Kids want to be entertained!  For the most part, they don't care if the story has strong morals or teaches good manners. They want their story to be fun.

There are several possibilities to choose from.

• Kids like food, rude, and funny. If I put any of these into my story, my child reader will be pleased. My writing group teases me, because almost all my Pockets stories have chocolate chip cookies in them somewhere! Another good example to look at: In her Junie B. Jones chapter book series, Barbara Parks has created a wonderful kindergartner who is both a little bit rude, and a lot funny. Take a look at her books to see how to make this work.

• Kids also like animals. How about an unusual one in your story? I've used llamas, ferrets, parrots, and iguanas. (Not all in the same story!)

• Kids like magic, and there are all sorts of wonderful ways to use magical elements in your stories: See the Harry Potter books, or an old classic, C.S. Lewis's CHRONICLES OF NARNIA for examples of this.

• Kids like mysteries and any words that have to do with these will delight them: secret, hidden, treasure, etc.

• Kids love parties and words to do with these: presents, balloons, etc. will catch their immediate attention.

• Kids like unusual settings. Take a look at Dawn Knight's middle grade novel, MISCHIEF, MAD MARY AND ME, and see how she pulls the child reader in immediately with Britt's wonderful underground house.

• Kids like mysterious happenings; if you introduce a puzzle of some sort early in your story, your child reader will eagerly search for the solution. In chapter one of my historical fiction novel, THE FALL OF THE RED STAR (coauthor, Helen Szablya) the child Stephen's father is taken away by the Hungarian secret police. All through the book, the child reader wonders and worries along with Stephen what has happened to Apu, until the mystery is solved in chapter twelve.

Browse your library for ideas. Check out the new book section, and roam up and down the nonfiction shelves. Chances are, you'll come up with all sorts of possibilities to add fun to your story. And eavesdrop! Listen to kids talking, playing together. They'll drop all sorts of ideas that may well work into your story as one of the "Magic Three" elements. Remember, your main goal, from the kid point of view is to entertain.

 

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