The ultimate secret for how to write a children’s book is the same as the secret for how to write a book for adults.
Understand your reader. Really understand them. So many aspiring children’s authors fall short because they assume they can charm young readers by plugging in a few ingredients.
A silly monster. A girl who loves horses. Teen angst.
But writing for kids is just as complex and tough as writing for adults. It’s also a deeply rewarding process that can lead to a deeply rewarding career. You just need a little guidance to get started.
I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, including:
You can even put these ideas into action using our Children’s Book Template, which you can download right here:
Download Children's Book Template
Let’s dive in.
Conveniently enough, children’s books are divided into neat-and-tidy categories based on age. These categories come with standards to help you craft an age-appropriate kids’ book.
Let’s take a look at each one.
A picture book uses illustrations to help communicate a story. Kids usually experience a picture book for the first time through parents or teachers reading it aloud to them.
However, as the child grows, they often use picture books to practice new reading skills. This is worth keeping in mind as you write.
Picture Books in a Nutshell:
Examples:
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
An early reader book is a book that an early-elementary-aged child can work towards reading independently. In other words: simple sentences and easy-peasy vocabulary. That doesn’t mean your early reader book has to be all “See spot run.” You can still engage kids using creativity, humor, and unforgettable characters. Check out the examples below for inspiration.
Early Reader Books in a Nutshell:
Examples:
The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems
The Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey
The Bink and Gollie series by Katie DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
If you’re writing a chapter book, your reader is officially reading on their own. This is exciting, especially if you know how to write a children’s book that turns a curious kid into a lifelong reader.A great chapter book offers an engaging story, a relatable character, and vocabulary that is just challenging enough to help readers advance their skills to the next level.
Chapter Books in a Nutshell:
Examples:
The Alvin Ho series by Lenore Look
The Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park
The Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro
If your reader is around middle school age, you’re writing a middle grade book.
This is when children’s books begin to more closely resemble adult novels. You follow the same basic story structure as you would if you were writing a book for grown-ups. You also pay closer attention to genre expectations. (Mystery, fantasy, and realistic fiction are especially popular among this age group.)
Middle Grade Books in a Nutshell:
Middle Grade Examples:
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The readers of young adult (YA) books are teenagers. Also young adults. Also retirees.
Okay, so a lot of people love YA, but you’re writing for teens. In terms of vocabulary and story complexity, this audience can handle the same approach you’d use for adult readers. You also want to follow genre standards closely.
Just make sure your story centers on teenage characters and issues relevant to teen readers.
Young Adult in a Nutshell
Young Adult Examples:
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Now that you have a broad overview of how to write a children’s book that’s age-appropriate, let’s talk rookie mistakes.
Here’s how not to write a children’s book:
A lot changes between the ages of five and seven. Know the expectations, interests, and reading level of your specific audience. In addition to reading a ton of books within your chosen age category, consider consulting an educator or child psychologist. They can help you modify ideas and storytelling techniques to better fit your readers.
Also note that kids gravitate towards protagonists who are a couple years older than themselves.
Keep your writing clear, simple, and accessible. The younger the reader, the shorter the sentences.
Note: this doesn’t mean duller sentences. “Chloe screeched” is just as kid-friendly as “Chloe yelled loudly.”
You don’t need a moral to create a great story for kids. But if there is an important message you wish to convey, don’t preach. Let the story do the work. My favorite example of a kids’ book that delivers a powerful message with a light touch is The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld.
Understand your readers. What’s important to them? What do they wish for, fear, love, and hate? How do they think and speak? What answers are they searching for?
Give those emotional characteristics to an interesting character who makes bold choices under remarkable circumstances. Create obstacles that are recognizable to your reader... but bigger.
If you plan to publish your children’s book traditionally, you don’t need to think about illustrations at all. Your publisher figures that out. But if you’re going to self-publish, then you will need to add illustrations, whether you create them or you hire an artist. In that case, note how frequently illustrations arise in books within your category.
Here’s how to write a children’s book, step by step.
