Children's Picture Book Writing Workshop

Course Objectives

• Share a picture book and explain why it is meaningful to you.
• Understand the differences between a children’s picture book and other types of children’s books.
• Analyze a typical picture book, including its structure, from cover to cover.
• Understand how pagination and length matter in producing your picture book.
• Understand the primary audience for picture books.
• Use your personal knowledge to build characters and story.
• Discuss how to write about sensitive or controversial material.
• Develop a plan for publication and promotion of your picture book.

What You Learn

• What a picture book is and how it differs from other types of children's books
• Ideal length of a children's picture book
• Intensive analysis of a typical picture book
• Board and other books for the pre-verbal and very young
• Pagination
• History of children's picture books (from 1797 to the present day)
• The children's book market
• The three types of children's picture books: concept, informational and story
• Presenting sensitive or religious material, including holiday books
• Why and how to use inanimate objects in your story
• The importance of research
• Fantasy and logic
• Picture book pacing
• Picture book characters: animals and human beings
• The art of brevity
• How to find an editor
• Level of appropriateness in using humor and realism
• The importance of independent adventure in picture books
• Effective beginnings, middles and endings
• Picture book biographies
• Folklore and magic in picture books
• Dialogue
• Titles
• Copyright and public domain concerns
• What to expect from your illustrator
• How to interact with agents and publishing houses, including submissions, query letters, contracts/royalties and school visits

How You Learn

• Lectures
• Discussion
• Picture book reviews
• Student manuscript review and feedback
• Final manuscript project