A good children’s book also educates and inspires the young reader. While creating a children’s book, the author and publisher must work towards ensuring the inclusion of most of these features. They can become key ingredients in creating a lasting impression on the children reading the book. Let’s go through some of the essential features that a good children’s book must have:

1. Easy language

One of the most crucial features of an excellent children’s book is an easy language. Children’s books are usually targeted towards a certain age group of young readers. These children will find it easier to read the book if it uses a simple and straightforward language. The young readers will also understand what has been said in the book if an easy language is used.

However, this does not mean that it must not include some new words. A book helps in expanding the reader’s vocabulary if it incorporates new words without having too much of them. The language of the book should make the overall experience of reading fun and engaging.

2. An interesting plot

Another key feature of a good children’s book is an interesting plot. There needs to be a well-crafted storyline that piques the imagination and curiosity of the reader. The plot should also be easy to follow and keep the young reader engaged until the end. When it comes to catching the reader’s attention, half the job is done if the book gets its plot right.

3. Fabulous characters

The characters of a good children’s book are always relatable or inspiring. Such characters develop a strong connection with the young readers on an emotional level. They must also have their unique personalities and certain traits that make them interesting. It can be a great challenge to develop such characters. Nevertheless, they’re a must-have for the book’s success.

4. Engaging illustrations

A book that uses illustrations can effortlessly keep the young readers hooked. It is important that such illustrations complement the story and enhance the reader’s imagination. They must be bright, bold, and add a great visual element to the story. The images used for the illustrations must also be age-appropriate. If they are incorporated in the right manner, the children would remember the story quite easily.

5. Learning

A good children’s book can be a great tool for the young reader’s learning and growth. There must be some moments in the book that provide valuable lessons for the child reading it. These lessons must be in the form of morals, values, or something of great learning.

They go a long way in laying the foundations for building character in the young readers. They’ll also help the children develop some critical thinking skills and make them more empathetic.

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Writing is said to be a lonely profession and is beset with several challenges. This is the same in case of children’s authors. There are plenty of things that go into the creation of all those children’s books that become bestsellers. So, let’s delve into some surprising facts about the authors of children’s books here:

1. Green Eggs and Ham started with a bet

You might’ve heard about the all-time bestselling book Green Eggs and Ham. Published in 1960, this wonderful book written by Dr. Seuss started with a bet. It was between Seuss and Bennett Cerf, who was his publisher. Cerf said that Seuss won’t complete the entire book without exceeding the vocabulary of 236 words. Dr. Seuss completed this book with the vocabulary of the text consisting of merely 50 words.

2. Ramona from Ramona Quimby, Age 8 was born in the 1950s

Author Beverly Cleary had a thought while writing her Henry Huggins series in the 1950s. She realized that Beatrice Ann ‘Beezus’ Quimby must have a younger sister. Although the idea of this character came to her in the 1950s, she didn’t use it until 1981. This was the year when this character was finally created in the form of Ramona. She appeared in Cleary’s 1981 book Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

3. The inspiration for Pete the Cat books came from a little blue cat

Illustrator James Dean partnered with Eric Litwin in 2008 to create the first Pete the Cat book. Many other books in the series for children followed. Pete the Cat books went on to become New York Times bestsellers and brought great success to James Dean. He owes this success to his little blue cat, who was the inspiration for the main character.

4. Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are originally had a different name

Published in 1963, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak almost didn’t have that title. Before he changed his mind, the author wanted the title to be Where the Wild Horses Are. He replaced the word ‘Horses’ with ‘Things’ in the title to describe the wild creatures Max meets.

5. The author of Harry Potter series doesn’t have a middle name

J.K. Rowling, the world-renowned author of the Harry Potter series doesn’t have a middle name. Before remarriage, her name was Joanne Rowling. The Bloomsbury Publishing staff had asked her to use a pen name. They told her that she could use two initials and her last name.

The publishing staff’s assumption was that young boys wouldn’t want to read a book written by a woman. So, she used the initial of her paternal grandmother’s name, Kathleen, as the middle initial.

6. First book with a Black character to win major children’s literary award

In 1963, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats won the Caldecott Medal. It thus became the first book with a Black character to win a major children’s literary award. This was a significant milestone in the world of children’s literature.

7. The inspiration for Charlotte’s Web came from the author watching a spider

Published in 1952, Charlotte’s Web is considered a classic and is enjoyed by children and adults alike. The inspiration for Charlotte came from a spider that the author E.B. White had found in his barn. He apparently saw the spider spin an egg sac in his barn in Maine, which inspired the character.

