"Kids at that age can't handle something heavy." The 1st graders I teach in Japan really liked the Demon Slayer movie, which handles death, delusions, and a lot of other heavier themes. Their picture books also deal with heavier themes, such as Gon, the Little Fox. I think we in the West underestimate what children can handle.
Agree when it comes to contemporary children’s fiction, yet we continue (I hope? - and rightly) to read very dark Grimms’ fairytales to them, forgetting they cope perfectly well with those.
I appreciate your advice. I have been writing and illustrating childrens books as a hobby that my children love, I recently decided maybe I could try getting them traditionally published, and I needed information on how publishers figure page count and your video was helpful, I feel more informed on the process. Thanks
Hi lm.making my first picture books and illustrating them my self my idea is to publish them on Amazon and Kdp ...my stories and characters are all original ...lm.a bit confused about writing the word count can l still write a bit over 150 words more after a 1000 for 32 page book stories can they still be accepted to publish or is it a MUST to write it only up to a thousand...lm writing the best stories possible ...can you give me some advise ...really appreciate Than you good video
If you are seeking a traditional publisher, the best word count is between 500 and 700 words. Definitely do not exceed 1,000 words. That being said, if you plan to self-publish you have more wiggle room but I’d still advise you to try to stay under 1,000 words.
So nice to get such solid advice from a professional. I'm working on my first book and knowing the facts about what is important to a publisher is so helpful. Thank you.
Great 👍 Best of luck. Let me know if you have any questions. you can check out my website (link in description) for a ton of information on the children's book publishing process.
Thank you very much for all your advice, it really helps me out. Q: What age would you say this story book is for? Can you give me feedback on it before I publish it please. 30 pages Once upon a time, in a land far away, Lived a kangaroo named Tommy, who loved to play. From dawn till dusk, he would hop and bounce, But when bedtime came, he would pout and announce, "I don't want to sleep mum, I want to have fun, I want to jump high and race in the sun!" But Mama Kangaroo, with a loving smile, Said, "Tommy, my dear, it's time to rest for a while." She pulled him close and began to say, "Let me tell you a story, to end your day. In a magical forest, where the moon shines bright, Lived a kangaroo like you, named Delight." Delight loved adventures, just like you do, But she knew the importance of sleep, it's true. Each night, she'd tuck herself in her cozy bed, And dream of the things that she loved the best. She dreamt of hopping through fields of green, Of chasing butterflies around the trees. She dreamt of playing with her kangaroo friends, Of laughter and joy that seemed to have no end. But most of all, Delight dreamt of the stars, Their twinkling beauty, seen from afar. She knew that to see them, she needed her sleep, For dreams were a treasure, she wanted to keep. Tommy listened intently, his eyes growing wide, As Mama Kangaroo continued with pride. "Remember, my dear, dreams are your guide, They fill your heart with joy, far and wide." With a yawn and a sigh, Tommy understood, The importance of sleep, for it did him good. He hopped in his pouch and snuggled up tight, Ready to dream of adventures all through the night. So, the moon shone down on Tommy's sweet face, As he drifted off to a dreamy place. Through the night, he hopped and played, In kangaroo dreamland, where kangaroos stayed. He hopped over rainbows and danced with the stars, Explored magical forests and flew to Mars. He met friendly animals, big and small, And had grand adventures, having a ball. He swam with dolphins and climbed tall trees, Laughed with monkeys and buzzed with honey bees. He discovered treasures buried deep in the sand, And he flew with birds, over a magical land. When morning arrived, the sun painted the sky, Tommy woke up, feeling joyous and spry. He thanked Mama Kangaroo for her wise words, For teaching him the importance of sleep like the chirping birds. From that day forward, Tommy knew, That bedtime was special, and dreams would come true. So, he'd jump and play with all his might, But when bedtime came, he'd say, "Goodnight!" And so, my dear child, it's time to rest your head, To snuggle up warmly in your cozy bed. Remember Tommy's story, and close your eyes tight, For dreams are awaiting you, in the starry night. For dreams are the magic that make us feel, They hold our wishes, and help us heal. So dream big, my dear, let your imagination soar, For in dreamland, adventures await, forevermore. The end.
