There are many different types of children’s fiction, though common types include those told in verse or poem form, stories for very young children, and works meant for older children. Stories told in verse form often use rhymes and other poetic devices to create stories that have a natural rhythm that is pleasing to listening children. While children’s fiction can be meant to be ageless, most fiction is written to appeal to either very young children, who may not understand the story being read to them, or older children who are often beginning to read.
Children’s fiction typically refers to any type of fictional work of writing, both poetry and prose, that is written specifically for children. This can include older and traditional stories, such as nursery rhymes and fairy tales, as well as more modern stories that have been written more recently. Many works of children’s fiction are created as poems or written in verse, often using rhyme schemes and “sing-song” rhythms. This allows such works to be more easily read aloud to young children, often keeping the attention of such children through the natural rhythm of the verse form.
Though some children’s fiction is intended for children of all ages, many works are specifically written for younger or older children. Picture books, for example, are often written for very young children, including toddlers and those just beginning to develop language. These books are frequently written in verse form as well, and can feature word choice that is intended to help young children begin to develop language and start to understand the words being read to them. Such works of children’s fiction often have a very small vocabulary, frequently repeating words to allow children to hear them numerous times, and are often quite short in length.
Children’s fiction that is written for older children, on the other hand, may deal with more complex ideas that older children can understand. These works may also repeat words, but often have a larger vocabulary throughout the book. This allows children who are learning to read to practice with words that are repeated and familiar, while still exposing them to a wide range of words. These works of children’s fiction often still have pictures, though there may be more words than pictures, and are typically meant as a gateway for children moving from picture books toward children’s literature and young adult books.