Overview
Many prospective authors of children’s books have an idea but don’t know where to start writing it down. They often have both a concept for their main character and a theme or moral for the book, but feel like they’re building a piece of furniture without explicit directions when going to write their book.
That’s exactly what a children’s book template is for. Knowing how to write a children’s book template gives you a framework to work inside, so you stop staring at a blank page and start putting a real story together. This guide gives you that framework, step by step.
How to Write a Children’s Book Template, and Why You Need One
Children’s book templates aren’t strict rules, just outlines for your children’s book, like a scaffold that supports the construction of your story. You will take away the scaffold when your book is finished and have only your work remaining.
Many first-time authors write themselves into a corner when they write a children’s book without a template; they start out writing an engaging story, but as they continue writing the story, it loses connection with the reader through the middle and turns into a muddled mess of a manuscript. A template keeps the author engaged throughout the whole book.
Also, kids book templates are important due to the fact that children’s books are designed according to the specific age group they will be read to. The page count, word count, and book illustration ratio are not arbitrary; they are based on children’s developmental stages and how children read and interact with materials. If these numbers are incorrect, although the book may be very well-written, it will create the experience of reading the book as being out of the question, which can be tremendously difficult to determine.
Step 1: Choose Your Age Group and Format First
Select a specific age for which you are writing a children’s book, and this will help set your template for your children’s book. Everything will flow from this template, i.e., your characters, story, publishing specs, etc.
Here’s a quick reference to help you choose:
| Book Type | Age Range | Word Count | Page Count | Notes |
| Board books | 0–3 years | 100–200 words | 12–24 pages | Simple concepts, repetition, durable format |
| Picture books | 3–8 years | 500–1,000 words | 32 pages (standard) | Text + illustrations carry equal weight |
| Early readers | 6–9 years | 1,000–10,000 words | 32–64 pages | Simple chapters, some illustrations |
| Middle grade | 8–12 years | 20,000–50,000 words | Varies | Chapter books, fewer illustrations |
Most first-time authors are writing picture books. If that’s you, the standard format is 32 pages, which sounds like a lot until you realize that it includes front matter, back matter, and full-spread illustrations. Your actual text pages are closer to 14–17 spreads.
Knowing this upfront stops you from writing 2,000 words for a picture book and wondering why it doesn’t work.
Step 2: Use a Children’s Book Outline Template to Plan Your Story
A strong children’s book outline template follows a simple three-act structure, the same storytelling shape that has worked for centuries, scaled down for young readers.
1. The Setup (pages 1–8):
Introduce your main character and their world. Determine what they require or desire. Children’s novels don’t have time for slow openings, so move quickly. Something ought to be going on by page four.
2. The Problem (pages 9–24):
Your character encounters difficulties while attempting to achieve their goals. This is what keeps a child interested in your story. Your audience should perceive the issue as genuine and relevant. The stakes don’t have to be very high for a child who is terrified of the dark, a child who feels excluded, or a bear who can’t find his beloved hat. All they have to do is matter.
3. The Resolution (pages 25–32):
Instead of relying on luck or professional help, your character should ideally solve the problem on their own. Children’s stories work best when the main character’s actions drive the conclusion. Conclude with a powerful, funny, or clear lesson.
This is your children’s book outline, and it applies whether you’re writing a picture book about a grumpy caterpillar or a middle-grade adventure across three continents.
Step 3: Follow the Layout; How to Write a Children’s Book Template Page by Page
The next step after you get your outline is to become familiar with how to write children’s book templates by layout on a page level, vs just at the story level. Understanding layout how to write a children’s book template is what will separate manuscripts that feel finished from one that still feels like a draft.:
Here’s a simple list on how to write a children’s picture book template broken down page by page:
- Pages 1–2: Cover Page And First, Opening (Hooking Reader)
- Pages 3–6: Introduce character, setting, and norm.
- Pages 7–10: The inciting incident, something disrupts the status quo
- Pages 11–20: Rising action; Character’s attempts to overcome.
- Pages 21–26: The turning point, the character faces the most difficult challenge
- Pages 27–30: Resolution, character addresses the problem
- Pages 31–32: Closing image or final line, the emotional landing
This is an example of the Story Book Template that all traditionally published Picture Books Follow. There are no rules that you can’t break with this, but it is a shape that works, and having an understanding of it gives you a good gauge for when you purposely want to break that shape.
For a how to write a children’s book template PDF you can use offline, this page-by-page breakdown is exactly what you’d want to print out and keep next to you while you draft.
Step 4: Write Your Draft Using the Template as a Guide
Now you write. With your children’s book outline and your page layout in front of you, the blank page is a lot less scary.
