5 Things Every Child’s Book Needs

A guest post by Amanda Carlson. 

Most people think that writing a book for children is easy because of the simplicity, pretty pictures and the shorter length. But believe it or not writing a book for children is harder than it looks. There are many different things to consider before creating one. Here are 5 things that every child’s book should contain to be successful:
 
A lesson: Every book should leave the child with new information that they didn't know before reading the book. Whether it’s learning what colors are part of the primary group or learning how to be nice to friends at school who seem to be different, your book should give children something to take away with them.
 
Humor: You may think that just because children are young they don't understand humor. But in order to become a child’s favorite read, it’s best to create something humorous. Remember with children it’s the little things that excite and humor them. Something as simple as you saying a silly name or having a funny fluffy animal. Be creative and be funny.
 
Relatable character: Create a relatable character for the child reader to connect with. Do this by first determining who your audience is. Answer questions like: will my audience be girls more so than boys, or will my readers be around 5 to 8 years old? Once you've answered these questions you will be able to create a character who the reader can relate to and understand.
 
A Challenge: Pose a simple challenge to the child in a form or a question, puzzle, problem or situation. This will allow children to use their brains and force them to come up with a solution. Challenges are a wonderful learning tool especially when presented in a book that translates into real life.
 
Visual: Children are very visual and yearn to expand their imaginations. Colorful illustrations and fun images can feed the child’s want for the creative. Visuals on each page can also help children to improve their reading skills. Matching images with the words is a great learning tool for children who are beginning to read. 
 
Remember these five tips when you are creating your next children’s book. Keep it visual, offer a challenge, give them something to learn from, make them laugh and create relatable characters to get children more involved in your book. Have fun with the book and the child will have fun too.

Good luck!
 
Author Bio:
Amanda Carlson, a blogger as well as a former newborn care nurse, contributed this post. To stay connected to her previous career and share her knowledge, she began writing for www.newborncare.com. You can reach her at amanda.newborncare @ gmail.com.