Writing stories for kids sounds simple, right? Bright pictures, silly characters, and a happily-ever-after. But after years of writing and illustrating, I’ve learned that crafting a great children’s book is a lot more than that. If you want your story to land with young readers (and their grown-ups), here are eight real-world tips that changed the way I approach writing for children.
1. Entertain First
Forget morals and life lessons—at least at the beginning. If a story isn’t fun or captivating, kids won’t care about the message. The first job of a children’s story is to engage. Use humor, surprise, weirdness—whatever gets their attention. Lessons are welcome, but let them come naturally through the plot, not lecture.
2. Don’t Preach
Kids are smart. They know when they’re being talked down to. Instead of spelling out what they should learn, show what happens when a character makes a choice. Invite empathy. Let your reader feel something alongside the protagonist. The best lessons are the ones they discover on their own.
3. Show, Don’t Tell
This one never gets old. Visual storytelling is powerful, especially for children. Instead of saying, “Lucy is scared,” describe how her eyes water as she inches away from the pool, clutching her towel like armor. Let them see and feel it. That’s where the magic happens.
4. Give Characters a Childlike Lens
Even if your main character is a robot or a grumpy grandpa, they should think like a child. Wonder. Fear. Playfulness. Curiosity. These are the traits that make characters relatable to young readers. If a character reacts like a miniature adult, the connection falls flat.
5. Use Active Voice
Kids want momentum. They want action. Sentences like “Milo climbs the tree and shouts from the top branch” feel alive. Passive voice sucks the energy out of a scene. Keep the subject doing things, not having things happen to them.
6. Present Tense Keeps It Snappy
This one’s a personal preference, but using present tense often adds immediacy. “Zara opens the door and gasps.” feels more urgent than “Zara opened the door and gasped.” It invites the reader into the moment as it unfolds. Try both and see what fits your style.
7. Believable, Not Realistic
A talking tree? Totally fine. A space cat who speaks in riddles? Sure. As long as the world follows its own logic and rules, kids will believe it. Aristotle called this the “probable impossibility.” Your job isn’t to mimic real life—it’s to build a world that feels true.
8. Done Is Better Than Perfect
This one hit me hardest. I waited over a decade to publish my first book, chasing perfection. But done is better than perfect. Put it out there. Get feedback. Iterate. That’s how we grow—not by hoarding drafts, but by sharing stories.
Final Thoughts
These are the rules I follow today, but they didn’t come overnight. You’ll find your own rhythm the more you write, share, and listen. The most important thing? Just get started. Kids are waiting to hear your story.
🙏🏽 Sahtu,
Nor Sanavongsay