“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
Active and passive voice are two voices used in writing, each with its purpose and impact on the reader. Active voice focuses on the subject of the sentence and emphasizes its effects. The subject performs an action when a sentence is written in an active voice. Passive voice focuses on the object of the sentence and its impact.
Activate voice refers to sentences that use the subject to perform the action described by the verb. For example, “The boy kicked the ball.” Passive voice, on the other hand, is when the subject of the sentence receives the action described by the verb. For example, “The ball was kicked by the boy.”
In children’s literature, active voice is often preferred as it is more direct and easy for young readers to understand. It also helps to create a sense of action and movement, making the story more engaging for young readers. Additionally, an active voice can make the story feel more immediate and personal, helping to connect the reader to the characters and events.
When using active voice in children’s literature, it’s essential to choose solid and action-packed verbs that convey the action taking place. For example, “The boy ran to the store” is more engaging than “The boy walked to the store.” Additionally, the use of action words that are familiar to children, such as “jump,” “run,” “play,” and “sing,” can help them understand the story better.
Another excellent example of the active voice from Where The Wild Things Are is, “Max tamed the wild things and made them his pets.” This sentence brings the story alive, with Max performing the action of taming the wild things and making them his pets.
Writing in an active voice is essential for effective communication. It allows you to clarify your point and inject energy and movement into your writing. However, there are times when the passive voice is more suitable for conveying the desired message—knowing when to use which voice is critical when writing.
Passive voice can be used effectively in certain situations in children’s literature. For example, when describing a setting or an object, it can be helpful to use passive voice to create a sense of detachment and objectivity. For example, “The house was surrounded by a white picket fence” is more effective than “A white picket fence surrounded the house.” This can be useful for providing background information or describing a setting without drawing attention away from the story’s main action.
It’s also important to remember that too much use of passive voice can make a story feel less entertaining and boring. Additionally, when using passive voice, it is essential to be careful with the help of “to be” verb forms such as “is” and “was,” as they can make the sentence sound weak and passive.
Active voice is generally preferred in children’s literature as it creates a sense of action and movement, making the story more engaging for young readers. However, passive voice can be used effectively in certain situations, such as describing a setting or emphasizing the receiver of the action. It’s essential to use solid and action-packed verbs and familiar words for children and avoid using too much passive voice, making the story slow and tedious.