5 things to look for in great children's books.

As a writer and a reader, I'm always on the lookout for great children's books. This is because I firmly believe children's books aren't just for humans under the age of 18. They are a unique form, with deliberate audience requirements, and they offer readers of all ages a special way of engaging with story and content. It is true that children's books don't always have to be serious. Sometimes they are just good fun stories. Both are great! But when I'm hunting for a really top quality children's, or sitting down to write one myself, there are several things I keep my eyes open for:

1) Great storyline.
This is pretty obvious: a great book for children will be a story they want to read (over and over again). But this won't happen if the storyline is weak, the action irrelevant or the characters shallow. A great storyline is one where curiosity is sparked right from the start, a problem needs solving or an adventure is embarked upon and the stakes are high. Fun, humour, heart and authenticity are important too, although not every story needs to have them all. ​

2)  If there is a lesson, it needs to be there.
Children's books often include a moral or a lesson as well as a great story, however if the 'teaching' part of the book is heavily written, not age-appropriate or forced, it may as well not be there. Whether the lesson is overtly faith based or something as simple as 'share your toys', if it doesn't add to the story, it will more often than not detract. The best books that teach deliberate lessons are those in which the teaching is so intertwined with the narrative, neither would exist without the other.  

3) The characters are true.
No, I don't mean non-fiction. I'm referring to characters that feel real because they have been fully developed. Their dialogue rings true, they act like their age and their actions make sense, even if their decisions aren't the best ones to make. Characters that are true are the ones that we believe in, cheer for (or hope to avoid). They aren't shallow or hollow, and the lessons they learn along the way make sense because they come from what that character wants or needs.

4) Fabulous illustrations. 
In children's books, illustrations really matter and have the potential to contribute values, meaning and depth to a story. Pictures can communicate mood, compassion and humour. They can nurture the imagination and extend the story beyond the words on the page. Never, ever, underestimate the role and importance of well chosen artwork in children's books.

5) Depth worth talking about.
My favourite children's books are the ones that spark conversation and draw readers into thinking about issues and ways of being in the world with faith. They don't necessarily have to contain deep or serious issues, and neither do these issues need to be explicitly articulated. Sometimes the best discussions can arise from the implied lessons and themes readers can mull over, or the way a story might challenge the way we see or respond to the world.

What do you look out for when searching for (or writing) great children's books?