Trying to write a children’s book with original lore

Hey everyone, I’m 20 years old and currently in my 4th and final year of art school. I’ve always been passionate about art and storytelling, and I thought the best way to bang these two loves together would be to create a children’s book. I’m not trying to make anything too complicated, more along the lines of the holiday legendary books like The Polar Express or the Grinch. <br><br>My aim is to publish this digitally on Apple Books, and have it illustrated with pictures I’ve painted. I’d like to create more of these in the future, but I want to start out small and focus on just one book first. <br><br>I think the biggest issue I have is coming up with original lore and ideas. I don’t want to copy anyone else or seem unoriginal, so I’m having a lot of trouble coming up with this idea. Everything I brainstormed I’ve since realized is similar to someone else’s work. <br><br>For example, my first brainstorming session I found myself writing a story that was similar to The Polar Express, but with reindeer instead of trains, and they granted wishes instead of delivered gifts. It was so similar to The Polar Express I decided not to continue down that path. <br><br>I’m really struggling to get past this hump and come up with something unique, so any and all advice would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!<br><br>TLDR; Want to write a children’s book with original lore and publish it digitally with my own illustrations