Writing for the little audience aka children is not as easy as it looks like. In The Adventures at Red Oak Farm: Things Take Time, author Regina S. Richmond shows us that the best children’s books are the ones that blend imagination with everyday life.
That balance, between wonder and reality, is what makes a story stick. It’s what helps young readers feel seen. And it’s why this book leaves such a lasting impression.
Kids Know More Than We Think
One of the most important lessons for anyone writing for children is this: never talk down to them.
Kids are smart. They pick up on tone. They sense tension. They feel everything, even if they can’t always explain it. In Things Take Time, Richmond respects her readers by writing characters who go through real emotions of fear, doubt, love, grief, and joy.
She doesn’t rush to explain everything. She trusts that her readers will understand, or at least feel their way through. And in doing so, she creates space for emotional honesty.
That kind of writing doesn’t just entertain, it connects.
Imagination Is a Bridge
In this story, the animals talk. Giving animals voices is a way to explore deeper ideas. It helps young readers see things from a different perspective. By imagining how animals might feel or speak, kids learn to think beyond themselves. They learn empathy. And the imaginative element of the story becomes more than fun when it becomes meaningful.
Truth in a Story Doesn’t Always Look Literal
There’s something beautiful about how The Adventures at Red Oak Farm balances realism with imagination. While the animals speak, the emotions behind their words are incredibly grounded. Bravo’s fear, Cowboy’s loyalty, and Stacy’s quiet determination, readers of any age can recognize these feelings.
The farm itself is written with realism. The chores, the weather, the flow of the day, it all feels true to life. But within that real world, there’s space for quiet magic. That’s the power of combining imagination with reality. You can explore difficult ideas in safe ways and let readers feel understood without overwhelming them.
Writing Characters That Feel Real
Stacy, the main character, is a wonderful example of how to write a child with depth. She’s not exaggerated or overly simplified. She’s thoughtful. She makes mistakes. She gets nervous. But she also keeps showing up, for herself, for the animals, for the people around her.
She’s the kind of character who grows without even realizing it. And that’s what makes her relatable.
Young readers don’t always want to read about kids who have it all figured out. They want to see characters who are learning, just like they are. Characters who feel a little unsure sometimes, but who still find their way.
Why This Balance Matters
When imagination and honesty go hand in hand, the story becomes both, a mirror and a window. A mirror that reflects something important back to the reader and a window that enable the reader to see the world with new perspective.
In Things Take Time, Regina S. Richmond gives young readers both. She offers them a gentle, emotionally honest story wrapped in the warmth of a farm, the loyalty of a dog, the patience of a girl, and the quiet thoughts of a horse who’s learning to trust again.
It’s a reminder that kids deserve stories that don’t just entertain them, but also let them grow, emotionally. Stories that stretch their imagination and hold space for their hearts.
Because when you give children both magic and meaning, they don’t just enjoy the story, they grow with it.