According to Adlerian Psychology, once a child’s most basic physical needs of food and shelter are met, he then craves two essential emotional needs: belonging and significance. It should come as no surprise, then, that many (most?) children’s books heavily feature those themes.
If I were a betting gal, I’d wager that the first book you pull from your shelf would feature some element of those themes. It’s instinctual to write about the things we desire most. So, what are you writing? How will your characters achieve that sense of belonging that every child craves, and that sense of significance that comes by taking action for themselves? If you look at your manuscript in that light, how might it change your problem, your solution, or even your characters? Happy Writing!
11 Comments
Maria Oka
3/20/2015 06:52:33 am
Thank you Ronna! I hope your writing is going phenomenally.
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3/20/2015 07:55:31 am
I love this observation and these examples. THE SEA SERPENT AND ME is an all-time favorite of mine! (The other two are new faves.) It has the added element of belonging and significance and, thus, the ability to let go but hold onto those things. Powerful stuff!
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Maria Oka
3/20/2015 10:28:36 am
Thank you Danielle! I love your blog and I must admit that I had to snag Little Elliot Big City immediately after reading your review of it.
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Mary McClellan
3/20/2015 12:35:03 pm
Maria, I really enjoyed your post. I just picked up Beekle and plan to read it over the weekend. Now I've got two more books to reserve. Love the themes of belonging and significance -emotional needs that start in childhood but continue through life!
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Maria Oka
3/20/2015 01:33:33 pm
Yay Mary! Yes, these are some of my current favorites, and those needs definitely continue our whole lives! I think if everyone deeply felt those two things in positive ways, this world wohld be a different place. I love how books can bring those messages home without being "preachy".
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Maria Oka
3/26/2015 01:59:04 pm
Yay! It is such a fun one. :)
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4/3/2015 09:54:28 am
I can't wait to read THE SEA SERPENT AND ME! Thanks for the fabulous post, Maria!
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Annie Bailey
4/4/2015 01:36:35 pm
Great post Maria! Can't wait to read these books!
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