The Animal in the Backpack
Your main character discovers a talking animal hiding in their school backpack. The animal urgently needs their help to return to its magical homeland. Write about their secret adventures together, dodging teachers and classmates all the while.
Suggested length: A picture book: 300 to 800 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.
- Name the feeling the character has, simply and honestly.
- Read it out loud as you write. If it doesn't sound good, change it.
- Give every page or scene one picture worth drawing.
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 Kids prompts
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- Colors Across the SkyImagine a world where every time you learn something new, a color splashes across the sky. Describe your character’s day from sunrise to sunset as…
- The Bird's Backyard TreasureA young child discovers a talking bird in their backyard that claims to know the location of a hidden treasure. Together with their best friends, they…
- The Library Door Through TimeThe characters in your story stumble upon a secret door in their school library that leads to historical moments. They find themselves hopping into…
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