Picture Books

Picture books are defined by their unique blend of visual storytelling and text, with specific standards for their creation, formatting, and submission.

Core Elements and Structure

• Visual Storytelling: The narrative unfolds through a dynamic interplay of imagery and text. Rather than simply duplicating the written word, the artwork should expand the story, providing emotional depth and narrative details that are not explicitly stated. This visual storytelling is achieved through a deliberate variety of layouts:

  • Two-Page Spreads: Large, immersive illustrations that span across the gutter to capture expansive settings or high-impact moments.

  • Single-Page Pieces: Focused illustrations that provide a pause or highlight a specific character’s action or emotion.

  • Vignettes: Small images used to show a sequence of movements or to accelerate the story’s pacing.

• Characters and Diversity: Characters must be unique, consistent, and believable across various environments and moods. It is considered essential to represent a diverse tapestry of life, including different races, cultures, abilities, and personal styles.

• Story Mechanics: Some picture books focus on “page turnability,” ensuring the story is interesting to keep the reader moving forward.

Formatting and Submission Guidelines

• Manuscript Format: Standard industry suggestions include using white, letter-sized paper with 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font, double-spaced with 1 to 1.25-inch margins.

• Dummies: Illustrators or author-illustrators often create a “dummy.” This mock-up demonstrates the artist’s ability to handle page count, text placement, and character consistency.

• Querying: When querying for picture books, agents often require the full manuscript because of its short length, rather than just a partial sample.

• Portfolios: Illustrators should include fully-rendered color pieces, black and white work, and character development samples that show their range and consistent style.

Market and Professional Advice

• Competitive Market: Creators are encouraged to study the specific lists of publishers to ensure their work fits a publisher’s current needs.

• Collaborating: Some illustrators work on manuscripts written by authors.

• Educational Resources: 

• • Ann Whitford Paul’s Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication.

• • Uri Shulevitz’s Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children’s Books.

  • Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way.