Has publishing a children’s book always been your dream and you don’t know where to start? Or have you just welcomed a new little person into the family and would like to write a personalized story or bedtime story book? It may also be that you dedicate yourself to teaching and want to publish a book for your students. You can have a thousand reasons, but in the end, the point is that you would like to know how to write a children’s book and you don’t really know where to start.
That is why in this blog we are going to give you some considerations so that you can start writing a children’s book. And the best news is that later you can print it, publish it and sell it with MI bestseller!
The children’s market is very special and has its own characteristics. After all, the way children perceive reality is very different from ours. In this article, we will give you 6 tips to write captivating and unique online songwriters, to entertain the little ones and reach the hearts of the older ones.
1. Understand your audience: The age of children is important.
You want to write children’s books, perfect! But, for what ages specifically?
Although they are all children, their age will influence their understanding of the text and grammar, the attention they can pay to a work, the importance they give to the images and their interpretation of the plot itself. Defining what age range you are going to dedicate your book to is the first step you should take before starting to write it. If you are very lost, we advise you to read the books for the different age groups to better understand how they differ and thus be able to make a decision.
Normally, children up to 3 years old do not know how to read and are developing their ability to concentrate, so it is important that you create a simple story with lots of illustrations. Experts advise that these books be no more than 300 words.
Children between 5 and 7 years old, on the other hand, have just entered primary school and are beginning to learn to read. From these ages onwards, you can opt for increasingly complex plots, without the need for so many images.
However, we are sure that from your own experience you know that not all boys and girls have the same reading level. That is why we recommend that you do not follow these instructions strictly, especially if you are creating a story for a minor you know. Also keep in mind that a book is not a single-use toy, they last a lifetime and at each stage they can be reread and re-understood. If not, tell the Little Prince.
2. Choose a trusted illustrator
Images also speak and, in fact, when deciding on a purchase they speak much more than words. The visual part is important in all books and should never be neglected, but it is even more important when we talk about children’s books. Children are very visual beings and having fun illustrations adapted to their age is a primary factor in keeping their attention on your work.
If you are crafty or want to publish a personalized book, you can make the illustrations yourself. Of course, make sure they are of quality. If you prefer to leave it in the hands of someone else, you can turn to a professional illustrator for your children’s book. Find an illustrator who you think can reflect the identity of your book, you can ask your friends for recommendations (we are very adept at supporting small artists!), look for them on freelance platforms or even find them on social networks.
In addition, at MI bestseller we have Word templates that can help you create the interior layout of your book, to facilitate the entire process, and you can also contact us to ask us about illustration services for your children’s story.
3. Choose a unique and fun title for your book
What is as important as the cover illustration? Exactly, the title of your book! Children do not know of authors or publishers (yet) that can give them clues about whether they will like the book or not, so it is very important that the title catches their attention.
Try to choose a fun, funny or mysterious title. Many authors choose to use rhymes and alliteration so that their title sticks in memory. It is also a good idea to opt for a short, easy-to-read title. Think about the content of your book and try to imagine how you can create a catchy title that fits your story. There is a difference between “Juana goes to the red house” and “The great adventures in the Red House” or “The mystery of the Red House”. The title of your book should make children believe that they will be entertained by your book and that they will have a good time with it. What kid would choose a boring title?
4. Write a fast-paced and engaging children’s book
Children’s books have many fewer words, so the pace of the plot must be much faster. Spending too much time on descriptions or getting stuck in the same moment in the story can bore the reader. We suggest you start the story interestingly from the beginning. In children’s books, characters don’t need much backstory, so you can introduce them and the situation they’re in from the beginning.
5. Try to convey something with your book
What is the goal of your story? Children’s books are a great way to teach children something in a fun and entertaining way. Think of a topic you want to discuss or a lesson you want to teach your readers. Do you want to teach them to be brave? Address bullying? There is a world of possibilities, especially since this time you are writing the story. Choose a message and discuss how you can transmit it in a light-hearted way and reach the little ones.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to show them what is right or wrong (especially in older age groups), you can simply give them the space to create their own opinions. We believe that this factor will also make parents more motivated to buy your book, since children can get something important from it.
6. Create unique characters
When book writing services a children’s book, the creation of characters is a very important moment. Try to create characters that can captivate young people and with whom they want to identify.
Finding some similarity factor with the character is very important. Avoid creating characters that have nothing special or, on the contrary, that have too much. For example, you can create a character that has a strong character and has some striking characteristic, whether physical or psychological.
Does your character have a different hair color than usual? A unique name? Is it an unusual animal? Do you have any habits that you repeat a lot (for example, laughing, hiccupping, etc.)? This allows the child to create a more special connection with the character and prevents them from being forgotten. Often, when we remember people or when we want to tell someone about them, we remember their most special and unique characteristics. And this also happens with the characters in the books.
Another thing to keep in mind is that children love other children to be the protagonists of stories; after all, having a protagonist their age brings them closer to the reality of the book.
7. How to print your children’s book
We believe that after these tips you are ready to go write a fantastic children’s book or check if the one you have already written meets the characteristics we have mentioned.
Additionally, at MI bestseller you can print your children’s book from a single copy. Perfect if it is for a gift. You will only have to upload your manuscript in word or PDF format. You can upload your cover or create it completely online on our platform. We have square and landscape formats to print your children’s story book.
And the best thing is that thanks to the fact that we print on demand from a single copy, you can print personalized children’s books. You just have to duplicate the book you created or upload the files again. This way each little boy and girl in the house can have their own book with their name, face or favorite characteristics.
You can also publish and sell it at no cost to you. So if you want to take that story you’ve made up for your loved ones and turn it into a book, this is the right time and place for you. We have everything explained on our website and in a ton of blog articles that can help you throughout the process.
