Every great writer starts somewhere—and often, it’s with a book that lights a fire inside them. Whether it’s a funny adventure that makes them want to create their own characters, a magical world they long to live in, or a journal that invites them to fill its pages, the right book can be the nudge a budding author needs to start telling their own stories. I remember creating my own first book when I was young, inspired by The Magic Faraway Tree. 

In this feature, we’ve gathered a collection of brilliant books for children designed to nurture creativity, build confidence, and open the door to the endless possibilities of writing. From playful prompts and writer’s toolkits to story-starters and inspiring tales of young authors, these books are perfect for encouraging kids to pick up a pen (or keyboard!) and let their imagination run wild.

Because the next bestselling author? They might just be sitting cross-legged on the carpet across from you now, dreaming up worlds of their own.

Books That Teach and Inspire Writing

Write Your Own Story Book by Louie Stowell 

A fantastic write-in, hands-on book full of prompts, tips, and creative exercises for children aged 7+. It's fun, colourful, and packed with ideas that help kids structure a story from start to finish.

Perfectly complemented by Usborne's Write Your Own Story Word Book, an inspiring write-in book that helps children find the right words for engaging stories. Part of the Write Your Own series, which includes writing poems, scripts, magazines, comics and more.

How to Write a Story by Simon Cheshire

Perfect for ages 8–12, this book is full of practical advice, story templates, and creative sparkers. It covers everything from building characters to world-building—great for children who want to take their writing more seriously.

Unleash Your Creative Monster: A Children's Guide to Writing by Andy Jones

A funny and accessible guide to creative writing, packed with practical advice, exciting story prompts and a cast of creative monsters. In the pages of Unleash Your Creative Monster, budding writers will sink their teeth into story basics, essential writing tools and the hidden secrets of the wordsmith.

You can write awesome stories by Joanne Owen

This lively how-to book by LoveReading’s very own Joanne Owen will certainly inspire your young writers and is packed with story-writing ideas to get them started, and delivers a wealth of really good writing advice (whatever your age). Its author Joanne Owen is herself a successful writer for children and it shows.  She shares real tips of the trade, from ways to spark ideas to techniques that will make your writing really effective. There are lots of practical exercises, all of them fun and stimulating. With space to write your stories down, young writers can get going straightaway and the lessons they learn will be useful throughout their lives.

How to Write Your Best Story Ever! by Christopher Edge

This is a humorous and authoritative book that will awaken the author in every child, unlocking their story ideas and giving them hints and tips to create their own stories. For children aged 13 and under, this book is written in a fun, engaging, and inspirational style that will help all readers to see themselves as writers and help them to achieve their creative writing goals.

Children’s books featuring characters who are writers

Here we have collected a selection of books for children which feature characters who are writers, storytellers, or budding authors themselves, perfect for showing young readers that they can be storytellers too.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

A really timeless classic, Harriet has probably inspired thousands of readers to become writers themselves, or at least pay closer attention to the world around them, and the book is particularly good for anyone who feels they don’t fit in. Harriet carries a notebook everywhere, observing people and writing down her (often brutally honest) thoughts. A brilliant, quirky classic about writing, identity, and the messiness of growing up.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Meggie lives in a world where stories come to life—literally. Her father can read characters out of books, and she discovers the power of words and storytelling in a fantastical, high-stakes adventure about stories and the imagination they inspire.

Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

Clarice loves reading and writing, especially her favourite series featuring Ruby Redfort. Moving beyond her family but using all her witty powers of observation, Clarice Bean fills her first novel with an account of her life outside home and especially inside school. She describes her teacher and classmates, including her UTTERLY best friend Betty Moody. How Clarice and Betty moody set about trying to win the prize for the best book project is hilarious.

The Story Thief by Graham Carter

A beautiful picture book about a town where stories are disappearing, and one curious boy who sets out to bring storytelling back. A celebration of reading, writing, and sharing stories.

Pages & Co. by Anna James

Meet Tilly Pages, who discovers she can travel into books. This magical series about the joy of stories, bookshops, and the power of writing your own adventure begins with Tilly and the Book Wanderers.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend

Adrian thinks he's a misunderstood intellectual. Through his diary, we see his hilarious and painfully honest view of teenage life. A classic for older kids and tweens with a strong “voice.”

Books That Inspire Through Storytelling

Big Ideas From Literature: how books can change your world by The School of Life

A snapshot of literature throughout the ages, asking big questions such as how does literature work, how do stories help us understand life, what is reading really for? The book is a complete treasury of not only the different genres of literature, but also a wonderful selection of excerpts from famous books such as Little Women, Alice in Wonderland, and the Hobbit. The book is continually questioning how we read, how reading affects our emotions and feelings, and what books offer us.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World by Kate Pankhurst

Perfect for budding nonfiction writers or kids who love biographies, this beautifully illustrated book shows how telling real-life stories can be just as exciting as fiction.

The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold, illustrated by Emily Gravett

This imaginative and slightly spooky story celebrates the power of imagination—ideal for kids who are just beginning to explore storytelling through reading.

Writing Journals and Writing Prompts for Kids

You Are a Story by Laura Dockrill

Written by a UK poet and performer, this book is part guide, part inspiration, and part journal. It’s a creative and personal look at how writing can help kids explore their identity and express emotions.

For more inspiration about writing, check out our Get Creative series as well as our feature 4 phizz-whizzing writing tips from Roald Dahl plus scrumdiddlyumptious ways to use them.

And also our collection of books focussing on vocabulary to help your child become a vocab virtuoso.