| What makes a book children's fiction? | | | | more text, and a format more like an adult book. |
| There are a lot of different theories out there. | | | | Unlike picture books, easy readers can make |
| Most children's books feature main characters | | | | sense with no illustrations. |
| who are children - children usually read about | | | | Transition books are longer and relatively simple, |
| children and adults usually read about adults, | | | | and are the book genre between easy readers |
| though there are some exceptions to this rule. | | | | and chapter books. Chapter books are for kids |
| Learn to write a good children's story following | | | | between seven and ten, and start to incorporate |
| the guidelines of children's genres so the reader | | | | chapters. They also have more complex plots and |
| can better identify with the main character. | | | | somewhat longer sentences, though they're still |
| Especially if the leading character is more like | | | | pretty simple. They often have illustrations, but |
| them. | | | | these are usually black and white, and not on |
| Most children's books also feature children's | | | | every page. |
| problems, such as dealing with independence from | | | | When you learn to write for children; understand |
| their parents, coping with social interactions, and | | | | what children's fiction is and what the genres of |
| similar situations. Children's fiction almost always | | | | children's books are. Especially if you are a newbie |
| features the protagonist solving his or her own | | | | to children's writing. |
| problems with minimal or no assistance from | | | | Children eight to twelve are the target audience |
| adults. In fact, adults may be completely absent | | | | for middle grade books. These have at last one |
| from many kids' books, whether they're at work | | | | subplot, and have a broader range of subject |
| or in another world completely. | | | | matter. Many can be up to about forty thousand |
| Children's fiction comes in a number of different | | | | words, with less or no pictures. The next type of |
| categories, just like adult fiction. There are many | | | | children's book is young adult. Books for children |
| different book genres aimed at younger readers, | | | | over the age of twelve and teenagers. These |
| and these genres are often further divided by the | | | | books cover a wide range of subjects, length, and |
| age of the target reader. It's important for | | | | complexities, with many being interesting to adult |
| writers to learn to write for the audience they're | | | | readers as well as children. They can run up to |
| trying to reach, and keep the length and style | | | | about sixty thousand words, with rare examples |
| appropriate. Baby and toddler books are for the | | | | (such as Harry Potter) coming in at well over this |
| youngest children, and may have only a few | | | | count. |
| pages, with very few words on each page. | | | | When you learn to write children's books it is |
| They're often heavily driven by the pictures. | | | | important to know what children's fiction is and |
| Picture books are a little longer - approximately | | | | what the guidelines are for the specific genre of |
| thirty-two pages, and have more words. They're | | | | children's book you are writing for. Research the |
| targeted to readers between four and eight. | | | | publisher you chose to use! Every publisher will |
| There are also picture books out there for older | | | | have a different set of rules. You wouldn't want |
| children, but these are somewhat less common. | | | | to send your manuscript to a publisher that |
| Generally these books feature simple plots with a | | | | concentrates on romance novels or an early |
| single main character and a familiar type of story. | | | | reader to a publisher that only publishes books for |
| Illustrations are still a significant feature. Easy | | | | babies and toddlers. Give your children's book the |
| readers are the next step up, and are for children | | | | best chance to succeed by being professional and |
| just beginning to read on their own. While still | | | | targeting the right publisher for your story! |
| illustrated, these books have smaller pictures, | | | | |