The Pacifier and the Moon
Create a tale about a magical pacifier that grants wishes. What happens when a baby wishes for the moon?
Suggested length: A board book: under 100 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 Board Book prompts
- A Cloud's View of the WorldWrite a story from the perspective of a cloud in the sky. What does the cloud see during the day? Does it meet any airplanes, birds, or even a kite?…
- The Lost Little CloudA little cloud gets lost from its family in the sky and must find its way back. Along the journey, the cloud learns how it can change its shape to…
- Teddy Bear’s Midnight FeastWrite a story about a teddy bear who comes to life every night when its owner goes to sleep. The teddy bear loves to sneak out to the kitchen to make…
- The Crayon's Big AdventureImagine a day in the life of a crayon. What color is it and how does it feel about the drawings it makes? Does it get along with the other crayons in…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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