When I became an aunt for the first time, something inside me shifted. Suddenly, I wasn’t just the one who brought snacks and questionable dance moves to family gatherings — I was the aunt. The kind of aunt who wanted to give her niece and nephew something more lasting than a sugar rush. That’s how this children’s eBook journey began: with love, imagination, and probably too much coffee.
Where It All Began
The idea seemed simple enough: write a sweet story that would make my niece and nephew giggle and maybe even teach them something. Easy, right? Except every time I thought I had the perfect idea, I’d imagine their tiny faces giving me that look. You know the one. The same look toddlers give you when you try to convince them broccoli is “just like tiny trees.”
Finding the Right Story
After brainstorming about 4,752 plots (give or take, maybe mostly give), I finally realized the story didn’t have to be perfect — it just had to be fun. They love animals, so why not let animals carry the story? And maybe, just maybe, sneak in a life lesson or two while they’re distracted by cute furry creatures. (Classic aunt move: trick them into learning.)
Characters They’d Love
Creating the characters was my favorite part. I gave each animal a personality — kind, curious, a little silly — the same way my niece and nephew are. One character may or may not have been inspired by my dog, who thinks he’s king of the world. (Spoiler: he is…very spoiled.)
Writing & Editing: The “Fun” Part
Writing is magical. Editing? That’s another story. Kids’ books have to be simple, but not too simple. Fun, but not total chaos. (Imagine explaining why your rhyming dog suddenly lives on Mars.) I rewrote so many times I think even my coffee got tired of me.
Sharing the Book
When it came time to share the eBook, I was nervous. Their parents, my siblings, were excited — but also the kind who prefer paper books you can trip over in the living room. I explained the benefits of digital — portability, colors, fun features. Translation: “Please don’t delete this from your tablet.”
Reading Time & First Reactions
I didn’t get to read it to them myself the first time. Their parents did. (Fair.) But I asked for video evidence — because how else would I know if I’d written the next “Goodnight Moon” or a bedtime disaster? Thankfully, there were giggles, wide eyes, and not a single “Can we read something else?” High praise.
What It Meant — and What’s Next
Since then, it’s become part of their bedtime lineup, which, in kid terms, is basically a five-star review. Honestly, writing this book taught me more patience and joy than I expected. And now? I can’t help but wonder: Should I write more? Should I add illustrations, maybe even make print versions? Or should I just frame their reaction video and call it my masterpiece?
Either way, this little eBook adventure reminded me of one thing: being an aunt means saying yes to love, laughter, and sometimes, to rewriting the same sentence 37 times until it finally rhymes.
👉 Thinking about writing your own children’s eBook? Trust me, if I can survive the editing stage, so can you. And hey, if you’d like to see the tools I used, I’ve linked my favorite writing and design resources below!