A few things to keep in mind as you draft:
- Write for the ear, not just the eye. Children’s books are read aloud constantly. Every sentence should sound good when spoken. Read your draft out loud as you go; your ear will catch problems your eye misses.
- Leave room for the illustrations. In a picture book, the illustrations carry significant storytelling weight. You don’t need to describe everything. “Max stomped into the kitchen” is better than “Max stomped angrily into the kitchen with his arms crossed and his face scrunched up.” The illustration handles the rest.
- Use appropriate language for the age group you’re writing for. Don’t make things simpler than what they are; kids are generally much smarter than we think. But you need to use words that will be easily understood by kids, and, occasionally, you might even want to surprise them with a word (that has a nice sound) that fits in well with a book for kids.
When you want to create your own book or make your own book from scratch, this drafting stage is where the real magic happens. The template got you here; now let the story take over.
Step 5: From Template to Published Book, What Comes Next
Getting your first complete draft is a significant accomplishment, but it’s only a halfway point and not the end of the road.
So here’s what’s about to happen after the template:
- The nitty-gritty editing part. You should edit your work as though you were going to enter a race or event; anything that does not contribute value to your page should be cut. Every word used in a picture book is important, so read it out loud (if possible) and watch where/when your child’s attention starts to drift from the story.
- Finding an illustrator. If you’re writing a picture book, the illustrations are probably going to be more important than the text itself, so finding an illustrator who can provide an illustration to match the tone of your story is extremely important. You should also work together (the author and illustrator) to agree on what rights you’re granting each other, and how revisions will be done and in what time frame, before any illustrator starts working on any illustrations of your story.
- Format your manuscript. Each book publishing platform has its own file requirements. Getting the formatting right before you upload saves a lot of back-and-forth.
- Choose your publishing path. How to write your own children’s book is one skill. How to create and publish a children’s book is another. Children’s book self-publishing through platforms like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark is accessible and increasingly respected. How to publish a children’s book through a traditional publisher is a longer road, but it remains a viable option for the right manuscript.
Whichever route you choose, the template for writing a children’s book you followed to write your book gave it the strongest possible foundation. A well-structured story is easier to edit, easier to illustrate, and easier to sell.
FAQ’s
1. How do you begin to write a children’s book?
Consider your audience first. Before you write a single sentence, decide the age group you are writing for. This will dictate your word count, tone, and format. Next, identify the primary issue that the main character must resolve. Use a straightforward three-act outline from there: setup, problem, and resolution. The writing itself becomes a lot easier to handle once you have that framework. Start with what you have and let the draft develop rather than waiting until everything is flawless in your mind.
2.What is the format for a children’s book?
The age group determines the format. Toddler board books are 12–24 pages long and contain 100–200 words. For children ages 3 to 8, picture books are usually 32 pages long and include 500–1,000 words. The narrative is equally shared by the text and graphics. Simple chapters of 1,000–10,000 words can be used as early readers for children ages 6–9. Publishers and self-publishing platforms want you to adhere to specific norms regarding trim size, page count, and illustration density for each format.
3. What types of children’s books are in demand?
Books with diverse, inclusive characters continue to perform strongly. Stories that help children process big emotions, such as fear, grief, change, and belonging, are consistently popular with parents and educators. STEM-themed books for early readers are a growing category. Funny, rhyming picture books for ages 3–6 never fall out of favor. The most in-demand books tend to combine a universal emotional theme with a fresh, specific story, not the other way around.
4. What are 5 characteristics of a good children’s book?
A great children’s book has a clear and relatable main character, a problem that feels real and age-appropriate, a satisfying resolution that the child drives themselves, language that sounds good when read aloud, and illustrations that add to the story rather than just repeat what the text already says. The best children’s books also have something in them for the adult reading aloud, a layer of warmth or humor that keeps the grown-up engaged, too.
5. What do publishers look for in a children’s book?
Publishers are looking for a compelling, unique idea with a distinct target market. They seek out writing that is concise and intentional, free of superfluous words, and has a unique, vibrant narrative voice. Particularly for picture books, they like text that doesn’t describe every detail but instead allows illustrators to work freely. Additionally, they want to see that you are aware of the market, which includes the suitable word count, tone for your target audience, and a tale that actually closes a gap rather than rehashing old material. A polished, well-formatted submission shows that you are serious about the work.
Ready to Turn Your Template Into a Real Book?
You now have everything you need to follow the “How to write a children’s book template?” From first idea to finished draft. The structure is there. The outline is clear. All that’s left is to write the story only you can tell.
If you’d like expert support taking it further, from manuscript feedback to illustration, formatting, and publishing, Bumblebear Publishing is here to help. We work with first-time children’s book authors every day, and we know exactly what it takes to turn a great idea into a book children will love.
Your story is ready to be written. Let’s make it happen.
