Congratulations! You’ve written a wonderful and endearing children’s book; one that sends an important message, tells a funny tale, or that will inspire tomorrow’s future. There’s no denying that writing a children’s book can be very rewarding; even more rewarding, however, is publishing that book. After all, you want to share your message with as many young readers as you possibly can, and in order to do that, you need to publish your writing. Before you get started, there are a few things that you need to know about publishing children’s literature. To help steer you in the right direction and increase your chances of achieving the success that you desire – and deserve – we’ve compiled a list of handy tips and details to keep in mind and guide you on your journey.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in and explore some of the most important things that you should know about publishing a children’s book.
Consider Your Audience
Before publishing a book for children, the first thing you need to do is consider your audience. The word “children” is a broad term that describes boys and girls who are younger than the age of adulthood (typically, 18 years of age); the fact is, however, that there are several different age groups that fall under the term “children”. This includes:
- Babies and infants
- Toddlers
- Primary school-aged children
- Intermediate school-aged children
- ‘Tweens and teens
So, the first thing you need to do is consider what group of children you want to gear your book toward. Once you’ve determined an age, you’ll then want to consider a few key elements about that age group that will influence your writing, such as:
- The topics that the specific age group is interested in
- The stage of learning, growth, and development the age group is in
- The cognitive and/or physical abilities of average children within the age group
- The kinds of characters that they connect with
- The language and illustrations that appeal to the age group
In addition to these factors, you’re also going to want to consider the attention span of the age group you intended on writing for, as attention span will directly impact the length and content of your book. Toddlers, for example, have shorter attention spans; therefore, shorter books that feature plots, storylines, characters, language, and images work best. Intermediate school-aged children, however, usually have longer attention spans, and they can relate to books that are longer and contain more complex topics, subject matter, characters, and language.
Consider the Format
Another factor that you’ll want to consider if you’re planning on publishing a children’s book is the format. You can publish a traditional book (hard and/or soft-cover copy), a digital book (ebook), or an audiobook. You can choose to publish your book in one, two, or all three of these formats.
Traditional books are largely appealing for children’s literature, as they are concrete, and thus, can be held, which means that children are more likely to develop a stronger, more powerful connection with them; however, the production process tends to be more costly. eBooks, on the other hand, are more cost-effective and can be instantly downloaded. The downside to this format, however, is that children – especially younger ages of children – usually don’t find digital books as appealing, as they can’t physically hold onto them, turn the pages, and otherwise interact with text; thus, they won’t form as powerful a connection. Audiobooks are a great option for listening at bedtime, during whole-group or independent instruction in classroom settings, and even on car rides. While they’re more economical than traditional books, the downside to audiobooks is that readers need to have access to devices that are equipped with speakers or headphones; plus, like eBooks, children usually don’t form powerful connections with audiobooks.
Edit and Rewrite Your Book
After coming up with a unique idea for your children’s book and creating a manuscript, the next thing you’re going to want to do is edit and rewrite your book. Thoughtful, well-assembled, and polished manuscripts are more likely to catch the attention of a potential publisher, so take the time to make it as good as you possibly can prior to submitting it.
Take the time to proofread and edit your book. If you don’t have the time do the proofreading yourself, or if you’d like a set of extra, experienced eyes to go over your book, hiring a professional children’s proofreader would be a worthwhile investment. It’s important to note that excellent books – those that become bestsellers and that live-on and are passed on from generation-to-generation got to where they are because they were meticulously proofread and edited, and thoughtfully rewritten.
Seek Feedback
Once you’ve polished your manuscript to the point where polishing is no longer possible, seeking the feedback from readers is strongly encouraged. Many of the most famous children’s authors had children read their manuscripts before publishing. Ask your children, nieces and nephews, students (if you’re a teacher), friends’ children, etc. if they would be willing to read your manuscript. If there’s one thing that you can count on children to provide much more than adults, it’s their honest, heartfelt opinions; hence why they are the ideal beta readers.
Consider asking friends who are parents, grandparents, and/or teachers to read through your manuscript and give feedback, too. These are the adults who are actually going to purchase your books, so it’s important to get their feedback and make changes based on that feedback.
Skip Illustrations
Though illustrations are an extremely important element in children’s literature, unless you’re an established illustrator, nix the illustrations. You might be tempted to create them yourself, or to ask your spouse, a child, a sibling, a friend, or a colleague to create the images for you; however, it isn’t necessary. In fact, it’s a waste of time. Once you send out your books to editors, if your book is purchased, the editor who buys it will want to select the illustrator. So, don’t bother submitting sketches, or even any guidelines, because rather than helping, doing so will actually hinder your chances of success.
Final Thoughts
Writing and publishing a children’s book can be one of the most profound, life-changing, and meaningful achievements. If becoming a children’s author is something that you have always aspired to be, the tips above can help to guide you on your journey so you can make your dream a reality.