How to Turn Your Child's Drawing into a Storybook
Updated
That crayon dragon on the fridge already has a personality. With a little help, it can star in its own book. Here is how to turn a child's drawing into a story they will want to read over and over.
1. Pick the drawing together
Let your child choose. A character they drew themselves (an animal, a creature, a person, even a talking house) works better than a scene, because the character will appear on every page.
2. Photograph it well
- Use daylight or a bright lamp, and avoid shadows from your phone.
- Shoot straight on, with the whole drawing in frame.
- Plain paper behind the drawing helps the character stand out.
3. Interview the character
Before writing, ask your child about the character they drew. These answers become the story:
- What is its name?
- Where does it live?
- What is it really good at, and what is it scared of?
- What does it want more than anything?
4. Build a simple story around it
Use the character's wish and fear: it wants something, its fear gets in the way, and it finds a way through. That is a complete story in three steps, and it came entirely from your child.
5. Keep the character recognizable
Kids notice immediately if their character changes color or shape between pages. When the drawing becomes an illustrated character, make sure it keeps the features your child gave it: the colors, the number of legs, the funny hat.
Keep the original drawing next to the finished book. Kids love comparing their art with the character it became.
Common questions
Does the drawing need to be good?
Not at all. Simple, bold drawings often make the most charming characters. What matters is that your child recognizes it as theirs.
Can we use a photo of a toy instead of a drawing?
Yes. A favorite stuffed animal or toy works the same way: photograph it clearly and build the story around it.
Stories by kids
Real books written and illustrated by children on KindleWood.
On KindleWood Studio, you can upload a photo of your child's drawing or toy and it becomes an illustrated character that appears throughout their story.