Hi Everyone,

Here is a list of approximate word counts for children’s books.  I picked this information up from one of the writing groups I subscribe to, and I wanted to share it with you. 

Just keep in mind that every publishing house and editor is different, so these word counts are not chiseled in stone.  You should use them as a guide for when you’re writing your children’s book, then make sure you read the specific criteria of the publishing house you’re submitting it to.

(APPROXIMATE) WORD COUNT FOR BOOKS

Board Books:   100 words
Young Picture Books:   200-400 words
Picture Books for Preschoolers:   500-1000 words
Non-Fiction Picture Books:   1,100-2,000 words
Picture Story Books:   1,000-2,000 words
Easy Readers:   600-800 words (this varies widely, depending on grade level; very early readers are much shorter)
Hi-Lo Books:   700-1,000 words
Chapter Books:   6,000-10,000 words
Mid-Grade Novels:   15,000-25,000 words
Young Adult Novels:   30,000-60,000 words

Best wishes and happy writing!

Rita