KNOWHOW Things that go bump in the night (Part 2)
In this new KnowHow series, Lynn Huggins-Cooper explores how to successfully write spooky stories for children - from picture books to YA - and will be featuring wisdom from a variety of authors and illustrators along the way!
How young is too young when it comes to writing spooky stories?
The idea of spooky picture books might seem strange when we think about who picture books are for - in general, the youngest of readers. Surely, picture books should be all about comfort and familiarity? If we take this view on board, then is it really OK for these books to be spooky?
Creepy Carrots! Written by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
If we look at successful 'spooky' picture books, we can see some threads running through them. These are worth considering if we wish to write in this area. Firstly - as with all fiction books for children - the stories need to be age appropriate. For picture books, this means scaling back the fear factor. We can have characters who are traditionally 'scary' such as ghosts, witches, werewolves, monsters or vampires, but in picture books these are generally portrayed as sympathetic characters who children can relate to. This could be a monster who is scared of the dark; a ghost who just wants to find friends, a vampire who is learning to fly...a character small readers can empathise with and root for. There should always be happy endings for this age group - but that goes without saying!
Always be mindful that for a particularly sensitive young reader, stories can swiftly become too scary. The best way to avoid this is to inject a thick vein of humour into your lightly spooky tales. When I was writing Alien Invaders, illustrated by the wonderful Bonnie Leik, I thought about ways to include humour in the story as a child ponders whether bugs are really creatures from another world. A few reviews suggested that it veered too far into the scary at some points, but the book sold well and stayed in print for 18 years - a vote of confidence, I feel! I think this success was largely due to the perfection of the illustrations, and how well they echoed the fun elements of the story with a pinch of spooky - but maybe I am biased! A great illustrator who 'gets' you is a godsend for any author of picture books.
A good dose of humour can temper a spooky story
The popularity of gently creepy picture books suggests parents, grandparents and teachers - the book buying public for this age group - are indeed voting with their wallets. In turn, small readers are enjoying the books and so the market for these books stays healthy. Take a look at the special deals books in supermarkets close to Halloween, for example.
How can I get started with writing spooky picture books?
Firstly, like with any other type of book or genre - get reading! Learn about the creepy-themed picture books out there. Look on websites, look in libraries and bookshops and make notes. Can you identify any common threads? What 'shape' are the stories? Look for what makes them spooky - and what makes them safe. What are the real themes of the stories, and how do these draw on the spooky settings or characters?
Here are some excellent examples of spooky picture books to get you started:
In the Dark by Kate Hoefler (author) and Corinna Luyken (illustrator)
A story about witches...and community
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds (author) and Peter Brown (illustrator)
This Caldecott-winning picture book features a cute bunny who fears that his favourite treats are out to get him.
The Baddies by Julia Donaldson (author) and Axel Scheffler (illustrator)
Where a troll, witch and ghost vie to be the nastiest baddie in the land, and try to scare a resourceful little girl out of her wits.
The Scariest Kitten in the World by Kate Messner (author) and MacKenzie Haley (illustrator)
A story where little animals try to prove in turn that they are the spookiest creature of all.
I Will Read to You by Gideon Sterer (author) and Charles Santoso (illustrator)
A little boy who loves spooky tales worries about who will read stories to the monsters themselves...
Next month, we'll look at spookily themed illustrated early readers - and there's been an explosion in this area in recent years. It's a growing market!
*Header image: In-house collaboration between Ell Rose and Tita Berredo
* Other images courtesy of Lynn Huggins-Cooper
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She also co-organises SCBWI North-East with Lucy Farfort and lives with her husband in a tiny house next to 900 acres of forest in the far north of England.
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Ell Rose is the Illustration Features Editor of Words & Pictures. Follow them on Instagram and X (Twitter) and find their work at www.fourfooteleven.com
Contact them at illustrators@britishscbwi.org
Tita Berredo is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of Words & Pictures. Follow her on Instagram and X (Twitter) or www.titaberredo.com
Contact her at: illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org
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