Writing Endearing Picture Book Characters

If you tend to write character-driven fiction like me, you know that sometimes, a brand new character will appear in your mind, suddenly "born" into your imagination out of nowhere. And the next thing you know? They're demanding their own story.

Eureka! You have been entrusted with a make-believe life! Your task is now to fashion it into an endearing, larger-than-make-believe character that will spring off the page for your readers. But in the case of picture books, how does one create that kind of protagonist in the space of several spreads? 

Remember the good fairies in Sleeping Beauty, who bless the infant princess with special qualities just after her birth? You, too, have things to bestow upon your new character if they are to become an appealing, strong, and memorable protagonist worthy of a story. So wave your wand and repeat after me,

"To my brand new picture book character, I give the gift of..."

Plenty of personality. Will your new character be wickedly funny or devilishly mischievous or inspiringly brave, or all three? Whatever the case, your main character should NOT "fit in." Your MC must stand out. They must be quirky. Even downright weird. If you suspect that your MC needs a personality-injection, try choosing one of the following and exaggerate it: the character’s voice (i.e. all the ways they express themselves), their humor, their spunk, their personal preferences, their idiosyncrasies, their beliefs, their flaws, their fears, their secret talents.
A kid-like dimension: Kids need to be able to identify with your MC. Often in picture books, this comes down to physical smallness and/or "cuteness." But beyond the physical aspect, the MC should have child-relatable concerns. Maybe it's wanting to be bigger, a fear of the dark, or loneliness. Maybe it's the feeling of being left out or left behind. In CLOVIS, my MC seems anything but childlike. He's a huge, tough, former football-playing bull! But even as someone big and strong, Clovis has to deal with bullying...and there lies his child-relatable struggle.
A true-to-life trait. By "true-to-life" traits, I mean qualities that can just as easily be flaws. My character Piglette, for example, is a perfectionist. Her perfectionism is not really good or bad. It is both good and bad. It is what drives her toward new pursuits, but it is also what impedes her happiness (especially in book 2, coming in 2021). 
A want or a need. Identify what your character wants early on in the story, and set them off on pursuing it.
Frustration. Now, get in your character's way. Just like in real life, frustration is key to the development of character (not to mention of your story). Frustrate your protagonist's want or need, and allow them to react to that frustration in a way that is consistent with all the personality traits you've given them. 

This is no recipe written in stone, but I do believe these tips can help you form a protagonist that is worthy of a story. When an editor eventually "adopts" your character as their own, it will be time to find the right illustrator. Only an illustrator can bestow the final gift upon your character: the right "skin" for them to live in! And for me, watching this particular step in the publication process has been the most magical part of the journey yet.