Picture Book Summit Podcast: Recent Episodes
Picture Book Summit
Welcome to the Picture Book Summit Podcast where we share insight on the craft of writing, illustrating, and publishing picture books from the industry’s best and brightest. Each episode is an excerpt from a keynote or presentation given at Picture Book Summit, the annual world-class online conference for picture book writers and illustrators around the globe that takes place every October. Our goal is to help you reach your next writing Summit, whether that’s finishing a draft, completing your 18th revision, landing an agent or getting your book published!
Ideas are everywhere! Today, we explore some of the most unusual places we've found inspiration and a few of our favorite inspiration stories from other authors.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- 8 Ways to Ruin a Picture Book Biography with Angela Dalton and Julie Hedlund - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
- Use Your Fear with Jon Klassen - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
- Lisa Bardot
Books mentioned in this episode:
- Over, Bear! Under, Where? by Julie Hedlund and Michael Slack
- Waiting in the Wings by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and EG Keller
- Shy by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Eva Byrne
- The Enchanted Symphony by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Elly MacKay
- Who Hops? by Katie Davis
- To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advanced Civil Rights by Angela Dalton and Lauren Semmer
- Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
- Vigil by George Saunders
- A Swim in the Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
- Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzman
Looking for more inspiration? Join us for a one-of-a-kind, online writing conference designed for picture book writers and illustrators!
Time is running out to save $100 with Early Bird Registration. Offer ends 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!
Kelli Panique started as a strictly behind-the-scenes support person with Picture Book Summit and has grown into our host and producer. In this episode, Kelli shares how she's been inspired to start writing her own picture book manuscripts after listening and learning over the last 12 years. If you're looking for a place to start on your next story, we think you'll find inspiration in today's chat.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- The Parallel Universe of Authors and Illustrators with Shadra Strickland - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
- Readers, Relationship, and Revision with Meg Medina - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
- Our Writing Voice is Also Our Singing Happy Birthday Voice, Our Berating Teenagers Voice, Our Hollering at Ducks Voice, and That's Not a Bad Thing with Sophie Blackall - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
- Using Your Fear with Jon Klassen - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
Books mentioned in this episode:
- Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sanchez
What will we learn at this year's Picture Book Summit? Come find out! Join us for a one-of-a-kind, online writing conference designed for picture book writers and illustrators!
Time is running out to save $100 with Early Bird Registration. Offer ends 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!
Our own Emma Walton Hamilton was previously an editor of a children's imprint and even her mind was blown when Little, Brown editor Alvina Ling came to Picture Book Summit and pulled back the curtain on what really goes on in editorial and acquisitions meetings. Proof that no matter where you are on the writing journey, there is always something to learn.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Secrets from a Publisher's Editorial and Acquisitions Meetings with Alvina Ling - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
What will we learn at this year's Picture Book Summit? Come find out! Join us for a one-of-a-kind, online writing conference designed for picture book writers and illustrators!
Save $100 with Early Bird Registration through 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!
In today's podcast, Julie Hedlund gives us an in-depth look at writing a picture book biography and how Lesa Cline-Ransome's presentation, Speak Their Truth: Conveying the Voice of Picture Book Biography Subjects, helped her move her manuscript from not-quite-there to acquired and published.
Books Mentioned in this episode:
- Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews by Julie Hedlund and Ilaria Urbinati
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Speak Their Truth Presentation by Lesa Cline-Ransome - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
What will we learn at this year's Picture Book Summit? Come find out! Join us for a one-of-a-kind, online writing conference designed for picture book writers and illustrators!
Save $100 with Early Bird Registration through 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!
In today's podcast, Katie Davis dives into rhyming picture books, how listening to Julie Hedlund's workshop Verse Curse changed the way she views rhyme, and what she wants you to know if you're writing in rhyme! Including tons of tips you can use today!
Books Mentioned in this episode:
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Julie's Verse Curse Workshop- Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
- Fuse 8 by Betsy Bird at School Library Journal
- Betsy Bird's PBSummit Workshop: Performance on the Page - Use code PODCAST for 30% off!
- Tara Lazar
What will we learn at this year's Picture Book Summit? Come find out! Join us for a one-of-a-kind, online writing conference designed for picture book writers and illustrators!
Save $100 with Early Bird Registration through 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!
Ready for some motivation? Katie Davis interviews 2026 Superstar Speaker Brian Lies!
Katie and Brian Lies (pronounced Lees) have a delightful conversation about the importance of continuing to write (no matter what), enjoying the process, and knowing that every writer has a different path to publication.
Brian will be presenting at Picture Book Summit 2026, where he'll share how to use your writing tools (even ones you may not know you have) to connect with your audience in Reel Them In: Using All the Lures in Your Tackle Box to Engage Readers.
Here's what you can expect:
NY Times bestselling author/illustrator and Caldecott Honoree Brian Lies discusses things he's learned over 30 years in the kidlit world. He'll share how to hone YOUR individual style, the power of adding unique details into your stories, all while not getting beached on ever-shifting career sands and not getting sucked in by shiny whirlpools.
Get your ticket to hear Brian Lies at Picture Book Summit 2026 – Oceans of Possibility: A Deep Dive Into Picture Book Craft.
Early Bird Registration for Picture Book Summit 2026 is open through 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!
Another great episode for you today! Julie Hedlund interviews 2026 Superstar Speaker Deborah Underwood!
Julie and Deborah discuss the common elements in her books, from quiet to humorous to lyrical. Plus, they take a deep dive into Deborah's books TINY GARDEN and WALTER HAD A BEST FRIEND, their unexpected endings, and the importance of being honest with children.
Deborah will be presenting at Picture Book Summit 2026, where she'll share more of her process and how you can explore your picture book ideas in Free Diving: Following Your Ideas Below the Surface.
Here's what you can expect:
A picture book writer descends deep into sometimes-murky water, then, with luck, brings back a pearl: something that will resonate strongly with kids (and often with adults, too). New York Times Bestselling author Deborah Underwood will talk about using curiosity and emotion to dive for ideas and to figure out what form those ideas want to take. Plus, she'll share tips for polishing your story to give it the best chance of connecting with readers.
Get your ticket to hear Deborah Underwood at Picture Book Summit 2026 - Oceans of Possibility: A Deep Dive Into Picture Book Craft.
Early Bird Registration for Picture Book Summit 2026 is open through 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!
We're excited for this one! Today, Emma Walton Hamilton interviews 2026 Superstar Speaker Derrick Barnes!
Before the New York Times Bestsellers and all the awards, Derrick Barnes almost quit writing picture books altogether. In this interview, he shares what kept him going and his advice for writers who feel like giving up. From writing greeting cards to substitute teaching, he reveals how each step of the journey prepared him for his prolific writing career.
Get your ticket to hear Derrick at Picture Book Summit 2026 - Oceans of Possibility: A Deep Dive Into Picture Book Craft.
Early Bird Registration for Picture Book Summit 2026 is open through 8/27/26. Grab your ticket today!
We have some amazing workshops coming to Picture Book Summit 2026. How do we know they will be so great? Our Founders are our Workshop presenters this year!
Listen in to find out more about these workshops:
Hook, Line, or... Stinker? Discover the Hooks in Your Book with Julie Hedlund
Ebb and Flow: The Pull of the Page Turn with Emma Walton Hamilton and Katie Davis
We're thinking deeply about hooks and pages so we can inspire you to improve these moments in your own manuscripts. Discover what inspires the PBSummit Team to develop these workshops.
In fact, they are learning from each other in this episode!
