Picture Books

© Heather Brockman Lee
Interested in writing picture books? Here are some resources to get you started.


G eneral Resources 
SCBWI  - the Society for Children's Book Writers & Ilustrators. The organization that every children's writer and illustrator must join.
Linda Ashman   The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books





Children's Book Hub - a paid subscription service with information about children's books, led by Emma Walton Hamilton   





Children's Book Insider - a paid subscription service to a fount of information about writing children's books, a monthly newsletter with tips about publishers and agents, writing courses, and more.

Mem Fox  This is an AWESOME list of 20 Do's and Don'ts of picture book writing from award winning author Mem Fox. 




Darcy Pattison   How to Write a Picture Book Resources
The Purple Crayon - Harold Underdown, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, has a site chock full of resources and information, including an introductory article on the Basics of Children's Publishing


Susan Uhlig 's  link is full of resources from books to blog posts DEFINITELY check it out/bookmark!
Check out picture book courses we recommend in 
Writing Courses . 12x12  - don't miss out on one of the premier communities of picture book writers and illustrators. A paid membership gets you monthly webinars, critique opportunities, a great member forum, and much more .                                                   Formatting/ Templates


How To Format Your Picture Book


Scrivener Template for Picture Books  

Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Free Picture Book Templates
How Picture Book Pagination Keeps Readers Turning the Pages





Writing Tips for Picture Books



For general writing tips and resources, go to the  For Writers  tab 10 THINGS EVERY CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK WRITER SHOULD KNOW Favorite Picture Book Revision Tips Twenty Tips for Writing Picture Books The Dreaded Comp Titles- Do You Need Them? Should You Offer Comp Titles In Your Query Letter? Do You Really Need Comp Titles? Favorite Picture Book Revision Tips Adding Humor to Children's Stories Writing Picture Books Picture Books That Show Character Change   Humor In Children's Stories How to Write a Picture Book – Resources and Recommendations Write a Picture Book: How Magical Stories Come to Life  Questions to Consider Before Writing a Children’s Book Carol Hinz talks about picture book pagination A Peril of the Page Turn Picture Books 101 (from Alison Hughes) Mick Inkpen's top tips for making a picture book How to Write A Children’s Book: Steps, Structure + Tips Writing for Kids: How to Write Funny Stories Adding Humor to Children's Storie Picture Books That Show Character Change   Picture Books and Easy Readers    How To End A Story – The Perfect Ending For Your Children’s Book Picture Book KnowHow:  Perfect endings Twenty Tips for Writing Picture Books From the Editor’s Desk: Tips for Revising Your Picture Book Manuscript (Part 1) Write the First Draft of a Picture Book Writing Humorous Picture Book Ten Top Picture Book Writing Tips
Are You Writing a Picture Book or Short Story?


The Ten Commandments of Picture Book Writing







Picture Books Openings and Why They Matter


Josh Funk's Guide to Writing Picture Books
20 Dos and Don'ts by Mem Fox

Illustration Notes: To Include or Not to Include. . .
Leslie Helrakoski and Darcy Pattison: Word Choices: Writing Picture Books that Soar

Tips for Writing Picture Books: Show Don't Tell The 3 Most Common Reasons I Pass on Picture Books as an Agent

The "So What"? Test
7 Articles to Help You Write Powerful Picture Books

Book Turns Create Interactive Stories Jazzing Up Your Writing with Onomatopoeia 5 Ways to Add a Refrain to Your Picture Books (and Why You Should) Literary Techniques in Picture Books 5 Ways to Make The Reader Turn the Page How many words should a picture book have? Valerie Bolling Channels Her Inner Kid Wordiness in Picture Books

Story  Arc/Narrative Ways to Make The Reader Turn the Page Character Driven Picture Books- Definition and Examples Why Picture Book Openings Matter Ten Top Picture Book Writing Tips Character Arcs for Your Children's Books What Makes a Good Ending?


Three Clever Ways to Build up Your Climax




What Makes a Good Ending?

Classic Picture Book Structure: Easy Breakdown
Plot and Story Arc  
Vivian Kirkfield on Showing versus Telling Strategies
Ten Top Picture Book Writing Tips Top Ten Picture Book Writing Tips Twenty Tips for Writing Picture Books Top Ten Tips for Aspiring Children’s Book Writers The Ultimate Guide on How to Write a Children’s Picture Book Stocking My Story Pantry for  So Not  Ghoul (tips from PB author Karen Yin)






Art Notes

Art Notes are Action Notes!

Character Driven Books Character Arcs for Your Children's Books


Character Driven Picture Books- Definition and Examples



Character Driven Books in 3 Easy Steps


Put Your Characters in the Zone!
Jen Betton Creates Characters with Inherent Conflict Picture Books That Show Character Change  
Character Arcs for Your Children's Books

Revising/Editing a Picture Book

A Picture Book Editing Checklist

20 Questions to Ask a Picture Book



"De-Rhyming" or Converting Your Verse Picture Book to Prose
Three Ways to Tackle Your Next Picture Book Revisions


Rhyming Picture Books:  For Those Who Must



Every Picture Book Author Should Make a Storyboard
How To Create A Fantastic Picture Book Picture Book Revision Tips From Two Editors Picture Book Focus: Top Tips for Revision (The Little Stuff) Tips for Editing Picture Books Try this Picture Book Editing Checklist 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Rhyming Picture Book Digging Deeper into Revision: Questions to Reveal and Elevate Your Picture Book Manuscript


Marketing 6 Powerful Ways To Market Children's Picture Books Study the Best Picture Books

Meet  Best Kids’ Books -- a curation of children’s literature handpicked by teachers, librarians, and parents. 


The History of the Picture Book (Timeline)



Caldecott Award Winners 1938-present

Cybils Literary Awards  


The Top 100 Children's Books in the Last 100 Years Perfect Picture Books - a searchable database to find picture books by theme or topic
Pixar Shorts: Mentor Texts for PBs
Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature  
Children's Picture Boo k Database at Miami University
Do You Really Need Comp Titles? Wordless Picture Books Writing With Pictures: The Inside Story of a Wordless Picture Book The Art of Creating a Wordless Picture Book Narrative Writing with Picture Books without Words Writing a Near Wordless Picture Book? Study  Linda Ashman's RAIN manuscript.



The Business of Picture Books



Writing Picture Books, A Look at the Numbers (Part 2)   ( Part 1 here - Habits of PB writers )



Board Books



If You Build It, It Can Sell. A Novelty Book Primer by Salina Yoon Have An Idea for a Novelty Book? Now What? By Abi Cushman (plus a Giveaway)


Writing a Novelty Board Book


















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