Children are the most honest and genuine readers. Why? They are still in the process of learning different things in this world. And, when they are introduced to books, they tend to ask several questions about the story, think out loud, and apply the lessons that they learned from the tales. These little readers may have fickle minds and short attention spans, but they can totally project their concentration and follow the stories with the right books.
The realm of children’s books is filled with thousands of vibrant, fun, and interesting tales. Mystery books are among the most entertaining stories that hook the young readers and ignite their drive to solve the puzzle. Is it Santa? is based on actual true events book by Nelibeth Plaza is a great example of a fascinating story that highlights a stirring mystery and features the significant symbol of the Christmas holiday.
If you are considering the idea of writing a mystery-filled children’s book, then listed below are the points that make a good mystery book that you should note.
Simple mysteries
Before anything else, you should know your target readers and research their interests. There should be an age bracket in order to incorporate an age-appropriate mystery. But if you cannot pinpoint the age range of your readers yet, then you must consider incorporating a simple set of mysteries that will, later on, lead to a major puzzle. Just make sure that when kids read your book, they can easily recognize the mystery and get the urge to solve it. For example, Nancy Drew 03: The Bungalow Mystery, which is a book with readers from 8 to 12 years old are the prospects, the mystery is about a peculiar bungalow and weird-acting “parents” of the girl named Laura Pendleton.
Moreover, don’t forget to develop every element of your storyline. Always remember that the puzzle might be the main attraction but how you build the other aspects will also matter, especially on the overall impact of your book.
Clues everywhere
A mystery book won’t make sense if there are no clues. Another important thing to consider is that kids love clues! Hence, do not forget to scatter the hints because they are the ingredients that spice up the story, arouse extreme emotions, and encourage readers to look for answers. Although you can use different literary devices to increase the quality of the plot, you should consider that your readers are kids. Hence, there should be no complicated aspects to guarantee comprehension and impact. If you wish to include some foreshadowing and other elements, make sure to do them in the simplest but wisest way possible — the way which readers can still follow the storyline.
Interactive point of view
Increasing interaction can strengthen the book-reader relationship. Without the connection between the story and the readers, stories will not be deemed successful. So, since your story falls under mystery, you must do your best to make the tale as interactive as it is, like The Boxcar Children Interactive Mysteries by Gertrude Chandler Warner.
Point of view is a significant element because it is the narrative voice by which the character or unreliable narrator tells the tale. Make sure to utilize the POV that gives the perks of increasing reader engagement, such as the second-person POV. With a great narrative and interactive elements, your prospects will surely enjoy and look forward to more of your works. You can also put some additional materials at the end or in between the story, such as quizzes, FAQs, puzzles, and more.
Uncomplicated plot
As an author, you write with your own voice and style. Sometimes you need to make alterations to fit the standards of your chosen genre and target audience. Again, given that children’s books are intended for the younger minds, an uncomplicated plot would be preferable. You are always given the freedom to add some spice to your story, such as using literary devices, making extraordinary characters, building amazing worlds, adding beautiful illustrations, and the likes. Thus, you should guarantee that these interesting elements can fit together and create a plot that readers can easily comprehend, interact with, and follow.
Alex Writes 