Get your ticket to Picture Book Summit 2026 - Oceans of Possibility: A Deep Dive Into Picture Book Craft.
Early Bird Registration for Picture Book Summit 2026 is open through 8/27/26. Check the website and grab your ticket today!
The team comes together to announce the Superstar Speakers for Picture Book Summit 2026! It's an exciting lineup and we can't wait to share it with YOU.
Discover what they'll be teaching at this year's Summit and why we're just so excited to bring these keynotes to the Picture Book Summit stage.
Get your ticket to Picture Book Summit 2026 - Oceans of Possibility: A Deep Dive Into Picture Book Craft.
Registration for Picture Book Summit 2026 is open now. Check the website and grab your ticket today!
It's Episode 100!! We're celebrating with a trip down memory lane, including a few of our favorite presentations, behind-the-scenes moments, and what we've learned along the way!
Books mentioned in this episode:
- On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex
- Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
- Big Red Lollipop by Ruhksana Khan and Sophie Blackall
Past Presentations mentioned in this episode:
- Peter Brown: Picture Books for Breakfast
- Tomie DePaola: Tapping the Truth
- Andrea Davis Pinkney: Nonfiction with a Twist
- Sophie Blackall: Your Writing Voice
- LeUyen Pham: Storytelling vs. Storyshowing
- Jon Klassen: Using Your Fear
- Adam Rex: Dissecting the Fron: We're Going to Try to Analyze Humor, God Help Us
- The Fan Brothers: To Imagination and Beyond
- Vashti Harrison: Be Bold, Be Brave: Charting Your Creative Journey with Purpose
- Peter H. Reynolds: The World Needs Your Voice
- Paul O. Zelinsky: Behind the Scenes with an Author-Illustrator
- Matthew Cordell: How to Build the Bridge Between Pictures and Story
- Philip and Erin Stead: Picture Book Harmony
- Rukhsana Khan: Cultural Connections
- Nikki Grimes: The Music of Language
Be part of this year's Summit fun! Registration for Picture Book Summit 2026 is now open! Get Early Bird pricing through 8/27/26 at https://picturebooksummit.com!
The Founders of Picture Book Summit reveal their varied writing routines and what keeps them motivated and putting pen to paper.
- Are they morning writers, evening writers, or something in between?
- Who's a pantser? Who's a plotter?
- How do they keep themselves accountable to get their writing done?
- How important is a critique group? (Spoiler alert: VERY!)
- Does our resident author-illustrator start with words or pictures?
- How many manuscripts work on at the same time?
- How many revisions does it take for their stories to feel ready to go out on submission?
The answers may surprise you, but we hope you'll find some inspiration and validation for your own process!
Books mentioned in this episode:
- Who Hops? by Katie Davis
- Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis
- Mabel the Tooth Fairy and How She Got Her Job by Katie Davis
- The Great American Mousical by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Tony Walton
- Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins and Paul O. Zelinsky
Find out more about this year's Picture Book Summit writing conference here: https://picturebooksummit.com/
Join the Picture Book Summit Team as we celebrate this year's crop of Caldecott Winners and Honorees. This is part 2 of our conversation. If you missed part 1, you can listen to it here: https://picturebooksummit.com/podcast-2026-caldecotts-part-1/
In this episode, we get to discuss this year's winner and two Honor Books. Get ready for insight into these books as well as the numerous things they have in common. Get your hands on these books and enjoy studying these remarkable books of art!
Books mentioned in this episode:
- WINNER: FIREWORKS illustrated by Catia Chien and written by Matthew Burgess
- SUNDUST written and illustrated by Zeke Peña
- STALACTITE AND STALAGMITE by Drew Beckmeyer
Find all of this year's Caldecott books in the Picture Book Summit Bookshop!
How are Caldecott books chosen each year? Check out Emma's video explanation here.
We talked about Katie's awesome Summit presentation on picture book endings. Podcast listeners can get 25% off! Use code PODCAST at this link: https://picturebooksummit.freshlearn.com/endings.
Our own wordplay warrior, Julie Hedlund, gave a stupendous workshop encouraging us to have fun with our writing by turning it into play. Today, we share a snippet of that presentation where Julie reveals what wordplay is, where it can be used effectively, and how to use it to make your audience feel smart.
Remember, you can purchase lifetime access to any past Summit Superstar Presentation or Workshop, including this one, at picturebooksummit.freshlearn.com.
Join the Picture Book Summit Team as we celebrate this year's crop of Caldecott Winners and Honorees. We have so much to say that it can't be contained in one episode! Today, we analyze OUR LAKE, written and illustrated by Angie Kang, and EVERY MONDAY MABEL, written and illustrated by Jashar Awan.
Plus, we discuss commonalities in all of this year's Caldecott books, what we loved and observed about these books, and while picture books look easy, these are particular ones are so layered and full of nuance. From thoughtful and beautiful to funny and relatable, we hope this conversation inspires you to do some creating of your own.
Books mentioned in this episode:
- OUR LAKE written and illustrated by Angie Kang
- EVERY MONDAY MABEL by Jashar Awan
Find all of this year's Caldecott books in the Picture Book Summit Bookshop!
How are Caldecott books chosen each year? Check out Emma's video explanation here.
We talked about Katie's awesome Summit presentation on picture book endings. Podcast listeners can get 25% off! Use code PODCAST at this link: https://picturebooksummit.freshlearn.com/endings.
To celebrate our 10th Anniversary Picture Book Summit, we hosted returning Superstar Speakers Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett to talk about how they construct picture books together. You will be fascinated by the details behind one of their seemingly simple stories. (You might also leave with a greater appreciation of 8-bit video games.)
Enjoy this insight into their partnership, how they think, and how they play off one another's work.
Remember, you can purchase lifetime access to any past Summit Superstar Presentation or Workshop, including this one at picturebooksummit.freshlearn.com.
Who needs feedback on their picture book manuscripts? You do! (Don't worry. We do too!) In fact, every writer needs good critiques of their work before it's ready for publication.
So, what kind of feedback are you looking for and where can you get it? Emma Walton Hamilton, Julie Hedlund, Katie Davis, and Kelli Panique share their best advice on getting feedback that will actually make your writing stronger.
What does it mean to be a part of the writing community? How can you be a good literary citizen within the writing community?
In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton, Julie Hedlund, Katie Davis, and Kelli Panique share easy ways you can support your fellow writers and illustrators, as well as booksellers and libraries. (Guess what? Many of these suggestions are free things you can do help get the word out about books and support the reading, writing, and literacy communities.)
What will you do to be a good literary citizen in your neighborhood and online?
When National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Meg Medina joined the Picture Book Summit, she discussed the three Rs of picture book writing: Readers, Relationship, and Revision. Today, Meg shares about what it means to write for young readers and what matters to them by exploring the genesis of her own books. She even provides a fun writing exercise to get us started on our own stories.
Book mentioned in this episode:
- Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina and Claudia Munoz
- Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina and Angela Dominguez
- Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sánchez
At no additional cost to you, Picture Book Summit may earn a small commission on books purchased through the links above.
Julie Hedlund and Angela Dalton are both authors of picture book biographies about well-known celebrities. Julie wrote SONG AFTER SONG: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews and Angela authored TO BOLDY GO: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights. Before their books were acquired, they did everything wrong. In this snippet from a past Picture Book Summit workshop, Julie and Angela reveal a couple of mistakes they made so you don't have to.