Read the books that are succeeding now. What children’s book ideas are succeeding? How do parents review them? What do your children, nieces, nephews, and that really chatty kid in the Target checkout line have to say about their favorite reads?
How can you get to know your readers better?
Is there a volunteer program that gives you an opportunity to read to kids? Can you ask your friend’s twelve-year-old what they love and hate about being twelve? Are there books you can read to better understand your target age group?
Some things to keep in mind as you brainstorm children’s book ideas:
First, young people take the lead in children’s literature, from baby books on up to YA. Sometimes the protagonist is an animal or a crayon or Amelia Bedelia. But even then, the main character reflects a child’s perspective.
Second, kids want to see themselves as complex heroes who face challenges, discover inner strength, and save the day. While an adult character can help, keep your young protagonist in the driver’s seat.
Grover’s hysterical pleas in The Monster at the End of this Book. Holden Caulfield’s 1950s slang. That iconic first line: “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”
Related links:A strong narrative voice demonstrates that the reader is about to be entertained. Even understood.
A few considerations:
Take a note from Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Guess who’s already trying to creep behind the wheel by page two? BAM. Immediate conflict.
...and keep character arc in mind as you execute your children’s book ideas.
You have a protagonist.
The protagonist has a goal. They face an obstacle in trying to achieve that goal. In facing down the obstacle, they discover something about themselves.
By the end of the story, they have changed in some way.
For picture books, early reader books, and chapter books, you want a clear resolution and a happy ending.
For middle grade or YA, defer to the standards of your genre.
Before you ask for anyone else’s input, do some self-editing. Is your book the best it can be? Does it keep in line with the expectations of your age category?
Try reading it out loud. Rework any sections that feel wordy or clunky.
Share your manuscript with people who can help make it better. Consult a wide range of beta-readers and editors, including:
The great thing about writing a children’s book is that your target audience also makes for super honest beta-readers. There is no feedback clearer than a three-year-old going full-on ragdoll and sliding off your lap out of boredom.
Self-explanatory.
Woo! You learned how to write a children’s book and you made it happen!
Now, how do you publish a children’s book?
That depends.
To publish traditionally, you’ll want to find an agent. Search agent databases and query the representatives who seem like a good fit for your book.
Pay close attention to each agent’s submission guidelines. They may want to see a full manuscript, a book synopsis only, the first five pages… whatever they request, make it happen.
Once you find an agent to represent your book, your agent works on finding a publisher. It is possible to just shop your book to publishers yourself. However, you are more likely to get a better deal or a bigger publisher through an agent.
In self-publishing, you do everything yourself.
You hire an illustrator, hire an editor, format your book, design a launch plan, and handle marketing. Essentially, you’re running your own business.
It’s thrilling, liberating, and puts you in control. It’s also a challenging journey with a steep learning curve. You really have to be as excited about the journey as you are about the outcome if you’re going to go this route.
The final piece of advice I’ll offer you on how to make a book for kids is this:
Remember your reader.
Not just when you’re coming up with children’s book ideas. Think of them when you feel burned out, discouraged, or lost.
All writers know the struggle of discouragement. In these moments, it helps to recall why we do what we do. We write to entertain, to bring joy, to inspire empathy… to connect. When you do those things as a children’s author, you help kids develop a lifelong love of literature.
How powerful is that?
So hang in there. And start writing.
And if you want to make the process a little easier, consider writing your book with Dabble. Dabble has great features to help you plan, write, and edit your story. Click here to try it for free for 14 days.
While growing up, I am sure that you had a few treasured storybooks that you use to pour-over. These books probably inspired your love for weird and wonderful creatures such as dragons or unicorns, which often spilled over into pretending you were these creatures. Books inspire children to be brave, kind, and compassionate; most importantly, they encourage children to fall in love with reading.
It may seem like a daunting task to consider tapping into the children’s book market, but research has shown that there is potential for even more growth and a world of opportunities for would-be authors. Sales of children's books continue to rise, especially in the middle grade and young adult categories.
