How to Write Children's Books that Adults Adore
For a child, the world of stories begins with looking and listening!
Through their eyes and ears, children begin to explore the world of books with the help of the adults in their lives. I have personally spent countless hours reading book after book to my young children. We always had those same favourite books that we’d read over and over again. My children had their favourite — and I of course had mine!
This is what makes writing children’s books so unique. Typically, authors write books directly for their readers. In most other genres, your reader is typically both your buyer and your target market (or audience). With children’s books however, it’s important to consider both the listener (child) as well as their adult (buyer and potential reader). A child may express their desire for a book; however, it is typically the adult who will purchase the book and enjoy it alongside their child.
Therefore, writing a children’s book requires a balance between simplicity and depth, keeping in mind that parents, teachers, and caregivers will likely be the ones reading your story aloud.
As both a mom and a passionate children’s book author myself, I’ve discovered valuable insights along my writing journey that I’m pleased to share with you. The steps below explore how to write a children’s book that grownups will enjoy reading, too. I hope these tips lead you to great success in your own writing adventure!
Step 1: Fun for the whole family
To engage both children and adults, strive to craft a story that’s genuinely entertaining. What emotions are you looking to bring to life: a laugh, surprise, or curiosity?
You’ll find many children’s books have a spoonful of humour intended for grownups. These authors use clever wordplay or references that may not fully register with younger audiences but are sure to make their adults smile. Ideally, aim for humour that works on multiple layers, making your story enjoyable for all ages.
Another tip is to create memorable and engaging characters by developing a main character that children can relate to and possibly even root for. This could be a child, an animal, or even a made-up fantastical creature.
Adding fun, unique supporting characters can also help keep the story engaging for children and adults alike. Consider limiting the number of characters to facilitate reading aloud. When I read to my children, they love when I use different voices for different characters. For me, this means the fewer characters I have to remember the better, or I risk being called out by my honest audience for using the wrong voice.
Think about limiting the primary characters to just a few, focusing on a single protagonist and a small number of supporting characters. This will also help keep your story simple and engaging for younger audiences — a win-win.
Step 2: Short and sweet
Readability and flow are critically important elements to consider for books that are intended to be read aloud. If you’ve ever tried the fun (but challenging) tongue-twisters that children like to play, you’ll understand how short of an attention span we have for stumbling over our words. Strive to write sentences with a natural flow. While reviewing and editing your work, be sure to try reading it aloud yourself. This can help to ensure clarity, flow, and pacing, which is especially important for rhyming books. Charming books to read aloud are those that have a musical quality to them with a balanced blend of repetition and rhythm.
Bear in mind that many children’s books are read after a full day at bedtime. For this reason, keeping your story short and sweet is a great idea. Books that are enjoyed by children 4–8 years old should be no more than 500–600 words. Here’s our great word count guide to reference.
As children get older, they tend to enjoy longer stories with more developed characters and plots. My children are a bit older, and I still enjoy reading to them, so we’ve opted to read a chapter or two a night to enjoy those longer stories in bite-sized pieces.
Step 3: Spark curiosity and imagination
Humans are natural-born explorers! A memorable children’s book sparks wonder and imagination in children and adults alike. What topic do you want to explore? What world can you create that’s waiting to be discovered?
Listening to stories not only helps children with self-discovery but also to explore the world around them. Balancing educational content with an entertaining story is an art form unlike any other. Incorporating a learning opportunity, by either weaving it seamlessly throughout the plot or having details throughout that lead up to a teachable moment, can greatly enhance the value of your story. What are you trying to say or share? Knowing your story’s purpose can greatly impact how you deliver your message.
Seeing a child’s eyes light up with wonder can also ignite a sense of childlike wonder that transcends any age. Writing vivid scene descriptions and creating relatable characters can help nurture children’s imaginations. Even grownups often enjoy stories that reignite their childhood sense of wonder. Incorporate scenes and ideas that are full of whimsical imagination, allowing both adults and children to enter into the world you’ve created.
Step 4: Find your voice
What’s your writing style? This can take some time to develop, so I encourage exploring your written voice in a variety of settings and platforms. As a children’s book writer myself, through much exploration I found that I personally gravitate to a rhyming musical flow that’s fun to read aloud. Discovering your personal written voice and style is so important to ensure that your writing feels authentic and genuine to your readers.
Think about your tone: is it playful, adventurous, or mysterious? If you’re writing a fun, entertaining story, consider incorporating playful words to capture imagination. If your story is more reflective, perhaps softer language would be more appropriate. A helpful tip is to read aloud as you write so that you hear your story how it is most likely to be read, ensuring consistency and flow.
By staying true to your voice and message, you’ll create a unique storytelling style that will keep readers of all ages coming back for more.
Step 5: Connection is key
Reading stories together can offer a wonderful bonding experience. Choose a theme or message that has universal appeal with both children and adults and encourages emotional connections. Themes such as family, friendship, courage, kindness, honesty, adventure, or imagination are great conversation starters. Creating moments where children and their grownups have an opportunity to share a story or two of their own to complement the message of your book will surely strengthen the book’s impact.
Stories provide a wonderful source of connection, and what better way to connect with children than to read and enjoy a story together? Inviting discussion by allowing adults and children to elaborate on the story’s themes creates a shared learning experience. Creating a book that resonates on a deeper emotional level is sure to be one that is cherished for years to come.
As you can see, writing a children’s book that both children and their grownups will enjoy involves more than just writing a fun story. By combining entertainment, readability, wonder, style, and a dash of connection, you’ll be sure to craft a story that inspires childhood wonder and a love for reading in both children and grownups alike.
Your next story is an opportunity to create an experience — one that can be shared and enjoyed across generations!
Lindsay Woollard is a FriesenPress Publishing Specialist, children’s book author, and illustrator with over twenty years’ experience in writing and visual communication. Lindsay has had a passion for storytelling since her earliest memories and her own journey in self-publishing began in 2021. As a publishing specialist, Lindsay is delighted to guide FriesenPress authors through the publishing process, helping to bring their unique stories to life.