Can a car company executive help you find your picture book writing why? Grace Lin thinks so! In a past Summit, Grace divulged an insightful (and relatively easy) way to find your why. She challenged us to look at our picture book manuscripts and ask if those stories really want to be picture books or if they are served better in a different kidlit genre. If you've been fighting with a work-in-progress, Grace Lin is here to help!
What makes a great picture book? Artistic duo The Steads share their approach to picture books and how something seemingly so simple actually takes a lot of work, nuance, and collaboration.
Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead are the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Medal Book A Sick Day for Amos McGee. They have collaborated on many books together, including Bear Has a Story to Tell, Lenny & Lucy, Music for Mister Moon, and The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer. Philip and Erin create their books in the hayloft of an old barn at the edge of the world.
Time is running out! Get your ticket to Saturday's online Picture Book Summit today!
www.picturebooksummit.com
What in the world is going on in picture book publishing? Is it slow for everyone or is it just you? Are global events affecting the industry? Surely, COVID-19 isn’t still impacting our market.
In this episode, Emma, Julie, and Kelli explore what publishing looks like currently for picture book creators, what we hope it looks like in the future, and what we can do about it right now.
With the current state of picture book publishing, every submission opportunity counts. Lucky for you, there’s still time to get a Summit + Submissions Ticket to Picture Book Summit 2025 and take advantage of our SEVEN manuscript submission opportunities. Go to www.picturebooksummit.com.
One of the big advantages of attending a conference—online or in-person—is the opportunity to submit to Featured Agents and Editors. Many agents and editors are open to submissions from conference attendees, even when they aren't open to general submissions. Simply by making the effort to attend a conference, you demonstrate to agents and editors that you are committed to refining your craft.
This episode also includes:
- Tips for making a good first impression.
- What to include in your query letters.
- How to research agents and editors to target your submissions.
- Why you should have 3-4 polished manuscripts ready to go.
- What to put in your bio paragraph if you don't have any published work.
- Why you need comp titles and how to choose them.
- Bonus: A Fun Writing Exercise!
There's still time to get a Summit + Submissions Ticket to Picture Book Summit 2025 and take advantage of our SEVEN manuscript submission opportunities. Go to www.picturebooksummit.com.
Every year, we host what we like to call a “mini” Summit. It’s a short webinar to give writers a taste of what we offer at our full-day event.
In this episode, we share a past Mini Summit all about creating Game Changing ideas. Our goal is to spark your imagination and creativity by showing just a few ways other picture book creators have turned ideas on their heads.
Get ready to be inspired by the Picture Book Summit Founders and be sure to find out about our latest event by going to picturebooksummit.com.
Books mentioned in this episode:
- Follow That Frog by Philip Stead and Matthew Cordell
- There Are No Ants in This Book by Rosemary Mosco and Anna Pirolli
- Who Hops? by Katie Davis
- One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read
- Waiting in the Wings by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and E.G. Keller
- Tumblebaby by Adam Rex
- The Story of the Saxophone by Lesa Cline Ransome and James E. Ransome
- School's First Day of School by Adam Rex
- XO, Exoplanet by Deborah Underwood and Jorge Lacera
- A River of Dust by Jilane Hoffman and Eugenia Mello
- Vlad the Fabulous Vampire by Flavia Z. Drago
- The Bees of Notre Dame by Meghan P. Browne and E.B. Goodale
- Mole is Not Alone by Maya Tatsukawa
- Snail in Space by Rachel Bright and Nadia Shireen
- There was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds and the Pumphrey Brothers
- Mel Fell by Corey Tabor
- Ursula Upside Down by Corey R. Tabor
- Big by Vashti Harrison
- Days Like This by Oriane Smith and Alice Gravier
- Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo
- Spencer's New Pet by Jessie Sima
More and more picture books include backmatter these days—including fiction picture books. In today's Roundtable discussion, Julie Hedlund and the team share many different ways to include backmatter with your manuscript, including dos and don'ts of creating additional content.
Books mentioned in this episode:
- The First Notes by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Chiara Fedele
- Tricky Chopsticks by Sylvia Chen and Fanny Liem
- Reindeer Remainders by Katey Howes and Marie Hermansson
- Over, Bear! Under, Where? by Julie Hedlund and Michael Slack
- Grand Canyon by Jason Chin
- Hurricane by Jason Chin
- If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
- To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton and Lauren Semmer
- Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten W. Larson and Tracy Subisak
- Shell Song by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson
- Springtime Storks by Carol Munro and Chelsea O’Byrne
- Unspeakable by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper
- The Bees of Notre Dame by Meghan P. Browne and E. B. Goodale
- Waiting in the Wings by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and EG Keller
- The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Christine Davenier
Webinars on Backmatter:
- Backmatter: Form and Function with M.O. Yuksel
- Backmatter Matters with Heidi E.Y. Stemple
The amazing and talented Caldecott Medal Winner Vashti Harrison is one of our Superstar Speakers for 2025. Vashti won the Caldecott Medal in 2024 for her beautiful picture book BIG. Shortly after that win, the PBSummit Team discussed the brilliance of this book in our Caldecott video series. We bring that discussion to our podcast today to help you get to know Vashti Harrison and her wonderful book.
Be sure to grab your ticket to our online Picture Book Summit 2025 on October 4, 2025, at picturebooksummit.com. Get Early Bird pricing through August 28, 2025. So go get your ticket now.
Enjoy this insightful discussion of BIG, written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison. Emma Walton Hamilton leads our discussion with insight from Julie Hedlund and Katie Davis.
Grab your ticket to hear Vashti Harrison at Picture Book Summit 2025 today: www.picturebooksummit.com.
Get $100 off with Early Bird pricing available through August 28, 2025.
“Oh my” is right! If you don’t know the difference between homage, parody, and plagiarism, and your story references another work in some way, your book might be dead in the water before it even gets out of your inbox.
In this PBSummit Roundtable, Emma, Julie, Katie, and Kelli define homage, parody, and plagiarism and what you, as a picture book writer, need to know about these important topics, including how we’ve navigated these obstacles in our own work.
Mentioned in this episode:
- The First Notes: The Story of DO, RE, MI by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Chiara Federle
- This Old Van by Kim Norman and Carolyn Digby Conahan
- Mary Had a Little Glam by Tammi Sauer and Vanessa Brantley-Newton
- Journey Trilogy by Aaron Becker
- Wicked by Gregory Maguire
- 7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazar and Ross MacDonald
- The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
Join the conversation LIVE at Picture Book Summit 2025. Early Bird tickets available through August 28, 2025. Go to www.picturebooksummit.com to get your ticket today!
It's that time of year!
Early Bird tickets for Picture Book Summit 2025 are now available and in this episode, we share all about our 2025 Superstar Speakers! It's quite a lineup for this year's conference: Big, Bold, and Brave: Supercharge Your Picture Books!
This year's online conference takes place on October 4, 2025. Everything happens in our Zoom webinar room, so you can attend from anywhere in the world with a decent Internet connection.
We are thrilled to welcome true picture book superheroes NYT Bestselling author Susan Verde, Caldecott Winner Jason Chin, and Caldecott Winner Vashti Harrison! Listen to the episode to learn more about our speakers and their presentations.
Then go to www.picturebooksummit.com to get your ticket today!
In this episode, we’re thrilled to bring you an excerpt from Nikki Grimes’ presentation The Music of Language. Nikki’s accolades include the Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the ALAN Award for outstanding contributions to young adult literature, the Children’s Literature Legacy Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children, a Sibert and a Printz Honor as well as the Coretta Scott King Book Award among others.
