so you want to know how to write a children’s book? has the right idea in mind: kids and teens are some of the most devoted readers out there! But you should know that writing good children’s literature is no easy task, especially if you’re new to the game.
Fortunately, we’re here to give aspiring authors a boost. This post contains everything you need to know about writing a children’s book, with advice from the best children’s book publishers in the industry. Read on to learn how to write a children’s book today…and potentially even become the next Roald Dahl or Beatrix Potter.
You are reading: How to write children’s books
1. find an idea that relates to children
Although there is no secret recipe for commercial success, one thing that is certain in children’s books is that the most successful ones will please two audiences: the children and the parents of those children. however, while adults may be the ones to buy the books, children are the ones who will actually approve of them (and treasure them as they grow older). so children are the ones you want to keep in mind as you write, they are the ones who will make this book worth writing. And to write a book for them, you’ll have to come up with a great idea.
discover a universal theme
Now, children’s book ideas can seem fantastic, elaborate and original when you first come across them. But when you strip the fun and creative flourishes of a children’s book down to the bare essentials, you’ll find that the themes present in a children’s book are completely universal:
- tasting green egg and ham | the value of having an open mind
- refusing to fight other bulls | the importance of kindness
- a pig saved by a spider | the power of friendship
The best children’s books are based on ideas that inspire and connect with children. As children’s editor Anna Bowles notes: “Many beginners write about children as we adults often see them: as cute, slightly comical little beings. But what kids really want are stories where they are the heroes, driving the action, facing challenges and making decisions.”
Is your idea suitable for children?
To make sure your idea is solid, go through this checklist:
- why do I want to tell this story?
- what is my story about?
- will this idea and theme relate to children?
- Is it unique and possibly marketable?
If you’re having a hard time coming up with an idea for a book, it never hurts to remember what you liked to read at their age. you also have the best critics: children! Brainstorm ideas from kids you know to see what they like. Above all, don’t be afraid to change things. you may think your plot is set in stone, but be open to suggestions and different creative avenues.
2. choose an age group (and know your market)
Before you write a single word of your children’s book, you also need to determine your target audience. Children’s lit ranges from baby board books alllll the way up to young adult novels, so your target age range may be anywhere from 0 to 18. It’s important to know what your target audience’s age range is so that you can speak directly to them. However, age isn’t the only factor here! You also need to think about what your readers will expect in terms of topic, lengthy, style, and complexity.
Understanding these things allows you to “write to the market”, so your book will actually sell. Let’s take a quick look at the main types of children’s books and their target age groups. We’ll also provide some well-known examples, in case you’re not sure what these books should look like.
*please note that the age ranges below are intended to give you an idea of general guidelines in the industry, not specific restrictions. Most children (and adults) enjoy picture books after the age of 6, and many precocious children love novels. this is just to give you an idea of your main demographic.
👶 illustrated books (from 0 to 6 years old)
In industry terms, a picture book is a book that relies on both pictures and words to tell the story. Since picture books are intended for very early reading experiences, the word count will be quite low (500 words or less); board books for babies and toddlers are even shorter. But all picture books still need to have a strong story, so don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re easy to write. You can learn more in our guide to writing a picture book.
examples of classic picture books:
- eric carle’s very hungry caterpillar
- where are the wild creatures by maurice sendak
- green eggs and ham by dr. seuss
- julia donaldson’s gruffalo
👧🏼 early readers (ages 6-7)
After picture books comes fiction for early readers: books for children who have graduated to more words than pictures, but aren’t quite ready to tackle long blocks of text yet. the “first reader” word count ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 words, though you’ll still get a fair amount of illustrations. These early readers also often come in a series, so kids can devour one after another to build their reading skills.
examples of early readers:
- elephant & piggie by mo willems
- the animal ark by lucy daniels
- amelia bedelia by peggy parish
- horrible henry by francesca simon
🧒🏻 chapter books (ages 7-9)
From early readers, kids move on to chapter books, which we probably all remember from our first book reports. Chapter books are also fairly quick reads that tend to come in series, but have slightly higher word counts, around 5,000 to 10,000 words per book. You’ll still see images in chapter books, but you’ll notice they’re less common and often appear as sketches rather than full-color illustrations.
examples of chapter books:
- June b. barbara park jones
- mary pope osbourne’s magic treehouse
- gertrude chandler warner’s wagon boys
- diary of a wimpy kid by jeff kinney
👦🏽 middle grade (from 9 to 12 years old)
middle grade books are for children who want something a little more advanced in terms of prose and history. These fully self-contained mid-grade readers tackle books of 30,000 to 50,000 words, with even fewer illustrations than their predecessors, though there may still be some pictures, especially to accompany chapter headings.
