The Blueprint for a Great Children’s Book Series
Think of a book series you loved growing up. What made it so unforgettable for you? Maybe the characters felt like your friends, or the adventures were so great you were counting down the days until you could head to the library and grab the next one.
A great children’s book series has the power to do that.
If you’re thinking about writing a children’s series of your own, just know that it isn’t one story you’re telling. You’re creating characters and a world that readers will return to again and again.
But this doesn’t happen by accident.
A great children’s book series is sketched, shaped, and structured with intention from the beginning.
In this blog, I’m giving you the blueprint for writing a children’s book series that will stick with children for years to come, so that one day, when they are reflecting on their favourite stories, they’ll think of yours.
Laying the Foundation: What Makes a Children’s Book Series Work?
A good book series will have readers coming back for more and more, book after book. Before you jump into planning the next best-selling children’s book series, it helps to understand why these stories work so well. Here’s how that foundation is built:
They Develop a Strong Readership
When children connect with a character, they don’t want to let them go. They want to see their next adventure, walk with them through their next problem, and stick with them as they continue to grow. A book series gives them a reason to return and builds trust with adults.
They Feel Familiar
Children crave familiarity—when they feel comfortable with your characters and settings, it can often make them more receptive to the lesson you are weaving throughout your story.
They Help Grow Your Impact
With each new title, your reach expands. This means more potential for your books to make an impact in the lives of your readers. From a practical perspective, it also means your sales increase too. A reader who loves book one will often buy book two... and three... and four!
Real-Life Examples:
The Adventures of Wembly the Pug by David Shoup
Brave Lolis by Armida Espinoza
The Adventures of Rocky by Deirdre Palm Adams
Framing the Structure: How To Know if Your Story Has “Series Potential”
Maybe you’re in the middle of writing, or maybe you’ve already finished your first book, when you start to think, “Hmm, maybe this could be the start of a series.” If so, it’s an idea worth exploring! Here’s how to gauge that your story might not be over yet:
You Have Memorable & Relatable Characters
Maybe you’ve heard of the Berenstain Bears—Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Sister Bear, and Brother Bear. Their strong family dynamic and unique personalities made them some of the most lovable characters for generations, with over 360 books to prove it.
Or take Winnie the Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. Even after almost 100 years, children and parents still adore these characters and their tales. If your characters share key traits with those in popular children’s book series, they could have the strength to support a series of their own.
Children Are Asking for the Next Story
Let’s say you publish your first book and a young reader asks, “But what happens next?” This curiosity shows that they connected with your characters and want to spend more time in the world you’ve created. This just might call for your next book (and even more after that!)
You Have More Ideas To Share
Maybe you just seem to keep creating different pathways with your characters. You envision them starting school for the first time, going to the beach with their family, or overcoming the fear of the dark. If the ideas keep flowing, that’s a strong sign you may have a full series waiting to unfold.
Designing the Details: How To Plan for Multiple Books
Once you’ve officially decided to write more books, you’ll want to make sure you are set up for success. Here’s how to plan for multiple books:
Pick a Good Illustrator You’d Work With Again
This matters more than you might think! If you’re planning a series, you are going to be working with your illustrator for multiple books. (Remember those 360 Berenstain Bear books?) This means you will want to have a good working relationship. You’ll be revisiting similar characters, outfits, and settings, so make sure it's a style of illustration you want to see again and again.
Provide Variety in Story Setting
You want to ensure your books don’t look too similar to each other, or children will get bored over time. Sure, they love your characters, but you want them to love their whole world. Make sure each story you are writing offers something fresh so it doesn’t start to feel repetitive.
Give Each Book Its Own Unique Personality
While you should aim to keep the same consistent tone throughout your series, each book still needs to feel like its own experience. When planning out your books, give each one its own lesson, mood, or theme that can stand alone while still contributing to the overarching series.
The Next Phase: How To Build on Previous Books
If you want to keep going with your series, you need to have an idea of how to keep building on the previous book. Here’s how:
Ask Yourself “What Should This Character Learn Next?”
Consider the Franklin the Turtle series. The first book introduced us to Franklin being scared of the dark. But the series didn’t end there—each new book explored a different life lesson: Franklin Is Messy, Franklin Fibs, Franklin’s First Sleepover, Franklin’s New Friend. As a reader, you get to follow Franklin throughout his life and what he’s learning along the way.
Think of your own characters this way. What’s their personality? What kinds of challenges or growth would feel natural next? Let each story teach a different, yet valuable lesson that readers will want to return to again and again.
Bring Side Characters to Centre Stage
You can also keep your series going by shifting the spotlight. In my own books, each story features a different student from Molly’s class. This allows new stories, personalities, and themes to shine through. Don’t just focus on your main character. Your side characters may have a lot of potential, so do a deep dive on them and see where it takes your series.
Take It One Book at a Time
You don’t need to have it all figured out from the start, and you definitely don’t need to publish everything at once. Focus on writing one meaningful book. Sometimes, that one story is enough. But other times, you (and your readers) fall so in love with what you’ve created, you just have to keep going.
Trust your instincts. Let the process feel natural, organic, and true to you as a writer.
Ready to get started?
Download my FREE Children’s Book Blueprint and get started outlining your children’s book series today.
