Ideas for Children's Books: How to Find Your Next Story

Margaret Wise Brown’s children’s book Goodnight Moon has soothed millions of children to sleep with its bowl of mush and a quiet old lady whispering, “hush.” Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree has children and adults alike thinking about where generosity ends and self-sacrifice begins. Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day leaves its readers considering how to better take advantage of life’s little joys.

The best children’s book ideas are filled with originality and creativity and often introduce fresh perspectives and imaginative tales. While reading through writing tips is just as important when looking to write a great children’s book, you should also consider the format, ideal age group, themes and lessons within your children’s book before getting started.

Choosing the Right Format & Age Group for Your Story

Understanding your audience is the first step in finding the best children’s book idea. If you want to write a picture book, you’re looking at writing for children aged two to six. If you want to write chapter books, you’re looking at writing for kids older than seven or eight. You might write a graphic novel if you’re trying to write stories for middle-grade kids who aren’t quite ready for chapter books but are too old for picture books, early readers and board books.

You’ll also likely adjust your themes or storytelling techniques depending on the age of your ideal audience. Consider the following age ranges as make your way to becoming a children’s book author:

Board Books (Ages 0-3):

Themes: Simple concepts appropriate for preschoolers like shapes, colors and animals

Key elements: Repetition, rhyming, children’s illustrations and simple storylines (if any)

Picture Books (Ages 2-8):

Themes: Friendship, family, learning and relatable emotions or events

Key elements: Engaging children’s books illustrations, simple plots with a clear storyline, onomatopoeia and simple characters

Chapter Books (Ages 6-12):

Themes: Expanding on picture book themes, more complex emotions, historical fiction, coming-of-age, adventure and fantasy

Key elements: Distinct chapters with cliffhangers, multiple characters and storylines and more descriptive language

Trending Themes in Children's Literature

Timeless themes like friendship, family and growing up will always be popular in children’s literature. Authors often infuse their story ideas with events and themes from the real world around them. You might base your main character off of an experience you had as a young child. Or you might use magical creatures or fairy tales to help your character explore themes children often face growing up like the importance of individuality, accepting our differences and the power of teamwork.

With climate change and social issues like equality for minorities and women taking center stage in politics and current events, you’ll often find trending themes like diversity, protecting the earth and social justice in today’s children’s books. You can also use illustration to portray certain emotions and themes. Whether you base your book on your own life lessons, today’s trending topics or a timeless theme like Christmas or friendship, it’s important to consider the value behind your story.

Inspiring Children’s Story Prompts to Kickstart Your Creativity

You likely already possess all of the creativity and good ideas you need to write an incredible children’s story. But sometimes writing prompts can help get any slow creative wheels moving. Here are a few children’s story prompts to help inspire you:

Animals

A sloth embarks on a slow-paced journey to find the fastest animal in the forest, all while learning about patience and friendship.
An owl who has never liked Halloween and the stereotypes people make about him learns to love himself and the holiday for new reasons.

Educational

A farm cat loves collecting colorful buttons from those who visit the farm but when her collection mysteriously disappears, she learns the importance of teamwork and asking for help.
A starfish has always dreamed of becoming an astronaut and seeing the stars. Her journey to space teaches her to appreciate the world around her.

Fantasy

On the first day of fourth grade, Alison discovers a lost library in her school filled with forbidden books and discovers the power of magic, family and growing up.
A young boy discovers that the gargoyle in the town square grants his wishes, but he soon learns to be careful what he wishes for.

Culture & Diversity

A mermaid who grew up in a family of singers discovers she can’t sing and meets a grumpy puffer fish who teaches her the value of listening to herself and making new friends.
A young boy moves to a new country and misses all his favorite things–including his favorite toy. A care package from his grandma reminds him of the importance of family traditions.

Essential Writing Tips for Children's Books

Being a good writer means carefully guiding your reader through your story and creating a strong bond between your characters and the reader. Here are a few writing tips to keep in mind as you write:

Consider your audience in your overall writing style, themes and vocabulary level
Grab your reader’s attention from the first page and keep them curious
Choose a point of view that is relatable to the age group you’re writing for
Use your own life experiences and the world around you for inspiration
Break down your writing process into doable chunks
Boost your literacy skills by reading books within your same genre
Build a good story by having a clear beginning, rising action, climax and resolution

Refining Your Children’s Book Idea

Now that you have a better idea of the children’s stories you’d like to write one day, it's time to refine your children’s book planning to a tee. You want to write a book that can reach as many people as possible without lacking originality because that means it might not stand out from the other books on the shelf. Consider writing out a few different options for your book idea and sharing them with people who you can trust to give you constructive—not destructive—feedback.

After you finish your first draft, you might ask for friends, family or a mentor to read it and provide any revisions. Joining a writer’s circle or collaborating with a local school could be a good way to get some extra eyes on your book before you publish.

Navigating the Children's Book Writing Process

Once you have your idea, your characters and the first draft of your book, it’s time to consider publication. If you want to go the self-publishing route, you might want to consider using social media or a newsletter to get the word out. For other publication options, think about reaching out to other children’s book illustrators or authors for advice.

With the right idea, a lot of dedication and some time, you could be on your way to writing a best-seller—even as a first-time author. For more guidance, check out resources like Skillshare which has a library of classes created to help an aspiring author master their craft, learn how to publish their first book and connect with teachers and other aspiring writers.

Written By

Calli Zarpas

Producer & Writer by occupation. Ceramicist & Newsletter Editor by avocation.