Characters who live on in our inner worlds long after the last page has turned are among the most unforgettable aspects of childhood books, possibly childhood itself. They pull on our heartstrings, make us laugh and keep us company because they are fun, vulnerable and honest.

Consider Olivia, the charming piglet created by Ian Falconer in his picture book series. The minimalist, expressive line work in her design and her playful antics in the narrative make me laugh out loud.

“Only five books tonight, Mommy,” she says.
“No, Olivia, just one.”
“How about four?”
“Two.”
“Three.”
“Oh, all right, three. But that’s it!”
– Ian Falconer, Olivia

Creating a memorable children’s book character has to be fun, agrees author and illustrator Alex Latimer, whose range of characters includes Gordon, “the meanest goose on earth”.

Latimer explains that creators often come up with characters they think children will like, or that publishers or agents may want. “But creating fun, interesting, deep characters should come from your personal experience – it’s what you bring to the table.”

He adds that this is especially true in light of the new wave of AI art in children’s books. “Machines can make soulless copies of anything they’re told to, but the joy of the creator isn’t in the work.”

Vulnerability

Another quality that creates a timeless character is vulnerability. Think of Bambi, Black Beauty, Lassie, or Jock of the Bushveld. You remember them with a sense of relief when they’re safe, or a lingering sadness when they’re not. That tension – the emotional pull – is part of what makes them unforgettable.

Illustrator Lisa Glanz captures a tender vulnerability in her characters because she takes the time to understand their personalities before she illustrates them. When you see an expressive pose, the quirks and accessories, or the way a character moves through the world, you feel a personality and your emotions come alive. You’re not only observing them; you’re experiencing them.

Honesty with heart

There also needs to be a truth in characters that both adults and children can see and relate to – a believable honesty that is well observed and conveyed. Maurice Sendak did this so well with Max in one of my favourite picture books, Where the Wild Things Are. Max resonates across generations. You remember him because you recognise that messy, wild authenticity from your own childhood self.

In the documentary Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak by Oscilloscope Pictures, Sendak said: “I think what I’ve offered is different, but not because I drew better than anybody or wrote better than anybody. It was because I was more honest than anybody.”

In a conversation with Nat Hentoff for The New Yorker in 1966, Sendak was quoted as saying: “I really do these books for myself. It’s something I have to do, and it’s the only thing I want to do. Reaching the kids is important, but secondary. First, always, I have to reach and keep hold of the child in me.”

There’s joy and vulnerability in that honesty, which is why it lingers.

What characters have stayed with you, made you laugh out loud, or felt so true that you couldn’t forget them?

The answer isn’t in trends, popularity, or cleverness. It’s in what reaches your heart.