Home >> Hobbies >> Reading

What Makes Children's Books Successful?

Children̵7;s literature powerfully brings magic and whimsy into readers̵7; hearts. Successful children̵7;s books invite their young readers to imagine and dream. Children̵7;s book editor and author Arthur A. Levine describes literary greatness in this genre as ̶0;any of the books that you remember reading and loving, that made enough of an impact on you that you remember them thirty years later.̶1; Successful children̵7;s books have the power to create fantastical worlds that children remember long after the blush of youth has faded.

Story Lines
- One of the most important elements to define good children̵7;s literature is the story. If the plot is too thin or uninteresting, children will not be interesting. A good story needs conflicts for children to process. The plot needs a well-defined beginning, middle and end. The author must also resolve the conflict and provide a satisfactory conclusion. Stories that entertain children frequently include humorous elements.
Light Morality
- Quality children̵7;s books aim to educate children while entertaining them. Although the book may aim to educate, the author should not use a moral heavy hand. The book̵7;s message should be lightly veiled to avoid sounding too ̶0;preachy.̶1; A successful peace of literature will show the intended message through the action without needing to tell the reader outright. Children can learn the lesson through the events of the story and the character̵7;s outcome.
Pleasing to Parents
- Because parents are buying the children̵7;s literature and often the ones reading them aloud, the books should appeal to adult sensibilities. Parents want to purchase and read original stories that steer clear of gimmicks and marketing. Successful books frequently have emotional themes. A popular book may even bring tears to parents̵7; eyes. Parents also appreciate comedic characters and whit that their children may not catch. Stories with artistic illustrations please adult eyes.
Elements of Style
- Successful children̵7;s books have similar elements of style. They should express themes of hope and optimism. Good children̵7;s literature focuses on childhood from an innocent point of view. They should be age-appropriate and only delve into themes that fit the intended audience. The books children want to repeatedly read are action-based and often employ elements of fantasy.
Characters
- Characters are an important element of successful literature. If children do not like the characters, they will not want to read the books and parents will not want to buy them. Authors should write characters that readers can relate to and understand. Successful books reach beyond stereotypical characters to feature different cultural groups, backgrounds and genders.
Illustrations
- Books for young children will not sell without powerful illustrations. Even before they can read, toddlers and preschoolers will happily look through books just for the enjoyment of the colorful pictures. Good illustrations further the themes and plots of the story. The pictures and text should complement each other, with neither outshining the other. Very young toddlers appreciate simple illustrations, while older children appreciate more detailed pictures.

Reading