Story Craft Forum umm Help please

Ok i am trying to write a childrens story/book.. and i cant seem to get past the first paragraph.. can anyone help or give advise to writing a childrens book..

do you have characters? Do you have an overall thought for the direction?

yes i have two main characters.. one a little boy and the other his mother.

the overall thought of the story is they go to the zoo and they imagin that they are in the jungle.. they get surrounded by jungle pple .. and they end up being very friendly and show them around the jungle.. at the end of the story they are walking out of the zoo.. saying that they had a great time..

Why don't you try something simple like gathering shoes or getting dressed to start? Or maybe have some conversation about what to do for the day?

Okay... your kids are going to the zoo and will pretend they are in the jungle.

Who is taking them? Mom, Dad, teacher, home school group field trip?

I think you will need a lead in to get them in the mood of going to the zoo. The adult character (parent, teacher, whomever) could be talking about the various animals in the jungle then the field trip (excited planning about what they might see). Once at the zoo, the kids' imaginations are let loose and they are in the jungle. You could even have the "great hunter" or the friendly guide come rescue them at the end as they all get on the big yellow school bus.

For kids, there is usually a trigger that gets them imaging stories. And being in the midst of a jungle while at the city zoo would be the story for them.

I hope this helps fuel your creative processes. Good luck with your book. It should be pretty good.

Cheers!

Doc.