Writing a Children's Book

Lesson 1: Writing for Children

Age Groups and Genres 1.

As mentioned earlier, children’s books can be broken up into different levels according to what is appropriate for and popular with different age groups. It is important to know something about these levels, even if you intend to write for only one or two of them. Let’s look at the levels themselves, and then think about which level(s) are most appropriate for you.

The age group levels are set according to different criteria. Many of these blur and merge between the different levels, but here are some basic signposts.

Length

Age of Protagonists

Complexity of Plot

Maturity of Subject Matter.

Theme.

Complexity of Exposition.

Language and Vocabulary.

Writing Style

Ending.

The levels we will be focussing on in this course include Picture Books (PB), Junior Chapter Books (JCB), Senior Chapter Books (SCB), Young Adult Novels (YA), and Reading Scheme (RS).

Some children’s books span more than one of these age levels. Let’s look at the recommended texts.

The Orange Outlaw is specifically a junior Chapter Book in length and simplicity as well as in the age of the protagonists.

Alien Dawn is specifically an older chapter book. It has some elements of YA novel in that some of the characters are in their teens.

Trinity Street is specifically a YA novel. The protagonists are in their teens and the themes and plot elements are suited to older readers.

Genres

Children’s books include almost all the main genres and quite a few of the sub genres you will find in general novels, plus a few that are specific to children’s books. (By the way, children’s books are sometimes known as “juvenile fiction”, but for the purpose of this course I’ll stick with the older term.)

Here are some of the genres, with some points to help you identify them. Read them carefully, and then see if you can identify the genre(s) of the last three children’s books you’ve read.

Adventure appears at most of the age levels. In an adventure story, the protagonist(s) will be involved in unusual, exciting and possibly perilous events. If a major character is stranded, captured, lost, involved in a time-sensitive search, travelling by unusual means or in unusual company, the book is probably an adventure. This genre often appears blended with something else. Of the books assigned to this course, "Trinity Street" has strong adventure elements and so has "Alien Dawn".

Thriller is more likely to appear in the SCB (senior chapter book) and (YA) Young Adult Novel. In a thriller, the main characters will be in considerable danger, and often must test themselves against the clock. They might face death or imprisonment. Thriller is often blended with adventure, fantasy or science fiction. "Trinity Street" has strong thriller elements, since Tell and Camena both face death.

Family Story appears at both JCB and SCB level, and can also crop up at PB (picture book) and RS (reading scheme). There are a few YA family stories, but they are rare. Family stories are very much character driven, and deal with family based activities and concerns. Friends and neighbours also play a large part in some family stories. "Alien Dawn" has a lot of the family story in it, especially in the shifting relationships between the two halves of the family. Friendship stories usually belong to the family group, which allows "The Orange Outlaw" to fit loosely in the category.

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