Title: What makes good children's literature?
Course: Coming Soon: Writing a Children's Book

Summary of needs that good children's literature meets.

Good children's literature appeals to children's basic needs. Here is a quick summary of some of the themes that are important to children. Be sure to keep these in mind as you evaluate stories AND when you begin writing your own story.

- Need for physical well-being. Children need to feel safe and secure (safe and snug at home, yummy food, etc.)

- Need to love and to be loved.

- Need to belong. Children want to feel accepted as part of a group, whether it is a family or a bunch of friends.

- Need to achieve and succeed. Children need to feel a sense of accomplishment. In children's stories, it is important that the main character figures out the problem for himself, without having to have an adult step in to "fix" everything.

- Need to know or find out. Think of how often children ask "why" or "how." Books that explain these things are very valuable!

- Need for beauty and order. Children's books are very often full of colorful and beautiful illustrations. They add to the story and appeal to the readers!