A boy sits on his bed.
Pyjamas on.
Teddy in his arms.
Sun going down.
Nothing is “happening”.
No monsters.
No explosions.
No jokes.
Just… quiet.
So here’s the question:
Why would an author waste a whole page on this?
Look Again
Most people glance at this scene and think:
“Nice picture. Bedtime. Calm.”
And move on.
But writers should pause here.
Because this page is doing something very sneaky.
It’s building emotional safety.
The warm light.
The soft colours.
The open window.
The teddy.
Everything is whispering:
“You’re safe here.”
Your brain relaxes.
And that’s not accidental.
Now Ask the Dangerous Question
Here’s the hook most readers never ask:
What is this boy thinking right now?
Is he excited for tomorrow?
Is he worried about school?
Did something happen today?
Is he missing someone?
We don’t know.
But we feel it.
Because silence invites imagination.
And imagination is where stories live.
This Is Emotional Banking
Great children’s books quietly “bank” emotions.
They deposit calm.
They deposit trust.
They deposit attachment.
So later…
When something goes wrong…
The withdrawal hurts.
That’s why the scary bit feels scary.
That’s why the sad bit feels sad.
That’s why the brave bit feels brave.
Not because of the words.
Because of moments like this.
Most Beginner Writers Skip This
New authors often think:
“I need action on every page.”
“I can’t afford boring bits.”
“I have to keep things moving.”
So they cut the quiet.
They rush.
And the story feels… thin.
Like fast food.
Tasty.
Forgettable.
Quiet Pages Are Glue
Pages like this are glue.
They make readers care.
They say:
“This is someone’s life.”
“Stay with them.”
“Trust me.”
Once that trust is built,
you can take readers anywhere.
Into danger.
Into sadness.
Into joy.
They’ll follow.
Because they’re invested.
The What-If Test
Here’s a simple trick for your own writing:
When you create a calm scene, ask:
What if this is the last safe moment?
What if tomorrow changes everything?
What if this is what they’ll remember later?
Suddenly…
That “nothing” page
becomes powerful.
Why This Matters for Children Especially
Kids feel more than they explain.
They don’t analyse stories.
They absorb them.
Scenes like this tell them:
“It’s okay to be quiet.”
“It’s okay to think.”
“It’s okay to feel.”
That’s not filler.
That’s emotional literacy.
Try This in Your Next Book
Before you add another chase…
another joke…
another twist…
Add one still moment.
A window.
A bed.
A pause.
A breath.
Let the story inhale.
Then exhale.
Final Thought
Great children’s books aren’t built from noise.
They’re built from rhythm.
Quiet.
Loud.
Quiet.
Loud.
This page?
This is the heartbeat.
Once you start seeing it,
you’ll never write “empty” scenes again.