Preschool Book Author - Mem Fox

Mem Fox is a beloved children's author whose rhythmic, joyful stories have captivated millions of young readers worldwide, and learning about her life while creating your own Fox-inspired book is a wonderful way to introduce your child to the magic of storytelling and authorship. When preschoolers see that *they* can write and illustrate a book just like their favorite author, something shifts—suddenly reading becomes even more magical because they understand the person behind the words. This activity combines the joy of literary discovery with hands-on creative expression, building confidence while deepening your child's love of language and imagination. It's one of those rare activities that feels like pure play while quietly developing crucial early literacy skills.

What You'll Need

• Paper — standard printer paper, construction paper, or a small blank booklet from a dollar store (8–10 pages is ideal for preschoolers)
• Writing and coloring supplies — crayons, markers, colored pencils, or a mix of all three; let your child choose their favorites
• Mem Fox books — borrow at least 2–3 titles from your library or use ones you already own; *Hug*, *Time for Bed*, *Koala Lou*, and *Possum Magic* are excellent choices
• Stapler or fasteners — brass fasteners or a stapler with adult supervision to bind pages together
• Glue stick (optional) — handy if you want to add collage elements like magazine cutouts, torn paper, or stickers to illustrations
• Your voice — most important of all! You'll be the first audience and enthusiastic reader of your child's work

How to Do It

1. Read together first, multiple times. Choose one or two of Mem Fox's books and read them aloud several times over the course of a few days. Don't rush through—pause to enjoy the rhythm and repetition that make her stories so special. Let your child wiggle, chime in on repeated phrases, and ask questions. Fox's books are *meant* to be read aloud, and this immersion helps your child absorb her storytelling style without pressure. Notice how often she uses the same word or phrase; you might say, "Did you hear how the author said that same thing on every page? That's called repetition, and it's really fun to listen to!"

2. Talk about the story together. After reading, have a casual conversation about what your child loved. Ask open-ended questions: "What was your favorite part?" "Which animal made you laugh?" "How do you think the character felt at the end?" "If you could add one more page, what would happen?" This conversation isn't just fun—it's planting seeds for their own creative ideas and showing them that stories are meant to be thought about and discussed.

3. Choose a simple theme together. Help your child pick a basic story idea that excites them. This could be an animal going to sleep, a child's day from morning to bedtime, a pet's adventure, or something they love doing. Keep it short and focused; a preschooler's book works best with just three to five pages, each with one simple idea. You might say, "What's something that makes you happy? Could we write a story about that?"

4. Write or dictate the story. If your child can write letters or words, encourage them to do so, but don't worry about spelling or neatness—this is their story! If they can't write yet, you become the scribe: sit together and write down *exactly* what they say, word for word, even if it's just one sentence per page. Read it back to them as you write so they can hear their own words becoming a story. Keep sentences short and simple: "The puppy was sleepy. The puppy found a cozy bed. The puppy fell asleep."

5. Draw the pictures. This is the heart of the activity! Let your child illustrate each page with drawings that match their story. Encourage bold colors, creative details, and their own unique style—there's no "right way" to draw. They might draw stick figures or elaborate scenes; what matters is that they're bringing their story to life visually. Ask questions as they draw: "Tell me about what's happening on this page!" This keeps their imagination engaged and gives them practice describing their own work.

6. Add rhythm and repetition. Just like Mem Fox does beautifully in her books, help your child add a repeating phrase or pattern that appears on every page or several pages. This might be something like "Time for sleep," "I love you," or a sound effect like "Splish splash!" Your child can write it themselves or you can write it for them. Repetition makes stories memorable and gives emerging readers something familiar to "read" along with. Point out the repetition as you're building it: "Look, we're using that same words again—just like Mem Fox does!"

7. Bind it into a book. Once all pages are complete, help your child assemble their pages in order. Use a stapler (with your help) or brass fasteners to bind them together along the spine. This physical transformation from loose pages into an actual book is thrilling for preschoolers—suddenly their work feels *real* and official.

8. Create the cover. Let your child design a cover with the title and their name as the author. They can draw a picture that represents their story, and you can write the title and "Author: [Child's Name]" in large, celebratory letters. This is the moment they truly become an author!

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

Narrative thinking — Creating a beginning, middle, and end helps children understand how stories are structured and organized. Preschoolers who practice telling stories develop stronger comprehension skills and begin to see cause and effect: this happens, then that happens, and here's why it matters.

Creative expression — Developing their own story allows children to explore imagination, process emotions, and put feelings into words or pictures. This is how young children make sense of their world and discover their own voice.

Listening and language — Hearing quality literature like Mem Fox's books builds vocabulary and helps children understand rhythm, rhyme, and flow in language. When children internalize these patterns, their own speech becomes richer and more expressive.

Fine motor skills — Drawing, coloring, and holding writing tools strengthens hand muscles and control, building the foundation for future writing. These repetitive movements also develop hand-eye coordination and pencil grip.

Confidence and pride — Completing their own "published" book gives children a tangible sense of accomplishment and shows them they can create something beautiful and meaningful. This confidence spills over into other areas of learning and builds a positive identity as a reader and writer.

Sequencing and planning — Deciding what happens first, next, and last in their story builds logical thinking skills. Children learn to organize their thoughts and understand that stories have structure.

Tips & Variations

• Read the book multiple times over several days before starting the activity. Repetition helps children internalize the style, mood, and rhythm they want to capture in their own work, and it deepens their connection to the author's voice.

• For younger preschoolers (ages 2–3), focus on one simple illustration per page with just a single word or two ("Sleep," "Hug," "Play") rather than full sentences. You can write the words, and their drawings become the real story.

• For older preschoolers (ages 4–6), encourage slightly longer sentences and more detailed illustrations. They might enjoy adding descriptive words ("The soft, sleepy puppy") or even simple rhyming if they show interest.

• Create a book launch celebration by inviting family members to sit down while your child reads their story aloud. Let them wear a special "author" crown, serve snacks, and take photos of the proud author with their book. This celebration reinforces that their work is valued and worth sharing.

• Make it seasonal or thematic by timing the activity around holidays, seasons, or your child's current interests—a Halloween book about a friendly ghost, a winter story about animals sleeping through snow, or an adventure book about their favorite dinosaur or vehicle.

My Two Cents

There's something truly magical about watching a child realize they can be an author too, and Mem Fox's books are the perfect springboard for that discovery. I love how this activity celebrates the joy of storytelling that Fox has championed for decades while giving your child the experience of being both writer and illustrator. When you staple those pages together and watch your child beam at their own published book, you're not just completing a craft project—you're planting seeds for a lifetime love of reading and writing. Trust me, that first book will be treasure you keep forever.