Before You Write Your Children's Book, Read This

Ari
Feb 15
4 min read

What I've learned about writing stories that kids ask for again and again.

Intro

As I currently move into my next chapter of writing children’s book stories to query, I look back and realize how much I’ve learned, how many mistakes I’ve made, and how I plan to write out my stories moving forward. Most people think the hardest part of the story is the illustrations, and yes it is time-consuming, but the story is just as difficult if not harder. You need to come up with a story that will stop someone in their tracks and make them want to purchase and read this book. You want a story that is memorable and timeless, one that you hold close to your heart even as you get older. That is the type of story I want to create.

Let’s talk about structure

What makes an amazing children’s book story? It’s finding a structure that actually works and is memorable. Every great book follows the same simple structure.

The character has a problem
They try to fix it
Something shifts in them and the character has a new viewpoint

The key to timeless books is that there is an emotional shift within the character and they learn to view the world in a completely new way. Sometimes the problem isn’t even fixed — it could be understood, or felt differently. That’s the point — there is emotional understanding in the character at the end and the reader can relate to that growth.

Real-World Examples

Let’s look at some real-world examples of timeless books with unforgettable stories. These are stories that are simple but unforgettable — and they happen to be books I personally love.

The Giving Tree: A tree that continues to give everything she can to make the boy happy. As the boy grows older, the tree continues to give love and whatever she can to make him happy. At the end, you see a stump and a happy old man sitting on that stump.

Why it works: It shows how deep love can be and how it can last a lifetime while allowing the reader to feel without telling them what to feel.

Corduroy: A teddy bear in a department store with a missing button goes on a journey to find a button, but eventually gets taken back to the shelf by a security guard. The next day, a little girl sees Corduroy, takes him home, and sews a new button on him.

Why it works: Readers can relate to Corduroy with the missing button, which represents insecurity and not feeling like enough. The girl is an example of unconditional love because Corduroy was already enough without the button.

Where the Wild Things Are: A young boy named Max who loves making mischief gets called Wild Thing by his mother. After he tells his mom “I’ll eat you up,” she sends him to bed without supper. He goes to bed hungry and his bedroom turns into another land filled with monsters. Max learns to tame these monsters and becomes king, but he begins to feel lonely, so he goes home where dinner is waiting for him and it’s still warm.

Why it works: The book allows Max to be angry, then gives him his own world to live in and lead, but he chooses to come home in the end. The still-warm dinner tells you everything about the love that was waiting for him.

Build a Character

It is so important to really think about your characters when coming up with your story. If your story has a girl as the main character, what is it that makes her memorable? Does she have a gap tooth? Colorful hair? Unique clothing? These are things to think about. These details subtly explain who your character is without saying anything, and that is so important when creating books for children. Your character’s look should reflect their personality. Remember to give the reader a reason to recognize this character easily.

Make it personal to you so the readers feel it

The best children’s books are actually metaphors for something the author experienced in their life. It’s not autobiography — it’s emotional truth expressed through fiction. The reader doesn’t need to know the lesson or the metaphor; they need to feel it at the end. When you know what message you want to convey in your story, the readers can feel it too, even if they can’t explain why.

Questions to think about before working on your story

What is the one feeling you want your readers to feel at the end of your story?
Forget the plot, what is the emotion underneath it that you are trying to express?
Is there a reason this specific character is telling this story?
Can any other character tell it? Why?
What does your character want and can’t have at the beginning of the story and why?
What emotional shift happens to the character at the end of the story and how did it happen? Why?
Is this a story I could read over and over out loud? (Because this is what parents have to do.)

Things to keep in mind

Just some thoughts before you begin working on your story. Remember this is a 32-page story and every page has to earn its place. Think about who you are writing for. Is it a 3-year-old or a 7-year-old? Because those would be written and illustrated very differently. Where are the standout pages? The emotional shift? What is the rhythm of your story, and does the pacing feel right? Most important of all, don’t start with a lesson — start with a feeling. The lesson will show up once you find the emotion and speak from your heart. Wishing you the best of luck in your writing journey. There are so many books waiting to be written by you.