How to Write a Picture Book
Want To Write A Picture Book?
There’s so few words in a picture book, surely it should be easy? Well, NO. Fewer words = every word counts. You cannot pad in a picture book.
Picture Books are Important Books
Picture books introduce kids to words and rhyme and the idea of sitting still. Often they become classics, enjoyed through generations.
Picture Books are fun for adults, too. I loved reading stories to my kids; it was fascinating to see what they noticed in the pictures and to hear their commentary on the story.
My boys are teenagers now, but they still remember some of the books we’d read together, and they can still recite the rhymes!
How to Write A Picture Book
I’ve never written a picture book, so I’ve no idea where to start. But I’m writing this post because I’m off to give a series of talks shortly in Taranaki* . As part of my preparation I reached out to Chrissy Metge, picture book writer at Duckling Publishing.
Chrissy has an intriguing background in screen animation, and has worked on major projects like The Jungle Book and Fast and Furious 7. She definitely understands words and visuals. She’s written four picture books now, about Max and His Big Imagination, and they’re fun, beautifully illustrated stories.
* I’m judging the Ronald Hugh Morrison Literary Awards in 2017. Want to know more about these awards? Click here
Chrissy Metge’s Big Imagination
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Tell me a bit about you. What made you want to begin to write?
I did creative writing at school and loved it! Because of the movie and animation industry I work in, I am always around great ideas and creative people so have had many ideas of my own.
I always wanted to write my own kids books and when my son was born six weeks early I had time at the beginning — so I began to write them down! 