8. It took five years and 22 rejections for The Crossover to become a success

Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover is a book that’s told entirely through verse. It won the Newbery Medal in 2015 and the Coretta Scott King Award. However, before it was first published in 2014, the book was rejected 22 times. It also took five years for the book to go from idea to publication. Eventually, it became a critical and commercial success.

9. Captain Hook was not the original villain in J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy

J.M. Barrie’s novel Peter and Wendy originally appeared in the form of a play. It was simply known as Peter Pan although it had a lengthy title. Captain Hook is a pirate who is the villain in the book and the play. This character was only invented for the theater.

It needed more time for the stage hands to switch out the sets. A pirate ship, therefore, was used to make up for the delay. The original villain was Peter Pan himself, and this was revealed by J.M. Barrie later.

10. The Tale of Peter Rabbit was originally a self-published book

The famous children’s book The Tale of Peter Rabbit was initially self-published by Beatrix Potter. She had written this story for Noel Moore, the five-year-old son of her former governess. When it was privately printed, the book had black-and-white illustrations.

After rejections by several publishers, it was published by Frederick Warne & Co in 1902. The publisher asked the author to redo the illustrations in color. As a result, the book became a huge success following its debut. Multiple reprints of it followed and the book ended up selling 45 million copies.

11. The New York Public Library had banned Goodnight Moon

Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon came out in 1947 and went on to become a popular bedtime story. The New York Public Library didn’t aquire this book at first. The children’s librarian regarded this children’s book as overly sentimental.

As a result, it got banned by the library. The book gradually became a bestseller. The book’s annual sales increased from 1,500 copies in 1953 to nearly 20,000 copies in 1970. Eventually, the book was reinstated by the library in 1972.

12. A Light in the Attic was the first children’s book to become a New York Times bestseller

A Light in the Attic is Shel Silverstein’s famous book of poems. There are 135 poems in the book that are accompanied by the illustrations from the author. It became a bestseller after it was published in 1981. Moreover, it became the first children’s book to reach the esteemed New York Times bestseller list. After making it to this list, it stayed there for 182 weeks!

13. Christopher Paul Curtis had worked as an autoworker in an auto factory

Christopher Paul Curtis wrote his acclaimed children’s book The Watsons Go to Birmingham when he was 42 years old. Not many people know that he had worked as an autoworker for General Motors for 13 years. When the book first came out in 1995, it won several awards and brought him immediate recognition nationally.

14. The main character in The Very Hungry Caterpillar was originally a worm

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle features a hungry caterpillar. It eats many different types of foods before it becomes a butterfly. This children’s picture book that came out in 1969 has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. A little known fact about it is that its main character was originally a bookworm with the name ‘Willi’.

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Children’s books also play an important role in the upbringing of kids. They help in the development of language and cognitive skills in them. Additionally, such books enhance the children’s imagination and creativity. There are several types of children’s books, each serving a unique purpose and catering to different age groups and interests.

1. Board Books

Board books are similar to picture books, but they have the ability to withstand rough handling by little hands. They have sturdy cardboard pages and have simple illustrations and text. Board books are perfect for babies and toddlers who are just beginning to explore the world around them. Some popular board books include Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.

2. Early Reader Books

Early reader books are for children who are just learning to read. They are typically short and contain simple sentences, with larger fonts and lots of pictures. Early reader books help children develop their reading skills and build confidence. Some examples of early reader books include The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss and Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel.

3. Picture Books

Picture books are designed for younger children, typically between the ages of 2-5. They are characterized by their large, colorful illustrations, with minimal text. These books often tell simple stories or teach basic concepts, such as shapes, colors, and numbers. The most famous picture books include Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

4. Picture Story Books

Picture story books are a combination of picture books and story books. They have more text than picture books but still contain illustrations to help children understand the story. Picture story books often deal with more complex themes and emotions.

They are aimed at older children, typically between the ages of 5-8. Some popular picture story books include The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and Corduroy by Don Freeman.

5. Chapter Books

Chapter books are aimed at older children, typically between the ages of 7-12. They are longer and more complex than early reader books, with fewer pictures and more text. Chapter books often feature a series of adventures or a mystery to solve, with characters that children can identify with.

Some popular chapter books include the book series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling and The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne.

6. Children’s Graphic Novels

Children’s graphic novels are a relatively new addition to the world of children’s books. They are similar to comic books, but they tell a longer, more complex story. Such graphic novels use a combination of pictures and text to convey the story, and they are popular with older children and teenagers. Some popular graphic novels for children include Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi and Smile by Raina Telgemeier.

