Turn your dream of publishing a kids book into reality!

Join award-winning children's book author Darcy Pattison for an in-depth look at writing kid's picture books. 

Kids and books—they just go together. If you've dreamed of writing kid’s books and seeing children delight in your stories, this comprehensive guide shows you exactly how to succeed in publishing books for kids.

Master the Art of Writing Kid’s Books

Creating picture books may seem deceptively simple, but publishing a kid’s book requires specific skills. You must craft a complete story in under 1,000 words (preferably under 350), develop characters that grow and change, keep readers emotionally invested, and give illustrators amazing possibilities for artwork. It's a delicate balance that separates amateur attempts from successful book publishing kid’s content.

Heartfelt Children’s Books

What we want is a story that touches a kid’s heart. Fun. Heartwarming. A legacy that lives through a child’s imagination. Learn how to bring your dreams to reality.

Expert Guidance for Writing Books for Kids

Award-winning author Darcy Pattison, who has written dozens of published picture books, teachers you how to write kid’s books that captivate young readers. In this essential guide for writing a kid’s book, you'll discover:

• Format Fundamentals: Why structure matters in book publishing kid’s content
• Dual Appeal: How to enchant both kids and parents when writing kid’s books
• Read-Aloud Magic: Creating stories perfect for sharing
• Illustration Potential: Writing scenes that inspire great artwork
• Professional Polish: Editing techniques for publishing books for kids

Practical Tools for Writing a Kid’s Book

This guide is perfect if you love:

• Detailed writing instruction focused on book publishing kid’s markets
• Classic examples from successful authors writing kid’s books
• Practical worksheets designed for publishing books for kids
• Step-by-step guidance through the entire process of writing a kid’s book

Whether you're a teacher, parent, or aspiring author, Pattison provides the roadmap for writing kid’s books that will fascinate generations of young readers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PICTURE BOOK BASICS
Picture Book Structure: Why 32 Pages?
Does EPUB Change the 32-page Illustrated Picture Book?
Dual Audience for Children’s Picture Books
Picture Book Settings: Exotic v. Familiar
Children’s Picture Book Characters: Folk Tale or Modern Story

PICTURE BOOK GENRES

How to Write a Children’s ABC Book
How to Write a Read Aloud Friendly Book
How to Write a Rhyming Picture Book, Part 1
How to Write a Rhyming Picture Book, Part 2
Rhyming Picture Book Bibliography
How to Write a Poetry Collection Picture Book
How to Write a Picture Book Mystery
How to Write a Humorous Picture Book
How to Write a Children’s Picture Book Biography
How to Write a Creative Non-Fiction Picture Book
How to Write a Metafiction Picture Book

WRITE A PICTURE BOOK

Good Writing: The Basics
Plotting a Picture Book
Plan Your First Draft
17 Picture Book Topics to Avoid
10 Suggested Directions for Titles
Did You Write a Picture Book or Magazine Article?
Let’s Make a Dummy or a Mock-up of Your Picture Book
From Shakespeare: 2 Ways to Look at Picture Book Structure
Revising Your Picture Book Text
5 Ways to Make the Reader Turn the Page
Phonics for Picture Book Writers
Create a Compelling Voice for a Picture Book
Page 32: The Last Page of a Picture Book

SUBMIT YOUR PICTURE BOOK

The Self-Publishing Question
The Biggest Mistake You Can Make in Submitting a Picture Book
The Illustrator Doesn’t Tell YOU What to Do
Titles and Subtitles Sell Your Work
How Do I Find an Editor’s Name for Submission?

RESOURCES
APPENDIX: BONUS WORKSHEETS

Writing a Book for Kids Series

• Write a Kid’s Picture Book: Create Heartfelt Children’s Books
• Start a Kid’s Novel: Develop Story Ideas for Children's Chapter Books
• Writing a Novel for Kids: Prompts to Create Fun, Heartwarming Chapter Books
• Tell Better Stories for Kids: Revise Your Chapter Books
• Publish a Kid’s Book: Find Surprising Success Self-Publishing

Why read the complete Writing a Book for Kids Series?

The Writing a Book for Kids Series provides a comprehensive roadmap from your first idea to published success. Whether you're writing picture books or novels, these five essential guides cover every aspect of creating, revising, and publishing books for kids. Learn from award-winning author Darcy Pattison's experience and join other writers who've transformed their dreams into published reality. Start with any book that meets your current needs, then explore the complete series to master the entire journey of writing and publishing kid’s books.