I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your tips with us. Im a newbie self taught writer, illustrator and now wanting to learn how to edit my own books as well. Im also looking at self publishing with either kdp or ingrem spark but im not sure yet. Anyway i have a lot of work to do so thank you once again for your videos. I look forward to learning more from you :) Have a great week. Kia Ora from NZ - Marie
Thank you for giving great information. I had to suffer through 5-6 videos on "writing a picture book," to actually get someone to talk about writing a picture book! Thank you
Hello, I’ve noticed kids like scary characters in books but I’m not sure if it’s really the case. Maybe it’s seen as cool but when I was a kid I loved “Where The Wild Things Are.” In this day and age I’ve seen kids with plushies from horror games… I’m not sure the reason but just an idea. Probably parents wouldn’t like the idea of their kids having these books but kids do. Also the pigeon book I liked it because the pigeon was dumb, I’m 10 prob not a kid anymore lol
@@BrookeTalksBooks I’m actually busy drawing and writing my first children’s book ever. I want to publish on KDP or Ingram Spark. I do not know anyone personally who is working in this field of interest, so I’m grateful when professional writers/illustrators share useful info, tips and tricks. 😊👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 How did you start out in children’s book industry? Do you have an uncle/aunt who is a writer/illustrator? My late father used to draw and paint (oil paint) a lot and he also had an endless imagination and interest in art.
@@melindedemmers264 actually, no. I just knew I loved books, so out of college I got an internship at Sterling Publishing. A few months in, a job opened up in the children’s department, and I never looked back!
Brooke, an excellent and helpfully informative video. With material like this your channel deserves audience growth, good luck and thank you it has been very beneficial.
Thanks for the Video. How do you write a compelling picture book manuscript for submission without illustration. I’ve been looking at several picture books trying to get an idea on how to write one, and without the pictures they seem hard to sell.
In an ideal world, a book SHOULD be able to stand alone without the art. Art should complement and enhance the story, but if you are relying solely on your art to TELL the story then I would go back and reconsider which pieces of story aren't making their way into the text. If a piece of art truly is needed, there's nothing wrong with including an art note that explains what would be seen. But if every page needs art for the story to make sense then I'd suggest trying to weave some of that storytelling into the actual text.
Great, well-presented info! Thank you!! It's also encouraging to hear you say 1000 words is the cap, because many others (Mary Cole, among them) say 500-600 is the cap in today's market. It's really hard to do much character or story development in that amount of words! I know Frog and Toad achieved this, but still... Beatrix Potter books are way over 1000 words and they still sell.
@@BrookeTalksBooks Agree... Sorry if my response was confusing. I was referring to the fact that the current publishing industry only publishes short picture books. It's incredibly rare for an agent or publisher to pick up a longer picture story book manuscript...the longer format for older children. I doubt THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY or THE YEAR OF THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE or ONE MORNING IN MAINE or PADDLE TO THE SEA would be published in today's market. Well, maybe last two would since they are author illustrator books.
I read to my children each night. We have our favourites but also read new. I've thought the same as you on all your points. It's a real craft! You can see the effort made for the ones that are popular
Ugh. The American market kills good books. Please know that in proper countries word count for picture books is 2000 and up, and these plastic fake themes around commercial events are thankfully not a big thing outside the states.
Orrible this juts bring my energies down. I ll appreciatate if the way you comunicate be yap realistic but still ENCOURAGING, Not dropping my energy...
Your video was extremely insightful and super helpful! It was like having a one on one with an art instructor giving important feedback haha! This was great, thank you! 🫶🏼
"Kids at that age can't handle something heavy." The 1st graders I teach in Japan really liked the Demon Slayer movie, which handles death, delusions, and a lot of other heavier themes. Their picture books also deal with heavier themes, such as Gon, the Little Fox. I think we in the West underestimate what children can handle.
I agree with your perspective.
I was in 5th grade reading dante’s inferno which is college level lol ppl definitely underestimate what children can handle
Agree when it comes to contemporary children’s fiction, yet we continue (I hope? - and rightly) to read very dark Grimms’ fairytales to them, forgetting they cope perfectly well with those.
I appreciate your advice. I have been writing and illustrating childrens books as a hobby that my children love, I recently decided maybe I could try getting them traditionally published, and I needed information on how publishers figure page count and your video was helpful, I feel more informed on the process. Thanks
You’re very welcome! If you head over to my site, you’ll find an article about book layout that may help!
brookevitale.com/blog/childrens-book-layout
Hi lm.making my first picture books and illustrating them my self my idea is to publish them on Amazon and Kdp ...my stories and characters are all original ...lm.a bit confused about writing the word count can l still write a bit over 150 words more after a 1000 for 32 page book stories can they still be accepted to publish or is it a MUST to write it only up to a thousand...lm writing the best stories possible ...can you give me some advise ...really appreciate Than you good video
If you are seeking a traditional publisher, the best word count is between 500 and 700 words. Definitely do not exceed 1,000 words. That being said, if you plan to self-publish you have more wiggle room but I’d still advise you to try to stay under 1,000 words.
