sleep.
The story begins with a small bug named Van Vleck, whose yawn sets off a chain reaction, putting countless creatures to sleep.
The book is filled with Dr. Seuss's signature rhymes and imaginative illustrations, making it a delightful bedtime read for children.
#4891
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The Cat in the Hat
Dr.Suess
The story follows the Cat in the Hat, a tall anthropomorphic cat in a red and white-striped top hat and a red bow tie, who visits two children, Sally and her brother, on a rainy day when their mother is away.
Despite the objections of their pet fish, the Cat shows the children various tricks and introduces his companions, Thing One and Thing Two, causing chaos in the house.
However, just before the mother returns, the Cat cleans up the mess using a machine.
The book is known for its simple vocabulary, basic rhyme, and colorful illustrations, making it a favorite among children and parents alike.
#540
• Mentioned in 62 episodes
The Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum
Daisy Alberto
This Stepping Stone edition of 'The Wizard of Oz' is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic story, tailored for first chapter book readers.
The book includes art from the original 'Wizard of Oz' and follows the journey of Dorothy as she is carried by a cyclone from a Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz, where she meets the Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion.
#9789
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Horton Hears a Who!
Dr Seuss
In this classic children's book, Horton the Elephant hears a tiny voice coming from a speck of dust and discovers that it is home to a community called Whoville, inhabited by microscopic creatures known as the Whos.
Despite facing opposition from other jungle creatures, Horton is determined to protect the Whos, emphasizing the importance of kindness, compassion, and the belief that 'a person is a person no matter how small.
' The story follows Horton's adventures as he battles to save Whoville from harm and ultimately proves the existence of the Whos to the other animals in the jungle.
#32266
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Oh, the Pets You Can Get!
All About Our Animal Friends (Cat in the Hat's Lrning Libry)
Tish Rabe
In this charming book from the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library, the Cat in the Hat takes readers to Gerpletz to meet various pets like cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, canaries, and parakeets, teaching how to care for them properly.
Featuring engaging Seussian rhymes, zany illustrations, an index, glossary, and suggestions for further learning, it's perfect for story time and young readers aged 4-8.
#26104
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Bert and the Broken Teapot
Tish Rabe
Bert and the Broken Teapot is a children's book written by Tish Rabe for Sesame Street.
The book was created early in Rabe's career as she began her work in children's media during the 1980s.
#33559
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Kindness is Caring, Friendship is Sharing
A Book for Children Worldwide
Tish Rabe
This beautifully illustrated story for children ages 4-7 follows Amani, a little zebra on the African plains, as she learns the values of kindness, empathy, and friendship.
Created in partnership with Rotary, it incorporates the Four-Way Test, includes an original sing-along song, and introduces Rotary's mission to young families while promoting literacy and community service.
The book aims to inspire young readers to make the world a kinder, gentler place.
#2037
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight Moon is a timeless children's book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd.
The story follows a young bunny as it prepares for bed, saying goodnight to all the objects in its green-walled bedroom.
The book features a rhyming poem and detailed illustrations that capture the bunny's bedtime ritual, gradually transitioning from a lit room to a darkened one as the moon glows outside.
The narrative is simple yet effective, creating a cozy and rhythmic bedtime journey that has delighted children and parents alike for generations.
The book is notable for its focus on the minutiae of a child's surroundings and its ability to induce a sense of comfort and security.
#3996
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Eric Carle.
The story follows a tiny caterpillar that hatches from an egg and begins eating through various foods each day of the week.
After overeating on Saturday, the caterpillar gets a stomachache but feels better after eating a green leaf on Sunday.
The caterpillar then builds a cocoon and emerges as a beautiful butterfly.
The book incorporates elements of early childhood education, including counting, days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly.
It is known for its iconic collage artwork and educational content.
This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com
Tish Rabe has written more than 200 children's books. She's written for Disney and Sesame Street, and also after Dr. Seuss died in the early 90s, she started writing Dr. Seuss books. When she did, she really leaned into his distinct style.
So I said, "You've been doing this for 40 years now. Can you teach me what you know about writing stories, bringing characters to life, rhythm and rhyme, and that unique flow that Dr. Seuss books are so famous for?"
Beyond the tactics, this conversation will help you lighten up a bit and have a lot more fun with your writing. About the host Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. Follow me Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv X: https://x.com/david_perell
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