CRAFTING MEMORABLE CHARACTERS: A KEY ELEMENT IN CHILDREN'S BOOK MAKING
Character development makes a story live or die when writing children's books. Kids need to be able to be touched by the characters, need to see themselves in them and become invested in their drama.That investment can lead to some seriously dedicated young readers and an impression that will linger long after the book has been closed. Characters (and how lived-in they seem to your child) can also serve as a gate through which your child progresses toward whatever values you mantle with virtue when teaching morals.In children's literature, the characters make a story truly unforgettable. The heart and soul of any tale reside within its main figures. And what better way to engender that unimpeachable presence than by rendering your leads as memorable as possible? A good story may be sung into existence by some author's voice, but I guess that just about anyone can get a tune to stick in their mind; with "fictional" characters, you have far more room to operate imaginatively—and safely—within the realm of rememberable-ness.Creating memorable characters in children's literature makes the difference between a good book and an unforgettable one. If the youthful audience can attach to the story, then the story has been successful—period.Children recognize when they are being talked down to or treated like children rather than being part of a conversation at their level. Better books for children have always been those that invite them into the conversation and don't talk down to them.Recognizable characters also come with recognizable personalities and distinct motivations. When readers know what's likely to drive character A or character B to do something, they can anticipate (and sometimes even disparage) some plot twists well before they happen.
Creating Believable and Relatable Characters for Young ReadersFor children's literature to be truly effective, its characters must hold a certain amount of believability and relatability – not just for me, but ostensibly, for every child on the planet. Children serve as the authors' audience; they are the book's raison d'être. Will your character make sense to them? Can they see themselves in it? Can they empathize with it? Can they learn from it? These are the essential questions that ought to govern a character's creation. Characters in books are relatable when they resemble readers. Yet being similar isn't enough; characters also need to be well-written and multi-dimensional if they're going to reach children emotionally. In addition to the mere semblance of life, that's two layers on the path toward character "realness." The first layer hinges upon making them as intelligible as possible to us—and I don't just mean understood in terms of their immediate behavior but also terms of their broader personality, with all its fits and starts, for us to grasp a sense of what makes them act (or not act) in certain ways.
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Techniques for Developing Unique and Endearing CharactersCreating special and loving characters for children's books takes both imagination and understanding. Authors have to put just the right combination of qualities into their characters to make them feel real and delightful to readers. What is it that makes certain characters stand out? In "Character Development 101," authors suggest some ways writers can get started—and stay started—for the not-always-easy work of creating memorable characters for our stories. One approach to creating characters that are set apart from others is to consider their internal lives and the emotions they experience. Boys and girls need characters who have undergone the kinds of emotions that they will one day feel. They must identify with characters who are excited, joyful, or even thrilled to provide balancing contrasts with the plain. Authors can use dialogue and actions (and even description) to show what kind of personality a character has. But I think it's much more interesting to observe what makes a character's personhood "unique," or different from all others.—David Alpert
The Role of Character Development in Engaging Children's StoriesThe vital part that character development plays in captivating children's stories really can't be overstated. At their core, characters need to be reliable and trustworthy if they're going to serve as a vehicle for conveying any kind of message—be it pro-social or anti-social—that an author might wish to convey. Who are these people? What makes them act (or not act) in the way that they do? Are they constantly all-guts-and-no-glory risk-takers or rule-following good citizens? Characters have got to have some sort of substance if the story is going to hold together: Faces without depth don't make for reliable character development.
Diversity and Inclusivity in Children's Book Characters In the last few years, it seems that an ever-increasing number of children's books are featuring main characters that are not just different from one another but also representative, by and large, of the kinds of lives with which many kids can identify today. This is a good thing from my perspective. When I was a kid reading books stacked up in sympathetic spaces within my home—spaces that Beverly Tallia's Hmong aunt had insisted should be turned into a library—I didn't then understand what it might feel like to live in a world where your family faces daily hostility because you're lower on the social ladder than the family next door, or what it might be like to love someone who isn't your opposite-sex parent, or even how much fun it can be to read between these ridiculous twins called "the double bass and scat singing."
Make Your Own Children's Book!
Bringing Characters to Life: Illustration and Character DesignWhen it comes to writing for children's books, there is more to it than just creating a good story. Some rules and conventions must be followed if young readers are going to understand what is happening on the page. Indeed, despite what many writers may believe, children aren't as naive or gullible as some imagine. Limited by neither age nor experience, they are quite discerning judges of the sort of book that has been put before them. Children recognize storytelling when they hear it—that much we know because anyone who has ever told an anecdote or enacted a little deed knows how children love to listen (even if they don't always seem to be paying attention).
