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Some people may think a chapter book can be any type of book (for kids or adults) that has chapters. But as a kidlit author, you know better than that. Chapter books are a specific category for early elementary students. Here are three things to consider when writing chapter books.
Chapter books are written for enthusiastic readers who are reading longer works independently for the first time. And once they read one of your chapter books, they’ll be looking for the rest of them. So when you are plotting and planning, you need to be thinking of it in terms of a series, not just an individual title.
There will be some kids (*cough* me as a child *cough*) who insist on reading the series in order. But they don’t have to. Each chapter book needs to stand on its own as a complete story.
Readers shouldn’t have to start with book one in order for the series to make sense. That means you’ll need to introduce your readers to the main characters and settings each time they open a new book. It’ll be an introduction for new readers and a reminder for those who have read books in the series before.
All categories of kidlit are important. But chapter books have a special place because these are the first longer books that kids read independently. They probably won’t read it in a single sitting, which means they’ll need to use a bookmark. They’ll get to tell their friends and family and teachers what chapter they’re on right now. It sounds small to you as an adult, but for kids? This is a big deal. They’re reading a longer book like they see grown-ups doing–and the dimensions of their book are starting to look more like a novel than a picture book.
Chapter books are where readers begin to read independently for fun instead of just learning how to read. Now they’re applying what they’ve already learned and reading and comprehending longer stories that might go into the triple digits of pages. This is a big deal for them cognitively and socially. They’re able to read books that would have been impossible to read just a year or two ago.
When a child reads two or three or more books in the same chapter book series, they’re more comfortable with the books because they know the world and the characters, and they have an idea of what to expect. If it’s a mystery series, they know there will be a puzzle to solve. If it’s a school series, they know the main character will be at school with their friends (and enemies). It all starts to become familiar to them.
That’s important because what’s happening, in education-speak, is they’re increasing their affective filter, or comfort level, with the text. And that, in turn, will help keep them engaged with the series and reading more.
And that? That’s how you build an independent reading habit that can carry you into adulthood.
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(Want to nerd out a little? Check out how the Sweet Valley Kids/Twins/High series helped adults learn to read and speak English.)
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Jennifer Navarre is a kidlit editor and book coach who spends her days helping authors refine their audience and their story as they develop their picture books, chapter books, and middle grade and YA novels.
She’s worked in prose and rhyme on books for kids, tweens, and teens and led presentations on writing and education at conferences across the US.
Jennifer is a part of many online writing communities as both a writer and an editor and is a champion procrastinator when getting her own stories out of her head and onto the page.
