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    The Children's Book Review

    Tips for Writing an Engaging Children’s Book

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze4 Mins Read Writing Resources
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    By Brian Jenkins, for The Children’s Book Review
    Published: November 29, 2010

    A close up of a bookA captivating children’s book inspires kids to shout, “I WANT TO READ IT AGAIN!”

    This article offers useful research tips, strategies, and writing techniques to help you write a book that will elicit that reaction from kids.

    Research Tips and Strategies

    • Use a note pad or an audio recording device to store you’re brilliant ideas. Don’t take a chance on forgetting them.
    • Ask librarians and book store managers what types of books children like best. Also, ask bookstore managers what types of children’s books parent’s are purchasing for their kids.
    • If you’re going to write a picture book, review popular works in the genre and find out how much of the story is carried by illustrations.
    • Review the writing style and the story structure of books that won Children’s Book of the Year Awards.
    • Continually read your manuscript with the goal: How can I make it better?
    • Review new and old picture books for inspiration.
    • Don’t always play it safe. Be daring! This is a good tip for any writer.
    • Read the book out loud in order to eliminate any unclear or long sentences.
    • Join a creative writing group. Just make sure nobody steals your dazzling ideas!
    • Think about your childhood memories. They may inspire you to write an entertaining book with a good take-home message for children.
    • Read the book to children and gauge their reactions. Big smiles are good; polite, fake versions indicate you have some revisions to make!
    • There are probably specific times of the day when your creative juices are flowing. Use these times to write instead of doing chores or other tasks.
    • Network with other children’s book writers.

    8 Writing Tips and Writing Techniques

    • Children enjoy suspense, so keep them wondering what’s going to happen next and they’ll want to keep turning the pages.
    • Children also like plenty of action, so make sure your characters are doing things instead of spending a lot of time sitting and thinking! As soon as children get bored, you’ve lost them.
    • Children, of course, love to laugh, so sprinkle some humor into the book.
    • If it’s not a picture book, don’t let the story stagnate while you describe the scenery. Again, you can’t let kids get bored!
    • Entertaining picture books build to a climax. Add some unique plot patterns.
    • Poetic devices can enhance picture books. Consider using rhythm, repetition, alliterations, simile, word play, and rhymes.
    • Picture books don’t contain a lot of words, so make sure to use vivid words, sensory words, action words, and other words that are pleasing to hear.
    • Good picture books typically have an underlying message and give the reader something of value.

    Publishing the Book

    The current edition of Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market, published by Writers Digest, includes available markets for children’s books writers, including magazines and contests. It also offers information about publishers. The website gives very good information about manuscript formatting, how to write a query letter, agents, and other useful information to help get your book published.

    Spending time learning about the children’s book publishing industry will pay major dividends when pitching your manuscript to publishers. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is an excellence resource. Attend their seminars and conferences and learn about the issues surrounding children’s book publishing. You may have the opportunity to make some valuable contacts who could help you get your book published.

    Finally, an unknown writer who sends an unsolicited manuscript to an editor has about 10 seconds to grab his or her attention. If the editor isn’t captivated by the end of the first page, he or she probably won’t read the rest of it. Use an active first sentence to grab the reader’s attention. The first paragraph should set the stage by providing information about the main characters, the setting, and the upcoming conflict. The reader needs to be involved in the story by the end of the first page. That way they are enticed into reading more.

    This article was written by Brian Jenkins, a member of the BrainTrack writing staff. He writes about careers in writing, as well as other career-related topics.

    Image courtesy of Markus Rödder

    If you enjoyed these writing tips, writing techniques and strategy and research ideas, you may be interested in this article: The Art of Writing Haiku for Kids

    What to Read Next:

    1. What Makes a Children’s Book Great for Film Adaptation
    2. 20 Sites to Improve Your Child’s Literacy
    3. Understanding the Power of Picture Books: Cookies with Miss Rumphuis
    4. Writing Fantasy: An Article by Author & Film Producer Jules Bass

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Picture Books Writing Techniques Writing Tips
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    6 Comments

    1. Janet Councilman on July 14, 2020 8:49 pm

      Thanks for this! its very helpful

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on August 5, 2020 6:22 pm

        You’re very welcome!

        Reply
    2. Caroleann Rice on November 2, 2020 1:15 pm

      I completely agree with what you have written. I hope this post could reach more people as this was truly an interesting post.

      I hope you can take the time to read my post as well :The Secrets to Writing a Great Children’s Book

      Reply
    3. Nicki Collins Geigert on December 8, 2021 12:21 pm

      I respect everything that you have written in this blog. Please continue to provide wisdom to more people like me.

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on January 4, 2022 2:26 pm

        Thank you so much for your very kind words!

        Reply
    4. Jeniffer Melvin on September 26, 2022 7:16 am

      This is a great tips for Children’s. These following tips are perfect to improve writing skills useful guidance!

      Reply
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