For several years, this series on writing a picture book has been available free on this site. It’s now available altogether as a 110 page pdf file, HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK. The ebook has an expanded section on writing rhymed picture books.

Fiction for children, especially younger children, comes in the form of picture books. This series of 30 posts explains how to write and edit the basic picture book, and goes on to discuss specific types of picture books.

Messages, Morals, Lessons

In a recent comment, MR asked, “It seems there are many picture books with “messages,” such as Cowboy Camp by Tammi Sauer, Edwina the Dinosaur by Mo Willems, and even Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. And I’ve heard over and over that a writer shouldn’t hit the reader over the head with a moral or message, so I’m wondering if there is an objective way of measuring didacticism in an PB manuscript.

• If we could rewrite Sylvester and the Magic Pebble as too didactic, how would it read?
• Are there any questions writers can ask themselves to ensure they aren’t hitting the reader over the head?
• How do you show the main character’s growth in the story without making the mc’s lesson a blatant lesson for all who read the book?
• Where is the line?”

It’s a hard question.
We want stories that kids want to read over and over.
We don’t want stories that adults think the kids need read over and over to them.

What’s the Takeaway

For me, it helps to change the question from, “What’s the lesson?” to “What’s the takeaway?”

After a story is read and done, what’s does the reader/listener take away from this story? That could be a moral or lesson, but it could be just a comforting feeling that it’s safe to go to bed because there are no monsters under the bed. This implies that lighter touch.

Writing a Story with a Message, Moral or Lesson

But what if you want to write a story to teach kids a lesson? First, consider if the picture book is the right medium. Would this be better as a Bible study lesson, or as a curriculum lesson?

• Character. If you’re sure that the picture book is the right medium, then start with character, not the lesson. Start with a character who passionately wants something that they can’t have, or fears something they must face. The struggles of a character — even a picture book character — is something that readers are willing to follow.
• Language and voice. Next, make sure the language, the voice of the story sings. Use every skill you know to build in great rhythm, evocative language, read-aloud qualities, etc. Build the plot carefully, page turn by page turn, keeping the tension high enough that it keeps the reader turning pages.
• Show, don’t tell. Unless you’re Aesop, don’t feel compelled to actually state the moral or lesson. Sometimes the strongest insights from reading come when the reader has the epiphany, even though it’s not stated explicitly in the text.

Smart Marketing

A last idea is to market smart. Some publishers are more likely to take a message-driven text than others. Most trade publishers will shy away from this, but look to educational publishers, religious publishers and niche publishers. For example, Albert Whitman publishes what they call “concept books,” which to them means stories about special needs children: diabetes, autism, dealing with death, deafness, etc. Almost by the nature of these books, they tend to be message-driven.

These are just some of the things I’d look at. Any other ideas on distinguishing too-didactic from just-right messages? It’s a fine line — how do you negotiate that line?

Read More:

• 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book.
• 30 Days to a Stronger Novel
• Get Revision Notes by daily email.

Related posts:

1. The Dual Audience for Picture Books
2. Picture Books: Folk Tale or Modern Story?
3. 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book
4. Picture Books 5
5. Playing with Words for Picture Books

How to Write a Picture Book. Ebook, immediate download. $10.