Keen to pen your first children’s book? Consider the following 10 current trends to help you create a best-seller!
Here are the most current trends in children's books for 2020 and 2021.
Now, this is something we can get behind! More and more storybooks are beginning to cover a diverse range of empowered females. Some stories focus on young girls who encourage change or who do something significant, whereas other books write about real-life characters such as Hilde, a female journalist from the book series, Hilde Cracks the Case. All have a strong theme, which is to be proud of who you are as a woman!
Dragons have never lost their place amongst storybooks in all these years. They have even leaked into popular adult shows such as The Witcher and Game of Thrones. This shows that the topic of dragons can be for both young and old to enjoy.
Popular books about dragons include A Friend for Dragon and Wings of Fire.
Children love the world of magic, mystery, and sparkle. Unicorns represent this in a fun and exciting manner.
Much like dragons, unicorns remain relevant in books. The majority of books inspired by unicorns teach valuable lessons such as friendship and kindness. Phoebe and Her Unicorn, The Last Unicorn, and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great are examples of such books.
Yep, this beloved dog breed has taken the world by storm and entered into the children’s book market. These books are centered around humor and often silly pugs that entertain children as they read. Pig the Pug is especially popular right now.
Children will always be fascinated with the animal kingdom, and what better way to enrich them than through books detailing funny, entertaining, and empowering animal characters like those found in top-sellers such as Giraffes Can’t Dance and The Pout-Pout Fish.
There has been a gradual increase in books that write about spooky (though not too scary) ghosts, monsters, and ghastly ghouls in a manner that sparks interest but is not terrifying for children.
Just like boys and girls love dragons and unicorns, some have an interest in zombies and monsters. Though reserved for older children, stories such as Ghosts and Eerie Elementary are just a few titles that are proving popular with young readers.
The world of video games is slowly making its way onto the pages of books and vice-versa. As there is so much to offer in terms of worlds, characters, monsters, and villains, it makes sense why these would begin to make their way into children’s literature. Books such as Press Start! can also help younger kids feel as inspired and involved as their older siblings do who play videogames.
The popularity of mystery and ‘whodunnit’ books is slowly on the increase, gaining a strong following in 2019 and continuing its momentum into 2020 and 2021. Young readers cannot get enough of young characters solving cases and uncovering mysteries. Books such as It Wasn’t Me and Mac Undercover prove that spy-fueled adventures are here to stay.
It does not matter how old you are, gross and goofy will always pique an interest among readers. Books such as these were trendy in the past and will remain so for quite some time! The book series Diary of Wimpy Kid paved the way forward for this genre.
Child-friendly, nonfiction titles that teach children about the world around them also have room among all the fantasy-inspired storybooks. The most popular book series in this genre is probably National Geographic for Kids which depicts and explains the natural world in an easy to learn, colorful format.
So you think you know which trend appeals to you, but where do you start? Read our article on how to write a children’s book that sells for more information.
Trends come and go, but in terms of the children’s book category, many themes still serve as the mainstays.
For example:
Watch a YouTube mom, Emily Norris, showcase a few of her children’s favorite books, which may help you determine which theme you would like to explore further in your writing.
Your questions about writing stories for kids answered!
Why is reading important for children?
Young children and babies are captivated by communicating and adore the sound of language before they can even speak a word, let alone notice the words printed within a book.
Reading to children helps educate them about the world and encourages imagination. They also learn how to listen and it supports them in understanding the written word.
How do you write a popular children's book?
First, determine which age group your book will cater too. Select a theme and a broad idea. Focus on building your characters and the plot. Write the correct amount of words based on the age-group. Use repetition in your story, and always write with the illustrations in mind.
How many pages should a children's book have?
Though trends come and go, what remains evident is that, regardless of the book's theme, with every turn of the page, valuable lessons are taught which the reader will hopefully apply to their life.
Consider including cultural tolerance, humor, manners, and morals within your book. You will have one significant part of your book covered, and it will be bound to attract readers and appeal to parents who will inevitably be buying your books for their little ones.
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