| A picture book is an illustrated story book for 0-6 | | | | alliteration and onomatopoeia are also popular. Sudden |
| year olds. As the number of words is about 500, | | | | actions and unexpected mishaps go down well. |
| many writers consider it an easy option. They are | | | | Memorable characters: Animals are well-liked, |
| very wrong to do so. Picture book writing is one of | | | | especially bears. These animals usually act as humans |
| the hardest and most competitive fields of all. So | | | | with the story being told through them. (Elmer, Spot, |
| what are the elements of a good picture book? | | | | Paddington Bear) Publishers usually want to market |
| Format: Picture books have a specified number of | | | | the book abroad. Animals are more easily transferred |
| pages between 24 and 40, which is always divisible | | | | than people with varying dress and customs. This |
| by eight. These include the front and back covers. It | | | | also applies to live toys (Jane Hissey's Jolly Tall) or |
| is essential to decide how your text will be divided | | | | monsters (Maurice Sendack's Where the Wild Things |
| out across these pages in relation to the pictures. | | | | Are or Nick Butterfield's Q Pootle 5) |
| Empathy: Picture book writers need to have an | | | | Adult appeal: Picture books must appeal to adults as |
| empathy with young children and be able to retain | | | | it is they who buy the book then read it to the child, |
| and reproduce childhood feelings and experiences of | | | | often repeatedly. Parents and teachers want |
| what it is like to be small. | | | | educational value so if a book includes learning |
| Illustrations: Writers do not need to be able to | | | | concepts such as colour, shape and number it has |
| illustrate their own books, although many popular | | | | extra appeal. |
| picture writers do - Jane Hissey, Nick Sharratt and | | | | Themes: Real-life situations such as starting school, |
| Jez Alborough, for example. Unless you are a | | | | potty training or moving house are popular as are |
| professional illustrator it is better just to send an | | | | family relationships, domestic activities, pets and |
| editor text. He or she will provide an illustrator if they | | | | machines. Modern or updated versions of traditional |
| decide to publish. Stories for picture books need to | | | | stories sell well, especially if they approach the story |
| provide the opportunity for imaginative illustration and | | | | from a new angle. |
| the text should suggest strongly where and what | | | | Think you can meet the requirements? Read as wide |
| these pictures should be. | | | | a variety of picture books as you can. Then follow |
| Simple plot: There should be only one plot line which | | | | the advice and rules above and write a dummy |
| is easy to follow. Young children learn from repetition | | | | picture book. Send it to the right publishing house and |
| and like to join in with the story, so skilled use of | | | | who knows, it might be the beginning of a fun new |
| repetition and refrain is an advantage. Rhyme, | | | | career. |