Picture BooksTag

"Something in That Moment Inspired Me" Writer & Artist Scot Ritchie on Finding His Newest Story in a Beloved Berlin Park

Vancouver-based author and illustrator Scot Ritchie has published a staggering 60-plus books for young readers, many of which are beloved titles in households across Canada, including favourites like Let's ...

Contest! Make Summer Even Better for the Kids in Your Life With Great Reads from Owlkids Books

If you've got kids in your life, you know Owlkids, whose books and magazine (like Chirp, Chickadee, and of course, OWL) are a staple of Canadian households. Now you've got a chance to bring home a ...

A Few Key Things Every Newly Published Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators Should Know!

The title says it all, guys! Here’s a roundup of a bunch of things that newly published authors and illustrators should know. Whether it’s resources on negotiating contracts or where to do research ...

Picture Book Author & Paper Artist Thao Lam on the Books that Shaped Her & the Canadian Illustrator Whose Work Taught Her to Draw

When you read the title of My Cat Looks Like My Dad (Owlkids Books), the latest picture book from acclaimed writer/illustrator Thao Lam, you immediately know you're in for something funny, charming, ...

Troy Wilson on Titles for Kids' Books, Exclamation Marks, & the 12-Year Journey to His New Picture Book

Troy Wilson, author of several beloved books for young readers including the award winning Perfect Man, returns with a charming, funny, and immediately lovable new picture book this spring: Dog vs Ultra ...

Moving On and Holding On: Writing Picture Books as Therapy

Is it just me or is closure overrated and nearly impossible to achieve? It sometimes feels like the more you try to shut out painful experiences, the more they wave their hands around and yell, “Look ...

Who I Think About When I Write … It’s Probably You: A List of Questions to Ask Yourself About Audience as You Write

I find it really challenging to write a picture book without imagining its audience. In whose hands will the finished book end up? What will make them pick it up? Will they find my story satisfying? To ...

Calling All Aspiring Authors: Never Ask an Illustrator to Illustrate Your Picture Book for Free

A few weeks ago, I was in a local tavern with some friends—a few of them are professional illustrators. They were drinking overpriced mocktails and commiserating about the emails they get from aspiring ...

Why Does It Take So Long to Make a Picture Book?: Or, How To Get Really Good at Waiting

I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t prepared for all the waiting I’d have to do in life. And when it comes to writing, you do a lot of waiting. Waiting for inspiration to strike. Realizing that ...