Nikki is here today to share how lyrical picture books can help children learn to love language and how you can be a part of building that appreciation for reading (and daydreaming). We think Nikki’s poetry will inspire you too!
Check out the next Picture Book Summit at www.picturebooksummit.com!
We are especially excited about today’s episode because we get to bring you a snippet of a past Summit presentation with the one and only Julie Andrews along with her daughter and our friend Emma Walton Hamilton! This duo has written over 30 books for children, including 9 New York Times Bestsellers.
Their picture books include The Very Fairy Princess, Dumpy the Dump Truck, The First Notes: The Story of Do-Re-Mi, The Enchanted Symphony, and Waiting in the Wings.
So, what started this fruitful partnership? Where do they get their ideas? What strengths do they each bring to their projects? Julie Hedlund is here to ask those questions and more.
Don't miss this delightful look behind-the-scenes with a true creative icon!
You might know about refrains in music, but they're also in picture books! The Picture Book Summit Founders get together to discuss what refrains are, define the different types of refrain, and share how to use them strategically in your own picture book writing! Spoiler alert! There are some excellent mentor texts in this episode.
*Books mentioned in this episode:
- Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans and Thi Bui
- Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! by Carrie Finison and Erin Kraan
- I Hate to Go to Bed! by Katie Davis
- The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Christine Davenier
- The Yellow Handkerchief by Donna Barba Higuera and Cynthia Alonso
- Choosing Brave by Angela Joy and Janelle Washington
- Bug on the Rug by Sophia Gholz and Susan Bartori
- Curve & Flow: The Elegant Vision of L.A. Architect Paul R. Williams by Andrea J. Loney and Keith Mallett
- Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews by Julie Hedlund and Ilaria Urbanati.
*Picture Book Summit may receive a small commission at no cost to you when books are purchased through the link above.
In this episode, Julie Hedlund interviews Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple. With over 400 children's books to her name, Jane shares how she chooses the words and what influences her choices. The pair touch on the impact of banned books and how their writing partnership has evolved over the years. So, what's one key to being prolific? Always be learning and growing as a writer.
Books mentioned in this episode:
- Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen's First Great Story written by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
Check out our previous episode with Jane Yolen here: 008 - Jane Yolen
It's time for How to Analyze a Picture Book - Part 2.
In this episode, we talk about how to analyze a picture book's illustrations and other things to look for when analyzing a mentor text.
First up, illustrations: What's the job of the illustrations? What do they add to the story? How does color make a difference? If you're an author-only creator, how can you leave room for the illustrator and still get your story across? Is it okay to use art notes?
Then we jump into a variety odds and ends to consider and pay attention to as you continue to analyze and study picture books, including "is this book for kids" or "what makes this story uniquely kid-centric"?
Download the How to Analyze a Picture Book Handout HERE and use it with your next haul of library books!
Books mentioned in this episode:
- Me...Jane written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
- No More Señora Mimí written by Meg Medina and illustrated by
- Spencer's New Pet written and illustrated by Jessie Sima
- Hot Dog written and illustrated Doug Salati
- Where the Wild Things Are written and illustrated Maurice Sendak
- Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews written by Julie Hedlund and illustrated by Ilaria Urbanati
- Waiting in the Wings written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton and illustrated by EG Keller
- The Enchanted Symphony written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton and illustrated by Elly McKay
- Press Here written and illustrated by Hervé Tullet
- The Pink Hat written and illustrated by Andrew Joyner
- Dr. Fauci: How a Boy From Brooklyn Became America's Doctor written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Alexandra Bye
- River of Dust written by Jilanne Hoffmann and illustrated by Eugenia Mello
If you didn't catch part 1 of How to Analyze a Picture Book, listen HERE.
Today we share how to analyze a picture book.
In many of our discussions and presentations, the Picture Book Summit Team and our guest speakers analyze picture books and use that analysis to illustrate the point we're teaching. When you as a picture book creator learn how to analyze a picture book, you can turn reading picture books into your own writing class.
As you look for and identify the key elements of a picture book we discuss today (and in our next episode!), you'll be able to more easily spot revision opportunities in your own work—getting you that much closer to a publishable picture book.
Download the How to Analyze a Picture Book Handout HERE and use it with your next haul of library books! Books mentioned in this episode:
- The Very Fairy Princess written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton and illustrated by Christine Davenier
- Over, Bear! Under, Where? written by Julie Hedlund and illustrated by Michael Slack
- Springtime Storks: A Migration Love Story written by Carol Joy Munro and illustration Chelsea O'Byrne
- Party Animals written and illustrated by Katie Davis
- Kitty and Cat Bent Out of Shape written and illustrated by Mirka Hokkanen
- B is for Bananas written by Carrie Tillotson and illustrated by Estrela Lourenço
Look for Part 2 in two weeks!
Today in our Picture Book Summit Roundtable discussion, we tackle the touchy topic of celebrity picture books.
So, what's the truth about celebrity picture books? Do celebrities get to cut the line when it comes to publishing? Are they held to a lower standard than lesser-known writers? Do they help or hurt the industry?
We have the opportunity to hear what it's like to be and/or work with a celebrity author as Emma Walton Hamilton shares her experience of writing with her mother, actress Julie Andrews. You might be surprised what it's like on the flip side of the celebrity book coin.
Then we discuss the frustrations that come when picture book authors see another debut celebrity picture book author.
There's lots to say on both sides of the great celebrity picture book debate. Let's jump right in!
What is the appeal of dark picture books? Do kids want to read (and re-read) books about tougher topics? How do you make these books kid-friendly?
Julie Hedlund leads our Roundtable discussion about dark picture books, what place they have in children's lives, and why they can be so important.
Books mentioned in this episode:
- The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
- The Longest Letsgoboy by Derick Wilder and Catia Chien
- Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson and Hudson Talbott
- Kamau & ZuZu Find a Way by Aracelis Girmay and Diana Ejaita
- Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans and Thi Bui
- Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egnéus
- The House Before Falling into the Sea by Ann Suk Wan and Hanna Cha
- The Skull by Jon Klassen
- The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha, Irene Latham, Yuko Shimizu
- The Circus Comes to the Village by Yutaka Kobayashi
Let this episode linger and check out a few of these picks as you discover the world of dark picture books.
Picture book authors are closer in their craft to screenwriters and playwrights than any other kind of author.
Why?
Because picture book writers direct their readers on how to read the book. It's your job as a writer to make your (often adult reader) look like a rockstar. Emma Walton Hamilton shares how to make your manuscript reader-proof.
It seems nothing is more fun to read aloud than lyrical or rhyming picture books. A common misconception is that it's easy to write rhyme: just count the syllables and make the end words sound alike, right?
Wrong. Good thing you came across this episode, where Julie Hedlund—rhymer extraordinaire—gives examples of what good rhyme and lyrical writing actually is, what makes it work, and how to write it yourself.
Picture books are a truly unique genre of literature. Other books CAN be read aloud, but picture books are ENGINEERED exactly for that precise purpose. In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton defines the importance of "Read-aloud-ability" (HINT: it can sway the submission process), while Katie Davis illustrates one impactful way to factor that secret sauce into your writing.
Stay tuned! This is the first of a three-part series.
Editor and agent assistants: the rarely-talked-about demi gods of the publishing industry. They are the gatekeepers, and if they don't think your manuscript is up to snuff, it won't be leaving the slush pile. So what can you do about that?
In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton asks editor and agent assistants AZ Hackett, Claire Tattersfield, and Gaby Caballero all the burning questions.
