From Pigs to Parables: Andrew Robert Abel on Writing for Kids and Families

I’ve loved stories in rhyme since childhood, especially Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh and Dr Seuss. My grandad recited a humorous soccer poem to me as a boy, and now I enjoy sharing stories in rhyme with my grandchildren. Seeing their eyes light up when I read aloud inspired me to start writing my own books—some faith-based, some just plain fun—to capture those moments for other families too.

My latest book is The Big Bad Wolf’s Birthday, a humorous sequel to the classic tale of The Three Little Pigs. This time, the pigs and the wolf are older, wiser, and celebrating a birthday rather than feuding. It’s a fun, rhyming story with a happy twist that makes kids (and adults) laugh—my grandkids love hearing it at bedtime. I illustrated this book myself using watercolors, many of them done in the airport or on the plane flying back to visit my mom in the last month of her life. My original images are signed with flight details and/or locations.

Many of my characters come from family life or classic tales with a twist. Zac started life as a puppet I used to entertain my grandkids with during over Facetime during the pandemic; the Big Bad Wolf becomes a lovable, funny party guest; even my dinosaurs are inspired by my grandson’s love for prehistoric toys. I like to start with something familiar and add a fun or thoughtful angle.

I work full-time as a software engineer, so writing happens early mornings evenings, or while I'm semi-awake lying in bed. Often it begins with a rhyme bouncing in my head. I jot it down, polish the rhythm, and later collaborate with illustrators to bring it to life. Often the best ideas come as I'm driving back home after visiting the grandkids and missing them already.

The joy of connecting with readers. When a child giggles at the wolf’s antics or a grandparent tells me how much they love reading Finding Granny, that makes it worthwhile. I also appreciate the creative freedom indie publishing gives me—mixing secular and faith-based books, experimenting with styles, and collaborating with illustrators I admire.

Marketing! It’s one thing to write and illustrate a book, and another to get it into readers’ hands. Learning social media, ads, and promotion while working a day job has been stretching. Also, writing in rhyme is trickier than it looks, especially since I grew up in England. Things that rhyme in British English don't always rhyme in American English, so I have to listen, learn and adjust as needed.

I keep it simple: Google Docs for drafting the text, and Microsoft Publisher for creating the published version. I use KDP and IngramSpark for publishing, Canva for marketing visuals, and sometimes AI tools to brainstorm. Most important are my illustrator collaborations which involve a lot of back-and-forth.

Write what brings you joy. Read your work aloud—especially if it rhymes. Get feedback, especially from kids and grandkids; they’ll tell you the truth! Don’t wait for perfection before publishing. And remember why you started—passion will sustain you more than sales numbers.

I use social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) and sometimes run small targeted ads. Word-of-mouth is big—reading at church or family events helps. Promotion is a long game; I focus on building genuine connections rather than quick sales.

Yes! I’m developing "Zac in a Santa Hat!", a Christmas sequel to Zac’s adventures. I love exploring both zany fun and deeper faith themes—there’s always another story percolating.