Showing Not Telling in Children's Books

It is a well-known adage that a good story should show what a character is like rather than simply telling the reader.
When writing a picture book for younger children, this is a very important aspect of storytelling because it teaches them that the key to understanding a person's character is in what he/she does.
So what does this mean when we write a kids' story?
Well, first of all, the backstory is important. Rather than describing what happened, which may not engage young readers, who tend to have a short attention span, we can write the character into what others say about him or her. We can then "prove" that what they say is true by showing that the character's current behavior matches up to what others have said about him/her.
Another important part of "showing not telling" in children's books is when we describe a character's actions - how they do things to reveal mood or character.
I believe that we CAN sometimes state simply that a character is happy or sad to help children understand. However, not all the time. Illustrations will help children infer emotion, and guide them to an understanding. Finding out through guided discovery (perhaps with a parent, care-giver or sibling as they point to the pictures) will help children become emotionally literate.
Aristotle famously stated that educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. This idea is central to setting the emotional atmosphere around a character.
The important thing is not that someone is happy or sad, but what makes them so. We need to show what motivates a character into action, how they do things, and how the results of the choices and decisions they make affect how the character feels in the end. What is the effect of this character and his /her actions on the other characters in the story?
A good story is never preachy. But there are many ways in which authors can show children the truth about the characters in their story.
Of course, characters are never static. Just as in real life, characters are in process. We can show children how characters progress on their personal journey in our books, and this will instill confidence in children as they grow, meet people, make friendships and relationships and negotiate the challenges and opportunities waiting for them in the real world.
By introducing children to books which are educational and fun, we can provide children with a safe rehearsal for life. By showing them rather than telling them, we teach them how to think for themselves, which fosters their independence, and will help them throughout their lives.