Author/Illustrator and Agent Shadra Strickland reveals how to get at the heart of your story by sharing ideas and exercises to get your creativity flowing—in your brain and on the page. This is a fun one. Happy listening!
In this episode, Eric and Terry Fan, also known as writing-illustrating duo The Fan Brothers, are taking us to new worlds in To Imagination and Beyond.
They reveal their unique path into picture books after originally pursuing other careers and talk about some of the unconventional sources for their story ideas. They are proof that stories can hop from one place to another: from a t-shirt design that eventually became The Night Gardener, or a careless doodle from thirty years ago that grew into Lizzy and the Cloud. Eric and Terry reveal how your next story may be waiting in the most unlikely place.
We adore The Fan Brothers and after this episode we think you will too!
Today’s episode features a practically perfect pair of presenters.
You’ve seen presentations about great picture book beginnings. You’ve seen them about effective endings. But a truly great picture book relies on the connection between the two. Today, Emma Walton Hamilton & Julie Hedlund are here to show how to launch topflight stories and navigate them to stellar endings.
One of the best ways to navigate your course as a writer is through critiques. In this episode of the podcast, we share a snippet of Founder Katie Davis’ presentation Houston, Your Manuscript Has a Problem. Katie discusses why critiques are important and things to consider as you seek feedback from critique groups and freelance editors.
Get ready to take your work to a whole new stratosphere!
A few years ago, we had the privilege of hosting former National Ambassador of Young People's Literature and bestselling author Kate DiCamillo as one of our Superstar Speakers. Her presentation was nothing short of magical. She shares how she went from wanting to write and thinking about writing to actually writing. We hope this snippet of her talk inspires you to get started (or restarted) too.
Savor this episode.
Be part of the magic of Picture Book Summit LIVE! join us at this year's online event on October 5th - Perfect 10: Going for Picture Book Gold.
Join us for Perfect 10: Going for Picture Book Gold! Superstar Speakers include:
- Newbery, Geisel, and Caldecott Honoree Grace Lin
- National Ambassador of Young People's Literature Meg Medina
- New York Times bestselling duo Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett
Early Bird pricing ends this week! Get $100 off when you get your ticket by August 31, 2024. Register here!
Attending a writing conference can be a transformational experience, filled with opportunities to hone your craft, connect with your peers, and move closer to your publishing dreams.
Online writing conferences offer unique opportunities compared to their in-person counterparts. In addition to saving money on travel and accommodations, you can maximize your learning by engaging from the safety, comfort, and familiarity of home. Whether you're attending your first conference or your fiftieth, here are nine tailored tips on how to get the most out of an online writing conference.
We invite YOU to celebrating our 10th year of Picture Book Summit this year on October 5th! Go to picturebooksummit.com/maximize for our free download and learn more about this year’s one-of-a-kind conference for picture book creators.
Join us for Perfect 10: Going for Picture Book Gold! Superstar Speakers include:
- Newbery, Geisel, and Caldecott Honoree Grace Lin
- National Ambassador of Young People's Literature Meg Medina
- New York Times bestselling duo Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett
Get $100 off with an Early Bird ticket through August 31, 2024. Register here!
You’ve just received another email for an online writers' conference. How do you know if it’s right for you? Will it really advance your writing career? Is there such a thing as a free conference?
We’re celebrating 10 years of hosting the Picture Book Summit online writing conference. So much has grown and changed in the online conference space in that time. So, today, we pull the curtain back and give you some insight into what goes into putting on a conference so you can pick the best online writing conferences for you and your writing goals.
Listen up! We have 5 questions to ask yourself before choosing your next online writing conference. (Don’t worry! Some of these will apply to in-person conferences too.)
We invite YOU to celebrating our 10th year of Picture Book Summit this year on October 5th! Go to picturebooksummit.com/conference for our free download and learn more about this year’s one-of-a-kind conference for picture book creators.
Join us for Perfect 10: Going for Picture Book Gold! Superstar Speakers include:
- Newbery, Geisel, and Caldecott Honoree Grace Lin
- National Ambassador of Young People's Literature Meg Medina
- New York Times bestselling duo Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett
Get $100 off with an Early Bird ticket through August 31, 2024. Register here!
Publishers and agents alike say they want humorous, quirky, or funny books, but it seems more and more difficult to get a response on those humorous, quirky, or funny submissions. We're here to dig into it in today's episode of PBSummit Roundtable.
Julie Hedlund shares her personal experience and overall observations about what is going on in the industry with silly stories and how YOU can break through!
Books talked about in today's episode:
- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
- Butt or Face by Kari Lavelle
- Simon and the Better Bone by Corey R. Tabor
- Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
- How This Book Get Red by Margaret Chiu Greanias and Melissa Iwai
- Poodunit! A Forest Floor Mystery by Katelyn Aronson and Steph Laberis
- Wombats are Pretty Weird by Abi Cushman
- Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf by Davide Cali and Marianna Balducci
If you enjoy the Picture Book Summit Podcast, you'll LOVE our next live online Picture Book Summit writing conference! Join us October 5, 2024, for Perfect 10: Going for Picture Book Gold! Superstar Speakers include:
- Newbery, Geisel, and Caldecott Honoree Grace Lin
- National Ambassador of Young People's Literature Meg Medina
- New York Times bestselling duo Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett
Get $100 off with an Early Bird ticket through August 31, 2024. Register here!
Agents and publishers are always saying they're looking for stories that are "fresh and unique", but what does that mean? In this episode, the PBSummit Roundtable takes a look at some stories which perfectly exemplify what fresh takes on classic picture book topics can look like, and the common thread between them.
Books talked about in today's episode:
- How This Book Got Read written by Margaret Chiu Greanias and illustrated by Melissa Iwai
- The World's Best Class Plant written by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao
- Time is a Flower written and illustrated by Julie Morstad
Having a fresh take is a great way to get the attention of an agent or editor! How else can you avoid being rejected? Grab our free download with questions to ask yourself to avoid the 3 Biggest Reasons Manuscripts Get Rejected. Click here.
*Picture Book Summit may receive a small commission at no cost to you when books are purchased through the link above.
You've written and refined your manuscript, you've sent the query to your agent or to a publisher....and now to wait for months and months. During the pandemic, everything slowed to a halt. But now that it's over and the picture book industry is back up and running, what's the hold up?
The answers are in this episode, and it's actually good news!
One way to avoid getting rejections (or no responses at all) is to ensure your manuscript and query letter are 100% submission-ready. Grab our free download with the 3 Biggest Reasons Your Manuscripts today! Click here.
It's our final dive (for now!) into Picture Books with Great Voice! If you're just joining us, be sure to catch up with this series at the links below:
- Episode 56 - Julie Hedlund defined the types of voice found in picture books and Katie Davis introduced books with humorous voice.
- Episode 57 - Founder Emeritus Laura Backes shared book examples of using a lyrical voice
- Episode 58 - Emma Walton Hamilton dug into character voice.
Today in part 4, Julie gets chatty while talking about conversational voice in picture books.
Let’s get to it.
Books mentioned in this episode:
- THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT MARGARET WISE BROWN written by Mac Barnett and illustrated Sarah Jacoby
- A POEM FOR PETER written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated Steve Johnson
Let's continue to dig into voice in picture books! We started this series in episode 56, where Julie Hedlund defined the types of voice found in picture books and Katie Davis gave us hilarious examples of the funny style of voice. In episode 57, Founder Emeritus Laura Backes shared examples of using a lyrical voice in picture books to reinforce certain types of stories.
