♦♦[BIZ] The Children's Publishing Cheat Code: How to Write for Developmental Stages Instead of 'Kids'
What separates amateur children's book creators from professionals: amateurs write for "kids," while pros write for developmental stages most people don't even know exist.
From Board Books to Chapter Books: A Visual Storyteller's Guide to Age Levels in Children's Publishing
Not all "children's stories" are created equal.
A story for a toddler is not a story for second graders. Publishers know it. So do kids. Now it’s time for you to join the exclusive club. If you're a visual storyteller and you’re interested in children's books, the first step isn't drawing. It's understanding who you're drawing for.
In this guide, you'll learn how children's publishing is categorized by age and developmental stage—and how each affects character, plot, world-building, and theme. This is the clarity your story needs to find a home. A publisher to market and distribute it, and a youthful imagination to share it in the dim light of a bedroom lamp. Let’s find your ideal reader.
From Board Books to Chapter Books: A Visual Storyteller's Guide to Age Levels in Children's Publishing
Why Age Matters (And Why Publishers Obsess Over It)
Children's book editors don't buy "kid stories." They buy books for specific age groups and reading levels. These categories determine everything: page count, vocabulary, emotional tone, sentence complexity, and whether or not your book even uses words.
“All the people involved – the editors, the artists, the reviewers, the teachers, the school librarians – shared a common resolve to give American youngsters the very best literature that could be got.”
Alice Dalgliesh, children’s book editor at Scribner’s
The Framework: 5 Categories
Board Books
Age Range: 0–2 years
Format: Durable cardboard books with few or no words
Purpose: Visual recognition, rhythm, and sensory interaction
Picture Books
Age Range: 3–5 years
Format: Fully illustrated 32-page books meant to be read aloud
Purpose: Simple narrative, emotional learning, repetition
Picture Books for Older Kids
Age Range: 5–7 years
Format: Longer picture books or early narrative-driven stories
Purpose: More developed plots, social dynamics, and emotional nuance
Early Readers
Age Range: 6–8 years
Format: Short chapters, large type, spot illustrations
Purpose: Independent reading with support, confidence-building
Chapter Books
Age Range: 7–10 years
Format: Multi-chapter stories with light illustration
Purpose: Sustained story arcs, character development, reader identity formation
Those are the five major publishing categories (not including YA), and for each category, I'll outline the narrative components so you can see how they apply for writers:
Character
Plot
World/Setting
Theme/Moral
Visual/Narrative Format
1. Board Books (Ages 0–2)
Think: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Page Count: 12–24
Word Count: 0–100
🧠 Developmental Insight: Babies and toddlers aren't following plots—they're reacting to rhythm, repetition, and imagery. These are books to be touched, chewed, and memorized.
Character: Simple, often symbolic (e.g., an animal, a shape, a familiar object)
Plot: Nonexistent or cyclical (e.g., hunger → eat → sleep)
World/Setting: Concrete, visually dominant. Often rooted in routine (bedtime, mealtime, play)
Theme: Comfort, recognition, naming, emotional security
Format: Heavy cardstock pages; bold, high-contrast images; pattern and predictability
Expert Insight: Kate DiCamillo says, "From a cognitive standpoint, I'm very aware that you have no room for error in a picture book. Every word counts.”
2. Picture Books (Ages 3–5)
Think: Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are
Page Count: 32
Word Count: 250–500 (younger) to 700–1,000 (older)
🧠 Developmental Insight: Preschoolers begin to understand cause and effect, can follow a basic emotional arc, and relate to the main characters' feelings.
Character: A single protagonist with one tangible want or fear. Often anthropomorphized animals or children.
Plot: A straightforward conflict, often resolved in 3 steps (beginning-middle-end). Time is linear. Stakes are low but personal.
World/Setting: Familiar places with slight imaginative twists. Settings cue emotional tone.
Theme: Basic emotional lessons—sharing, bedtime fears, trying something new.
Format: Fully illustrated; one scene per spread; adult reads to child.
📝 Mo Willems says, “I sometimes joke that I write for functional illiterates,” Willems added. “Because these stories aren’t meant to be read once—they’re meant to be read a thousand times. In that way, they’re more like a song than a score for a film. You don’t listen to ‘A Boy Named Sue’ for the ending.”
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/06/mo-willems-funny-failures?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. Picture Books for Older Kids (Ages 5–7)
Think: The Paper Bag Princess, Officer Buckle, and Gloria
Page Count: 32–48
Word Count: 800–1,200
🧠 Developmental Insight: Children begin to associate internal emotions with external actions. Humor, mischief, and irony become accessible.
Character: Characters can now experience small failures, express pride, or show defiance.
Plot: A problem-solution structure with minor twists. Stronger cause-effect logic.
World/Setting: Real-world adjacent. Often school, home, or parks—but can stretch into fantasy.
Theme: Independence, honesty, consequences. Subtext begins to matter.
Format: Same as younger picture books, but may support early independent reading.
4. Early Readers (Ages 6–8)
Think: Frog and Toad, Henry and Mudge
Page Count: 48–64
Word Count: 1,500–2,500
🧠 Developmental Insight: Children can now decode written language independently. They need structure and repetition to build confidence.
Character: Friendship and consistency matter. Characters rarely change, but they reveal themselves through their choices.
Plot: Short, episodic stories. Simple arcs—problem, struggle, resolution.
World/Setting: Safe and stable. Subtle variation from one book to the next (think series).
Theme: Emotional resilience, fairness, persistence. Often modeled through buddy dynamics.
Format: Simple sentences, limited vocabulary, supportive illustrations
Mo Williems said, “They were what I thought kids wanted—that’s why they failed. You don’t give people what they want. You give them what they don’t yet know they want.”
5. Chapter Books (Ages 7–10)
Think: Magic Tree House, Judy Moody
Page Count: 64–128
Word Count: 4,000–15,000
🧠 Developmental Insight: Kids now enjoy more sophisticated plots and character development. They're ready for multi-step problem-solving and character-driven stories.
Character: Protagonists begin to change. Motivations deepen. Emotions get more layered.
Plot: Multiple chapters, mini cliffhangers. Problems unfold and require thinking or teamwork to solve.
World/Setting: Broader scope—historical, magical, or fantastical settings become accessible.
Theme: Empathy, social belonging, making a difference. Moral complexity begins.
Format: Black-and-white spot illustrations, fewer per page. Text dominates.
Kate DiCamillo states, "…there’s always this kind of peripheral magic to me in children’s books, where you can kind of see the possibility out of the corner of your eye.”
https://www.slj.com/story/Kate-DiCamillo-on-Hope-Humor-and-Love-in-her-Newbery-Books?utm_source=chatgpt.com
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: VISUAL STORYTELLER CHECKLIST
Here's a simplified version you can share in class. Each age group has distinct creative constraints.
FINAL THOUGHT: START WITH THE READER
It's tempting to start with your idea. But the best children's books begin with the child. We’ll adapt and fine-tune your idea.
Ask:
How old is my ideal reader?
What are they going through emotionally?
What kind of story do they need, not just want?
And if you're writing and illustrating? Know that visual storytelling must do the heavy lifting, especially when the words are sparse.
There you have it. An introduction. For some, it’s nothing new. For the uniitiated it’s bold new terrain, filled with taffy and laughter. (Not really, I haven’t heard your story yet. Maybe it is?)
In the next article, we will cover age group 1-2. Join me for another exciting episode…
Charles Merritt Houghton
13 June 2025