Picture Book Courses

There’s just one thing we can tell you about writing a picture book: there is no one “right way” to do it.

You have a story to tell, and a unique voice with which to tell it.

Maybe you’ve had an idea for a while and want to get started. Maybe you’re looking for a place to find community and hone your craft.

No matter where you are on your journey, we’re glad you’re here. Your story and your picture book can inspire children, and we’d love to help.

Find A Picture Book Course

Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Fall)

Starts: September 17, 2024

Picture Book Essentials: A Two-Night Mini for Picture Book Writers

Starts: September 23, 2024

Social and Emotional Themes in KidLit: A Two-Night Mini for Writers

Starts: September 23, 2024

From Idea & Sketch to Dummy & Submission: An Author/Illustrator Online Course

Starts: September 24, 2024

The Crash Course in Children’s Book Publishing (Fall)

Starts: September 24, 2024

Working Retreat: Lyrical Picture Books and Poetry

Starts: September 26, 2024

Research Techniques: A Two-Night Mini

Starts: October 22, 2024

Working Retreat: Picture Book Authors and Illustrators

Starts: November 10, 2024

Marketing Opportunities for Storytellers: A Two Night Mini

Starts: November 12, 2024

Stuck in the Middle: A Two-Night Mini for Picture Book Writers

Starts: November 12, 2024

Working Retreat: Revision

Starts: November 14, 2024

Free #HFGather: 2025 Scholarship Celebration and Information Session

Starts: January 15, 2025

Turn Up the Volume on Quiet Picture Books: A Two-Night Mini

Starts: February 10, 2025

Explore Our Picture Book Workshops

Picture Book Resources

Picture Books: To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme

by Diane Murray

Writing Picture Books that Meet Kids Where They Are

by Eileen Robinson

10 Things to Consider When Writing a Picture Book Biography

by Donna Janell Bowman

A webinar screen shot with Christine French Cully, George Brown, and Alison Green Myers

Finding Story and Character Ideas from Kids (and other lessons from Dear Highlights)

a Webinar with Christine French Cully

Get it Right with Research

by Don Tate

Picture Book Word Count, and Other Rules that are Meant to Be Broken

by Miranda Paul

3 Questions With Lesléa Newman and Rob Sanders About Writing Books That Make a Difference for Kids

3 Questions With Kaz Windness and Katie Mazeika About Disability Representation in Picture Book Illustration

3 Questions With Merrill Rainey and Joe Cepeda About Creating Books for The Very Youngest Children

3 Questions With Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen About Using Humor to Elevate Your Picture Book, Early Reader, or Chapter Book

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See All Picture Book Blogs from Our Faculty

Inspiring Children Through Story

“My picture book … deals with parents separating. One little boy, who parents recently divorced, went to bed with [it] many nights. This deeply moved me to know this picture book helped this little boy.”

“I tutor 2nd grade reluctant readers. My understanding of picture book structure and prose allows me to help them learn more than words. Rather than just read the story, we talk about it.”

“You mean I get to keep this book forever?”

…Spoken by a child in tears who was gifted with one of my books at a school visit and had never owned a book before.

“When I hear kids giggle while I’m reading [my book] I feel like I’ve done the job I intended to do.“

Get Involved at the Highlights Foundation

Free Resources & Webinars

Equity & Inclusion Resources

Scholarships

Stories from Our Highlights Foundation Alumni

Celebrating a Book Birthday with Lee Wind and Jieting Chen

Julia’s Story: 3 Books Under Contract + a New Career

Celebration Station: Summer 2024

#HFGather: Writing about Climate Change for Kids: Amplifying Black Voices for Social Justice, Racial Equity, and Caring for Our Planet

See All Stories from Highlights Foundation Alumni