Creating Empathy in a Children’s Book
After fruitful careers as a scientist and inventor I've gone back to what I love most - writing children's books
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Member Since
Oct 2013
- Joined Oct 2013
- Published Books 1560
Published Books
1560
Copyright © 2019
Empathy is a key factor in a children’s book.
Why should we care about the character or what happens to him/her?
The character should resonate in our hearts the same way a great song does.
Here are some ways to create empathy in a children’s book and some examples that I have added (you can do better.)
Thank you to Brandilyn Collins at https://jerryjenkins.com/
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1. Perhaps your characters displays a valued characteristic such as loyalty, love, or courage. Put it right at the beginning.
Everyone was afraid of Rex the bulldog. Everyone except for Madeleine.
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2. Perhaps your character is particularly good at something. – Show us what it is.
Susan could draw anything. Even monsters. Especially monsters.
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3. Treated in an unjust or mean fashion.
Children at camp picked on Jeremy because he was from out of town.
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4. Wishing for something universally understood, such as love, purpose, friendship.
Cynthia dreamed of having a friend.
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5. Thrust into danger. – Either by nature, misfortune, or someone.
One day, the lion came to visit. Knock, knock, knock.
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6. Thrust into grief – make sure first that we know a little bit about the character.
Freda had only one brother and when he became sick with tuberculosis, she became sick with grief.
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7. Caring for others, especially at a cost to oneself.
Even though Ethel was hungry, she still gave the bread to her younger sisters.
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8. Unique, attention-getting, unusual. This works best in combination with other traits.
Jennifer answered in perfect Arabic. How did she know Arabic?
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9. Attempting to overcome a fear or to make a change.
“I have come to help fight the hyenas,” said the old wildebeest.
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10. Facing an inner struggle.
No one was looking. The purse was still there. Should she take the money?
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more:
Create sympathy
suffering from undeserved misfortune.
Put the character in jeopardy
life threatening, risk of exposure, embarrassment, or loss of something important.
Make the character likeable
- Show them as kind and good hearted
- Show them as well liked by others
- Make them funny
Make the character highly skilled
Show the character in touch with their own power
- Power over other people
- Power to do what needs to be done
- Power to express one’s feelings regardless of other’s opinions
- Superpowers
-but nevertheless, with a common touch
Place the character in a familiar setting
Give the character flaws and foibles
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In Hebrew:
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Published: Nov 10, 2019
Latest Revision: Jan 21, 2023
Ourboox Unique Identifier: OB-684849
Copyright © 2019
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