diff --git a/macros/src/lib.rs b/macros/src/lib.rs
index bfef96c..e58a081 100644
--- a/macros/src/lib.rs
+++ b/macros/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,26 @@ extern crate proc_macro;
 
 use pom::combinator::*;
 use pom::{Error, Parser};
-use proc_macro2::{Group, Ident, Literal, TokenStream, TokenTree};
+use proc_macro2::{Group, Ident, Literal, Punct, Span, TokenStream, TokenTree};
 use quote::quote;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
+fn required_children(element: &str) -> &[&str] {
+    match element {
+        "html" => &["head", "body"],
+        "head" => &["title"],
+        _ => &[],
+    }
+}
+
+fn global_attrs(span: Span) -> HashMap<Ident, TokenStream> {
+    let mut attrs = HashMap::new();
+    let mut insert = |key, value: &str| attrs.insert(Ident::new(key, span), value.parse().unwrap());
+    insert("id", "crate::elements::CssId");
+    insert("class", "crate::elements::CssClass");
+    attrs
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone)]
 enum Node {
     Element(Element),
@@ -19,8 +35,8 @@ impl Node {
     fn into_token_stream(self) -> TokenStream {
         match self {
             Node::Element(el) => el.into_token_stream(),
-            Node::Text(_) => panic!("top level must be an element"),
-            Node::Block(_) => panic!("top level must be an element"),
+            Node::Text(text) => quote!(typed_html::elements::TextNode::new(#text.to_string())),
+            Node::Block(_) => panic!("cannot have a block in this position"),
         }
     }
 
@@ -29,16 +45,19 @@ impl Node {
             Node::Element(el) => {
                 let el = el.into_token_stream();
                 quote!(
-                    element.append_child(#el);
+                    element.children.push(Box::new(#el));
+                )
+            }
+            tx @ Node::Text(_) => {
+                let tx = tx.into_token_stream();
+                quote!(
+                    element.children.push(Box::new(#tx));
                 )
             }
-            Node::Text(tx) => quote!(
-                element.append_child(typed_html::Node::Text(#tx.to_string()));
-            ),
             Node::Block(group) => quote!({
                 let iter = #group.into_iter();
                 for child in iter {
-                    element.append_child(child);
+                    element.children.push(Box::new(child));
                 }
             }),
         }
@@ -47,13 +66,13 @@ impl Node {
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 struct Element {
-    name: String,
-    attributes: HashMap<String, TokenTree>,
+    name: Ident,
+    attributes: HashMap<Ident, TokenTree>,
     children: Vec<Node>,
 }
 
 impl Element {
-    fn new(name: String) -> Self {
+    fn new(name: Ident) -> Self {
         Element {
             name,
             attributes: HashMap::new(),
@@ -61,19 +80,54 @@ impl Element {
         }
     }
 
-    fn into_token_stream(self) -> TokenStream {
+    fn into_token_stream(mut self) -> TokenStream {
         let name = self.name;
-        let keys: Vec<_> = self.attributes.keys().cloned().collect();
+        let name_str = name.to_string();
+        let typename = Ident::new(&format!("Element_{}", &name_str), name.span());
+        let req_names = required_children(&name_str);
+        if req_names.len() > self.children.len() {
+            panic!(
+                "<{}> requires {} children but found only {}",
+                name_str,
+                req_names.len(),
+                self.children.len()
+            );
+        }
+        let keys: Vec<_> = self
+            .attributes
+            .keys()
+            .map(|key| Ident::new(&format!("attr_{}", key), key.span()))
+            .collect();
         let values: Vec<TokenTree> = self.attributes.values().cloned().collect();
-        let children = self.children.into_iter().map(Node::into_child_stream);
+        let opt_children = self
+            .children
+            .split_off(req_names.len())
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(Node::into_child_stream);
+        for (index, child) in self.children.iter().enumerate() {
+            match child {
+                Node::Element(_) => (),
+                _ => panic!(
+                    "child #{} of {} must be a {} element",
+                    index + 1,
+                    &name,
+                    req_names[index]
+                ),
+            }
+        }
+        let req_children = self.children.into_iter().map(Node::into_token_stream);
         quote!(
             {
-                let mut element = typed_html::Element::new(#name);
+                let mut element = typed_html::elements::#typename::new(
+                    #({ #req_children }),*
+                );
                 #(
-                    element.set_attr(#keys, #values.to_string());
+                    element.#keys = Some(#values.into());
                 )*
-                #(#children)*
-                typed_html::Node::Element(element)
+                #(
+                    #opt_children
+                )*
+                element
             }
         )
     }
@@ -83,9 +137,9 @@ fn unit<'a, I: 'a, A: Clone>(value: A) -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, I, Output =
     comb(move |_, start| Ok((value.clone(), start)))
 }
 