In part 3 of our series, author and Picture Book Summit Founder Emma Walton Hamilton discusses character voice: how to recognize it, distinguish it from other types of writing voice, and how to utilize it in your own work!
Let’s get to it.
Books mentioned in this episode:
- THE PANDA PROBLEM written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated Hannah Marks
- CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James
In this episode, we continue to discuss voice in picture books. We started this series in the last episode, where Julie Hedlund defined the types of voice found in picture books and Katie Davis gave us hilarious examples of the funny style of voice. If you haven’t already, be sure to go back and listen to episode 56 for help pinning down the elusive meaning of “voice.”
Today, we bring you Founder Emeritus Laura Backes and examples of using a lyrical voice in picture books to reinforce certain types of stories.
Let’s jump in.
Books mentioned in this episode:
- GIANT SQUID written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohman
- WHEN YOU ARE BRAVE written by Pat Zeitlow Miller and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
In working with authors, one thing comes up again and again is how to develop “voice.” How do you find your characters’ voice? Is your story’s voice the same as the character voice? And, how do you find your own voice as an author?
Voice is tough to define and even tougher to capture, so we’re bringing you excerpts from a Mini Summit we gave on books with great voice. This is part 1 of a four-part series. We start with Co-Founder Julie Hedlund defining the types of voices found in picture books and jump to funny girl and Co-Founder Katie Davis for thoughts and examples on using a funny voice.
This is a fun one!
Books mentioned in this episode:
THIS BOOK IS GRAY by Lindsay Ward
SNAPPSY THE ALLIGATOR AND HIS BEST FRIEND FOREVER PROBABLY written by Julie Falatko and illustrated by Tim J. Miller
Grab a big piece of paper and some brightly colored markers because today we are mind-mapping our way to great picture book ideas!
Listen to excerpts from our Picture Book Summit workshop with author and educator Rob Sanders. Rob is known for his funny and fierce fiction and nonfiction picture books and is recognized as one of the pioneers in the arena of LGBTQ+ literary nonfiction picture books. Rob’s books include Two Grooms on A Cake: The Story of America’s First Gay Wedding (Little Bee Books) and Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg (Henry Holt & Co).
Rob shows how mapping your experiences and personal favorites can bring you one step closer to creating stories that uniquely you.
Get ready for the ideas to flow!
In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by picture book author and illustrator Yuyi Morales. Yuyi has created many books for children, including the New York Times bestseller Dreamers. She is also a six-time winner of the Pura Belpre Medal for an outstanding work of literature for children that best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience. In 2015, she received the Caldecott Honor for her book Viva Frida.
In her Picture Book Summit keynote, Yuyi discussed the idea bank inside all of us and how we can use it to tell the stories that are unique to each of us and our experiences.
Get ready to be inspired!
In this episode, children's authors Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund give an overview of the four essential components of a query (introduction, pitch, bio and market info, and conclusion) and then dig deep into crafting a pitch that captures the story and spirit of your book and piques an agent or editor’s interest. If you’re in the querying trenches, this one’s for you!
It’s our last episode for this initial round of the Picture Book Summit Roundtable. We plan to bring you more episodes on topics that affect picture book creators in the future. Thank you for your feedback and we hope we get you thinking!
You can catch the first two Roundtable episodes here:
- PBSummit Roundtable – Book Bans
- PBSummit Roundtable – Anything Goes in Picture Books These Days
Today, it feels like we’ve entered a time portal we discuss the future of Artificial Intelligence, more commonly referred to as AI, and wht it means for creatives like picture books writers and illustrators. It has huge implications for all picture book creators and this is the first of what is sure to be a series of discussions we have on the subject as it grows and develops in the coming months and years.
Thanks for joining us for this fun series! We look forward to creating more episodes in the future. If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, leave your suggestions in the comments!
Today, we bring you the next episode of our Picture Book Summit Roundtable series. We'll record and share PBSummit Roundtable at various times throughout the year, so we can continue to share current events that affect publishing and you.
You can catch our first Roundtable episode here:
- PBSummit Roundtable – Book Bans
This week's discussion centers around how Anything Goes in Picture Books these days!
From books about untold history to books that break all the rules, Julie Hedlund leads us on new adventures in picture books. We also talk about when you can break the rules and how to know if your story is fit to be a rule-breaker.
Download the book list from this episode and other resources we mentioned here.
Check back in two weeks as we discuss artificial intelligence and what it means for the future of creative careers.
This week, we are thrilled to bring new feature to the podcast: The Picture Book Summit Roundtable!
In our weekly Summit planning meetings, we often discuss current events in publishing, how they affect picture books, and how they affected picture book creators like you. We decided to record our conversation and invite you to listen in!
Our Picture Book Summit Roundtable includes Julie Hedlund, Katie Davis, Kelli Panique, and Emma Walton Hamilton.
And because we like to start everything we do with a bang, we’re jumping right into the national conversation on book bans. Emma Walton Hamilton leads our discussion with the background and history of book bans as well as how today’s book bans compare to book bans of the past. We'll discuss discuss the history, myths, and current news about book bans in schools. Find out how book bans specifically affect picture books and their creators. (Spoiler alert: having your book banned does NOT mean it becomes a bestseller.)
Emma shares facts about book bans from PEN America. You can download that PDF here.
It's our final installment of the 4 Big Reasons Your Manuscripts Get Rejected.
Following agent submission guidelines is a rather obvious part of the querying process....right?
"Query-whisperer" Emma Walton Hamilton gives us an inside look as to why following submission guidelines are crucial—and how over half of all new authors get it wrong.
Have you listened to the other parts of 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscripts Get Rejected?
Catch up here:
046 - 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscript Get Rejected Part 1 - Unoriginal Ideas
047 - 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscript Get Rejected Part 2 - Lack of Emotional Resonance
048 - 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscripts Get Rejected Part 3 - Not Submission Ready
It's time for the third biggest reason manuscripts get declined by agents and editors and this is a BIG one. Manuscripts are turned down every day for the simple reason that they are just not ready. So, how do you know when your manuscript is ready to for publication, therefore ready for an agent's or editor's eyes?
Katie Davis outlines the why and how of familiarizing yourself with the workings of the picture book industry, professional mistakes to avoid, and what to do with your manuscript before sending it to an agent.
Have you listened to the first two episodes of 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscripts Get Rejected?
Catch up here:
046 - 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscript Get Rejected Part 1 - Unoriginal Ideas
047 - 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscript Get Rejected Part 2 - Lack of Emotional Resonance
Stay tuned! We wrap up this series with Part 4 in two weeks!
It's time for the second biggest reason manuscripts get tossed out by agents and editors. Have you ever heard: "Your story didn't resonate with me"? Julie Hedlund shares how this type of response maybe indicate a lack of emotional resonance in your story. Listen in as Julie defines emotional resonance and how to ensure your picture book has it.
Get one more step closer to picture book success with these tips.
Dash’s Picture Books Picks for Emotional Resonance
- The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer & Ekua Holmes
- Bikes for Sale by Carter Higgins & Zachariah Ohora
- Nine Months: Before a Baby is Born by Miranda Paul & Jason Chin
- Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome & James E. Ransome
- When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan & Lorraine Rocha
- Ogilvy by Deborah Underwood & T.L. McBeth
Did you catch Part 1 of the 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscripts Get Rejected? Listen here.
With 25 years of experience in the publishing industry as an editor, agent, and teacher Laura Backes covers the first big reason why manuscripts get rejected, and what you can do to avoid it! Find out how you can avoid getting editor feedback that says “This story feels familiar” or “It’s too similar to what’s been done already.” You’ll be one step closer to getting a “yes” after listening to today’s advice.
