Here are some resources that may help you more fully understand the writing and illustrating process and the business in general. Remember, though, the best way to learn the art of writing and illustrating for children is to read as many picture books as possible as well as working on your own books.
Books on Writing and Illustrating
Writing With Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children’s Books
by Uri Shulevitz
– Although this book is somewhat dated (it includes a long chapter on color separations, for instance, which are no longer necessary) it is an excellent source of advice on visual layouts
Recommended by Sarah and Lauren
Writing and Illustrating Children's Books for Publication: Two Perspectives
by Berthe Amoss, Eric Suben
Recommended by Agy
How
to Write and Illustrate Children's Books and Get Them Published
Consultant editors: Treld Pelkey Bicknell and Felicity Trotman
Recommended by Agy
Books on Children's Illustration
What
Do Illustrators Do?
by Eileen Christelow
This is a children’s picture book, but it is
one of the most useful sources available for a beginning picture
book illustrator. Also see Chirstelow’s book What
Do Writers Do?
Highly recommended by Sarah
Talking with
Artists: Conversations...
Compiled and Edited by Pat Cummings
– A fun and informative series for children
Talking
with Artists: Volume 1
Talking
with Artists: Volume 2
Talking
with Artists: Volume 3
Recommended by Agy
Wings
of an Artist: Children's Book Illustrators Talk About Their
Art
by Julie Cummins (Introduction), Barbara Kiefer
Picture
This: How Pictures Work
by Molly Garrett Bang (Illustrator)
A
Caldecott Celebration: Six Artists Share Their Paths to the
Caldecott Medal
by Leonard S. Marcus, N Church & the East German State
Politi (translator)
Books on Writing Picture Books
How
to Write and Sell Children's Picture Books
by Jean E. Karl
Picture
Writing: A New Approach to Writing for Kids and Teens
by Anastasia Suen
Recommended by Agy
The
Invisible Child: On Reading and Writing Books for Children
by Katherine Paterson
Take
Joy: A Book for Writers
by Jane Yolen
Children's
Writer's Word Book
by Alijandra Mogilner, Alihandra Mogilner
Books on Writing in General
On
Writing
by Stephen King
Recommended by Agy and Lauren
The
Elements of Grammar
by Margaret Shertzer
Recommended by Agy
The
Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
by William Strunk, Jr., E.B. White, Roger Angell (Foreword)
Recommended by Agy
Writing
Down The Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
by Natalie Goldberg, Judith Guest
Recommended by Agy
Bird
by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
by Anne Lamott
Recommended by Agy and Lauren
Stein
on Writing
by Sol Stein
Recommended by Agy
Books on the Business
2006
Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market
edited by Alice Pope
Contains ssential information for anyone wanting to break
into children's publishing. Extensive listings of markets
for your work.
Highly Recommended by Sarah, Agy, and Lauren
It's
a Bunny-Eat-Bunny World: A
Writer's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Today's Competitive Children's Book Market
Olga Litowinsky
A behind-the-scenes look at the history and workings
of the publishing industry.
Recommended by Lauren
Complete
Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books
by Harold Underdown,Lynne Rominger, Group Alpha, Jane Yolen
Note: there'll be an updated version soon, with more offered
for illustrators
Highly recommended by Lauren
Dear
Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom
by Leonard S. Marcus (Author), Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)
