How to Write Children's Books Kids and Parents Love
- Chelsea Tornetto
- Oct 20
- 4 min read
When E. L. James wrote 50 Shades of Gray, she (thankfully) didn’t have to worry about whether or not her readers’ parents would approve of the storyline.
Similarly, when David McCullough penned his history books, he wasn’t worried about how they would be received by a 5-year-old.
For most authors, there’s only one person they have to impress (beyond their agents and editors) …the reader.
The Unique Challenge of Writing For Kids
Children’s book authors, on the other hand, face a unique challenge. We must write a book that appeals to two very different audiences: 4-8 year olds with limited vocabularies and the attention span of a fruit fly; and adults who may have already maxed out on the amount of Bluey they can handle in one day.
This paradox makes writing children’s books especially challenging. But it’s also one of the magical things about the genre!
While reading, for adults, is a solitary activity, reading for kids is an opportunity to connect with a loved adult. To strengthen bonds, explore emotions, and make beautiful memories. And, as children’s book authors, we get to facilitate those magical moments!
No pressure, right?
So, what's a hopeful author to do?
How can we impress the parent, who controls the credit card, AND the child, who can get the parent to swipe that credit card with just a sweet smile and a, “Pretty pleeeeeaaase?”
Step 1: Know Your Audience (Both Of Them!)
First, we have to know what both kids and adults are hoping for when they climb into the rocking chair or snuggle up in bed with a book.
Kids want:
Bright and colorful illustrations.
Humor. Recent research from Scholastic shows that 52% of kids want books that make them laugh.
Familiar favorites and fixations. Books featuring popular brands and IP characters or perennial favorites like dinosaurs and mermaids, are consistently high sellers.
To feel grown up. They love books that feel a little edgy and appear to break the rules in some fun, but safe, way.
Interactivity. Kids love to feel involved and be an active part of the story.
Something short. Kids feel accomplished when they can finish a book in a single sitting, and did I mention they have short attention spans?
Parents want:
Nostalgia. Parents are often seeking to recreate those special memories of reading on their own mom or dad’s lap, and gravitate towards those same types of stories with their own kids.
Role models. 95% of parents believe that characters in books can help foster the qualities they value in their children.
Solutions to problems. Many parents use books as tools to help solve behavior problems and tackle tough conversations.
Something different. Many parents are tired of the same branded characters their kids can’t get enough of.
Something short. There are never enough hours in the day.
Step 2: Mix Up The Magic
Once we know what these two groups want, we have to write a book that has something for everyone. A magical mash-up of silly and sentimental; a casserole of new and nostalgic!
For example, the New York Times Bestselling series, The Little Blue Truck, by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry, is wildly popular. And it’s easy to see why! For kids, it’s got bright and colorful illustrations…and humor! (I love it when the toad saves the day!)
But for parents, this story feels nostalgic and familiar…anyone remember what color “The Little Engine That Could” was? The same shade of blue! Even the cover designs have a similar vibe.
Another great example of a book that has something for both of its readers is How I Met My Monster, by Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam. Kids love that this book addresses the taboo topic of monsters under the bed, head on. It makes them feel brave and a LITTLE bit scared! They also love the super high contrast illustrations, and the hilarious monsters in the story! Parents love that the story helps little ones overcome their fears, and stay in bed, solving a perennial parent problem!
And last, consider the Elephant and Piggie series, by Mo Willems. Kids love the sparse text that new readers can often sound out on their own and that allows them to keep those pages turning and easily finish a book in a single sitting.
Parents love the length as well…and the simple, relatable situations between two friends with opposite personalities likely remind them of their own childhood favorite…Frog and Toad!
How To Write Children's Books Kids and Parents Love
Will children’s book authors be able to make everyone happy 100% of the time? Probably not. (Sorry parents, I can’t make your kid fall out of love with Spiderman!)
But, if we can give both child and parent a reason to smile…and a reason to snuggle up in that arm chair and “read it again”…we’ve won!
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