Discover our Top 12 Tips for writing children's books in 2025

Many people imagine that writing children's books is a breeze, picturing a vibrant stack of eye-catching covers and wishing their book becomes the one that kids can't stop asking for. However, the reality is that it's far from simple. Check out these top 12 tips for writing children's books:

Tips for writing children's books:

1. To write for children, you need to dive into children's books.

Check out picture books, early readers, middle grade novels (for ages 9 and up), teen books (ages 11 and up), and young adult novels. You can ask a bookseller or librarian for suggestions on award-winning titles in each category or look at our own list of recommended children's books.

2. Identify Your Target Audience for Children's Books

Connecting with kids can be a bit of a challenge; they’re not as easy to reach as you might think. The niches within children's literature are quite specific, so you need to be precise in your approach. But don’t lose hope! Get creative, do some digging, and you can build a lasting bond with your young readers as they grow.

3. Tailor Your Writing to a Specific Age Group

This can vary, but generally, your book will fit into a three-year age bracket aligned with the education system. The categories include ages 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, pre-teens (10-12), young teens (13-15), and young adults (16-18).

Research the appropriate age group for your book. Take a close look at the formats, styles, and language used for each age range. Notice the subtle distinctions? As readers get older, the language becomes more complex, themes deepen, and suspense increases. Find a book and author that resonate with you and let their success inspire your own.

4. Write in a Way That Engages Young Readers

Kids today are quite different from how we were when we were young. If you talk down to them, they’ll notice. They’re not clueless; they’re savvy and aware, much more than we were at their age. Discover what kids in your target age group are currently reading. What styles do they enjoy? Ask the children of friends and family about their favorites, or chat with school librarians to identify any gaps in the market.

5. Try to write whenever you can and keep the story fresh in your mind.

Consider your characters and storyline while you're out walking the dog, during your commute, or even while doing the dishes. If you give your mind the space, it can work through any plot issues on its own. Set aside time to write, but also carve out moments to reflect. If you're truly passionate about writing, you'll make the time for it.

6. Carry a notebook.

Whenever an idea pops into your head, make sure to write it down. Keep a notebook next to your bed. It's surprising how fast ideas can vanish if you don't capture them.

7. Read Aloud to Assess Your Book’s Flow and Length

You’ll need to adjust your writing style to suit the age group you’re targeting, including sentence length. If your book is meant to be read aloud, ensure the font is large enough for parents to read comfortably from a distance. Practice reading the book out loud to yourself. The book's length is also crucial; bedtime stories should be long enough to tell a complete tale but not so long that they lose the child's interest.

8. Write with Illustrators in Mind.

Ensure you provide ample details for an illustrator to enhance your story. Describe the characters and settings vividly so they can visualize them clearly. Choose quirky characters or distinctive elements that will captivate young readers with eye-catching illustrations. As you organize your story, think of it like a movie storyboard, breaking up the text into sections that correspond to each page. Consider how each paragraph will translate into an illustrated page and continue this process until you have a complete storyboard.

9. Edit Your Children’s Book Repeatedly

Until you dive into writing your first children's book and experience the editing journey, you might not fully grasp how crucial editing really is. It's essential to refine your children's book by checking for grammar, spelling, flow, and any other elements you can think of. Start by using your computer's spelling and grammar check. Then, read through your manuscript slowly multiple times to catch anything that feels off. Be on the lookout for words that are spelled correctly but used incorrectly. Having a few others proofread your story can make a huge difference. Fresh perspectives are invaluable. Even if you feel confident in your grammar skills, it's wise to have someone else take a look.

10. Test It with Your Target Kids

Read your book out loud to some kids from your target audience. You might want to try it at a local school. How engaged are they? Are they asking questions that go beyond the story?

11. Plan Your Marketing Strategy

Think about interactive elements you could include in your story, like games that kids can play with a parent or caregiver. If you’re working on a picture book, consider offering downloadable coloring pages or activity sheets on your author website. These extras are really popular and turn your book into more than just a read—think of them as gifts or keepsakes. These marketing ideas can help you tap into new sales opportunities for your children’s book.

12. Keep Pushing Forward

To complete a book, you need some serious commitment. No matter what, make sure you finish your book. It’s a significant achievement and incredibly rewarding. Many writers hit a wall at some point – a tempting new idea might distract them from their current project – but don’t give in. Most people don’t see their book through to the end – be the one who does. Embrace the chaos of your first draft, even if it’s rough and riddled with errors. You can tidy it up later. Just keep progressing and get it done!

Finding a Publisher for Children's Books

If you're not planning to self-publish on platforms like Amazon or IngramSpark, take some time to research reputable publishers. Talk to other authors who have had positive experiences to get recommendations. It's crucial to choose a publisher that allows you full rights to your work. Your book and its illustrations should be entirely yours to use as you wish. A good publisher should not only help you produce a polished final product but also ensure it's widely available for purchase. Be cautious with smaller publishing companies, as they often lack the resources that larger ones have. And watch out for scam publishers; they’re unfortunately quite common.

Things to Avoid When Writing Children's Books

• Avoid writing a book just for the sake of it. Most people can easily spot when someone is trying to cash in on poorly made books versus a genuine author who pours their heart into their writing.

• Keep negativity out of your main message.

• Steer clear of books that preach or lecture.

• Don’t talk down to kids as if they’re lesser than adults.

• Make sure your book has a solid story; avoid endless rambling.

• Keep the text minimal. A good children’s book should be visually engaging and easy to read.

• Don’t include dull or unnecessary characters. Ask yourself if the character contributes to the story.

• And remember, it’s not essential to have a moral lesson in your story.

Put pen to paper because you feel a strong urge to share your story.

Pour your heart into it. Then, refine it with your mind.

Remember, the first draft is just the start of your adventure.

Wishing you all the best!

Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books, Writing children's books,