Why Write a Children's Book?

I was asked once why I decided to write a book for kids. Why didn't I write a great American novel and be one of those best seller writers who write bold, gritty and heart stopping self-analyzing sagas to add to all the local bookstores?

Well, for one thing, children's books are more fun to write. As an artist, I can use more creativity and humor to tell a story and entertain as well as educate. Books not only entertain us but they can remind us of our past, keep us in our present, and go with us into our future. We should share all that we know with our children so that they can become all of the things that they dream about being. One of the best ways to do this is to teach them through stories and life experiences.

Why Write A Children's Book?

Another reason I decided to write children's books is because I believe children need to hear and see things from their own world that will help them maneuver through this very challenging thing we adults call life. Books can help parents explain to their child things that may be difficult in a one-on-one conversation. They need to hear adults explain behaviors and situations in ways that they can understand, not in the way only adults can comprehend. Many of the books written for children today are mystical, magical and completely fanciful, which is a good thing. It helps to stretch their imaginations and use all of their mental and emotional capabilities. But they also need to understand about real things: relationships, responsibilities and reality. Using the fanciful and the practical approach in a story helps kids grow up with a good foundation and give them perspective and security, which supports their emotional, mental and physical well-being.

Storytelling is an art that has been with us for as long as anyone can remember. Before books were readily available, most people used to memorize and relay the story to their families orally and in turn, each generation was able to keep that story alive. Many times each family had a person who had the gift for telling stories and they were an important part of the family unit. Since that time, books have taken their place from the tales and fables that had been passed on to each generation to books stacked neatly on shelves, reaching so many more people all with new and interesting stories to tell.

In today's world, it's a struggle to keep kids reading and it does help that their parents, grandparents, older siblings and other family members read to them. I also wanted to write a book where these caretakers are finding a story that they enjoy as well. When an adult reads to a child, they can help the child not only understand new worlds and new concepts, but they can bring a sense of stability and bonding that is so important to children. Making it fun and challenging at the same time gives kids an opportunity to see what sparks their interest or where their futures may lie, and as their parent, your words of encouragement will provide that little extra boost to their dreams.

Even though we are now is a world of instant information, we still need to slow down a bit and process that information through our minds and our emotions. Children need this even more these days. They get fast bits of information but not a lot of time to process and rethink things so that they have a better understanding of a situation and learn to trust themselves and their decisions.

So when writing my stories for a child's book, I think about what a kid is thinking when they see or hear the words I write, or how they see an illustration. I try to see it through their eyes and how I might have been able to help them understand just a small part of what they see in everyday life.