-fn punct<'a>(punct: char) -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = ()>> {
+fn punct<'a>(punct: char) -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Punct>> {
     comb(move |input: &[TokenTree], start| match input.get(start) {
-        Some(TokenTree::Punct(p)) if p.as_char() == punct => Ok(((), start + 1)),
+        Some(TokenTree::Punct(p)) if p.as_char() == punct => Ok((p.clone(), start + 1)),
         _ => Err(Error::Mismatch {
             message: format!("expected {:?}", punct),
             position: start,
@@ -143,15 +197,15 @@ fn group<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Group>> {
 }
 
 fn element_start<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Element>> {
-    (punct('<') * ident()).map(|i| Element::new(i.to_string()))
+    (punct('<') * ident()).map(Element::new)
 }
 
 fn attr_value<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = TokenTree>> {
     literal().map(TokenTree::Literal) | ident().map(TokenTree::Ident)
 }
 
-fn attr<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = (String, TokenTree)>> {
-    ident().map(|i| i.to_string()) + (punct('=') * attr_value())
+fn attr<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = (Ident, TokenTree)>> {
+    ident() + (punct('=') * attr_value())
 }
 
 fn element_with_attrs<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Element>> {
@@ -171,16 +225,17 @@ fn element_open<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Element>
     element_with_attrs() - punct('>')
 }
 
-fn element_close<'a>(name: String) -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = ()>> {
+fn element_close<'a>(name: &str) -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = ()>> {
+    let name = name.to_lowercase();
     // TODO make this return an error message containing the tag name
-    punct('<') * punct('/') * ident_match(name) * punct('>')
+    punct('<') * punct('/') * ident_match(name) * punct('>').discard()
 }
 
 fn element_with_children<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Element>> {
     (element_open() + comb(node).repeat(0..)).map(|(mut el, children)| {
         el.children.extend(children.into_iter());
         el
-    }) >> |el: Element| element_close(el.name.clone()).expect("closing tag") * unit(el)
+    }) >> |el: Element| element_close(&el.name.to_string()).expect("closing tag") * unit(el)
 }
 
 fn node(input: &[TokenTree], start: usize) -> pom::Result<(Node, usize)> {
@@ -192,15 +247,214 @@ fn node(input: &[TokenTree], start: usize) -> pom::Result<(Node, usize)> {
     .parse(input, start)
 }
 
-fn macro_expand(input: &[TokenTree]) -> pom::Result<TokenStream> {
+fn expand_html(input: &[TokenTree]) -> pom::Result<TokenStream> {
     comb(node).parse(input).map(|el| el.into_token_stream())
 }
 
