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Let me explain.

My book is about a little boy directed by a "wolf" to burn his farm's sheep. Consequently, it burns on the grass and his house, making him kill or seriously injure most of his family. The facility takes him afterward. It's actually a place to raise children in an animal environment who were previously tragically associated with animals. At the end of the book, our character is killed by being taken to an international children's' meat processor on an island.

I want to make this a children's book, but after looking at darker examples, the closest they get are hunted dolls with happy endings. I need help. Should my story be geared towards those who are older instead? Or should I try and find a way to make these hidden themes subtle? If so, what are some universal tips for doing so? Or is this plot just not suitable for children at all?

The book is aimed at children aged 5-9.

Llewellyn
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Marthra Rock
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2 Answers2

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Your question is: Could this plotline be geared to young children? Honestly, I would deliver a strong no.

How many books are there for 5-year-olds which involve such a degree of violence including accidental murder of parents and then having a young boy die while being taken to a child meat packing plant?

Unless you make it more lighthearted like how I suggested in comments (making it silly and ironic), as Chris answered - it would not be appropriate for young children and no publisher would publish it.

I also see your comment on Chris' answer:

The reason why is because today's youth aren't really prepared for the outside world. I've heard from one source that 1 in 4 victims of trafficking are children. Obviously, any is one too many, but little kids who barely begun to live? Most traffickers aren't somebody the victim knows. If the librarians, teachers, and parents cared about child safety and didn't want to sugar-coat it, they'd do the book, because things like this happen and are more than real

Don't get me wrong, it's a good idea to educate kids on that and it would probably work for older audiences, but it is a touchy topic that is controversial on how to teach to young children. If I were you, I would consider the following:

  • If you absolutely need to publish this for young children, you should make it more lighthearted and subtle, because if you end your book with the mc dying while going to a meatpacking factory you will totally terrify your young audience in an unneeded way.

  • If you care about this topic and decide not to write it for children, you should write a novel for older kids directly addressing it instead of dancing around it with animals and such.

If you do write this book according to point B, you need to do lots of research to make your book as factual as possible.

Does this help?

user11111111111
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No mainstream publisher would publish this as a picture book, because this is not a book that parents would buy for picture-book aged children. A niche publisher MIGHT do it as an ironic art piece in the form of a picture book, but meant for adults, but even that is a stretch.

I think what you are actually contemplating is NOT a picture book, but rather a graphic novel, which is a image-driven work typically aimed at adults. Graphic novelists often gravitate to macabre themes, and your concept wouldn't be out of line with some of the things I've read in that format.

If you do specifically want to target this towards an audience of young children, I would have to ask why, and what you think they would gain from it. Keep in mind, as well, that picture books are not bought by children, but for children, by teachers, parents, and librarians, who tend to be protective and conservative in their book choices.

Chris Sunami
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