Picture Book Resources

Picture courtesy of Gracey Stinson.

Here’s a collection of picture book resources I’ve found. Enjoy!
Books about Writing Picture Books
Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul*
You Can Write Children’s Books by Tracey E. Dils
Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children’s Books by Uri Shulevitz (See sample here: How to Make a Storyboard)
Illustrating Children’s Picture Books: Tutorials, Case Studies, Know-How, Inspiration by Steve Withrow and Lesley Breen Withrow
Picture Book Resources on the Web
You’ll find on some of these sites you should keep looking around for more info.

Getting Started Writing Picture Books

So you want to write a picture book… by Mem Fox
Writing Picture Books:The Basics by Margot Finke
If You Wanna Be a Picture Book Writer by Pam Calvert
How To: Write a Picture Book by Sue Bradford Edwards
Jane Yolen*: Creating and Recreating the Picture Book
Picture Book or Short Story? by agent Mary Kole

Layouts and Standards for Picture Books

Picture Book Construction: Know Your Layout by Tara Lazar
Picture Book Standards: 32 pages by Darcy Pattison
Dummies for Smarties by Sarah S. Brannen
How to Mock-up a Picture Book by Darcy Pattison
Picture Book Dummies by Julie Hedlund
Storyboarding by Katherine Battersby

Tips and Do’s and Don’ts for Writing Picture Books

20 Do’s and 20 Don’ts by Mem Fox
Twenty Tips for Writing Picture Books by Pat Mora*

Got Rhythm? Rhyme and Meter in Picture Books

Rhymes and Misdemeanors by Hope Vestergaard*
How to Write a Picture Book with Fabulous “R & M” by Margot Finke
Rhyming Picture Books: A Rhyme With Reason by agent Mary Kole
Writing in Rhyme by Laura Backes
Rhyme in Picture Books by Tiffany Strelitz
Icing the Cake: Writing Stories in Rhythm and Rhyme by Dori Chaconas

Plot and Character in Picture Books

Plotting Your Picture Book by Writing Your Pitch First by Mandy Yates.
The Plot Clock in Picture Books by Rob Sanders
Irresistible Picture Book Characters by Tammi Sauer*

Revising Your Picture Book

Revise the Picture Book Text by Darcy Pattison
Six Tips for Revising Picture Books by Marcie Wessels
Make Your Picture Book Sparkle! by Peggy Tibbetts
How Many Times Can I Revise 500 Words by Brianna Caplan Sayres

Illustrating Picture Books

An Illustrator’s Guide to Creating a Picture Book by Meghan McCarthy
Does the Guild have any advice for aspiring illustrators of children’s books? (The Children’s BookGuild of Washington, D.C.)
Loren Long* – Creating Picture Books: My Process

Other PB Resources

PiBoldMo – Picture Book Idea Month [November Writing Challenge]
What Makes a Great Picture Book?
100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know (New York Public Library)
Picture Book People Pointers FREE Ezine & FREE E-Book, Write a Dynamic Picture Book
Monster List of Picture Book Agents by Heather Ayris Burnell
*I’ve heard these people speak, run, don’t walk, if you ever get a chance to hear them! A number of the others I’d LIKE to hear…