The Talking Kitten
A lost kitten follows you home, but you soon discover that this is no ordinary kitten—it can speak! Write about your conversations with the talking kitten and the secrets it shares.
Suggested length: An early reader: 1,000 to 2,500 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Use a repeated line young readers can join in on.
- Make the ending warm, safe and a little bit funny.
- Keep it to one problem and one place.
Writing children's
Ages 0 to 8: books made to be read aloud, again and again.
Children's books run from board books and picture books for the youngest to early readers and chapter books for kids reading on their own. Every word counts, and the adults reading aloud are an audience too.
What readers expect
- Simple, rhythmic language
- A child's point of view
- Room for the illustrations
- A satisfying, often gentle ending
A tip before you start
You don't need an illustrator. Publishers pair picture book writers with artists, so leave room in your text for the pictures to tell part of the story.
More Early Reader prompts
- The Dragon Fruit TreeImagine a tree in your backyard that grows unusual fruits. One day, you discover it's growing small, colorful dragons instead of apples. Write about…
- The Dessert PlanetCreate a story where you and your best friend build a rocket ship out of cardboard boxes and fly to a mysterious planet made entirely of desserts.…
- The Squirrel's Lost TreasureYou find a talking squirrel in your backyard who desperately needs help finding its lost treasure, hidden somewhere in the city park. Write about your…
- A Day of Animal ConversationsImagine waking up one morning to discover that you can speak to animals! Your first conversation is with your pet dog, who has a lot to say about…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
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