+struct Declare {
+    name: Ident,
+    attrs: HashMap<Ident, TokenStream>,
+    req_children: Vec<Ident>,
+    opt_children: Option<TokenStream>,
+    traits: Vec<TokenStream>,
+}
+
+impl Declare {
+    fn new(name: Ident) -> Self {
+        Declare {
+            attrs: global_attrs(name.span()),
+            req_children: Vec::new(),
+            opt_children: None,
+            traits: Vec::new(),
+            name,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn into_token_stream(self) -> TokenStream {
+        let elem_name = Ident::new(
+            &format!("Element_{}", self.name.to_string()),
+            self.name.span(),
+        );
+        let name = self.name.to_string();
+        let attr_name: Vec<Ident> = self
+            .attrs
+            .keys()
+            .map(|k| Ident::new(&format!("attr_{}", k.to_string()), k.span()))
+            .collect();
+        let attr_name_2 = attr_name.clone();
+        let attr_name_3 = attr_name.clone();
+        let attr_name_str = self.attrs.keys().map(|k| k.to_string());
+        let attr_type = self.attrs.values().cloned();
+        let req_child_name: Vec<Ident> = self
+            .req_children
+            .iter()
+            .map(|c| Ident::new(&format!("child_{}", c.to_string()), c.span()))
+            .collect();
+        let req_child_name_2 = req_child_name.clone();
+        let req_child_name_3 = req_child_name.clone();
+        let req_child_name_4 = req_child_name.clone();
+        let req_child_type: Vec<Ident> = self
+            .req_children
+            .iter()
+            .map(|c| Ident::new(&format!("Element_{}", c.to_string()), c.span()))
+            .collect();
+        let req_child_type_2 = req_child_type.clone();
+        let construct_children = match self.opt_children {
+            Some(_) => quote!(children: Vec::new()),
+            None => TokenStream::new(),
+        };
+        let print_opt_children = if self.opt_children.is_some() {
+            quote!(for child in &self.children {
+                child.fmt(f)?;
+            })
+        } else {
+            TokenStream::new()
+        };
+        let print_children = if req_child_name_2.is_empty() {
+            if self.opt_children.is_some() {
+                quote!(if self.children.is_empty() {
+                    write!(f, "/>")
+                } else {
+                    write!(f, ">")?;
+                    #print_opt_children
+                    write!(f, "</{}>", #name)
+                })
+            } else {
+                quote!(write!(f, "/>"))
+            }
+        } else {
+            quote!(
+                write!(f, ">")?;
+                #(
+                    self.#req_child_name_2.fmt(f)?;
+                )*
+                #print_opt_children
+                write!(f, "</{}>", #name)
+            )
+        };
+        let children = match self.opt_children {
+            Some(child_constraint) => quote!(pub children: Vec<Box<#child_constraint>>),
+            None => TokenStream::new(),
+        };
+        let trait_for = std::iter::repeat(elem_name.clone());
+        let trait_name = self.traits.into_iter();
+
+        quote!(
+            pub struct #elem_name {
+                #( pub #attr_name: Option<#attr_type>, )*
+                #( pub #req_child_name: #req_child_type, )*
+                #children
+            }
+
+            impl #elem_name {
+                pub fn new(#(#req_child_name_3: #req_child_type_2),*) -> Self {
+                    #elem_name {
+                        #( #attr_name_2: None, )*
+                        #( #req_child_name_4, )*
+                        #construct_children
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            impl Node for #elem_name {}
+            impl Element for #elem_name {}
+            #(
+                impl #trait_name for #trait_for {}
+            )*
+
+            impl std::fmt::Display for #elem_name {
+                fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter) -> Result<(), std::fmt::Error> {
+                    write!(f, "<{}", #name);
+                    #(
+                        if let Some(ref value) = self.#attr_name_3 {
+                            write!(f, " {}={:?}", #attr_name_str, value.to_string())?;
+                        }
+                    )*
+                    #print_children
+                }
+            }
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+fn type_spec<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = TokenStream>> {
+    let valid = ident().map(TokenTree::Ident)
+        | punct(':').map(TokenTree::Punct)
+        | punct('<').map(TokenTree::Punct)
+        | punct('>').map(TokenTree::Punct)
+        | punct('&').map(TokenTree::Punct)
+        | punct('\'').map(TokenTree::Punct);
+    valid.repeat(1..).map(|tokens| {
+        let mut stream = TokenStream::new();
+        stream.extend(tokens);
+        stream
+    })
+}
+
+fn declare_attrs<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Vec<(Ident, TokenStream)>>>
+{
+    group().map(|group: Group| {
+        let attr = ident() - punct(':') + type_spec();
+        let input: Vec<TokenTree> = group.stream().into_iter().collect();
+        let result = attr.repeat(0..).parse(&input);
+        result.unwrap()
+    })
+}
+
+fn declare_children<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Vec<Ident>>> {
+    group().map(|group: Group| {
+        let input: Vec<TokenTree> = group.stream().into_iter().collect();
+        let children = (ident() - punct(',').opt()).repeat(0..);
+        let result = children.parse(&input);
+        result.unwrap()
+    })
+}
+
+fn declare_traits<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Vec<TokenStream>>> {
+    group().map(|group: Group| {
+        let input: Vec<TokenTree> = group.stream().into_iter().collect();
+        let traits = (type_spec() - punct(',').opt()).repeat(0..);
+        let result = traits.parse(&input);
+        result.unwrap()
+    })
+}
+
+fn declare<'a>() -> Combinator<impl Parser<'a, TokenTree, Output = Declare>> {
+    (ident() + declare_attrs() + declare_children() + declare_traits().opt() + type_spec().opt())
+        .map(|((((name, attrs), children), traits), child_type)| {
+            let mut declare = Declare::new(name);
+            for (key, value) in attrs {
+                declare.attrs.insert(key, value);
+            }
+            for child in children {
+                declare.req_children.push(child);
+            }
+            declare.opt_children = child_type;
+            declare.traits = traits.unwrap_or_default();
+            declare
+        })
+}
+
+fn expand_declare(input: &[TokenTree]) -> pom::Result<TokenStream> {
+    declare().parse(input).map(|decl| decl.into_token_stream())
+}
+
 #[proc_macro]
 pub fn html(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenStream {
     let input: TokenStream = input.into();
     let input: Vec<TokenTree> = input.into_iter().collect();
-    let result = macro_expand(&input);
+    let result = expand_html(&input);
+    match result {
+        Err(error) => panic!("error: {:?}", error),
+        Ok(ts) => ts.into(),
+    }
+}
+
+#[proc_macro]
+pub fn declare_element(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenStream {
+    let input: TokenStream = input.into();
+    let input: Vec<TokenTree> = input.into_iter().collect();
+    let result = expand_declare(&input);
     match result {
         Err(error) => panic!("error: {:?}", error),
         Ok(ts) => ts.into(),
diff --git a/typed-html/Cargo.toml b/typed-html/Cargo.toml
index d452fef..190e2ff 100644
--- a/typed-html/Cargo.toml
+++ b/typed-html/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ edition = "2018"
 