Examples of Middle Grade Fiction:
- charlie and the chocolate factory by roald dahl
- harry potter and the philosopher’s stone by j.k. rowling
- angus, thongs and full frontal kissing by louise rennison
- percy jackson and the olympians by rick riordan
👩 young adult (12 to 18 years old)
Finally, young readers come to young adult books: the last step between children’s literature and literature for adults. the typical word count in ya is between 50,000 and 100,000 words; in other words, the same length as any other novel. however, the theme will clearly be adolescent: it often has to do with navigating life-changing issues and discovering the true self.
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examples of books for young adults:
- the fault in our stars by john green
- the hunger games by suzanne collins
- divergent by veronica roth
- the hate you give by angie thomas
3. use a voice that doesn’t speak badly to readers
a distinctive voice will set you apart from other children’s books from the start. your authorial voice is what will speak to children (and we mean that literally too, since children’s books are often read aloud).
You may be afraid that you won’t be able to find your voice instantly, but don’t worry! the good news is that just as no one has a voice like dr. seuss or roald dahl, no one has your voice. And, like all other writing endeavors, it’s a matter of practice and patient dedication. To find out, drill down to find out what makes your words special and where their strengths lie on the page. here are a few things to keep in mind as you perfect it.
use age-appropriate vocabulary
There are many great places to show off your amazing knowledge of the language, but a children’s book is not one of them! children will not be impressed by four-syllable words, they will only be confused by them. You need to remember that your target audience’s vocabulary is different from yours, even if you’re writing mid-grade fiction or already.
That said, you should never speak ill of children. As kids editor Jenny Bowman says, “Kids are smarter than you think, and context can be a good teacher.”
The best way to navigate this delicate balance is to read other children’s books in your age group. this is by far the best way to get an idea of which language is right for them.
leverage the power of repetition
Picture books and early readers rely on repetition of words and phrases so that children can easily follow along. think of books like chicka chicka boom boom: it’s so popular because they repeat an interesting phrase over and over again.
Repetitive situations also tend to be very effective, even if they are only used as a plot device. For example, every magical treehouse book begins with Jack and Annie using the treehouse to travel through time and/or to another part of the world. The setting is different in each book, but each first chapter gives kids a sense of familiar anticipation.
and if you need more examples, just think of dr. seuss and the overwhelming success he found with prose repetition of him!
be careful with the rhyme
speaking of dr. seuss, reconsider the rhymes in your children’s book (unless you’re him). it is extremely difficult to rhyme well; plus, children’s book publishers and children’s book agents will be able to spot a bad or derivative rhyme from a mile away.
That said, there are exceptions! Children’s book publisher Judith Paskin describes one such case where she couldn’t write if she wasn’t in rhyme:
“sometimes the characters really get into their heads and demand to speak in verse. It happened to me once when I was the one writing the children’s book for a change.
“I instinctively resisted. after all, I should follow my own ‘good’ advice as a professional editor! but that mole didn’t want to talk unless he could do it in rhyme. So if you find you really can’t stop thinking about rhyming couplets, write them down on paper and be relentless about making them perfect.”
4. anchor your story with memorable characters
Think about the most iconic children’s book characters that you’ve read. Names such as Matilda, Pippi Longstocking, Harry Potter, and The Cat in the Hat might jump to mind. How did their authors create such timeless characters?
your protagonist is a few years older than your reader
well, jenny bowman says there’s a rule of thumb for every character in a children’s book. goes a bit like this:
“Children always want to read stories about other children who are a little older than they are, who are participating in life experiences that mirror their own.”
like this, for example:
- An 8-year-old protagonist (think Ramona Quimby) will attract readers ages 5-7; and
- an 11-year-old protagonist (think Harry Potter) will appeal to readers ages 9 and up.
This goes back to the importance of knowing your target market. slightly older characters provide exciting role models and adventures that intrigue younger audiences, much like how children often look up to their older siblings. Of course, these characters’ experiences shouldn’t be so different that they lose their relationship: Ramona still appeals to 7-year-olds because being in the third grade is pretty similar to being in the second.
even childish characters need strengths and flaws
Next, don’t think that writing a children’s book gives you permission to create less developed characters. a truly great children’s book character will come with their own fully conscious strengths, weaknesses, conflicts, and motivations that make them appealing to their readers. children want to connect with characters they recognize. To help you get started creating memorable characters, we have three additional resources for you:
- a character profile template to help you complete and understand your character.
- a list of character development exercises to test your knowledge of your characters.
- a 10-day course on memorable character development, taught by a successful professional editor.
bland is bad
We’ll leave you with one last piece of advice, which is to avoid making your characters so relatable that they’re bland. In the words of children’s publisher Brian Saliba: “Relatable doesn’t have to mean identical. challenge the status quo and subvert the default settings”. it’s also worth remembering to provide representation in all forms. If you want to learn more about diversity in children’s literature, go here.
