Are you new to the world of children’s books? If yes, then you might have come across terms that you have probably never heard before. So, before you write a picture book for kids, you should know about all aspects that make a picture book.
Here is the much-needed guide that will help you write a picture book that will actually sell.
Baby Books vs. Children’s Books
Now, when it comes to picture books – there are typically two categories. The first category is for babies, which is also known as board books. Board books are for babies who are no older than three years – you might as well refer to them as their favorite chew toy, hence the name board books, as these are incredibly durable.
On that note – if you have a lullaby or a picture book that is for shapes and colors, then you might want to create a board book for babies. Normally, there is no plot involved – still – based on the illustrations, board books can be fun.
Page Count of Children’s Books
Generally, picture books are thirty-two pages long, but the pages can be the sum of the multiples of eight. This rule is mainly because of the way picture books are printed. You should know that just because you are working on a book of thirty-two pages, it won’t mean that you have this number of pages to write your book.
The 32-page picture book for children who are between the ages of three and eight uses fewer words and more illustrations to tell the story. On that note, you can hire an illustrator to tell the story in a way that will make the young readers and their parents super-interested in the book.
Characters of Children’s Book
Now, when it comes to the characters of a children’s book, you should know that the main characters are usually of the same age group as the young readers themselves. This aspect indicates that you might want to choose characters who are in kindergarten – or – preschool. We should tell you that you don’t necessarily have to choose humans as the main characters – you can also opt for animals.
You should narrate the story in the third person, as this is typical for children’s picture books.
Important Note: speaking of the main characters of your picture book for children, you must ensure that the main character has a problem to solve. What is even more important is the fact that the main character must solve the problem themselves instead of getting help from their parents, teachers, caregivers, etc.
You get the point – it might be tempting to have the adult characters help the young main character – but – allow the main character to solve the problem on their own. Otherwise, the publishers might reject the plot altogether.
End Pages
You will use some of these pages for your end pages and front matter. The end pages are pasted pages that are at the end and beginning of the picture book. Usually, these pages are only found in hardcover books because these pages are exclusively made to hold the interior pages onto the cover.
The opposite of the end pages are self-ended papers, which are essentially the same papers as the rest of the book. These papers include the usual page count of thirty-two pages. In contrast, separate-ended papers, the end papers are printed on a different paper than the rest of the book and these pages are not counted in the usual word count.
Characters Are Everything – Tips to Nail the Main Characters
Now that you know the basic aspects that make a great children’s book or picture book for kids, we will guide you through the essential tips that can help you create characters that your young readers will actually like.
Get to Know Your Characters
It doesn’t matter whether you are writing an adult novel or a book for kids – you need to understand your characters so that you know where they are coming from, how they behave, what they like, what they dislike, etc. By understanding your characters, you can draw characters that your young readers will find relatable.
Get the Basic Information
Now, to know the ins and outs of your characters, you will want to get their basic information right. Focus on the following points:
- The character’s age
- The character’s name
- The character’s birthday
- The character’s gender
- The character’s grade
Once you know the basics, you can jot it down and move on to the next level.
Establish the Look of the Character
The next step is to establish what your character looks like. We cannot stress enough the importance of drawing appearance, as appearances matter the most when putting the story in the forward direction. Sometimes, appearances are the main theme of the story. For instance, you can draw a character who isn’t happy with their nose, freckles, or long neck.
The point is that once you know what your characters look like, you will find it easier to write about them. Don’t feel shy about using a mind map to jot down the details of your characters. This way, you will also find it easier to establish the dynamic between the characters.
Establish Relationship Dynamics
Now that you know what each character looks like, you can move on to establish their family dynamic. If the main character is a middle child – they will act way differently than how their older and younger siblings act. Inside a family, most things revolve around the birth order of kids.
Also, the way the family is built affects how the characters behave in the story. By establishing the character’s family dynamics, you will get a better understanding of how the characters act and what they do as the story unravels in the children’s books.
The Takeaway
Now you know that writing a children’s book isn’t much easier than if you were to write a novel as you will have to put in thought and strategy. Don’t forget to inject personality into your characters so you can create relatable characters for your young readers.
