Features Typical To Children's Stories

From analysing existing children's stories like Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo and Elmer by David McKee and also research into general methods of descriptive writing for children, I have found that the following features of language are some of ones more frequently and effectively used to engage with the reader;

1. Alliteration is often used, especially when describing physical features and surroundings, as well as in the character's names. This makes the names easier to remember and identify, especially since the names tend to be in relation to their character's personality or characteristics. In terms of phonology, alliteration is used because it is both fun for the children to say and hear. Repeated use of specific consonant and vowel sounds teaches then how to make the noise themselves for future use in everyday language.
2. Following along with the previous point, characters, particularly the main characters, tend to have a certain distinguishing feature that separates them from the rest of the story's characters. In the sake of Elmer, it was the fact that he was patchwork coloured instead of regular elephant grey colour. Children, it would seem, like to have main characters or heroes that are underdogs or in some way like them. Therefore, size is often used as a distinguishing feature, in The Gruffalo, the main character was a little, brown, mouse. Little makes the character seem less important or likely to be the hero. Brown is a very simple and dull colour and being a mouse connotes that the character is quiet or shy in some way. Because of all this, the reader wants the mouse to win/be successful.
3. The use of repetition allows the child to become familiar with the story, enabling them to join in and interact with the story-teller. Repetition of certain utterances and phrases can become a chorus of some sort, especially is the book rhymes and has a rhythm. Children like the beat of rhythms, perhaps because the steady beat reminds them of the sound of their mother's heartbeat and soothes them. 
4. As well as written features, it is important to remember things like intonation and voice alteration. One of the first ways children learn to communicate is through the intonation of one or two word utterances. When written, italics are an indication of words that require particular emphasis. Character's voices are often described at some point during the story, giving the reader the freedom to change their voice to suit the description, making the character more recognisable and entertaining. Therefore, it goes without saying that dialogue is a very important feature.