So You Want to Write a Children's Book

Anyone who has ever interacted with a child knows that when children love something, they LOVE it. Like sing the same two bars of a song on an erratic loop, watch the same movie on every road trip, and beg for the same book to be read at bedtime, even though everybody in the house, across the street, and down the road knows how it ends.

      When you put a children’s picture book out into the world, you are creating something that *hopefully* will be so beloved by its young audience that it will be held by both large and tiny hands until the spine starts to crack.

      Enchanting a child with your story is only half the battle, because every good children’s author knows the adults are the ones with the power to buy the book in the first place. So, how can you make a book rated for young children appeal to adult readers? Think about your own reading experience and the parts of stories that have lingered long past the time the book was closed and returned to the shelf. The same features used to make novels bewitching and beloved should be utilized in picture books.

Build a unique narrative

Many children’s picture books utilize tropes to build their story, and that’s not a bad thing! Whether it’s princesses or the power of friendship, tropes become tropes because they are satisfying, relatable, and familiar reflections of the shared experience of being alive. Incorporating tropes into children’s picture books is a great way to connect with audiences, both novice and experienced, but with so many books already out in the world, there has to be a unique spin on whatever tried and true trope you want to use. Yes, you can write about a princess who lives in a tower, but maybe she lives there because she is a talented free solo rock climber and she likes living up there! Yes, write about the power of friendship, but maybe write about the often neglected friendship you build within yourself. A new take on a classic trope satisfied both the familiar aspect of storytelling and the freshness needed for your book to be picked amongst the masses. 

Think about aesthetic unity

Let’s face it… we all judge books by their covers. Especially for little readers, the cover is likely the hook, line, and sinker. Cover art on the front of a book is a way for the author to communicate with potential readers what the book is about and the kind of feelings that are lying within the pages. The art and presentation of the book should match the words within, and the same goes for children’s picture books. Making sure images and illustrations match the story is essential for aesthetic unity. 

Poetry (that doesn’t suck)

Poetic devices can be found in any book, and no, they don’t always look like straight poetry. Similes and metaphors are excellent tools for description, repetition of a word or phrase builds familiarity between readers and the new world you are trying to immerse them in, and a good rhyme scheme can make a prophecy come to life. Rhyme can make a character feel other worldly (or crazy) when they speak exclusively in rhymes and riddles. Intentionally utilizing poetry within a narrative is a part of good storytelling… the key word here is intentional.  Similes, metaphors, repetition and rhyme schemes– all classic poetic elements– are common in children’s books because they serve as tools for language building, but too much of a good thing can make the story feel trite or trivial to adult audiences. Poetry to narrative is a little like seasoning to a dish; the right amount of a well thought out spice will enhance the flavor and make for a delicious dining experience, but too much will overwhelm the palate and become all you can taste. 

Bring likable characters to life

Notice the word,  likable, instead of the word, good. A likable character is not without fault or flaw, but rather a character who invites curiosity and inspires connection within the reader. Stories centered on characters with rich personalities who make mistakes, accept growth, and go their own way give adult readers chances to see themselves within the pages. No matter the audience, make sure to write characters with something to like about them. 

There’s a lot you can do to write a book that adults will enjoy reading to children. Incorporating the classic writing elements found in literature rated for older audiences will not only make a story worth reading aloud, it will show respect for your readers and transform your book into something everyone will be happy to read over and over and over again.