So nice to get such solid advice from a professional. I'm working on my first book and knowing the facts about what is important to a publisher is so helpful. Thank you.
You're very welcome.
Thanks 😊
Am working on my first picture book
Great 👍 Best of luck. Let me know if you have any questions. you can check out my website (link in description) for a ton of information on the children's book publishing process.
what if your book is 74 pages long? would you break that up into 24 pages? Making it 3 books?
This is so helpful! Thanks for sharing :)
you're so welcome
Is it fine if my picture book only contains drawings?
Thank you very much for all your advice, it really helps me out.
Q: What age would you say this story book is for? Can you give me feedback on it before I publish it please.
30 pages
Once upon a time, in a land far away,
Lived a kangaroo named Tommy, who loved to play.
From dawn till dusk, he would hop and bounce,
But when bedtime came, he would pout and announce,
"I don't want to sleep mum, I want to have fun,
I want to jump high and race in the sun!"
But Mama Kangaroo, with a loving smile,
Said, "Tommy, my dear, it's time to rest for a while."
She pulled him close and began to say,
"Let me tell you a story, to end your day.
In a magical forest, where the moon shines bright,
Lived a kangaroo like you, named Delight."
Delight loved adventures, just like you do,
But she knew the importance of sleep, it's true.
Each night, she'd tuck herself in her cozy bed,
And dream of the things that she loved the best.
She dreamt of hopping through fields of green,
Of chasing butterflies around the trees.
She dreamt of playing with her kangaroo friends,
Of laughter and joy that seemed to have no end.
But most of all, Delight dreamt of the stars,
Their twinkling beauty, seen from afar.
She knew that to see them, she needed her sleep,
For dreams were a treasure, she wanted to keep.
Tommy listened intently, his eyes growing wide,
As Mama Kangaroo continued with pride.
"Remember, my dear, dreams are your guide,
They fill your heart with joy, far and wide."
With a yawn and a sigh, Tommy understood,
The importance of sleep, for it did him good.
He hopped in his pouch and snuggled up tight,
Ready to dream of adventures all through the night.
So, the moon shone down on Tommy's sweet face,
As he drifted off to a dreamy place.
Through the night, he hopped and played,
In kangaroo dreamland, where kangaroos stayed.
He hopped over rainbows and danced with the stars,
Explored magical forests and flew to Mars.
He met friendly animals, big and small,
And had grand adventures, having a ball.
He swam with dolphins and climbed tall trees,
Laughed with monkeys and buzzed with honey bees.
He discovered treasures buried deep in the sand,
And he flew with birds, over a magical land.
When morning arrived, the sun painted the sky,
Tommy woke up, feeling joyous and spry.
He thanked Mama Kangaroo for her wise words,
For teaching him the importance of sleep like the chirping birds.
From that day forward, Tommy knew,
That bedtime was special, and dreams would come true.
So, he'd jump and play with all his might,
But when bedtime came, he'd say, "Goodnight!"
And so, my dear child, it's time to rest your head,
To snuggle up warmly in your cozy bed.
Remember Tommy's story, and close your eyes tight,
For dreams are awaiting you, in the starry night.
For dreams are the magic that make us feel,
They hold our wishes, and help us heal.
So dream big, my dear, let your imagination soar,
For in dreamland, adventures await, forevermore.
The end.
This is lovely. Just lovely.
I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your tips with us. Im a newbie self taught writer, illustrator and now wanting to learn how to edit my own books as well. Im also looking at self publishing with either kdp or ingrem spark but im not sure yet. Anyway i have a lot of work to do so thank you once again for your videos. I look forward to learning more from you :) Have a great week. Kia Ora from NZ - Marie
You’re so welcome!
Heartfelt thanks from Bangalore , India .
Your video inspired me to come up with more than 20 ideas to write children book. 🙏
That's wonderful, and so exciting. Congratulations!
Great video with tons of sensible and thoughtful advice. Thank you! 😊
Thank you for giving great information. I had to suffer through 5-6 videos on "writing a picture book," to actually get someone to talk about writing a picture book! Thank you
You're welcome. And check out my full site for more detailed breakdowns!
Hello, I’ve noticed kids like scary characters in books but I’m not sure if it’s really the case. Maybe it’s seen as cool but when I was a kid I loved “Where The Wild Things Are.” In this day and age I’ve seen kids with plushies from horror games… I’m not sure the reason but just an idea. Probably parents wouldn’t like the idea of their kids having these books but kids do. Also the pigeon book I liked it because the pigeon was dumb, I’m 10 prob not a kid anymore lol
There’s certainly a place for scary books on the market. Every kid and every parent is different in what they like.
