Writing for Different Age Groups of Children
Children’s Books Come in all Shapes and Sizes
May 13, 2009
In some ways, children’s books are a more diverse market than adult books. This is partly because of the age range and different reading abilities. Here are some tips to help with writing for the various age groups.
Picture Book Format
A standard picture book has 32 pages and needs to have an interesting beginning, an enthralling middle and a satisfying conclusion. The pictures tell the story, aided by simple text. Most publishers have illustrators that work with the text supplied by writers. These books, along with board books and novelty books, are aimed at the 0-7 year old market.
Beginner Readers
These are aimed at children who are learning to read. The age group is approximately 5-7 years. The books are generally illustrated on every page and text is in a large, easy-to-read print. The length varies from a few words a page to total of 2000 for the book.
Young Fiction
These books are aimed at children who are progressing from earlier stages of reading to becoming an independent reader. Many are illustrated and the length is no more than 100 pages. The targeted age group is 7-10 years.
Older Children and Teenage novels
These books bridge the gap between children’s and adult’s novels. The content is diverse and may include adventure, mystery, family and relationships, historical, fantasy and many more. They should be written in a way that the age group talks – in their voice - while avoiding slang that quickly dates. Stories told from the first person point of view are popular and work well. The age group is roughly 10 – 16 years.
Where Fact Meets Fiction
Younger fiction books should always have a good resolution. Broken things are mended, the frog turns into a prince, and justice is served to the wicked. As the child matures and realizes he lives in an imperfect world, this can be acknowledged to a certain extent. Subject matter for older children may include parents divorcing, people lying and friends betraying trust.
Use Simple English
For younger children, use English that does not have double meanings. They would find this confusing. Older children often enjoy word plays and they can add humor and enjoyment. Don’t be afraid of using the occasional difficult word as children can normally work out the meaning by the context. It also extends their vocabulary. Write clearly and use an active not passive voice.
There is a huge market in writing for children. The best way to become familiar with the various levels and types of books is to spend a few hours at a library. Take pen and paper and make notes on the point of view, length, words on a page, illustrations and type of content before setting out to write a children’s book.
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