Messages, Morals and Lessons in Picture Books

A reader asks, “I’m wondering if there is an objective way of measuring didacticism in an PB manuscript.”

Voice for Picture Books

Voice is important, whether you’re writing a novel or a picture book.
One question that often arises is, “Can you revise for voice?” Yes. Here’s an example of how it worked for me.

How to Create a Read Aloud Friendly Picture Book

One of the most important things to keep in mind when revising a picture book is that it needs to be easy to read aloud. Usually picture books are read to kids by adults. If you have to read the same thing over and over and over — and over again, then you learn to appreciate a smoothly written and fun text.

How to Write a Poetry Collection Picture Book

This entry is part 23 of 31 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK
Poetry Collections make great picture books.
Write a Collection of Poetry on a Specific Topic
The most common type of poetry collection seen in picture books is a collection of . . .

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After 18 months of free access, the [...]

Picture Books: Folk Tale or Modern Story?

This entry is part 18 of 31 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK
This post was originally published as “When Folktales Fail: Modernize Your Picture Book” Children’s Writer. December, 2005.
Picture books: Folk Tale or Modern Story?
Despite several sales of picture book manuscripts, I still receive many rejections. Why? That’s what I recently [...]

How to Write a Rhyming Picture Book

This entry is part 19 of 31 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK
For several years, this series on writing a picture book has been available free on this site. It’s now available altogether as a 110 page pdf file, How to Write a Children’s Picture Book. The ebook has an [...]

How to Write a Picture Book Mystery

This entry is part 24 of 31 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK
For several years, this series on writing a picture book has been available free on this site. It’s now available altogether as a 110 page pdf file, HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK. The ebook has an [...]

How to Write a Creative Non-Fiction Picture Book

This entry is part 20 of 31 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK
For several years, this series on writing a picture book has been available free on this site. It’s now available altogether as a 110 page pdf file, HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK. The ebook has an [...]

How to Write a Picture Book Biography

This entry is part 21 of 31 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK
For several years, this series on writing a picture book has been available free on this site. It’s now available altogether as a 110 page pdf file, HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK. The ebook has an [...]

How to Write an ABC Book

This entry is part 22 of 31 in the series 30 DAYS TO A STRONGER PICTURE BOOK
Within the picture book genre, there are certain sub-genres and I’ll cover some of these in the next few days. First, the ABC books.
How to Write a Good ABC Book
Story Oriented Alphabet Books.
If you want to write an [...]