The Impact of Memorable Characters on Children's Reading ExperienceChildren's reading experiences are profoundly shaped by the characters they encounter. When young readers form a bond with a character, they become more engaged in the story and tend to enjoy it much more. The converse is also true: if children don't feel connected to any of the characters in a story, they are very unlikely to be pushed enough to keep reading. Some characteristics that make characters memorable include uniqueness, consistency, reasonable motivations (even if those motivations lead to bad decisions), some display of imagination on behalf of the author (helping kids see what makes this character special), and lots of action that reveal said character's personality through not only what the character says but also what the character does. In addition, youthful readers may remember the characters in a book for an extended period beyond when they've concluded the story. Sometimes, young people form powerful bonds with certain characters that don't wane even after they've become adults. Indeed, some characters' interactions and how they are drawn into the storyline can impel children to action—that is, professional action—for social change (for good). Characters can take up a small amount of space and time during a narrative and still leave an immense impression on young people who read them; this certainly has been my experience so far. It is very important to be able to create characters that children can remember. When I say 'remember,' I mean not just a slight recollection, but an actual character that kids can envelop themselves in and become engaged with. You've heard it mentioned already, but the power of empathy is really at the top of this cone—with these characters serving as vehicles to teach young readers a grossly important life lesson. A kid might not understand what it's like to walk in the shoes of someone significantly different from them—a viewpoint tallied with sympathy rather than kindness—but they will understand what it's like to have their feelings seen and validated by someone who looks like them; hence, all these characters have got to reach out visually—and through description, context, and even collaboration with artists—to seem real for our young readers.
Make Your Own Children's Book!
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Make Your Own Children's Book!
Techniques for Developing Unique and Endearing CharactersCreating special and loving characters for children's books takes both imagination and understanding. Authors have to put just the right combination of qualities into their characters to make them feel real and delightful to readers. What is it that makes certain characters stand out? In "Character Development 101," authors suggest some ways writers can get started—and stay started—for the not-always-easy work of creating memorable characters for our stories. One approach to creating characters that are set apart from others is to consider their internal lives and the emotions they experience. Boys and girls need characters who have undergone the kinds of emotions that they will one day feel. They must identify with characters who are excited, joyful, or even thrilled to provide balancing contrasts with the plain. Authors can use dialogue and actions (and even description) to show what kind of personality a character has. But I think it's much more interesting to observe what makes a character's personhood "unique," or different from all others.—David Alpert
The Role of Character Development in Engaging Children's StoriesThe vital part that character development plays in captivating children's stories really can't be overstated. At their core, characters need to be reliable and trustworthy if they're going to serve as a vehicle for conveying any kind of message—be it pro-social or anti-social—that an author might wish to convey. Who are these people? What makes them act (or not act) in the way that they do? Are they constantly all-guts-and-no-glory risk-takers or rule-following good citizens? Characters have got to have some sort of substance if the story is going to hold together: Faces without depth don't make for reliable character development.
Diversity and Inclusivity in Children's Book Characters In the last few years, it seems that an ever-increasing number of children's books are featuring main characters that are not just different from one another but also representative, by and large, of the kinds of lives with which many kids can identify today. This is a good thing from my perspective. When I was a kid reading books stacked up in sympathetic spaces within my home—spaces that Beverly Tallia's Hmong aunt had insisted should be turned into a library—I didn't then understand what it might feel like to live in a world where your family faces daily hostility because you're lower on the social ladder than the family next door, or what it might be like to love someone who isn't your opposite-sex parent, or even how much fun it can be to read between these ridiculous twins called "the double bass and scat singing."
Make Your Own Children's Book!
Bringing Characters to Life: Illustration and Character DesignWhen it comes to writing for children's books, there is more to it than just creating a good story. Some rules and conventions must be followed if young readers are going to understand what is happening on the page. Indeed, despite what many writers may believe, children aren't as naive or gullible as some imagine. Limited by neither age nor experience, they are quite discerning judges of the sort of book that has been put before them. Children recognize storytelling when they hear it—that much we know because anyone who has ever told an anecdote or enacted a little deed knows how children love to listen (even if they don't always seem to be paying attention).
The Impact of Memorable Characters on Children's Reading ExperienceChildren's reading experiences are profoundly shaped by the characters they encounter. When young readers form a bond with a character, they become more engaged in the story and tend to enjoy it much more. The converse is also true: if children don't feel connected to any of the characters in a story, they are very unlikely to be pushed enough to keep reading. Some characteristics that make characters memorable include uniqueness, consistency, reasonable motivations (even if those motivations lead to bad decisions), some display of imagination on behalf of the author (helping kids see what makes this character special), and lots of action that reveal said character's personality through not only what the character says but also what the character does. In addition, youthful readers may remember the characters in a book for an extended period beyond when they've concluded the story. Sometimes, young people form powerful bonds with certain characters that don't wane even after they've become adults. Indeed, some characters' interactions and how they are drawn into the storyline can impel children to action—that is, professional action—for social change (for good). Characters can take up a small amount of space and time during a narrative and still leave an immense impression on young people who read them; this certainly has been my experience so far. It is very important to be able to create characters that children can remember. When I say 'remember,' I mean not just a slight recollection, but an actual character that kids can envelop themselves in and become engaged with. You've heard it mentioned already, but the power of empathy is really at the top of this cone—with these characters serving as vehicles to teach young readers a grossly important life lesson. A kid might not understand what it's like to walk in the shoes of someone significantly different from them—a viewpoint tallied with sympathy rather than kindness—but they will understand what it's like to have their feelings seen and validated by someone who looks like them; hence, all these characters have got to reach out visually—and through description, context, and even collaboration with artists—to seem real for our young readers.
Make Your Own Children's Book!
“I earn commissions from my sponsored links”
Emma KellyFreelance/Financial Blogger | Affiliate Marketer, PathZen Ventures