by Melissa Stoller As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” Where I live, that is holding true as it has been a bit soggy! But on the bright side . . . flowers are blooming and the cherry blossoms are beautiful!   This month, it can also rain down ideas! Here are some prompts to help you cultivate your stories:                                       Image from Canva ​1)    Visit a botanical garden – perhaps bring a sketch pad and draw the flowers and trees you n ..read more

The Theory ​Social-emotional learning, often abbreviated as SEL, has become increasingly important in picture books as a way to address the various challenges and pressures that children encounter today. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), SEL involves equipping both young people and adults with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to foster healthy identities, manage emotions, achieve personal and collective goals, demonstrate empathy, build supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions (casel.org). SEL was important befor ..read more

​Written by the talented Kevin Johnson and brought to life with illustrations by the incomparable Kitt Thomas, "Cape" is a story that hits close to home. It speaks to the depth of our hearts and the strength we find in the midst of loss. In "Cape," we meet a young child grappling with the profound sorrow of losing a cherished loved one. Clutching onto his superhero cape, he seeks solace from the onslaught of memories and emotions that threaten to overwhelm him. But as we all know, memories don't play fair. They persist no matter how much you resist. Our young hero tries to block and push t ..read more

by Melissa Stoller Where I live, we just moved the clocks forward an hour for Daylight Savings Time. That means we “lost” an hour on Sunday morning. I started thinking about the notion of “time” and how we can incorporate time into ideas this March.  Here are a few prompts to try:  1. Write a story about the passage of time. Maybe it’s a story using sunrise to sunset as a structure. Or perhaps it’s using the days of the week or months of the year. Or even the seasons. Show the reader how time has passed.  2. Think of a story about “losing time.” It could be about bedtime ..read more

​By Melissa Stoller ​   February is a wonderful time to reflect on friendship and love. Valentine’s Day falls squarely in the middle of the month, perhaps bringing cards, candies, flowers, and special sentiments. This holiday can help you generate heartfelt ideas.  Canva Image ​ Here are a few prompts you can use for inspiration this season.  1) Check out cards at a card shop. Or write you own greetings. Notice themes that resonate with you. Can you imagine characters delivering any of the messages? Maybe the cards will spark a first line or story plot. 2) View online im ..read more

As we embrace the new year, it's the perfect time for picture book writers to reflect on their writing journey and set meaningful resolutions. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting your picture book adventure, the beginning of the year offers everyone a fresh canvas to explore new ideas and hone your craft. However, the task of resolutions can prove daunting. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.  Set Clear Writing Goals Begin the year by establishing clear and achievable writing goals. Consider setting targets for the number of manuscripts you aim to complete, subm ..read more

​By Melissa Stoller   Cheers to 2024! It’s a new year - time to discover, catch, and cultivate new ideas!   Here are a few prompts to help you gather ideas that you can turn into stories and books.  ​ Canva Image ​ ​1) Write about a new year custom or ritual that you enjoyed as a child, or celebrate now as an adult. Think about the tastes, smells, sights, and sounds of your celebrations. Include some sensory details in your story.  2) Look at the holiday cards you sent or received last month. Notice the emotions and settings in the photos or messages. Perhaps a title ..read more

​By Melissa Stoller   It’s winter – a season filled with holidays of many faith traditions. Take some time this month to breathe in the joy of the season and add some holiday rituals and magic into your storytelling.   Here are a few seasonal prompts to help you dodge into December with ideas!  Canva.com ​ 1. Write about a ritual, custom, celebration, or heirloom from your faith tradition. What memories do you associate with the holiday season? Incorporate sensory details into a story scene.  2. Remember a childhood celebration. Immerse yourself in the sights and ..read more

We love children's book creatives so as we wrap up our final weeks of the Ultimate Craft and Business of Writing Children’s Picture Books, and head into the end of the year, in the spirit of gratitude and giving, we have a special token of our appreciation, with a lovely FREE GIFT! We sent this out to our current mailing list last week and received so much great feedback, that we want to offer it to you now by simply signing up for our mailing list. Its a lovely FREE 18-Page Workbook on... Writing Stories with The 5 Ps of Publishing" This delightful workbook is designed to gui ..read more

​ Bing, Bop, Bam: Time to Jam is the latest collaboration of Valerie Bolling and Sabrina Khadija, and it will surely make your heart sing. The duo creates a colorful community of diverse instruments, people, food, and fun. Readers follow an intergenerational group of musicians and music lovers as they plan, decorate, and participate in the “neighborhood jam!” ​ Bolling’s signature rhyming couplets become a soaring sing-along to little listeners' ears. Meanwhile, Khadija’s bold, geometric illustrations create rivers of rhythm that all eyes are sure to follow. This book was put to the test by ..read more