Books are critical for a child’s development. Not only do they help increase their vocabulary, preparing them for success in school, stories also introduce children to people, cultures, languages, and places outside their day-to-day lives.
Authors of children’s stories have to remember kids need to be entertained, especially if there’s a message being conveyed. Additionally, you need to plan, plot, and outline your story to be sure it includes a clear beginning, middle, and end; an engaging conflict with resolution; fully realized characters; and a well-defined world with consistent rules.
In a nutshell, children’s books need to take readers on a journey.
Beginning: Setting the Stage
The beginning of your picture book should immediately draw your audience — in this case, the child and/or the adult reading to the child — into the story. This is where you introduce the setting and the main character.
In picture books, the illustrations do the heavy lifting, so you won’t describe, for example, what characters are wearing. Because picture books are for young readers, stepping into the world of your story needs to be vivid and immediately engaging.
Middle: Building the Narrative
The middle of the story is where your plot thickens by introducing the conflict or problem the main character must face. This challenge should be appropriate for your target age group – not too simple and not too complex.
Maybe they need to resolve and internal conflict, like overcoming fear, or an external one, such as solving a mystery. This segment is critical for character development, allowing the protagonist to demonstrate qualities such as bravery, kindness, or resilience.
Reaching the crescendo of your story is where the rules of the world where the story takes place are tested and reinforced. This is how you ensure consistency throughout your narrative.
Characters: The Heart of the Story
Children connect with characters who are relatable and dynamic. The main character of every story you write should embody traits that young readers can admire or identify with.
Supporting characters also play a vital role. They’re either in action right alongside the main character or presenting hurdles to overcome. These characters should be just as realized and multi-dimensional and the main character and help the story along.
World: A Consistent Universe
The world of the story must adhere to its own set of rules. Whether it’s a magical kingdom or a simple backyard, the environment should be consistent and believable within the context of the story.
End: A Satisfying Conclusion
The end of your story should bring the resolution to the conflict. It’s key that the resolution is satisfying and makes sense within the established world and plot.
Most importantly, though, no matter if your main character is a child or a duck with whom a child can relate, they must be the one who solves the problem.
Leaving a Smile
Finally, the most magical element of your children’s picture book is its ability to leave young readers with a smile. If children close your book smiling, you increase the likelihood they’ll come back to your story time and time again.
Final thoughts
Books are so important in a child’s development, often serving as their introduction to people, places, and things they may otherwise not encounter in their young lives. At the same time, your story needs to entertain your readers
Creating a picture book for children requires a delicate balance of storytelling elements: a clear narrative structure, relatable characters, a consistent world, and a positive resolution. Ensuring the child or child-like main character solves the problem and leaving your reader with a smile could mean the difference between your book languishing on the shelf and becoming a favorite story they reach for over and over again.