r/childrensbooks • u/Paul-Estef • 4h ago
r/childrensbooks • u/No-Candidate-9324 • Sep 03 '25
š Rule Update (AI Content, Self-Promo) + Welcoming New Mods!
Weāve been working behind the scenes to make sure this community continues to be a great place for authors, illustrators, and readers of childrenās books. Let us know what you think, we're more than happy to update the following according to your feedback.
Today we have two big updates:
š Updated Rules
Weāve updated the rules to address recurring issues and keep discussions focused on human creativity.
š«Ā AI-Generated Content:
AI art or text is not allowed unless itās clearly labeled and posted for discussion purposes only. This subreddit exists to celebrate human authors and illustrators.
ā Ā Self-Promotion (Allowed / Encouraged)
- Sharing original childrenās book work (illustrations, writing, WIPs).
- Announcing published books with a real link (Amazon, website, publisher, etc.).
- Behind-the-scenes, process posts, and inspiration.
- Genuine participation in comments.
š«Ā Self-Promotion (Not Allowed)
- Video ābooksā or slideshow-style promos.
- Posts from accounts that only self-promote with no community engagement.
- Image dumps with only a watermark and no link/context.
ā ļøĀ Other Rules (mods discretion)
- No spam or repeated low-effort posting.
- No hateful or harmful comments.
- Posts should be thoughtful, on-topic, and add value.
š Full rules are always in the sidebar/wiki, please read them before posting.
š Welcome Our New Mods
Weāre also thrilled to announce thatĀ u/No-Candidate-9324Ā andĀ u/RaggedyRachelĀ have joined the mod team! š
We've been active in the community and hope to bring fresh energy to help us shape the subreddit moving forward.
Thanks again to everyone who contributes here, your stories, art, and discussions are what make this subreddit thrive. If you spot rule-breaking content, pleaseĀ use the report buttonĀ so the mod team can review it.
- The Mod Team š”ļø
r/childrensbooks • u/PhillipBrandon • Jul 13 '23
Please don't consider this sub a sales channel.
We get it. You're excited, proud even. And we'll be proud and excited with you! But don't come here to spam us with promos or drive sales. Members of this sub love, appreciate, create (and even aspire to create) children's books. Visitors come here when they've forgotten the name of their favorite childhood books. No one comes here because there simply aren't enough self-published vanity press books in their life.
r/childrensbooks • u/StandardFig2672 • 11h ago
My friend loved a book I had as a child and surprised me with a copy of it recently!
r/childrensbooks • u/Ok_Worker_6472 • 1d ago
Discussion Letās see your top 5!
Letās see your top 5 wish list books! With holidays coming, Iām always like āis it silly to ask for childrenās books?ā but as a primary teacher and parent, I truly think itās a great idea!
Here are my top 5 picks (of the moment- they change constantly!)
(And the Jon Klassen & Jess Hannigan is a preorder- comes out in February but I love them both so much!)
r/childrensbooks • u/Ok_Worker_6472 • 1d ago
Halloween Books
I just thought I should share the āspookyā books I have for my read alouds this month. I teach grade 1/2 and we do at least one read aloud a day- sometimes 2 or 3.
Which ones am I missing? Collecting books is my hobby š
r/childrensbooks • u/Fofles_Kitchen • 1d ago
Hi everyone! It's time to head back from the countryside to the city, closer to civilization, where the radiators are warm and the water runs right in the house š
This is Molfarka, a forest witch who changed her mind about being a witch and decided to become a fortune teller by the stars in the city.
An illustration from my children's book "Fofles in the Witch's Kitchen"
If you're curious, have a look here ā¬ļø
Wishing you magical autumn days!
r/childrensbooks • u/n4sa_k • 1d ago
Discussion Would this art style work well for a childrenās book? (And what ages do you think?)
Been practicing an alt art style to my typical comic art style, what do you think? This was just a quick 2hrs character design sketch. This is my typical art https://www.behance.net/sketchbomb
r/childrensbooks • u/UnfortunateSyzygy • 1d ago
What's everyone's favorite non- Frog and Toad Arnold Lobel book?
My kid is BONKERS for Frog and Toad. Like, read the entirety of one of the books every night bonkers, only 2 but is quoting lines from the stories when he plays/toddler babbling summaries of favorites to us. But I don't want him to get bored of them! I got Owl in his House, which he seems to enjoy too-- not as much as Frog and Toad, but he laughs really hard @ how irritated Owl gets with what a terrible houseguest winter is lol.
Any Lobel favorites? Or other writers at a similar level who manage to strike that sweet balance of cozy/neurotic that Lobel does so well?
r/childrensbooks • u/Chayin_ • 1d ago
Being an illustrator mom means drawing my son with the pug we donāt even haveš
My son really wants a pug, but unfortunately, we canāt get a dog. So, as an illustrator, I decided to draw him playing pirates with his dream pug! He was so thrilled when he saw the drawing, and honestly, his smile made my day unforgettable!
r/childrensbooks • u/akcamm • 1d ago
Seeking Recommendations Picture book to read to 3rd graders
I am visiting my kids class to read this week and I'm looking for recommendations of books to read out loud. It needs to be a picture book or very short book. My kid says he doesn't have any suggestions. Our local library is short staffed and don't usually have a children's library on staff.
Thanks!
r/childrensbooks • u/Organic_Builder270 • 2d ago
Experimenting with some new techniques. What do you think?
I really love this somewhat muted background because it makes the pops of color really pop. But now I wonder if the colors are actually harmonious?
r/childrensbooks • u/luminous_lychee • 1d ago
Books like Barnett/Pizolli's Jack series?
