We are especially excited about today’s episode because we get to bring you a snippet of a past Summit presentation with the one and only Julie Andrews along with her daughter and our friend Emma Walton Hamilton! This duo has written over 30 books for children, including 9 New York Times Bestsellers. 

Their picture books include The Very Fairy Princess, Dumpy the Dump Truck, The First Notes: The Story of Do-Re-Mi, The Enchanted Symphony, and Waiting in the Wings.

So, what started this fruitful partnership? Where do they get their ideas? What strengths do they each bring to their projects? Julie Hedlund is here to ask those questions and more.

Don't miss this delightful look behind-the-scenes with a true creative icon!

You might know about refrains in music, but they're also in picture books! The Picture Book Summit Founders get together to discuss what refrains are, define the different types of refrain, and share how to use them strategically in your own picture book writing! Spoiler alert! There are some excellent mentor texts in this episode.

*Books mentioned in this episode:

• Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans and Thi Bui
• Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! by Carrie Finison and Erin Kraan
• I Hate to Go to Bed! by Katie Davis
• The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Christine Davenier
• The Yellow Handkerchief by Donna Barba Higuera and Cynthia Alonso
• Choosing Brave by Angela Joy and Janelle Washington
• Bug on the Rug by Sophia Gholz and Susan Bartori
• Curve & Flow: The Elegant Vision of L.A. Architect Paul R. Williams by Andrea J. Loney and Keith Mallett
• Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews by Julie Hedlund and Ilaria Urbanati.

*Picture Book Summit may receive a small commission at no cost to you when books are purchased through the link above.

In this episode, Julie Hedlund interviews Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple. With over 400 children's books to her name, Jane shares how she chooses the words and what influences her choices. The pair touch on the impact of banned books and how their writing partnership has evolved over the years. So, what's one key to being prolific? Always be learning and growing as a writer. 

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen's First Great Story written by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight

Check out our previous episode with Jane Yolen here: 008 - Jane Yolen

It's time for How to Analyze a Picture Book - Part 2.

In this episode, we talk about how to analyze a picture book's illustrations and other things to look for when analyzing a mentor text.

First up, illustrations: What's the job of the illustrations? What do they add to the story? How does color make a difference? If you're an author-only creator, how can you leave room for the illustrator and still get your story across? Is it okay to use art notes?

Then we jump into a variety odds and ends to consider and pay attention to as you continue to analyze and study picture books, including "is this book for kids" or "what makes this story uniquely kid-centric"?

Download the How to Analyze a Picture Book Handout HERE and use it with your next haul of library books!

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Me...Jane written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
• No More Señora Mimí written by Meg Medina and illustrated by
• Spencer's New Pet written and illustrated by Jessie Sima
• Hot Dog written and illustrated Doug Salati
• Where the Wild Things Are written and illustrated Maurice Sendak
• Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews written by Julie Hedlund and illustrated by Ilaria Urbanati
• Waiting in the Wings written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton and illustrated by EG Keller
• The Enchanted Symphony written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton and illustrated by Elly McKay
• Press Here written and illustrated by Hervé Tullet
• The Pink Hat written and illustrated by Andrew Joyner
• Dr. Fauci: How a Boy From Brooklyn Became America's Doctor written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Alexandra Bye
• River of Dust written by Jilanne Hoffmann and illustrated by Eugenia Mello

If you didn't catch part 1 of How to Analyze a Picture Book, listen HERE.

Today we share how to analyze a picture book.

In many of our discussions and presentations, the Picture Book Summit Team and our guest speakers analyze picture books and use that analysis to illustrate the point we're teaching. When you as a picture book creator learn how to analyze a picture book, you can turn reading picture books into your own writing class.

As you look for and identify the key elements of a picture book we discuss today (and in our next episode!), you'll be able to more easily spot revision opportunities in your own work—getting you that much closer to a publishable picture book.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Very Fairy Princess written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton and illustrated by Christine Davenier
• Over, Bear! Under, Where? written by Julie Hedlund and illustrated by Michael Slack
• Springtime Storks: A Migration Love Story written by Carol Joy Munro and illustration Chelsea O'Byrne
• Party Animals written and illustrated by Katie Davis
• Kitty and Cat Bent Out of Shape written and illustrated by Mirka Hokkanen
• B is for Bananas written by Carrie Tillotson and illustrated by Estrela Lourenço

Look for Part 2 in two weeks!

Today in our Picture Book Summit Roundtable discussion, we tackle the touchy topic of celebrity picture books.

So, what's the truth about celebrity picture books? Do celebrities get to cut the line when it comes to publishing? Are they held to a lower standard than lesser-known writers? Do they help or hurt the industry?

We have the opportunity to hear what it's like to be and/or work with a celebrity author as Emma Walton Hamilton shares her experience of writing with her mother, actress Julie Andrews. You might be surprised what it's like on the flip side of the celebrity book coin.

Then we discuss the frustrations that come when picture book authors see another debut celebrity picture book author.

There's lots to say on both sides of the great celebrity picture book debate. Let's jump right in!

What is the appeal of dark picture books? Do kids want to read (and re-read) books about tougher topics? How do you make these books kid-friendly? 

Julie Hedlund leads our Roundtable discussion about dark picture books, what place they have in children's lives, and why they can be so important. 

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
• The Longest Letsgoboy by Derick Wilder and Catia Chien
• Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson and Hudson Talbott
• Kamau & ZuZu Find a Way by Aracelis Girmay and Diana Ejaita
• Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans and Thi Bui
• Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egnéus
• The House Before Falling into the Sea by Ann Suk Wan and Hanna Cha
• The Skull by Jon Klassen
• The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha, Irene Latham, Yuko Shimizu
• The Circus Comes to the Village by Yutaka Kobayashi

Let this episode linger and check out a few of these picks as you discover the world of dark picture books.

Picture book authors are closer in their craft to screenwriters and playwrights than any other kind of author.

Why?

Because picture book writers direct their readers on how to read the book. It's your job as a writer to make your (often adult reader) look like a rockstar. Emma Walton Hamilton shares how to make your manuscript reader-proof.

It seems nothing is more fun to read aloud than lyrical or rhyming picture books. A common misconception is that it's easy to write rhyme: just count the syllables and make the end words sound alike, right?

Wrong. Good thing you came across this episode, where Julie Hedlund—rhymer extraordinaire—gives examples of what good rhyme and lyrical writing actually is, what makes it work, and how to write it yourself. 

Picture books are a truly unique genre of literature. Other books CAN be read aloud, but picture books are ENGINEERED exactly for that precise purpose.  In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton defines the importance of "Read-aloud-ability" (HINT: it can sway the submission process), while Katie Davis illustrates one impactful way to factor that secret sauce into your writing. 

Stay tuned! This is the first of a three-part series.