Readers love characters who surprise them—here’s how to build one.
Picture book creators know the golden rule of character: Make them relatable.
But there’s another, equally powerful rule that gets less airtime:
Make them weirdly relatable.
Unexpected. Contradictory. Surprising.
Kids (and adults!) LOVE characters that defy expectations. The cranky crocodile who secretly knits. The shy robot who wants to dance. The grumpy grandma with a pet unicorn.
Contradictions give your character layers. They make readers lean in closer. They create emotional tension. And best of all? They’re FUN to write.
Here’s how to harness the magic of contradictions — with 3 recent picture books that nailed it.
1. Contradictory Characters Feel Instantly Fresh
Characters who act exactly the way we expect get forgotten fast. But a character who turns a stereotype upside down? We remember them forever.
Example: The Duck Never Blinks by Alex Latimer
A duck who never blinks? Impossible! The book sets up a challenge for both the reader and the narrator — surely this duck will blink if we keep watching… right?
But the duck’s absolute unblinking commitment makes it fascinating — and weirdly hilarious. Latimer’s duck is both calm and confrontational, serene and stubborn.
Contradiction builds curiosity. And curiosity keeps kids turning pages.
2. Contradictory Characters Spark Emotional Resonance
Contradictions aren’t just funny — they’re deeply human. We all feel mixed-up inside sometimes.
Showing a character wrestling with their own opposites mirrors real-life emotion.
Example: Big by Vashti Harrison
In Big, the main character is both powerful and vulnerable. She’s called “big” like it’s a bad thing — but she eventually reclaims it as her superpower.
Harrison’s portrayal of this contradiction feels beautifully real. Strength and softness can coexist. Confidence and uncertainty can hold hands.
This layered emotional truth gives the story its heartbeat.
P.S. Vashti will be at PictureBookSummit.com this year and you can still get tickets!
3. Contradictory Characters Can Drive the Entire Plot
Sometimes a character’s contradiction is the story engine.
When readers see a character who is wildly ill-equipped for their goal — or hilariously over-equipped — they can’t wait to see what happens.
Example: The Little Book of the Little Brontës by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Briony May Smith
This cozy nonfiction picture book celebrates the Brontë siblings — tiny kids in a tiny village with HUGE imaginations.
Contradiction is everywhere: small children creating epic worlds. Quiet lives birthing dramatic stories. Sweetness paired with ferocity.
Their very existence feels like proof that little things (and little people) can hold mighty power.
How to Build Contradictory Characters Kids Will Love
Ready to make your own cranky crocodiles or brave brussel sprouts? Here’s how to start.
Tip 1: List the Expected Trait… Then Flip It
Ask:
→ What’s the first thing people assume about this character?
→ What’s the opposite of that?
→ Can both things be true?
Example:
→ A dragon who’s afraid of fire.
→ A shark who’s vegetarian.
→ A princess who wants to live in a mud puddle.
Contradictions spark originality fast.
Tip 2: Use Contradictions to Fuel the Plot
If your character has two warring traits, that internal tension can drive the story forward.
→ The super-shy kid wants to join the talent show…but is terrified to speak.
→ The neat freak alien lands on the world’s messiest planet.
→ The tiny monster has a giant roar she doesn’t know how to control.
Your character’s opposite traits = built-in conflict.
Tip 3: Let Readers See Both Sides
Contradictory characters shine brightest when we see both sides play out in scenes.
Not just: “He’s shy but brave.”
But: “He hid under the bed…then tiptoed out with a stick-figure cape on.”
Show don’t tell applies to contradictions too.
Tip 4: Look for Layered Emotional Truths
Remember: contradictions aren’t just about silly traits — they’re about emotional reality.
Kids know what it’s like to feel big and small. Brave and scared. Silly and serious.
Contradictory characters tell kids: Hey, me too.
Final Thought: The Best Characters Surprise Themselves, Too
The real magic of a contradictory character isn’t just surprising the reader — it’s letting the character surprise themselves.
Let them discover their bravery. Or softness. Or silliness. Let them become something they didn’t expect.
That’s the story kids will want to read again and again.
Because when a cranky crocodile learns to laugh…or a lonely robot finds their dance floor…it reminds every reader that we all hold more than one story inside us.
And that’s the most powerful contradiction of all.
