Understanding Children’s Book Age Group Categories
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
As a writer of books for early readers, one must always bear in mind the children’s book age group of your target audience and create a story that captures their imaginations, no matter where they are in their reading independence journey. Writing children's books for different age groups requires careful thought and planning, as well as very specific knowledge of the publishing industry. In this article, I’ll take a look at the children’s book age group ranges, the type of books appropriate for each group, page and word counts, and best practices for writing children's books.
Which Children’s Book Age Group Am I Targeting?
Board Books (Ages 0-3):
Board books are usually for the youngest of readers and are made of thick, durable cardboard pages, perfect for little hands (and mouths). These are often basic and simple, with bold illustrations and minimal text. They focus on teaching concepts like numbers, colors, shapes, and animals. For board books, stick to no more than 100 words, as your word count is tightly constricted.
Picture Books (Ages 3-7):
Picture books are popular with this preschool and early elementary children’s book age group. They are the most common type of children’s book for kids who can’t read independently yet, and are typically filled with vivid illustrations and engaging plot and character arcs. They can cover any topic and can be educational or purely entertaining. Picture books generally have no more than 600 words, and are formatted as either 32 or 40 pages. Remember to keep your writing style simple, with a clear story structure, theme, and relatable characters. While you may be tempted to preach an overt moral, stay away from moralizing in children’s books.
Early Reader Books (Ages 5-7):
Early reader books, also called early readers, stepped readers, or easy readers, are often more text-heavy, giving children the chance to practice their reading skills. The writing style for an early reader is very tightly controlled, as the goal of the kids reading this children’s books age group is to help newly independent readers level up. They still have lots of illustrations but typically have a longer complex narrative. Look for a word count of around 1,200 words, with up to 64 pages.
Chapter Books (Ages 7-10):
Chapter books are longer and more complex than early reader books and tackle more complicated topics, with a main plot and even a subplot or two. They tend to feature longer stories with more developed characters, may have some black and white spot illustrations sprinkled throughout, and cater to broader book genres like adventure, fantasy, and mystery. These books usually have up to 15,000 words. This children’s book age group can span a wider range of ages as children are working on their reading independence skills.
Middle-Grade Books (Ages 8-12):
Middle grade books often play with coming of age themes and substantial conflicts geared to tweens and early teens. They have more in-depth characters and complex scenarios, with more extended narratives and multiple subplots. These books usually have around 50,000 words and these novels tend to be the most complex of any children’s book age group, aside from young adult.
Best Practices for Targeting a Specific Children’s Book Age Group
You need to learn the children’s book market before you can write for it. Aside from respecting the above children’s book age group parameters, also consider that you must:
Create characters that kids can relate to or aspire to.
Stick to a simple plot where a child can understand and appreciate the storyline.
Keep the language inclusive and use words that children can read themselves and expand their vocabulary.
Make use of sensory details and writing imagery to help kids create vivid mental pictures.
Always choose age-appropriate topics and themes.
Writing children's books can be a lot of fun, but it also requires a lot of thought and consideration, especially when it comes to targeting a specific children’s book age group. By taking the time to understand each age group's interests and needs, you can craft stories that will ignite young imaginations, bring wonder and joy to the lives of the earlier readers, and inspire them with storytelling. You now have the writing tools and market knowledge to get started on your path to writing for any children’s book age group.
Click here to purchase Writing Irresistible Picture Books, my book on children’s picture books. This comprehensive guide is crammed with craft advice and groundbreaking original research, including a survey of 1,000 upcoming picture book deals, a breakdown of 80 modern and marketable picture book topics, and in-depth analysis of over 150 published picture books.