Age Categories

The following section provides a simple breakdown of age categories within children’s and young adult literature. These are general guidelines (not strict rules), presented to help you envision where your story fits within the literary market. Word counts fall into wide ranges, and you will always find outliers (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire comes in at a whopping 190,637 words) and overlaps between categories. If you plan to submit your story to an agent or publisher, always defer to the parameters set by them.

  • 0–3

  • 0–100

    • Made of sturdy paperboard

    • Basic concepts and themes (color, food, letters, numbers, sharing)

    • Usually written by author-illustrators or created in-house

    • Can have an interactive quality (lift-the-flap, touch-and-feel, scratch-and-sniff, etc.)

    • Pat the Bunny

    • Dear Zoo

    • Press Here!

Board Books

Picture Books

  • 3–7

  • 0–1,000

    • <500 words = sweet spot

    • Usually 32 pages, or occasionally may be 24, 40, or 48 pages

    • Themes and concepts relate to early learning and/or social-emotional development

    • Intended to be read aloud to a child multiple times.

    • Can be submitted by authors as text alone or by author-illustrators

    • After the Fall

    • Dandy

    • The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Early Readers

  • 5–8

  • 500–3,500

    • Books for strengthening reading skills.

    • Simple text with engaging subject matter

    • Use Lexile level or equivalent for measuring readability

    • Have the reading level listed on the cover

    • Short sentences and chapters

    • Usually written by work-for-hire authors contracted by book packagers (niche market)

    • I Can Read! Series

    • Fancy Nancy (I-Can-Read editions)

    • Henry and Mudge

Chapter Books

  • 6–10

  • 4,000–15,000

    • Word count depends on age and reading level

    • Feature a character slightly older than the reader

    • Can be a series with recurring characters and/or scenarios

    • Brief chapters

    • Mainly plot-driven, but with some character development

    • Mercy Watson

    • The Princess in Black

    • The Magic Treehouse

    • Nate the Great

Middle Grade Novels

  • 8–12

  • 20,000–50,000

    • Mainly plot-driven

    • Character has a defined need/want

    • Main characters are 1–2 years older than the reader

    • Full-length chapters (10–20 pages)

    • Feature themes on friendship, loyalty, family dynamics, acceptance, courage, belonging, crushes, social dynamics, and developing compassion

    • Small Spaces

    • Wonder

    • Diary of a Wimpy Kid

    • Wild Robot

Young Adult Novels

  • 13–18

  • 50,000–80,000+

    • Can be character-driven or plot-driven, often depending on the literary genre

    • Character has a defined need/want and fully developed arc

    • Full-length chapters (10–20 pages)

    • Feature themes like coming-of-age, first loves, grappling with and developing worldviews, self-discovery, loss of innocence, grief, and navigating the world with big emotions

    • The Hate U Give

    • Dumplin'

    • Truly, Devious

    • Children of Blood and Bone