7. Children’s Non-Fiction Books

Children’s non-fiction books are designed to teach kids about the world around them. They cover a wide range of topics, from science and history to geography and social issues. Such type of non-fiction books often have lots of photographs and diagrams.

They help children develop their knowledge and understanding of the world. Some popular non-fiction books for children include the National Geographic Kids books.

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However, one of the most significant aspects of such books is that they transport children to new and exciting worlds. The kids reading them find an inspiration for dreaming big. Such books often come from talented authors and illustrators. They mostly have the ability to understand the needs and interests of children.

Children’s books are a vital part of our society. There are several reasons why these books continue to enjoy greater success even today. Here are some insights into the reasons why such books have enjoyed worldwide success over the years:

They’re written specifically for the younger audience

One reason why most children’s books are so successful is that the authors write them keeping the younger audience in mind. Children’s books capture the imagination of young readers fill them with excitement. They also have a language that appeals easily to kids.

Besides, the children’s books are typically shorter than adult novels. So, the young readers don’t get bored reading them and are able to digest and comprehend the content.

Some of them provide valuable life lessons

There are some children’s books that leave a lasting impression on kids and adults alike. This is because they contain some valuable life lessons that are conveyed in a fun and easy manner. Most children’s books carry subtle messages on kindness, friendship, perseverance, and other important values.

They are presented in ways that are easily understandable for the young readers. This enables the younger audience to take in these messages and use them in certain life situations.

Parents love to gift their kids such books

Children’s books are often a part of a child’s early experiences with literature. When they’re growing, these books develop good reading skills in them. This would be even more effective in households where parents have an immense love for literature.

The shared love of reading can be greatly beneficial for the kids in such families. Most parents would be willing to gift such books to their children. This is because they’d want to develop a love for reading in their children right from an early age.

They take children to imaginary worlds

Children’s books are also successful because they have the ability to transport children to new and exciting worlds. Some of these books might be about a magical land full of talking animals. A few others might be about a young adventurer exploring the world.

No matter what these books are about, they can easily capture a child’s imagination. They also have the ability to take the young readers on a journey they might remember forever. Children’s books are also filled with all sorts of possibilities that life has to offer.

They’re written by exceptional authors

Children’s books are mostly written by authors who are extremely talented. They often use engaging images in such books taking the needs and interests of kids into consideration. The combination of texts and illustrations create highly entertaining, enlightening, and educational stories.

Most authors of children’s books also have the ability to understand what children of a certain age group want. They use this knowledge to create books that cater to such needs and interests.

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To have more of such books, we need to appreciate the authors who create them. So, here we’ve listed a few leading contemporary authors who’ve come up with excellent books for young readers:

1. Jeff Kinney

Born as Jeffrey Patrick Kinney in 1971, he is an American author and cartoonist. He is best known for his children’s book series titled Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jeff attended the University of Maryland in the early 1990s. At the time, he created Igdoof, which ran in The Diamondback, a school student newspaper. It had become a popular comic strip in those days.

In February 2006, he signed a multi-book deal with Harry N. Abrams, Inc., during the New York Comic Con. The book became an instant success with its online version getting millions of views. Many of the online readers requested for a printed version of this book. As a result, the printed version of the first book in the series was published in April 2007.

2. Glenda Millard

Born in the state of Victoria in Australia, Glenda Millard’s first book was Unplugged! In 2003, one of her most popular children’s books titled The Naming of Tishkin Silk was released. The very next year, it was a finalist for the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards.

A follow up to this book with the title Layla, Queen of Hearts came out in 2007. It won the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award for Children’s Book in the same year. She has lived in the beautiful town of Castlemaine in Victoria all her life. She was 45, when she became a writer of children’s books and young adult fiction.

3. Graci Kim

A former Korean-Kiwi diplomat, Graci Kim is known for her The Last Fallen series. The Disney Channel chose this book trilogy inspired by Korean mythology for a television series. It has been translated into many languages. This book series was also a nominee for many awards.

Among them were Best Children’s Book for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award and an Amazon Best Book Award. She won the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best New Talent in 2022. Before becoming an author, she has also run a business and was even a cooking show host at one point. She now lives with her husband and daughter in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

4. B.B. Alston

He is famous for his debut novel Amari and the Night Brothers. It had won the Barnes and Noble’s inaugural Children’s and YA Book Award in 2021. The book was also on the New York Times Bestseller list for over 30 weeks. B.B. Alston began writing when he was in his middle school.

He stopped writing when he entered high school and the break extended into his twenties before he started writing again. His writing process involves creating a simple outline of the book. He then keeps adding the details with every draft that follows.

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