Standalone Book or Children’s Book Series? How I Decided

When I wrote my first picture book, I thought I was finished the moment I typed the last line. Then I looked at the doll sitting on my desk and realized I wasn’t done with her at all.

If you’re a new children’s author, you’ve probably faced the same question. Do you write one complete, perfect book and let it stand on its own? Or do you build a children’s book series that readers can return to again and again? Neither answer is wrong, but there is a smart way to choose. Here’s how I think about it, using my own Rebecca Ann books as the example.

Start With the Character, Not the Plot

The best question to ask is not “What happens in my story?” It’s “Who is this story about, and do I want to spend more time with them?”

Rebecca Ann is a doll. She’s quiet, loyal, and always by a little girl’s side. In Rebecca Ann and the Rainy Day Adventure, the girl is stuck inside on a gray, stormy day, the tulips are drooping, and the birds have gone. Then she turns to her doll and says, “But inside our room we know what to do.” Suddenly a cardboard box becomes a boat, a stuffed dragon becomes a threat, and a rainy afternoon becomes a grand adventure.

That book works on its own. But the character has room to go anywhere. A doll can lose her way, search for treasure, or go out into the world. When I realized Rebecca Ann could carry any number of stories, I knew I was building a children’s book series, not a single title.

Ask yourself: could your main character face a completely different problem next week? If yes, you may have a series on your hands. If your character exists only to solve this one problem, a standalone book is likely the better fit.

Look for a Repeatable Heart

A strong children’s book series isn’t just the same character repeated. It has a heart that stays constant while the setting changes.

For Rebecca Ann, the heart is friendship and imagination. In the rainy day book, a small girl and her doll turn a dull day into something magical. The next book can take them somewhere new, but that feeling of companionship and play stays the same. Children love that. They know what to expect emotionally, and they get a fresh adventure every time.

A good test is to finish this sentence: “Every book with this character is about ______.” If you can fill in the blank, you have a series. If you struggle, your story may be better as a single, self-contained tale.

Consider the Way Children Actually Read

Young readers fall in love with familiar faces. Parents tell me their kids ask for the same book night after night, and when a child loves a character, the first question is always, “Is there another one?”

That’s a powerful reason to consider a series. A reader who finishes one book and wants more is the best marketing you’ll ever have. It also gives parents and teachers a natural next step, whether that’s a gift, a library request, or a bedtime routine.

A standalone book has its own advantages. It’s complete and focused, and nothing is left hanging. If your story has a strong, finished arc, like a lesson learned or a journey completed, forcing a sequel can weaken it.

Think About Your Own Energy and Resources

This is the part many authors skip. A series is a commitment. You’ll need illustrations, formatting, editing, and promotion across several books, often over a long stretch of time.

Before committing, I asked myself a few honest questions:

• Do I have more than one story I’m excited to tell with this character?
• Can I keep the style and tone consistent from book to book?
• Am I willing to invest in the long game rather than a single launch?

If you answered no to most of these, don’t worry. Starting with a standalone book is a perfectly good way to test the waters. Many successful series began as one book that readers wouldn’t let go of.

Plan for Flexibility

You don’t have to decide everything on day one. A smart approach is to write your first book so it stands alone but leaves the door open. Give your character a personality and a world with room to grow, then end the story in a way that feels complete.

The rainy day book does this. It closes on a bright, clean morning, with the girl and Rebecca Ann looking out at a brand new day. The adventure is finished, but the possibilities are wide open. That “brand new day” is an invitation, and it’s the same invitation I’m now extending to readers with more Rebecca Ann stories.

So, Which Should You Choose?

Here’s a simple way to sum it up.

Choose a standalone book if:

• Your story has one clear, complete arc
• The character exists to serve this particular tale
• You want to focus all your energy on a single polished project

Choose a children’s book series if:

• Your character is strong enough to carry many stories
• There’s a consistent heart or theme you can return to
• You’re ready to build something over time

For me, the answer became clear the moment I saw how much life a little doll could hold. Rebecca Ann isn’t done with her adventures, and I’m not done telling them.

Whichever path you take, trust the character. If you can’t stop thinking about them, chances are your readers won’t be able to either.