Thank you for taking your time to help and inform other aspiring writers/illustrators! 🤗 It’s very much appreciated 👍🏼👍🏼😊.
You’re so welcome, Melinde.
@@BrookeTalksBooks I’m actually busy drawing and writing my first children’s book ever. I want to publish on KDP or Ingram Spark. I do not know anyone personally who is working in this field of interest, so I’m grateful when professional writers/illustrators share useful info, tips and tricks. 😊👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
How did you start out in children’s book industry? Do you have an uncle/aunt who is a writer/illustrator?
My late father used to draw and paint (oil paint) a lot and he also had an endless imagination and interest in art.
@@melindedemmers264 actually, no. I just knew I loved books, so out of college I got an internship at Sterling Publishing. A few months in, a job opened up in the children’s department, and I never looked back!
Brooke, an excellent and helpfully informative video. With material like this your channel deserves audience growth, good luck and thank you it has been very beneficial.
Thanks so much! I am so glad it was helpful!
It tells me you not only know the subject but you also have a mastery over it. Kudos!
I'm onlyat 4:17 and I have already gained so much! Wow! Can't wait for the next 15mins!!! Thank you!
Thank you very much for your input! I appreciate these valuable pointers. Great video!
Some very useful information there but it does sound like you're talking to a room full of kids, in the style of a picture book. 😆
Thanks for the Video. How do you write a compelling picture book manuscript for submission without illustration. I’ve been looking at several picture books trying to get an idea on how to write one, and without the pictures they seem hard to sell.
In an ideal world, a book SHOULD be able to stand alone without the art. Art should complement and enhance the story, but if you are relying solely on your art to TELL the story then I would go back and reconsider which pieces of story aren't making their way into the text. If a piece of art truly is needed, there's nothing wrong with including an art note that explains what would be seen. But if every page needs art for the story to make sense then I'd suggest trying to weave some of that storytelling into the actual text.
@@BrookeTalksBooks I appreciate the advice. Thanks so much! I’ll definitely use those tips!
Great, well-presented info! Thank you!! It's also encouraging to hear you say 1000 words is the cap, because many others (Mary Cole, among them) say 500-600 is the cap in today's market. It's really hard to do much character or story development in that amount of words! I know Frog and Toad achieved this, but still... Beatrix Potter books are way over 1000 words and they still sell.
Honestly, 500-700 is ideal. But most agents have a hard line at 1,000 words on their query guidelines.
@@BrookeTalksBooks thanks for your reply! I miss the days of picture story books. 2500 words...ahhh, now there's a good story length. ; )
@@h.a.s.7336 but hard to read to a 4-year-old with a limited attention span!
@@BrookeTalksBooks Agree... Sorry if my response was confusing. I was referring to the fact that the current publishing industry only publishes short picture books. It's incredibly rare for an agent or publisher to pick up a longer picture story book manuscript...the longer format for older children. I doubt THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY or THE YEAR OF THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE or ONE MORNING IN MAINE or PADDLE TO THE SEA would be published in today's market. Well, maybe last two would since they are author illustrator books.
Can you do a video on what to include in an en early readers chapter book?
Thank you for the informative video
I read to my children each night. We have our favourites but also read new. I've thought the same as you on all your points. It's a real craft! You can see the effort made for the ones that are popular
Thank you for the great tips, I'm going to do a word count on the story I'm working on!
How many books have you released?
interesting content.. but really hard to hear. I couldn't get my volumes up high enough to comfortably listen to this video
Sorry, we are planning to refill these with a microphone
You need to be a little louder can just hear you
New videos now have a microphone :)
It was really annoying.😊
Good Info. Very good. Thanks.
Thank You! Useful and clear. 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that!
Excellent video!
You're way up there with your advise. Thank you!
You're very welcome. I'm glad it helps!
Absolutely love your services!
Thank you. That’s so kind of you!
Great advice, TFS
Great video and advice! ThNk you. ❤
Thank you!
thank you so much :0
thank you :)
Thank you for your posts! I am a new author and a good number of the tips offered me real time advise. Blessings 🎉
You are so welcome!
Ugh. The American market kills good books. Please know that in proper countries word count for picture books is 2000 and up, and these plastic fake themes around commercial events are thankfully not a big thing outside the states.
Orrible this juts bring my energies down. I ll appreciatate if the way you comunicate be yap realistic but still ENCOURAGING, Not dropping my energy...
Your video was extremely insightful and super helpful! It was like having a one on one with an art instructor giving important feedback haha! This was great, thank you! 🫶🏼
Really happy to hear it helps!