Writing Children’s Picture Books

Part 1: The Overview

Of all the different mediums a writer could write for, children’s picture books are probably the most challenging. The text is usually short, therefore every word is very important and must “earn its own way to the table.” In a longer story, a flat paragraph can go undetected, however in a 32 page book, a few weak words can mean trouble for you plot.

Good picture books capture the essence of the story through the words. It’s up to the illustrator to tell the rest of the story. Picture books are meant to be read aloud to children, therefore the rhythm of the words are very important. The trick is to get the text to sounds like poetry. Choosing the words very carefully and rewriting as many times as it takes.

The average picture book is no longer than 1500 words. In this short space, a writer must develop a story with convincing characters. The writer must also set a mood and a scene from a child’s life. Every sentence contains a single, concrete idea and every two to three sentences should convey a different scene that can be illustrated and communicated visually.

After writing the first draft of the story, go back through the text again and delete every unnecessary word. Go through again and replace some of the ordinary words with a selection of deeper words.

After your story has been revised several times and the text is tightly written like a poem, then you are ready to send it to the editors.