A Guide: Writing a Children’s Story
Have you ever found yourself captivated by the simplicity and joy of a children’s story? The way these books can spark imagination and teach valuable lessons with just a few pages of words and colourful illustrations is truly magical. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing your own children’s book but aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place!
Writing a children’s story is a fun and rewarding challenge, but it does require creativity, structure, and an understanding of your young audience. In this post, we’ll break down the steps you can take to write a children’s book that both kids and parents will love.
1. Know Your Audience
The first step in writing any children’s book is understanding who you’re writing for. Children's books are often broken down into categories by age group, and the style and content vary depending on the age range:
Board Books (Ages 0–3): These are simple, often interactive books that engage infants and toddlers with minimal text and colorful illustrations.
Picture Books (Ages 3–7): A combination of short text and illustrations, these books tell stories that children can relate to while developing their vocabulary and reading skills.
Early Readers (Ages 5–7): These books are for kids who are beginning to read on their own. The stories are slightly longer, with simple words and sentences.
Chapter Books (Ages 7–9): These books are for young readers who are ready for longer stories and more complex narratives, with fewer illustrations.
Identifying the target age group will guide your language, themes, and the complexity of your plot.
2. Start with a Simple Concept
Children’s stories often revolve around simple, relatable concepts that are easy for young minds to understand. Think about the themes you want to explore:
Everyday experiences (like going to school, making new friends, or learning new things)
Adventures or fantasies (like a magical world or animal heroes)
Problem-solving and lessons (like sharing, being kind, or overcoming fears)
A good children's story often addresses a central problem or conflict that the protagonist must resolve. Whether it’s a bear who’s afraid of the dark or a child learning to make new friends, the problem should be relatable and solvable in a way that children can understand.
3. Create Relatable Characters
One of the most important elements of a children’s story is the character. Children need a protagonist they can relate to — someone who is facing challenges they themselves may experience. Your main character doesn’t have to be human; it could be an animal, a toy, or even an inanimate object (like a brave pencil or a clever apple). But the key is that your character feels authentic and approachable.
Think about your character’s:
Personality: Is your character brave, kind, mischievous, or curious? The character’s traits will influence the way the story unfolds.
Motivation: What does the character want? What’s standing in their way?
Growth: Children’s stories often feature a character’s journey, both externally (through the plot) and internally (in terms of lessons learned or personal growth).
For example, if your story is about a shy animal who learns to speak up, the character’s internal growth will parallel the external action.
4. Focus on Simple but Engaging Language
Children's stories rely heavily on the power of language to convey emotions, actions, and themes. When writing for young readers, simplicity is key. Use age-appropriate language, short sentences, and repetition. These techniques help build confidence in young readers and make the story more accessible.
For picture books, keep the text minimal and use every word purposefully. A good rule of thumb is to let the illustrations tell part of the story. The text and images should work together to engage the child’s imagination.
For early readers and chapter books, you can begin to introduce more complex sentence structures, but always remember to keep the language clear and straightforward.
5. Build a Strong Beginning, Middle, and End
Even a short children’s story needs structure. The three-act structure — beginning, middle, and end — works well for children’s books, just like it does for longer novels. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Beginning: Introduce your main character and set the scene. What is the character’s world like, and what is the problem they’re facing? This is where you hook your young readers.
Middle: This is where the conflict or problem takes center stage. Your character tries to solve the issue but faces challenges. This part of the story should keep children engaged and curious about what will happen next.
End: The resolution. The main character solves the problem or learns the lesson. The ending should be satisfying and provide closure for both the character and the reader.
Keep in mind that children thrive on stories with happy endings, or at least hopeful resolutions. But don’t be afraid to explore deep emotions or real-life challenges — kids are more resilient and insightful than we often give them credit for!
6. Use Illustrations to Tell Part of the Story
If you're writing a picture book, the illustrations will play a huge role in bringing your story to life. You don’t have to be an artist, but it’s important to think about how the images can complement or expand on your text. For example, while your words may tell the reader that the character is sad, the illustrations can show their facial expression or body language, deepening the emotional connection.
Even in books for older kids, illustrations can be used sparingly to enhance the story. These visual cues will help reinforce the tone and themes of your narrative.
7. Edit, Edit, Edit
Once you’ve completed your first draft, it’s time to revise. Children’s stories need to be clear and concise, so review your manuscript multiple times to make sure every word serves a purpose. Consider the pacing — is the story moving at the right speed for the age group you’re writing for? Make sure you have a good balance between text and images, if applicable.
You may also want to read your story aloud to get a feel for the rhythm and flow. Kids love stories that have a natural cadence, especially those that rhyme or include a fun, repetitive structure.
Writing a children’s story is an incredibly rewarding creative endeavour. By understanding your audience, keeping the plot simple, developing relatable characters, and using engaging language and illustrations, you can create a book that resonates with children and adults alike.
Remember, the most important part of writing for children is to have fun and let your creativity shine! Kids have wild imaginations, and the more you embrace that freedom, the more your story will come to life.
Are you working on a children’s story? Share your ideas or send us a draft, we would love to publish your story!