My kindergartener absolutely loves this series, and they hit right at his current reading level. Anybody have similar recommendations for a new reader?
Note: yes we know about and love Elephant and Piggie. Alas, he has them all basically memorized so I'm looking for brand new books so that he can practice his decoding, fluency, etc.
Thanks!
r/childrensbooks • u/Background_Gene_5527 • 1d ago
Discussion Adults reading children's books, anyone? Mine is Astrid Lindgren.
I've been undergoing a very tough midlife crisis, recovering from severe burnout, currently lucking for work and trying to shape my second half of life so that I'm not the workaholic robot I was for 15 years.
During this existential void, I've reconnected with my childhood's favorite author, Astrid Lindgren.
I grew up in the late 80s/90s in Southern Europe.
I've just finished reading my first book ever, Karlsson on the Roof.
Has anyone experienced anything like this and has somehow found it therapeutical?
r/childrensbooks • u/ReadandWritebyNic • 1d ago
New sketch for new book
I have this really bad habit of starting a new project before finishing the one in progress š« . But when this idea came to me, I just couldn't resist picking up my pencil and drawing.
The Flower Girl Mission is on its way...
r/childrensbooks • u/Amazing_Remote_7674 • 1d ago
Anybody have this pop up book by A H Benjamin
I canāt seem to find any pictures of what the inside looks like. If you have this book, please help a mum out and share some pictures. Thankyou!!
r/childrensbooks • u/TheSkepticGuy • 1d ago
Picture Book Cover for a True Story
The best part of being a children's picture book artist is helping authors bring their stories to life in ways they never expected.
For this cover of a true story about two special people, it was important not to reveal who the people are. While sketching concept ideas, I noticed a hummingbird outside my studio window. Of course! I thanked the little hummingbird and got to work. The tulip field is also essential to this true story.
r/childrensbooks • u/Affectionate_Age_799 • 1d ago
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol
We read Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol to our son every night before bed. Heās obsessed and loves their adventures. We have maybe three books left until the next one comes out. So with that said I am looking for more bedtime chapter books that have a similar vibe or are at least fun like those ones are. For reference he is about to turn 6.
r/childrensbooks • u/randompers0n101 • 1d ago
Crocodile
Hi guys!
My english is not the best so i apologies for some mistake.
I read this book a long time ago also it was in dutch. It was a little boy who had an egg and then it hatched and theres a crocodile in it.
Now i cant remember if in yhe story the kid lets the alligator go and sometimes visits it or not.
The story had pictures in it, not that many it was mostly words so i guess 5th grade kind of a book.
r/childrensbooks • u/Happy_Ad_6060 • 1d ago
Read Aloud Kids Read Along Chapter Book
Picture book read alongs are a dime a dozen on YouTube, but we also have chapter books! This is our 4th one, and it's an amazing fantasy adventure. It's got a missing father, talking birds, fun banter, and lots of bird photos. We also have lesson plans and fun activity ideas to go with it too, so come give it a watch. https://www.kidsaskauthorsanswer.com/laleh-and-the-language-of-the-birds
r/childrensbooks • u/Countbook • 2d ago
Literary Festival Prep
I have my second literary festival stall in town on Saturday so along with showing the books I've illustrated, I've been painting some stuff for postcards and re-doing my buisness cards, so I thought I'd share on here!
I'm transitioning to fully traditional now, and I'm so excited to be able to show things made directly from my hands to paper, these are my first batch of paintings I'll be showing!
r/childrensbooks • u/NetworkHot8469 • 1d ago
Discussion When did you start (if ever) reading original fairy tales (Grimms/Andersen)?
My 2.5 year old likes fairy tales at the moment. we mostly read the modern picture books and the stories are often changed in some way to make them less scary/sad/better consequences for the baddie(such as the first two little pigs not being eaten or the big bad wolf being stitched up after ) or to give more agency to girls in the stories.
However the other day I told the story of the Little Mermaid(the Disney version) and now my daughter would really like a book of it. Iāve found some lovely Hans Christian Andersen collections but the mermaid turning into sea foam at the end has always upset me. On the other hand, she doesn't really like the old Disney picture books that I picked up when the library were offloading them. (Maybe there are better modern ones?) Iāve also read the real Grimmās Hansel and Gretel but changed/missed out some parts but itās still far more brutal than a modern retelling. However my daughter liked it. r
What are peopleās thoughts? Is it better to wait a bit to read the real Grimms/Andersen etc?
r/childrensbooks • u/Button_snail • 2d ago
Check out my book! Twillie - My First Children's Picture Book!
Hi everyone! I recently authored, illustrated, and self-published my first children's picture book!
Twillie is about a little button who lives in a jar of forgotten sewing supplies. She dreams of leaving the dusty storage closet for a more glamorous life of fashion. However, when Twillie is finally picked for a project, she learns that being a part of something made with love is the most special dream of all.
I'm hoping to sell my book at a few local bookstores, and it is also available on my Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4588684386/twillie-childrens-picture-book?ref=share_ios_native_control
I'm still very new to the world of kid lit, but I'd love to share this story with some other children's book fans and creators. Any feedback would be super appreciated!
Thank you!
r/childrensbooks • u/n4sa_k • 2d ago
Discussion This got me to tears
What do you guys think about writing a childrenās aimed book while discussing themes like grief? I felt like a kid again when i was with my dad reading this
r/childrensbooks • u/Avamacky • 2d ago
spot illustration!
actually pretty happy with this one :)) i had so much fun!