Aimed at young children, picture books require a simple, basic story told in conjunction with full-page illustrations. Six- to nine-year-old children can absorb more narrative detail told in a basic straightforward manner, but with the added visual stimulus of quarter- to half-page illustrations. Older children can follow more descriptive detail and complicated storylines using a broader range of vocabulary.
Novels for teenagers and young adults contain more comprehensive detail with greater depth of emotion and meaning, more realistic characters, and challenging themes. Stories for teens and young adults are also told with a higher degree of intellectual complexity.
Detail is what adds depth and interest to a story, but too much long-winded and irrelevant detail in a children's book will hamper the fluidity of the storyline and make it a dull read for the reader.
To write for children, it is beneficial to see what other children's book writers are producing. This helps the prospective writer see what is popular in the current market and ascertain the degree of detail needed in a children's story.