Tune in for our next episode for the second biggest reasons manuscripts get rejected!
A good writer tells a story, a great writer brings the reader into the story.
One of the best ways to render that sense of immersion is capturing the authentic voice of your characters—especially when writing picture book biographies. Award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of Before She was Harriet and many other iconic titles, shares exactly how to do that with her own method of asking questions of yourself and your characters.
Ah, the age old question: How do you write a compelling picture book?
It may be simpler than you think!
Peter H. Reynolds shares how to harness the answers to these following questions for great story-writing:
-
Where have you been?
-
Where are you now?
-
Where are you going?
-
Where would you like to be going?
Do you have fears that intimidate your writing or illustration? Jon Klassen shares how his fears (and desire to have a job!) inform his creative process and shares how to use your fears to your advantage when developing your own stories. You may just find that those fears are the exact things that make you (and your work) uniquely you.
Wouldn't it be grand if there was a fool-proof formula for creating good picture books? That's exactly what Julie Hedlund has spent years researching and studying, and she's come up with 10 essential ingredients or "layers" for picture books that you can follow like a checklist.
In Part 3 of How to Get Out of the Slush Pile, Emma Walton Hamilton reveals about actionable ways to polish your manuscript's hook to get agents and editors excited about reading your story!
It's time for the second episode in our three-part series: How to Get Out of the Slush Pile!
Author and rhymer extraordinaire Julie Hedlund discusses one of the best ways to signal to industry professionals that you're not ready to be published: writing bad rhyme.
Writing poetry is one thing, but writing a rhyming picture book is a whole other kind of animal and if you're not doing it right, you'll never get out of the slush pile. Julie spells out best practices for writing good rhyme for picture books. Hint: you're probably doing it backwards!
Tune in to the next episode for the final installment of How to Get Out of the Slush Pile!
It's the first of our three-part series: How to Get Out of the Slush Pile!
Nothing turns an agent or editor more than a poorly written main characters. It's a common mistake for new authors and one big reason a manuscript never makes it out of the slush pile.
To help you avoid this mistake, Picture Book Summit Co-Founder Laura Backes shares important questions to ask when evaluating your work-in-progress before hitting send on your next submission. Listen in for actionable solutions in creating stories that kids (and industry professionals) will want to read over and over.
Let's get out of the slush pile!
"Don't be too preachy in your writing!" You may have heard it many times before, but how? Try leveling up with sophistication.
Julie Hedlund discusses the sparkle of sophisticated humor in picture books, where to find great examples of it, and how to incorporate it in your own writing.
Author Katie Davis spells out why pacing is important for good picture book manuscripts in today's market, analyzes examples of pacing in some of her favorite picture books, and reveals various methods for achieving excellent pacing in shorter texts.
Author Katie Davis spells out why pacing is important for good picture book manuscripts in today's market, analyzes examples of pacing in some of her favorite picture books, and reveals various methods for achieving excellent pacing in shorter texts.
They say that if you want to get published, don't write rhyming picture book manuscripts! But is that really a rule to live by?
Spoiler: Of course not! Julie Hedlund, author of three rhyming picture books and Co-Founder of the Picture Book Summit, shares how to write rhyming manuscripts that will actually sell.
Emma Walton Hamilton unearths a brief history of picture books including how Randolph Caldecott started the genre by creating illustrations that helped to tell the story instead of the pictures simply reflecting what's in the text. Emma shares how picture books evolved from morality tales to books for "naughty children" and books that break the rules and meet children where they are. It's the best kind of history lesson for picture book creators.
What makes a great read-aloud?
Join author and librarian Betsy Bird for an in-depth examination of what separates the good picture book read-alouds from the great picture book read-alouds. Librarians have always known that picture books can often break down into two groups: one-on-one titles and read-aloud titles. One-on-ones are great for getting snuggly at bedtime, but if you want to engage a large crowd of kids, you need a text that pops in an entirely different way. Betsy breaks down some of the most successful read-alouds, from classics to lesser known titles and more recent favorites.
At the core of every good picture book is a central dramatic question. What is that, anyway? Picture Book Summit co-founder Emma Walton Hamilton discusses the importance and function of the central dramatic question and how to find it.
In Part 2 of Where the Ideas Are, PBSummit co-founder Laura Backes shares how to assess if your idea is one worth pursuing including...
- Finding out if there's room in the market for your idea
- Deciding if your has kid-appeal
- Determining if your idea is the right size for a picture book
While we can’t tell you exactly where to get your next great idea, Katie Davis can give you tips for harvesting the ideas that are cropping up all around you.
In today’s episode, we’ll hear from Samantha Berger, a twice Emmy-nominated writer and award-winning author of over 80 books for young readers, including Crankenstein, Monster’s New Undies, Snail Mail, and Rock What You Got! Samantha wrote for Nickelodeon for 12 years and now she writes for Sesame Street. Now, she's revealing five things you need to know about being AND writing funny.
In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton talks about the three things you should do before you start submitting, the key components of your query letter, including how to craft your hook and what to include in your bio, query etiquette, and submissions dos and don’ts.
Today’s episode showcases literary agent Jennie Dunham, founder of Dunham Literary Inc. Her clients have appeared on the NYT Bestseller list and have won numerous awards including the Schneider Family Award, the Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and NYT Best Illustrated Book. Jennie shares insight on what agents do, what they don't do, and how to prepare for working with an agent.
You vow again and again, “Today I will work on my book!” But something just keeps getting in the way. In this episode, Katie Davis shares insights and tips for avoiding procrastination and getting your "BIC" or Butt In Chair. Listen in for a few tricks that will give you the motivation needed to complete the next phase of your work.
Nonfiction picture books are one of the fastest-growing segments of the market today, but how do you make them accessible and fun, even for the youngest of audiences. In this episode, award-winning author Ruth Spiro explains how to introduce complex scientific topics in a way that makes them understandable and engaging for younger readers, and even babies. Listen in to sharpen your skills related to STEM-based writing for children.
In this episode, Picture Book Summit co-founder Emma Walton Hamilton provides some helpful insight on determining whether a manuscript is truly ready for submission. Listen in to avoid some common mistakes that could cause your hard work to be rejected by a publisher.
In this episode, Picture Book Co-Founder Laura Backes gives us insight into creating memorable picture book characters by discussing the cognitive development of kids in the picture book audience. You’ll look at your main characters and how you develop them in a whole new way after this mind-opening episode.
In today’s episode, Katie Davis shares how digging into research makes your writing sparkle — whether your book is nonfiction or fiction. Using picture books Renato and the Lion by Barbara DiLorenzo and Shark Nate-O by Becky Cattie and Tara Luebbe, Katie reveals how research brought surprises to each of these stories.
Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell helps us find the magic of picture books as he explores the bridge between text and image by breaking down successful books. Matthew even shares his struggle with finding the bridge in his early work. Join us for this magical ride.
In this episode, Laura Backes and Emma Walton Hamilton team up to give you tips on approaching the first big revision of your first draft. Listen as they dig deep into revision first steps by taking you on a tour of the first act of a fiction picture book and a nonfiction picture book to show what your manuscript needs at the beginning of the story to get started on a firm foundation.
Today’s episode includes snippets from literary agent Brenda Bowen’s appearance at Picture Book Summit. Brenda represents national and international bestselling authors and illustrators including Newbery and Caldecott award winners. She is also a children’s author herself with over 40 books under her belt under the name Margaret MacNamara. In Brenda’s presentation, she spoke with her author hat on about how she finds and develops ideas and how sometimes, necessity can be the mother of invention. She also touches on the key components to a query letter. Don’t miss getting the inside scoop from this agent.
