Led by Mary Boone, author of the forthcoming picture books: PEDAL PUSHER (Henry Holt, 2024), SCHOOL OF FISH (Albert Whitman, 2024), and FLYING FEMINIST (Andersen Press, 2025). She has also written 65+ nonfiction books for young readers, and Mary's middle-grade book BUGS FOR BREAKFAST: How Eating Insects Could Help Save the World (Chicago Review Press, 2021) was long-listed for the Green Earth Nature Award.

Learn more about Mary in our Meet the Teaching Artist series.

Writing books for kids? That must be simple. HA! Telling a story in a few hundred words that sounds great when read out loud – over and over – is difficult. Learn tips that will help your manuscript find its way out of the slush pile and onto bookstore shelves.

This fast-paced course will provide participants with a look at recent trends in the children’s book market and provide tips for how to stay in touch with what’s going on in KidLit Land.

We’ll cover what agents and editors are typically looking for in terms of picture books, why rhyme is a tough sell, and how the same “rules” we’re discussing are occasionally broken. Participants will learn about the importance of readability, rhythm, word play, and page turns. And they’ll learn the importance of pitching to trends rather than writing to trends.

The session will end with 15 to 20 minutes of Q&A time. This class is intended for those just beginning to write for children or more intermediate writers who are considering a transition from self-publishing to traditional publishing.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Rhythm and readability will set your PB manuscript apart from the competition.
• Well-place page turns can keep a reader (or editor) reading.
• Writing to trends won’t work. Pitching to trends will.
  

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE: