Writing a picture-book character children recognise
28 September 2026 · 5 min read
How the Lazy Brain was born: giving an everyday feeling a face, a sofa and a pair of fluffy slippers.
Start with a feeling, not a plot
The Lazy Brain began as a sentence every family knows: "five more minutes". Before there was a story, there was a feeling worth naming.
When a character embodies one clear, everyday feeling, children recognise it instantly — and recognition is what makes them ask for the book again.
What to try first
- Write down the exact words your child says when they resist.
- Ask what that feeling would look like if it were a creature.
- Give it one habit and one favourite object.
Make the troublemaker lovable
The Lazy Brain is never the villain. It is cosy, funny and a little bit royal. Children can laugh at it without feeling laughed at themselves.
A lovable troublemaker lets the child in the story make a better choice without shame — which is the whole point.
