Why children LOVE picturebooks
Jessica Colliver- Jul 20, 2021
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 26, 2023
★ What did you love as a child?
By looking at the reasons why we loved picturebooks as a child we can identify what appeals to our audience - as they will likely share similiar interest to you as the picturebook creator! You can check out the video below for insights into my childhood favourites and how you can create stories that capture the interest of your audience:
There are many reasons why children love picturebooks and below I highlight the key information and steps to consider in your picturebook creative process. If you're interested in purchasing any of the recommended picturebooks I've discussed then please consider using the links below - I'm an Amazon Associate and so I earn a percentage from any qualifying purchases, which supports future picturebook research and articles.
★ #1 Get Up and Go, Little Dinosaur!
(https://amzn.to/3xoWi6A) by Norman Gorbaty.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
There are action words on each page that you can copy and act out.
The actions were usually high energy but the last page ends on a calmer 'hug' action which was great for bonding between me and the person that read the book to me.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
If you have a simple story, consider using a single action word to encourage readers to act them out.
If you have a book with high-intensity actions then consider ending on a calmer, bonding note so that the audience can get ready for bed if it's chosen to be read as a bedtime book.
★ #2 The Black and White Cat
(https://amzn.to/3i42xIE) by Deborah King.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
The illustrations hint at the further context to the story than what is written in the text - the story is about a cat moving to the countryside and learning to love herself for her natural beauty but the illustration suggests that the cat may be enacting this story because it was abandoned. Though I didn't fully understand it as a child, I knew something relevant was being shown in the illustrations and I would spend a long time trying to decipher the story.
There was a fun 'find the hidden cat' puzzle on one of the pages where the cat is hidden amongst the patchwork of cows.
My mum would always point out the contrasting illustrations on the endpapers that show 'sooty' paws of the city at the front of the picturebook and 'clean' paws at the conclusion - reflecting the change seen in the story. I loved the contrast and learning from her as to how she interpreted picturebooks.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
Don't be afraid to write stories that have multiple layers that can be revealed in the illustrations.
Consider if a 'find the character' puzzle fits your story.
If you're an illustrator don't forget to consider the endpapers as part of the design of the overall picturebook.
★ #3 White Rabbit’s Colour Book
(https://amzn.to/37gLXiR) by Alan Baker.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
There's an illustration that wasn't related to the story in the text but was dynamic enough that it told its own story. I would spend a long time trying to 'read' the illustration to understand the story.
There were lots of 'Prime and Reveal' moments that I enjoyed guessing correctly. The 'prime' is when the text says the rabbit jumped into two prime colours and the 'reveal' comes when you turn the page and discover whether you guessed the right colour.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
Consider using 'Prime and Reveal' moments in your story - especially if you have a setup that has an answer a child might be able to guess.
★ #4 Tooth Fairy
(https://amzn.to/2VdyXaE) by Audrey Wood.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
The main character's name is the same as mine. Therefore, as a child I found it easier to connect with the character.
The story shows something unique about an interest I had and wanted to in learn more about - where the tooth fairy lives and what she does with all the teeth she collects!
Fantastical illustrations showed a castle made of teeth!
One of the characters was a little naughty but they learn their lesson. As a child, this story was reassuring as it showed the audience that despite making mistakes you will still be loved.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
Take a look at what names are currently popular and see if using them for your characters is appropriate for your book.
Try to think of a story that answers questions children might be interested in answering.
If your story features fantastical things then consider including some unique illustrations.
Don't be afraid to include characters that aren't perfect.
★ #5 Who's Making That Mess?
(https://amzn.to/2UQisl9) by Jenny Tyler & Steven Cartwright.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
The main character's name is the same as mine - again!
The character is accused of being messy but the story reveals their innocence and I could empathise with the frustration of being falsely accused.
There was a fun 'find the hidden items' puzzle.
Each page contains a mystery to solve as to who was really making the mess.
There were engaging 'lift-the-flaps' that reveal the answer to the question proposed in the text.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
Again, some lists show what names are currently popular around the world - take a look at the names and see if any are appropriate for your book.
Think of topics for your story that children can strongly identify with - like how it feels to be falsely accused of doing something.
See if a 'find the hidden items' puzzle fits your story.
Identify if your story contains a mystery or questions that can be answered with a lift-the-flap interaction.
★ #6 Six Dinner Sid
(https://amzn.to/3ryBDfk) by Inga Moore.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
The spot illustrations are like a puzzle. The text says the cat acts differently when he is with different owners and so, as a child, I would spend a long time trying to spot which visual scene belonged to which household.
It was also another story about a black cat - which was apparently something I enjoyed reading books about!
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
Evaluate whether your story would be suitable for a visual puzzle.
Consider what interests your audience may have. Cats are a common interest for young children as they're a common animal but they're also unpredictable with how they act compared to other household pets.
★ #7 Funny Bones
(https://amzn.to/2Vdz6ec ) by Janet & Allan Ahlberg.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
The illustrations do such a good job of showing the story through a series of comic strips that you don't need to understand the text to know what is happening. My Aunty would read this book in Welsh and so I enjoyed the experience of listening to the beautiful language and yet still follow the story.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
You can't control how your audience will use your picturebook but you can include things that encourage certain interactions and experiences with your story. For example, Funny Bones includes a song that is intended to be sung. So consider what experiences may be valuable for your picturebook.
★ #8 Slinky Malinki
(https://amzn.to/3iHX7Cc) by Lynley Dodd.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
Once again I liked this picturebook because as a child I liked black cats and naughty characters.
Lynley Dodd does an excellent job of creating characters with unique and interesting names and using intriguing words like 'rapscallion'.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
Don't be afraid to use long or interesting words in your picturebooks. As long as it is written with context then the audience can learn and decipher it.
★ #9 Peepo
(https://amzn.to/3iMaZM4) by Janet & Allan Ahlberg.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
There was a fun 'find the thing described' puzzle.
It also was a picturebook that enabled lots of engagement between me and the person reading the book because it contains items that are not commonly used in the modern-day but would be recognisable to older generations e.g. non-electrical irons.
The illustrations hint at the further context to the story than what is written in the text - the story is about a baby's day but the illustrations show the family getting ready for the father going off to war. As a child, I picked up on something going on but I didn't know what it was. Only now as an adult do I understand the visual cues.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
Don't be afraid to write picturebooks that may deal with difficult topics, with the help of a mature reader, picturebooks are a safe place where children can explore those really difficult concepts.
★ #10 The Night The Toys Came To Life
(https://amzn.to/3eY6eO8) by Tony Wolf.
Reasons Why I Liked This As A Child:
This book is enormous and could be classed as a wimmelbook with its detailed illustrations and numerous anthropomorphised characters all doing different activities. I used to spend hours pouring over the pages to see what it was they were doing and imagining what was going to happen next.
How You Can Create Stories Like This:
Assess whether your picturebook would benefit from simple illustrations or a more detailed approach - as seen in this story.
★ Summary
Ultimately what we can take away from these examples is that children love picturebooks that increase engagement - not only with the picturebook but also with the reader if they aren't reading the books alone. So if you want your picturebook to be successful, try to think of different ways you can make your book engaging and unique.
★ How can you find out more?
Subscribe to Pssst! so you don't miss an issue.
Check out my YouTube Channel.
Follow me on Twitter.
Together we can design your success story - so let's start experimenting!
Recommended citation: Colliver, Jessica. “Why Children LOVE Picturebooks.” Pssst! - Picturebook Secrets of Successful Storytelling, vol. 1, no. 3, 2020.
Comments