Welcome to the not-so-secret garden of children’s literature, where themes subtly influence stories and the development of young minds like the lesser-known heroes they are.
If you’re an established or aspiring children’s book author seeking some common themes in children’s literature to create a new book or improve your knowledge on the topic, we wrote this article, especially for you.
Table of Contents
What are Themes in Children’s Literature?
Themes are the seasonings in children’s literature; they lend originality to every tale, from brave princess stories to fables about tenacious tortoises.
Now you know what we’re looking at, let’s roll out the red carpet for 43 themes, each playing a starring role in most children’s books today.
43 Common Themes in Children’s Literature
1. Friendship: It’s about sharing adventures, not just things.
2. Adventure: Who needs a map when you have an imagination?
3. Family: The source of many tales as well as a source of some tension.
4. Good vs. Evil: The showdown between Good and Evil, with an apparent victor.
5. Courage and Heroism: Because hearts the size of lions can exist in even the most minor characters.
6. Love: Sometimes, love is more about wagging tails and pepperoni slices than hearts and roses.
7. Growing up: An inevitable adventure, whether you’re ready or not.
8. Resilience: The ability to get back up after being knocked down as many times as necessary.
9. Kindness: A commodity that always stays in style.
10. Individuality: Honouring what makes you unique.
11. Playful Nature: Where the natural world follows its own set of rules, which are often unexpected.
12. Curiosity: The driving force behind every “Once upon a time”
13. Time Travel Problems: The Diary of Every Time Traveller: “Went back in time, screwed up the timeline, had a great time.”
14. Magic and Wonder: Creating portals to domains where daily impossibilities occur.
15. Teamwork: Sometimes saving the made-up world requires more than one person.
16. Overcoming Fears: Facing the imaginary and actual monsters that lurk beneath every child’s bed.
17. Humour: A global language that is understandable even to imaginary characters.
18. Discovery: A world of mysteries emerges from one’s backyard.
19. Empathy: Putting oneself in another person’s shoes, even if they are too large.
20. Bullying: Narratives that outline the consequences of bullying and emphasize the significance of sympathy and tolerance.
21. Imagination: A child’s natural superpower.
22. Mystery: For every ‘whodunit’ fan (P.S.: Whodunit is a variety of detective fiction)
23. Inclusivity: Stories where each book cover features a welcome sign.
24. Loyalty: The unseen bond that unites characters through good times and bad.
25. Compassion: Warming hearts one page at a time.
26. Conflict and Resolution: A story wouldn’t be the same without some drama, right?
27. Perseverance: For those characters who don’t give up, even when it appears like the novel will never end.
28. Responsibility: Acknowledging that great power—or a brand-new puppy—comes with enormous responsibility.
29. Tradition and Heritage: One narrative at a time, tying the past to the present.
30. Freedom: The ability to fly that all characters require.
31. Identity: the pursuit of the response to the main question, “Who am I?”
32. Community: It is a character, not merely a setting.
33. Sacrifice: The problematic decisions that turn people into heroes.
34. Acceptance: Putting the eccentricities behind you because regular is too good.
35. Aspirations and Dreams: Aim high, even if you end yourself on a cloud.
36. Forgiveness: The ultimate expression of regret that comes with a dash of atonement.
37. Generosity: Sharing extends beyond toys and cookies.
38. Wisdom: Knowledge served with wise counsel
39. Leadership: Not just for the grown-ups; kids can lead the way, too.
40. Growth and Change: The constant in every character’s journey.
41. Obstacles and Successes: Every character’s mission is to overcome and succeed.
42. Morality: Using a moral compass to navigate the murky areas.
43. Understanding: Acquiring the ability to view the world through another person’s eyes (or glasses).
Let’s get into real-time examples where some of these themes apply to improve your knowledge of the topic further.
3 Examples of Children’s Books with Themes
1. Bullying: ‘Johnny’s Hidden Truth’ by Thisthatproduction highlights Johnny’s struggles in school as he faces constant bullying.
2. Friendship: ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E.B. White tells the timeless tale of an unexpected bond between a spider and a pig.
3. Leadership: ‘If I Were President‘ by Thisthatproduction offers a miniature viewpoint on governing the world to improve it.
Now, what good is a theme without lessons? Here are some common lessons in children’s literature to give you some juicy ideas to pair with your newfound themes for your book creation journey!
5 Common Lessons in Children’s Literature
- 1. Empathy: ‘Johnny’s Hidden Truth‘ by Thisthatproduction teaches us the effect of bullying and the value of compassion and goodwill.
2. Leadership and Responsibilities: ‘If I Were President‘ by Thisthatproduction teaches us civic duties, leadership, and what it takes to be a good president.
3. The Importance of Honesty: ‘Pinocchio’ by Carlo Collodi teaches us the value of truthfulness and the implications of lying.
4. The Value of Friendship: ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E.B. Whites teaches us the significance of friendship in difficult circumstances.
5. Self-Acceptance: ‘My Cousin Sue‘ by Thisthatproduction teaches us to celebrate our unique characteristics and what makes us different.
Conclusion
Themes are more than threads in literature; they’re the colors that paint the canvas of every story. So, the next time you open a children’s book, remember it’s a mosaic of themes rather than just a plot, with each element contributing to the overall picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Literary Theme for Kids?
A literary theme for kids is a theme that incorporates essential concepts or lessons into stories that help mold young readers’ worldviews.
For example, The Tortoise and the Hare’ teaches persistence and humility, which is the literary theme of the story.
2. What is the Best Topic for a Children’s Book?
The best topic you can give a children’s book is anything that sparks a child’s imagination and piques readers’ interest to read the whole story.
For example: ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ by Maurice Sendak uses a curiosity-driven title that could bring people in who are curious to know where the wild things are. And what kid doesn’t like wild things?
3. What are the Main Features of Children’s Literature?
•Adventure and Exploration: Children’s stories often feature exciting adventures or explorations. For example: ‘If I Were President’ by Thisthatproduction is filled with lots of exploration.
• Imaginative Elements: Use of fantasy, magical elements, or imaginative scenarios. For example: ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll takes readers to a fantasy land.
•Moral Lessons: Most children’s books carry essential life lessons. For example: ‘Johnny’s Hidden’ Truth by Thisthatproduction emphasized the consequences of bullying in young children.
•Simple and Clear Language: The language authors use in children’s literature is accessible and easy for children to understand. For example: ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ by Dr. Seuss uses simple language even a 4th grader can understand.
•Engaging and Vivid Illustrations: Many children’s books have vibrant illustrations. For example, Eric Carle’s ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ enhanced its narrative with vivid and imaginative images.
• Themes of Development and Progress: Pay attention to the character’s development or personal progress. For example, J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” trilogy centers on Harry’s development as he becomes proficient in magic.
•Humor and Fun: Incorporation of humor and fun elements to engage young readers. For example, Literally every children’s book possesses humor on multiple levels. Still, a book that went all into making people laugh their hearts out is ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ by Jeff Kinney.
4. How Do You Identify a Common Theme?
To Identify a common theme, you need to look for recurring ideas or messages in the story.
For example, In ‘if I were president‘ by Thisthatproduction, the recurring theme is leadership, as the book repeatedly identifies the traits of a good leader.
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