5. write a messy first draft, then rewrite it
Now it’s time to put it all together and finally put your story on paper! Here are some tips to guide you as you write your children’s book:
don’t be too picky with your first draft
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There’s a reason people call early versions a “draft”: One of the most paralyzing things for authors is the need to make a perfect manuscript from scratch. Think of Michelangelo chiselling statues out of marble: he didn’t start by sculpting a lifelike head, then an exquisitely modeled shoulder, and so on. the first stage would simply be to cut away most of the marble to create the vague shape of your design.
As a writer, you should think of your children’s book as its own “david” – the funny details, characterizations, jokes, and themes will come later. His job at first is simply to write a manuscript that vaguely resembles the book he has in his imagination.
things to focus on in your rewrites
once you’ve thrown up a shoddy first draft, now’s the time to use all your great writing tools and refine all the elements of your story. At this point, you’ll rearrange, rewrite, or simply throw away much of your manuscript, all to perfect your story. here are a few things you might want to focus on in your rewrites.
- write about what you want, but make it relevant and appropriate. for example, a children’s book might want to explore the theme of betrayal, but the story would have to be a stab at the back. best friend or sibling, not a cheating partner.
- Carefully explore the topics you’ve chosen. Your book will have at least one central theme/message, and probably more if it is a longer book for an older age group. carefully weave these themes into the story; don’t hit readers over the head with it.
- entertain adults too. This is a bonus tip, and certainly not one that should be prioritized over entertaining the kids. but if you can include a play on words or a cultural reference (appropriate!) for adults who buy books and read aloud, all the better.
- read freely in your genre. If you’re struggling with your story, it can help to draw inspiration from the best children’s books of all time.
now, if you’ve come out of the sweat and tears with a manuscript you really love, congratulations! let’s see what you might have to do with that first draft.
6. edit, edit and edit
If your book is only 1,000 words (or less), why would you need to edit it? Answer: because you only have 1,000 words, and every single one of them needs to count. Here are the most important things to know when editing a children’s book.
be brutal in your auto-editing
The first thing you’ll want to do is desktop publish your child’s book. This guide is perfect for mid-level authors and already, who have more complex plots, characters and themes. however, if you’re editing a picture book or a book for beginning readers, you only need to do one thing: reduce it to the essentials.
“but my book is so short! do I really need to cut it? In short (no pun intended), yes. Your children’s book may be brief, but that is not the same as all the details being essential. kids have short attention spans, and even an irrelevant detail can derail the story for them.
If you already have a short manuscript, the best way to do this type of editing is to simply delete lines one by one. each time, ask yourself, “does the story still make sense without this line?” and if so, you can delete it.
share with other readers
To perfect your children’s book, share it with friends, family, and communities of children’s writers (such as children’s book authors on Facebook or a writers’ group in your area). make sure real kids are included in your test readers, especially kids in your target age group.
Kids are usually pretty honest, so their feedback will be the most valuable I get. incorporate their suggestions as much as possible, and then submit your book for more rounds of feedback. only once you get the thumbs up from all your young beta readers should you start thinking about publishing.
when in doubt, hire a professional
If you’ve gotten feedback, done a lot of editing, and still feel like your children’s book isn’t quite right, consider hiring a professional children’s editor. their years of high-profile experience will enhance your storytelling and ensure your book is market-ready.
Fortunately, we have the best children’s editors right here at Reedsy, many of whom have worked with top authors like Daisy Meadows (author of the Rainbow Magic series) and R.L. stine!
7. publish your children’s book
Once you’re happy with your book, it’s time to publish it for kids to read and enjoy! You can delve into the process in this extensive guide to publishing a children’s book. however, there is one topic that I’m sure most of you are thinking about: something we’re going to cover right now.
do you need an illustrator?
Although your language may be visual and you may well be imagining the illustrations as you write your story on paper, you don’t need to worry about finding a children’s book illustrator when you’re writing your book. why? well, if you plan to go through a traditional editor, you won’t have the option of choosing an illustrator yourself; your editor will probably choose an illustrator for you.
If you’re going to self-publish your children’s book, that’s a different story: You’ll need a professional illustrator at some point. but that’s a matter for the future: for now, you need to focus on writing your book and making sure it’s the best it can be. when you get to that juncture in the future, come back here and check out this guide to children’s book illustrators and how to hire them.
If you plan on self-publishing, you’ll also want to start thinking about marketing. Here’s a free 10-day course that provides marketing strategies to help you promote your children’s book before, during, and after its release. Also consider submitting your book to Reedsy Discovery, where thousands of independent readers can discover your work!
And no matter where you are in the process (just starting out, neck-deep in story development, or just on the brink of release), always remember why you’re doing this in the first place. Writing a children’s book can be an uphill battle, but it will be worth it when you can finally get your book into the hands of young readers everywhere. ❤️
Have any more questions about writing a children’s book? Leave them in the comments below and we’ll get back to you right away!
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