As you begin thinking of ideas for your children’s book, it’s very helpful to read others’ work. Go to your library or children’s bookstore and spend a few hours browsing. Think about which books appeal to you most, and why.  Do you want your book to have illustrations, or will it be text-only? Do you want to write fiction or non-fiction? Non-fiction or informational books require research or knowledge of the subject matter and can be good if you're an expert about something like dinosaurs, meteors or machinery. For good fiction inspiration, read the classics. Don't limit yourself to recent works––go back in time and read stories that have withstood the test of time and try to find for yourself what it is about them that is so everlasting. For example, check out such books as: Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, The Polar Express, and other favorites. Check out fairy tales. The entertainment industry is currently experiencing a greatly revived interest in fairy tales and turning them modern. Since the majority of fairy tales are in the public domain, you're free to snaffle up characters and plots and take them to completely new places with totally new attitudes! The term “children’s books” covers everything from board books with one word on a page to chapter books, novels and non-fiction factual books written for kids in middle school and teens (young adults). The plot, content, and themes of your book need to be age appropriate for your intended readers for them to be appealing (remember that parents are the ultimate gatekeepers who can determine whether or not a child reads your book).  Picture books are suitable for younger children. They tend to be in full color, which makes them more expensive to print, so bear that in mind. On the plus side, they tend to be shorter, but then your writing needs to be very good to grab interest and keep the story tight. Chapter books and non-fiction/informational books are for older children. Starting with easy-readers through to teen novels, there is a great deal of scope here but there is also likely to be a lot more writing and researching involved. Don't neglect the potential for a book of poems or short stories. If you write either, you'll find children love both too. If your book is for younger readers, you’ll want to include a lot of artwork that complements your writing. If you’re an artist, you may draw your own illustrations - many children’s book authors do. If you’re not, you may want to hire a professional illustrator to create the artwork for your book. For older children, diagrams, drawings, and occasional bright images may be sufficient; in some cases, no images at all might work too.  Before seeking an illustrator, sketch your ideas for the pictures that will go along with each page. This will help you with the next stage of editing, and you’ll be able to give the sketches to the potential illustrator to give him or her an idea of what you want. Illustrators have very different styles, so it’s important to conduct thorough research before making a choice. Do an online search for illustrators and look at professional portfolios. If hiring a professional isn’t in your budget, you might want to ask a friend or family member who is artistic to create artwork for your story. Consider photography as another option for adding images to your book. If you enjoy taking photos, you can use real-life scenery, stills using stuffed toys and so forth. You can also use a digital photo program to add elements that you can't photography easily.

Summary: Read a variety of children’s books. Consider which age group interests you as a writer. Decide whether your book is mostly words, mostly pictures, or a bit of each.


When someone close to you is dealing with a bad situation after a breakup, it can be difficult for everyone involved, including you. You may wonder how you can make the situation easier, what you should do, or what you should say. You can cope with the situation and help them cope by offering a helping hand, a hug, or even just a smile.  Whether it is your parents divorcing, or a friend ending a long-term relationship, tell them that you care and want to be there for them. You could say, “I know this is a really tough time for you. I want you to know I care about you and want to be here for you. If you want to, we can just sit here.” Do little things that you know will be helpful like walking their dog, cooking a meal, or washing dishes. Whatever the bad situation, and no matter how much you want to make things better after the breakup, you have to set boundaries to the support you give. In order for you to cope with the situation, you’ve got to know what you can and can’t handle and you’ve got to express this.  Make a list of things that you are and aren’t okay doing to provide support. For example, you might write, “I can spend all day with my friend Saturday, but I can’t skip school to be there for her on Monday”. Tell the people involved what your limits are. For instance, you might tell your dad, “I’m okay with talking about the divorce and this whole situation, but not with badmouthing Mom or you.” Everyone heals in their own way and at their own pace. There is no right way or time limit for getting over a breakup. It may take the people involved, and you, varying amounts of time to work through this bad situation.  The best way to cope with a bad situation after the breakup of someone close to you is to be patient.  Be patient with the ex-couple. It may take one, or both, of them time to work through their feelings and move on from what happened. For example, if your mom cries at everything after your parents’ divorce, remind yourself, “I need to be patient. This divorce is hard for her and she needs time.” Be patient with yourself. Don’t try to get over the breakup in a hurry. You have feelings that you need to work through, as well. Tell yourself, “This breakup is a bad situation for me, too, but I can work through it if I’m patient with myself and give everyone time to heal.” You do have to deal with negative parts, but you should also look for and point out the positive things that can come from the breakup. Looking for the bright side will help you cope with this situation better and help everyone else cope with the breakup.  For example, you could remind your friend that now she can move to that part of town that she loves but her ex hated. Or you might tell your mom, “The divorce is hard on us all, but I’ve noticed it’s given you the freedom to spend more time on your painting.” One coping technique for any situation is doing things that improve your mood and make you feel happier. Cope with a bad situation after someone else breaks up by doing something fun to relieve some of your emotional and physical stress.  For instance, you could go for a game of putt-putt golf with your dad or visit an antique store with your mom. You could take your sister out for frozen yogurt after her breakup or catch a concert with your friend after their breakup. Don’t forget to do something fun just for you. Doing things you enjoy will help you cope with the bad situation, so go skating or catch the latest 3D movie.
Summary: Be there for the person. Set limits. Be patient. Focus on the positive. Do something fun.