Before you start Writing a Children’s Book Series for the Canadian audience, let us get you acquainted with the market dynamics of the land of the Maple Leaf. Understanding this landscape will provide you with valuable insights and help ensure your stories resonate with young readers.
According to various sources, kids aged 6 to 17 in Canada are enthusiastic about reading. Some of them read for fun, while others are bibliophiles and spend their leisure time with books quite frequently, with no traces of regret.
Females in this North American country are steadier with their reading habits than males, but speaking of children’s series, everyone is a die-hard fan. Perhaps because such books create a sense of continuity and adventure or maybe because they allow young readers to form lasting connections with characters.
The readers follow their journey over multiple books, fostering a love for reading and encouraging them to explore new stories. For instance, the British series – Harry Potter is based on seven fantasy novels. So, let us get inspired and start writing a children’s book series in Canada.
Planting Seeds for Canadian Young Readers!
An ancient Arabian proverb goes like this, ‘A book is a garden carried in the pocket’. It means that stories are magical. They transport readers to enchanting places and adventures through the power of words.
However, do not think, even for a fraction of a second, that only an exceptional writer or a Children’s Book publisher knows the trick of writing a majestic tale. Anybody can do it. Thus, we gathered insights from all the expert authors and here is a summary of how to spellbind young minds with just your words.
Discover the Tastes of Your Target Audience
Marketers dissect the market and isolate the Canadian children to study their preferences in depth. Such experiments have revealed that they love books featuring relatable characters. The adventures set in familiar landscapes and elements of the country’s culture fascinate them.
Namely, there is ‘The Hockey Sweater’ by Roch Carrier and ‘Silverwing’ by Kenneth Oppel, which have been on the minds of bibliophiles for years.
Another reason for their popularity is how they resonate with kids’ experiences and imaginations. Hence, a good children’s book series does not just entertain but also instils a sense of pride and connection to their heritage.
Penning Down Canadian Tales that Live for Ages
- Step#1 – Understanding Your Audience
The effort of publishing a children’s book is not a walk in the park. It requires compassionate and rigorous hard work. So, let us get started.
Knowing your target age group and their interest is the first step as you enter this realm. As per various studies, Canadian pre-teens and teens adore stories that reflect their culture, so you must live the culture before you start writing even a word about it.
You might want to visit local communities, explore Canadian folklore and understand the unique balance of traditions versus modern life. This will help you create tales that feel authentic and the ones winning hearts globally.
- Step#2 – Create Engaging Characters
Next, you should ensure that each of your plot figures is charming and mind-stirring enough. Making this happen is easy. You just have to develop memorable and relatable characters for kids to connect with and present them layer after layer.
This way, because of the food for thought, the interest of the reader is nurtured in the script. They start mirroring their own experiences and challenges with the plot, viewing themselves as a part of the story.
Therefore, you must infuse your protagonist with positive traits so that the children can learn basic life lessons like kindness, bravery, honesty and emotional well-being through the children’s book series at an early age.
- Step#3 – Craft an Interesting Plot
The main leads of your literary sagas usually become role models for young minds, and this is why the character-building part needs greater attention. However, in this process, you must not overlook the significance of an interesting storyline.
The chain of events has to be interesting enough to keep early readers hooked. The theme could be an adventurous journey, a mystery to solve or heartwarming poetry. Anything works as long as it is meaningful and age-appropriate.
Hence, the bottom line of Writing a Children’s Book Series is that kids grow a little with stories every day, and an engaging plot will be helpful in entertaining and educating them.
- Step#4 – Incorporate Canadian Elements
Just like how the threads are woven into the fabric, you need to interlace unique aspects into your content. For example, diverse landscapes, wildlife, traditions, cultural heritage and old folks. This adds a touch of personality to your children’s book series and is favourable for educational value.
You can start by describing the majestic Rockies, bustling cityscapes or serene lakes to make the narrative captivating. Such familiar settings and cultural references help the young mind connect more deeply and foster a sense of pride in the heritage.
Thus, you can subtly teach children about their country’s rich history, natural beauty and other treasured realities.
- Step#5 – Edit and illustrate
To conclude, you must work with a specialised team to polish your manuscript and bring your story to improve your visual aids. To enhance the visual appeal and make the story more accessible, you will need highly skilled editors and illustrators. Editors make the document clear, error-free, age-friendly, and enjoyable. Hence flawless!
You may also go the extra mile to include immersive pop-ups on every page because kids become ecstatic when they come across creative elements like these. Moreover, the goal is to write a successful children’s book series. Something with the potential of being a bestseller, so skip underestimating the power of a fine proofreader and graphic artist.
Famous Canadian Series-Writing Authors to Inspire You
- Marie-Louise Gay – author of the charming ‘Stella’ and ‘Sam’ sequence.
- Kenneth Oppel – creator of the Silverwing collection.
- Lucy Maude Montgomery – famous for the classic ‘Anne and the Green Gables’ series.
Robert Munsch – known for the Paper Bag Princess.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 – How long should each book of a series be?
An optimal limit for the kids’ manuscript lies between 30 to 150 pages; however, it majorly depends on the age of your target audience. For example, 5 to 8-year-olds will be interested in a smaller and manageable book rather than weighty.
Q2 – Which age group should I target?
You are free to target any demographic range, but there are two main groups, which makes aiming your effort easy. Namely, they are ages ‘five to eight’ and ‘nine to twelve’. They are not only highly receptive to series books but are also in the ideal phase of life for learning.
Q3 – How do I find a publisher for my manuscript sequence?
First, you need to research the publishers you want to work with, and then you must submit a query letter to them. Along with it, you attach the synopsis of your script and a few sample chapters. Other than this, you may also consider hiring literary agents for help.
Q4 – How can I promote my book for kids in Canada?
In this North American country, the easiest way of promotion is through school visits, library readings, book fairs and local bookstores. However, you will have to create a basic website and a few social media handles to communicate with the target market.
Final Words for Writing a Kids’ Book Series
Writing a Children’s Book Series has been a cultural aspect in Canada. Recognised authors like Lucy Maude Montgomery and Kenneth Oppel boosted this niche of the book-writing industry, and now, it is a completely saturated market for children’s books.
You just have to follow five simple steps, and you will have your script ready to publish. Start by researching the target audience and thinking of a very cool concept. Next, witness the city’s cultural insights and enrich your content with it.
However, do not forget to keep the language simple and add a few surprises to maintain the level of readers’ excitement. You must also remember that an engaging plot not only entertains but also educates. It helps youngsters develop critical thinking skills and a love for reading. Thus, your storyline must be interesting enough to make them anticipate the next chapter.
