Creating characters for a children’s book can be both fun and challenging. The goal is to craft characters that captivate young readers, with engaging personalities and designs that spark imagination. In this blog post, my sister Marguerite and me will walk you through the process of creating characters for our latest children’s book: a detective adventure starring two dogs as the main characters. These two pups take on the task of solving a mystery in their home village, where they encounter quirky friends and suspicious bandits.
- Finding the Right Look for Your Characters
The design of your characters plays a crucial role in how children connect with them. When we first started designing *Skottie*, one of the two dog detectives, I struggled to get his look just right. My initial drawings made him look too old and serious, which didn’t fit the tone of the story or the audience. Skottie’s face was too angular, and his expression was more intense than playful.
Skottie old character
For a children’s book, it’s important that the characters appear approachable and soft. Through feedback with my sister, I realized Skottie needed a friendlier design — a rounder face, bigger eyes, and a more expressive nose. We started softening his features, giving him a nose that was slightly oversized and more rounded upwards. This added charm. His body shape became less stiff, with softer curves that made him look younger and more energetic. By the end, Skottie had transformed into the perfect mix of playful and brave, just right for leading young readers through the story.
Skottie New Character
- Developing the Supporting Cast
Once I had Skottie and his companion dog designed, we turned to the rest of the village's characters. I wanted the supporting cast to add humour and depth to the story. Here are a few of the key characters that emerged:
- The Raccoon Bandits
The villains of the story are three mischievous raccoons who operate as a band of thieves. Designing these characters was a lot of fun because raccoons naturally have a bit of a sneaky look, with their mask-like faces. I leaned into this by giving each raccoon distinct traits: one is tall and thin, the second is round and stocky, and the third is small but quick. Their expressions always seem to hint that they’re up to no good, and their body movements are sly and calculated.
The three Racoons
- The Badger Priest
The village’s moral compass comes in the form of a wise old badger who serves as the local priest. His character design needed to reflect his calm and thoughtful nature. Therefore we gave him a slightly round body shape. His fur is greying around the edges, and his eyes convey wisdom and kindness.
Badger Priest and Police Weasel
- The Snail Mailman
For a bit of comic relief, we introduced a slug as the village’s mailman, who although looks like a snail, due to his backpack. The irony of a slug (or a snail) delivering mail is something I think will make kids giggle, and his slow, methodical nature contrasts sharply with the fast-paced action of the raccoon bandits. Designing him was simple — a basic slug shape with a mail bag in form of a snail-house, slung over his back and a chilled expression on his face.
The Snail Man
- Balancing Personality and Visual Design
One of the key things to remember when designing characters for children's books is that their visual appearance must match their personality. Skottie’s soft, playful design matches his brave yet curious personality. The raccoon bandits' sneaky appearance is fitting for their mischievous nature. Meanwhile, the badger and the snail provide a balance between humour, wisdom, and light-heartedness.
Mrs.O the Mouse who helps in the House
- The Importance of Iteration
Character creation is a process of trial and error. For each character in our book, we went through multiple versions before landing on the final designs. Each version helped refine their look and feel to better match their role in the story. For example, Skottie’s final version only came after several iterations, as we worked to make him not only visually appealing to children but also reflective of the adventurous, loyal personality we wanted him to have.
Dannie, Skottie's Sidekick
Conclusion: Bringing Your Characters to Life
Creating memorable characters for a children's book requires a balance between engaging personalities and visually appealing designs. From Skottie’s transformation into a softer, more relatable dog, to the quirky supporting cast of raccoons, a badger priest, and a snail mailman, each character plays a role in bringing the story to life. The key is to ensure that every character resonates with your young audience, drawing them into the world of the story and making them eager to follow along on the adventure.
As you develop your own characters, remember to consider not just how they look but also how their personalities shine through. With patience and creativity, you can create a cast of characters that both entertains and captivates your readers… And also don’t be shy to change a character later in the process.