In today’s episode, we’ll hear from Kate McMullan, bestselling author of over 100 books for kids, including the I STINK series. In her presentation, Kate talks about inspiration, where you can find it and how to capture it when it strikes.
Through humor and storytelling, veteran nonfiction author Stephen Swinburne takes us into the heart of narrative nonfiction storytelling with solid tips and tricks for writing STEM and STEAM manuscripts, including what editors are looking for in today’s market.
How can you actually connect with your readers? Get your books into the hands of more kids? It’s a challenge, especially when it seems like thousands of new books are published every day. In this episode, Katie Davis shares how she's used her platform and marketing strategies to sell almost one million copies of her traditionally published books and launch two books at #1 on Amazon. She’ll reveal how you can follow the same steps and get your books into the hands of more readers!
How do you tell a story about a specific cultural paradigm and make it universally accessible? Award-winning author Rukhsana Khan shows us how to do just that as she walks us through her Golden Kite award-winning book BIG RED LOLLIPOP. Don't miss the behind-the-scenes stories and intentions of this beloved picture book.
Mac Barnett shares how the layout and format of a picture book informs how the reader will engage with the story on different levels. Even the trim size of a book changes the way it’s read.
Mac Barnett's Picture Book Manifesto: http://thepicturebook.co/
In Laura Backes’ Picture Book Summit workshop Purpose Without Preaching, she gave some tips for infusing your manuscript with a message without preaching to the reader or sounding didactic. In this episode, we share some highlights from her talk.
Today’s episode features LeUyen Pham, an author and/or illustrator of over 100 books for children including THE BOY WHO LOVED MATH, VAMPIRINA BALLERINA, A PIECE OF CAKE, and the Caldecott Honor Book BEAR CAME ALONG. In this excerpt from her Picture Book Summit presentation, she shares some of the behind-the-scenes creation of BEAR CAME ALONG as part of a broader conversation on why authors should trust their illustrator and keep art notes to a minimum.
Today we bring you beloved author-illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky. Paul received the Caldecott Medal for his illustrated retelling of RAPUNZEL, as well as Caldecott Honors for three of his books: HANSEL AND GRETEL, RUMPELSTILTSKIN, and SWAMP ANGEL. He also known for crowd-pleasing favorites such as THE WHEELS ON THE BUS and Z IS FOR MOOSE. In this portion of his presentation from Picture Book Summit, Paul talks about what people (including editors) are looking for in a picture book, what makes a picture book work, and how important structure is in a picture book and the impact it has on a book’s layout and pacing.
Find out more about this year's Picture Book Summit at picturebooksummit.com.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Alvina Ling, vice president and editor-in-chief of Little Brown Books for Young Readers. In this excerpt of Alvina’s Picture Book Summit presentation, she reveals very specific reasons why a manuscript might get acquired or rejected by Little Brown or by any publisher in general. Enjoy this peek behind the publishing curtain.
Find out more about Picture Book Summit at picturebooksummit.com.
Today we are thrilled to bring you Adam Rex. Adam Rex wrote and/or illustrated all the books you like including the New York Times best selling Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, the New York Times best selling School’s First Day of School, and also a number of titles about which the New York Times has been strangely coy. In this snippet from Adam’s Picture Book Summit presentation, he digs down deep into word choice and rules of humor in creating a funny picture book.
Find out more about this year's Picture Book Summit at picturebooksummit.com.
In today’s episode, we’ll hear an excerpt of Emma Walton Hamilton’s interview with the legendary Jane Yolen at Picture Book Summit. Jane is the award-winning author of over 365 books for children and young adults, including the Caldecott Medal-winning book OWL MOON and the bestselling series HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOODNIGHT? In this interview with Jane, she discusses how she manages to be so prolific (she prefers the word “versatile”) and how she finds and develops the unique voice of each of her books.
Find out more about this year's Picture Book Summit at picturebooksummit.com.
The delightful David Shannon joins us in this episode. David Shannon is a bestselling children’s author-illustrator known for perennial classics such as DUCK ON A BIKE, A BAD CASE OF STRIPES, and NO, DAVID! In this segment from David’s Picture Book Summit presentation "It's Done!", he talks about what happens when you’re done with a manuscript, how do you know it’s really done, and what are the reasons to be done. Also, what are some of the challenges you can expect to encounter on the way to getting done? Let’s find out.
Find out more about this year's Picture Book Summit at picturebooksummit.com.
In today’s episode, we’ll hear from Carole Boston Weatherford the award-winning author of numerous books for children including JUNETEENTH JAMBOREE, FREEDOM IN CONGO SQUARE, and YOU CAN FLY! THE TUSKEGEE AIRMAN. In this segment, she talks about premise and point of view and how important they are in picture books.
Find out more about this year's Picture Book Summit at picturebooksummit.com.
RENÉE LATULIPPE
In this episode, we feature children’s author, poet, and founder of the Lyrical Language Lab, Renée LaTulippe. In this segment of Renée’s Picture Book Summit presentation From Drab toFab: Ridding Your Writing of Ho-Hummery, she demonstrates the critical role word choice, or diction, plays in crafting outstanding picture books.
Find out more about Picture Book Summit at www.picturebooksummit.com/podcast.
ANDREA DAVIS PINKNEY
Today’s episode is an excerpt of from New York Times Bestseller and Coretta Scott King award winner Andrea Davis Pinkney's presentation "Nonfiction with a Twist." Andrea is known for picture books such as POEM FOR PETER, MARTIN AND MAHALIA, and biographies of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald among others. In Andrea’s presentation for Picture Book Summit she shares how she gets her ideas and the unusual role a flip flop played in capturing the voice of her biography of Ella Fitzgerald.
Find out more about Picture Book Summit at www.picturebooksummit.com/podcast.
THE 500 WORD PICTURE BOOK
Picture book texts are getting shorter. In fact, many agents and editors have put a 500-word limit on new picture book manuscripts. But how do you write a story—complete with fully-developed characters, a plot with a beginning, middle and end, and page-turning action— in 500 words? Picture Book Summit Co-Founder Laura Backes gives us advice on how to start writing your picture book so you can stay on track throughout the process and not add too many words to your story.
Find out more about Picture Book Summit at www.picturebooksummit.com/podcast.
TOMIE DEPAOLA
Earlier this year we lost the legendary author-illustrator Tomie DePaola. Tomie wrote over 270 books for children including classic picture books such as STREGA NONA, OLIVER BUTTON IS A SISSY, and NANA UPSTAIRS, NANA DOWNSTAIRS. Today, we celebrate his life by remembering the light and joy he brought us in this Picture Book Summit interview.
Find out more about Picture Book Summit at www.picturebooksummit.com/podcast.
PETER BROWN
Welcome to the Picture Book Summit Podcast where we share insight on the craft of writing, illustrating, and publishing picture books from the industry’s best and brightest. Each episode is an excerpt from a keynote or presentation given at Picture Book Summit, the annual world-class online conference for picture book writers and illustrators around the globe that takes place every October.
In this episode, we share a snippet of our Picture Book Summit interview with Caldecott Medal-winning author-illustrator Peter Brown. Peter is the author-illustrator of many popular picture books including CREEPY CARROTS and MR. TIGER GOES WILD. Listen in as Peter discusses how he creates character development by digging into his own personal experiences.
Find out more about Picture Book Summit at www.picturebooksummit.com.