 [dependencies]
 typed-html-macros = { path = "../macros" }
+http = "0.1.13"
diff --git a/typed-html/src/bin/main.rs b/typed-html/src/bin/main.rs
index 56c70da..26f8e81 100644
--- a/typed-html/src/bin/main.rs
+++ b/typed-html/src/bin/main.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 #![feature(proc_macro_hygiene)]
 
-use typed_html::Node;
+use typed_html::elements::TextNode;
 use typed_html_macros::html;
 
 fn main() {
-    let the_big_question = Node::text("How does she eat?");
+    let the_big_question = TextNode::new("How does she eat?");
     let splain_class = "well-actually";
     let doc = html!(
         <html>
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ fn main() {
                 <p class="mind-blown">{the_big_question}</p>
                 {
                     (1..4).map(|i| {
-                        html!(<p>{ Node::text(format!("Generated paragraph {}", i)) }</p>)
+                        html!(<p>{ TextNode::new(format!("Generated paragraph {}", i)) }</p>)
                     })
                 }
             </body>
diff --git a/typed-html/src/elements.rs b/typed-html/src/elements.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68efc21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/typed-html/src/elements.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#![allow(non_camel_case_types)]
+#![allow(dead_code)]
+
+use http::Uri;
+use std::fmt::Display;
+use typed_html_macros::declare_element;
+
+pub type CssId = String;
+pub type CssClass = String;
+
+pub trait Node: Display {}
+pub trait Element: Node {}
+pub trait MetadataContent: Node {}
+pub trait FlowContent: Node {}
+pub trait PhrasingContent: Node {}
+
+impl IntoIterator for TextNode {
+    type Item = TextNode;
+    type IntoIter = std::vec::IntoIter<TextNode>;
+
+    fn into_iter(self) -> Self::IntoIter {
+        vec![self].into_iter()
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct TextNode(String);
+
+impl TextNode {
+    pub fn new<S: Into<String>>(s: S) -> Self {
+        TextNode(s.into())
+    }
+}
+
+impl Display for TextNode {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter) -> Result<(), std::fmt::Error> {
+        self.0.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Node for TextNode {}
+impl FlowContent for TextNode {}
+impl PhrasingContent for TextNode {}
+
+declare_element!(html {
+    xmlns: Uri,
+} [head, body]);
+declare_element!(head {} [title] MetadataContent);
+declare_element!(title {} [] [MetadataContent] TextNode);
+declare_element!(body {} [] FlowContent);
+declare_element!(p {} [] [FlowContent] PhrasingContent);
+declare_element!(h1 {} [] [FlowContent] PhrasingContent);
+declare_element!(em {} [] [FlowContent, PhrasingContent] PhrasingContent);
diff --git a/typed-html/src/lib.rs b/typed-html/src/lib.rs
index 2cb0c39..c517512 100644
--- a/typed-html/src/lib.rs
+++ b/typed-html/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 pub mod node;
 
 pub use crate::node::{Element, Node};
+
+pub mod elements;