From Diary of a Wimpy Kid to Harry Potter, have you ever noticed that the most exciting and popular children’s books come in a series? A book series is something that can draw you in for long periods of time, and something that can keep you excited to continue reading even once you’ve finished a book. When I first decided to write Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare, I knew right away I wanted to continue writing about Crosley and John for years to come. Here are four reasons why you should consider turning your children’s book idea into a series!
Your readers can grow up with your characters. If your character starts out at ten years old in your first book, he has to keep growing up as you write. As he grows up, so will your readers. This creates a deeper bond for the reader with your character—they always know that they can relate to their favorite character, no matter how old they get.
You can spend more time developing your characters. Of course you’ll want to make your characters seem as real and human as possible in a stand-alone book, but the more books you write about them, the more nuanced and flawed they can really become. This will make them more memorable characters!
You can create a more interesting plot. The best part about a series is when you can look back and see how the plot was being developed from the beginning. While each stand-alone book should have its own contained plot, the overall plot becomes more complex and interesting as you build it through the span of multiple books.
You’ll develop a deeper bond with your readers. Readers can’t wait to get their hands on a book they’ve been waiting on, and when it’s part of a series (and most likely scattered with cliffhangers) they’ll be even more excited for the next one!
What are your favorite children’s book series? Let me know in the comments below!