WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WRITING A CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY BOOK

Why Writing a Holiday Children’s Book is a Great Idea

Choosing what kind of book to write is a difficult prospect. Many new writers make the mistake of overlooking the value of writing children’s books. These writers are dismissive of children’s books because they believe the material is not as important, but a good children’s book can convey as deep of a meaning or lesson as adult literature. Children’s literature is crucial for developing critical thinking, language, and educational skills in a young audience.

Many children’s book authors are also well respected in their field. It is common for adults to fondly remember books they read as young childen, with many going on to purchase those books for their own children. As with adult books, there are certain tips to help make your children’s book memorable. If you are struggling to find a topic for your book, consider setting it during a holiday.

Building your Holiday Story

At first, it may not seem like there are many storytelling opportunities for holiday books. Many classic children’s authors have already explored the holidays in their own works. However, part of what makes the holidays unique is how many different lessons and experiences each individual has. If you compare your own Christmas traditions to another family, you may have completely different experiences. 

When selecting a holiday, pick something that has a special meaning to you. Even if there are thousands of books exploring Christmas, you can tell a unique story based on your own experiences. Some authors may choose to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, expressing that the holiday is about more than giving and receiving gifts. Others might explore the family element. If you do not want a deeper meaning in your book, you could even tell an amusing story about the adventures of Santa delivering gifts.

Not all stories have to put the holiday front and center. For example, Halloween is a popular holiday to center stories around because of the supernatural aspects of the holiday. If you already have an existing idea for a children’s book, see if you can tweak the setting to make it relevant to the holiday. A story about friendship may fit a Valentine’s Day theme, or a family story can take place over Thanksgiving.

Your story is also not limited to one holiday. Consider telling a story that takes place across multiple holidays, using the different holidays as a way to emphasize how the characters act over a longer period of time.

Marketing Benefits of Holiday Books

Not only are there many holiday stories to tell, but there are numerous marketing benefits to writing a children’s holiday book. For many authors, the biggest advantage of writing a holiday book is free publicity. With so many new avenues for writers to publish books, it is harder to get noticed. During the holiday, major bookstores and websites will go out of their way to highlight holiday-related stories. Even if your book is not initially advertised, if parents are searching for a holiday-themed book for their child, your story is more likely to show up. The best part is this is not a one-time benefit. Each year your book will gain relevance during the holiday season.

Holiday-themed books are also easier to sell because they represent a shared experience. Parents view holiday books as less risky because they already have a general idea of what the book will be about, even if tells a unique story. It is also easier to represent holiday themed stories with familiar artwork, which will draw the attention of shoppers.

The marketing benefits not only apply to potential shoppers, but also to publishers. Popular children’s publishers, such as Full Cycle Publications, are more likely to pick an identifiable book, such as a holiday story.

Benefits of Holiday Artwork

If you are not an illustrator, you must find a partner to help tell your story. If you have never worked with an illustrator before, this may seem difficult because you must find a way to convey how you envision the story. Designing holiday artwork is much easier because holidays have so many iconic images. It helps put you and your illustrator on the same page, giving you common ground when expressing your ideas. It also gives the illustrator natural guidance. A Halloween book will likely feature children in costumes, while a Christmas-themed story will feature snowy backgrounds.

Tips for Writing a Holiday Children’s Book

While there are many benefits that make writing a holiday-themed book easier, you must still take the time to prepare your story. The first step in writing a children’s book is determining your audience. Children’s book refers to a broad age range, typically between a few months old and up to nine years. Stories aimed at a three-year-old are drastically different compared to stories aimed for an eight-year-old. This not only affects what themes or characters you use in a story but also the length and the type of artwork. 

When you are writing a children’s book, you want to compare your story to already existing stories. This gives you a better idea of how to format your book but also ensures your story brings something new to the table. Fortunately, the marketing benefits of holiday books make it easier to look for relevant stories to compare your ideas to.

As with an adult book, take the time to outline and expect to write multiple drafts. Children’s books may be shorter and less complex than adult novels, but the traditional writing rules still apply. When you complete a draft, read it to both adults and children to get their opinions.

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