How to Write a Children's Picture Book Volume II

Recommended by writing instructors and award-winning authors.

Whereas Volume I of this series investigates the overall structure of children’s picture storybooks at the macro level, this volume, Volume II, investigates the very building blocks of picture storybooks at the micro level: the word, the sentence, the scene and the story. We look at the importance of word choice for giving the story meaning and cohesion. We look at ways to change sentence structure to emphasize the information that is important, and to ensure that sentences flow easily from one to another. We look at the scene: how to begin it, how to end it, and how to create the Beats of action-reaction that make up the scene. And finally we look at the story: what types of problems must a character solve? When does a story introduce a problem? And once a problem is introduced, how do picture storybooks move from problem to solution? What types of solutions do characters find? Is there any part of a story that occurs after the solution is found? To answer these and other questions is to describe storytelling strategies. We look at enduringly popular children’s picture storybooks to see what storytelling strategies they employ.

Author Biography

Growing up, whenever Eve Heidi Bine-Stock asked her mom what a word meant, the answer was always, “Look it up.” That was the start of Eve’s love of words and books. For her 13th birthday, Eve’s older brother Neil gave the budding writer a huge dictionary of her own with the inscription, “May your blessings be as numerous as the words in this book.” And they have been. At age 13, Eve Heidi Bine-Stock began her publishing career by creating a girls’ magazine. In her 20s, Eve received a Master’s Degree in Library Science (books!), and worked toward a PhD in Visual Literacy (picture books!). Fast-forward to 2001. Eve became publisher of a boutique press specializing in children’s books and books for adults on how to write them. A number of books she ushered to light won awards, attesting to her skills as an editor and graphic designer. In 2012, the owner of the publishing house passed away and the press closed. But that didn’t stop Eve! She continued publishing on her own, winning the Mom’s Choice Awards and the International Book Awards for her children’s book on dog breeds. Eve is also the author of the three-volume series, “How to Write a Children’s Picture Book,” the stand-alone title, “How to Self-Publish a Children’s Picture Book,” and has written pseudonymously numerous children’s books. Eve views her books as progeny and is grateful they have touched the lives of her readers.