The Picture Book Pirate Code
More like guidelines than actual rules, but you should follow them until you really know what you're doing.
Hi friends,
I recently sat down with a former coworker who has decided to write a children’s book. A picture book, to be more precise. And since I am the only published picture book author he knows, he reached out to see if I’d be willing to chat. I was more than happy to help!
During the course of our conversation we talked about everything about picture books. Well, as much of everything that you can fit into a one hour conversation. He’s completely new at this, and he’s eager to learn. Which is fun for me because I’m always excited to share some of what I’ve learned over the years. I remember well what it was like to be just starting out, and it would have been helpful to know someone who’d been there.
So this is for those of you who are just starting out writing picture books, or maybe who have considered writing one but aren’t sure where to begin. Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a chair, and let’s talk!
There are the rules to writing picture books that I believe you should learn before you begin. Just like the pirate code, these are more like guidelines than actual rules, but they are good to know. And I always think it’s good to learn how to follow the rules so that you can learn best how to bend or break them. So, here we go, in no particular order:
If your picture book is over 500 words, it might be too long. If it’s over 800 words, it’s almost certainly too long. It’s really easy to say more than necessary when writing a picture book, so it may help to remember that the pictures in a picture book aren’t there just to illustrate your words, but to tell the visual story. If what you write isn’t essential to the story, you can usually leave it out.
A picture book should have a child or child-like character (or creature) as a protagonist. Grown-up issues are just not that interesting. Exceptions can be if you’re writing a biography or putting an adult through an experience that a child can relate to.
Picture book texts should include some “big” words. This might seem a little backward to those not too familiar with picture books, but this is an excellent way for kids to learn new vocabulary.
Picture books are meant to be read aloud. They aren’t really for kids. Well, they are. But the kids that they are written for are often not the ones reading them. They are listening to them! They are poring over the pictures. They are retelling them in their own words (or from memory). So make sure your story is pleasant to read aloud.
If you’re writing a picture book, don’t include illustrations unless you’re also the illustrator (this one is a pretty hard and fast rule).
As a picture book author, it’s not your job to direct the illustrator. When writing a picture book, you might have very specific ideas for what your characters look like and/or what is going on in the pictures. But that is not for you to decide. An exception can be if there is an essential element of the story that is meant to appear in the images but not the text.
Picture books do not have to rhyme. They certainly can. And some of the best ones do. But “this book is for kids” is not a good reason to write in rhyme.
Picture books should not be preachy or moralizing.
Do your research. Picture books, even fiction ones, often require as much “fact checking” as a novel-length book.
Get plenty of feedback on your manuscripts. Find some critique partners, join a critique group, and consider paying for professional critiques, especially if you don’t personally know any published picture book authors.
Picture books are one of my favorite things, not just to write, but to read, so I am invested in helping to bring more great picture books into the world. If you are starting out as a picture book author, I hope that the “picture book pirate code” will help point you in the right direction.
Resources for picture book writers:
My picture books:
Check out some recent reviews for my middle grade novel in verse, Mari in the Margins:
“Mari in the Margins is the kind of book that makes you want to doodle and write; to just create anything and everything you can. In my eyes, that alone makes this a book worth reading.” Read more of Selah Bell’s review on StoryWarren.
“Mari's way of thinking about things, and working through conflicting feelings with siblings and friends is wonderfully done. Watching her find her voice, both as a poet but also as she finds and makes peace with her place in the family warmed my heart.” Read the full review on Instagram.
Great tips!