K.A. Mulenga's Blog

Picture books are more than just colorful pages and fun stories—they’re windows into the world, shaping how children see themselves and others. For young readers in South Africa and across the continent, African-themed picture books hold immense power. These stories, rooted in African cultures, landscapes, and experiences, foster pride, spark imagination, and build empathy. Here’s why African-themed picture books matter for kids, parents, and communities.

1. Celebrating Cultural Identity
African-themed picture books showcase the continent’s diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. From the vibrant markets of Johannesburg to the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal, these stories reflect the lives of African children. Books like Gogo’s Basket or The Herd Boy celebrate everyday moments—whether it’s weaving with a grandmother or herding sheep—helping kids feel proud of their heritage. When children see their own lives in books, it boosts self-esteem and a sense of belonging.

2. Building Empathy and Understanding
Stories set in African contexts introduce young readers to different communities, histories, and ways of life. A child in Cape Town might read about a fisherman in Ghana or a Maasai herder in Kenya, learning to appreciate the diversity within Africa. These books also counter stereotypes by showing the richness and complexity of African life. For non-African readers, they provide a glimpse into a world that’s often misrepresented, fostering empathy and global awareness.

3. Encouraging Language and Literacy
Many African-themed picture books incorporate local languages, such as isiZulu, isiXhosa, or Swahili, alongside English. This bilingual approach supports early literacy by introducing kids to new words and rhythms. Books like Funky Chickens use playful language to make reading fun, while others, like South Africa: A to Z, teach the alphabet through culturally relevant themes. For multilingual households, these books are a treasure trove for language development.

4. Inspiring Creativity and Imagination
The vivid illustrations and storytelling in African-themed picture books ignite children’s creativity. Whether it’s the colorful patterns of Ndebele art or the sounds of a mbira in Where’s My Mbira?, these books stimulate the senses. They encourage kids to draw, tell their own stories, or even explore their surroundings with fresh eyes. By grounding imagination in familiar settings, these books make creativity accessible and relatable.

5. Preserving and Sharing Stories
Oral storytelling is a cornerstone of many African cultures, and picture books help preserve these traditions in written form. They pass down folktales, proverbs, and values to the next generation while making them accessible to a global audience. For parents and educators, reading these books is a way to share cultural wisdom and spark meaningful conversations with kids about history, family, and identity.


African-themed picture books are more than stories—they’re tools for empowerment, education, and connection. They help children see the beauty in their own lives, understand others, and dream big. By filling bookshelves and classrooms with these titles, we nurture a generation of confident, curious, and compassionate readers. Let’s celebrate the power of African stories and make them a staple in every child’s reading journey.

Do you have a favourite African-themed picture book? Share it in the comments, or tell us how these stories have inspired your kids! Support local authors and illustrators by picking up an African-themed book today.

Reading to young children ignites their imagination, strengthens language skills, and nurtures a lifelong love for stories, for South African kids aged 3-7, books that reflect their vibrant culture, landscapes, and values are especially powerful. Here’s a curated list of five enchanting books, including a delightful tale by South African author K.A. Mulenga, that will captivate young readers and celebrate the spirit of South Africa. Perfect for bedtime, classroom read-alouds, or family bonding, these stories are sure to inspire.
1. "Chuck The Cheetah" by K.A. Mulenga

In this charming picture book, Chuck, a young cheetah, learns that being the fastest isn’t everything. Chuck discovers the value of teamwork, friendship, and believing in himself through his journey on the African savanna. K.A. Mulenga’s engaging storytelling and colourful illustrations make this a joyful read that resonates with South African children, reflecting the beauty of the country’s wildlife and universal life lessons.

Why it’s great: Teaches resilience and teamwork while showcasing South Africa’s iconic animals.
2. "The Herd Boy" by Niki Daly

Malusi, a young boy, tends to his grandfather’s sheep in rural South Africa, dreaming of a bigger future. Niki Daly’s vibrant illustrations and heartfelt narrative highlight perseverance and the beauty of everyday life. With a subtle nod to Nelson Mandela’s own childhood, this story inspires kids to chase their ambitions, no matter where they start.

Why it’s great: Introduces rural South African life and encourages big dreams.
3. "Gogo’s Basket" by Nicola Hadfield

Nothando learns the art of basket-weaving from her grandmother, Gogo, in a colourful South African village. This touching story weaves themes of family, tradition, and creativity, with bold illustrations that capture the warmth of intergenerational bonds. It’s a perfect pick for young readers who love stories about connection.

Why it’s great: Celebrates South African traditions and family ties.
4. "Where’s My Mbira?" by Rumbi Katedza

A young girl searches for her missing mbira, a traditional Zimbabwean/South African musical instrument, and discovers the sounds of her community along the way. This lively tale introduces kids to African music while teaching problem-solving and curiosity. The energetic, colourful illustrations make every page a delight.

Why it’s great: Introduces traditional instruments and sparks exploration.
5. "Funky Chickens" by Benjamin Zephaniah
A lively collection of poems, this book brings rhythm and humor to young readers. With its playful language and vibrant South African-inspired illustrations, it celebrates animals, people, and the joy of words. The poems are perfect for read-aloud sessions, encouraging kids to clap, laugh, and even create their own rhymes.

Why it’s great: Boosts language development through fun, rhythmic poetry.

These five books bring South Africa’s rich culture and landscapes to life for kids aged 3-7. From Chuck’s lessons in teamwork to Nothando’s weaving with Gogo, these stories reflect the heart of South Africa while sparking joy and curiosity. Pick up these titles at your local bookstore or library and share the magic of reading with your little ones today.

What’s your child’s favourite South African storybook? Have you read Chuck The Cheetah with them yet? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s keep the love for reading alive!

As a writer, what is your favourite writer style? Do you dress to the nines, to a great and elaborate extent? PJ's all day? Denim's and t-shirts or sweat pants and hoodies?

I fit into the casual fashion sense. I am a qualified accountant and my first few years working in the corporate world saw my dress in a smart shirt and trousers(pants) from Monday to Thursday. Fridays wherever I worked were always "casual" Friday and we could break out in our denim and t-shirts.

When I opened my small accounting and tax practice in 2010, I stuck to the same dress code, I think more out of habit than actual comfort. But when I started my writing journey in 2020, everything changed. I started dressing in jeans and t-shirts every day, I mixed that up with sweatpants on some days. Once I started dressing that way, I realized that the smart wear was just not for me, the same way I realized that being an accountant was not my cup of tea either!

So, what is your writer's fashion?

Hi everyone,

Today I thought of letting you all know what my plans for the future are. As you are all aware by now, I have 17 children's picture books to my name. I will be releasing my latest called Drew the Dragon early next week. It is a charming and cute story about Drew, the cutest dragon around, it teaches that love is such an important part of our lives. I am really proud and excited about this one but enough about my latest release, as I mentioned, this blog is about my future plans.

After Drew the Dragon has been released, I have another 3 picture books that I am hoping to be out during the course of this month. The titles of these are Pete the Panda, Uni the Unicorn, and Never Give Up. Never Give Up was inspired by Liverpool Football Club and their historic comeback in the semi-final tie against Barcelona in 2019. I am a passionate football/soccer fan and I had previously written a book called Susie Strickland Sizzling Striker also about soccer. My love for the game inspired me to write a Middle-Grade novel about a tween soccer team based here in South Africa. All my picture books have been self-published but I was approached by a local publisher to write a Middle-Grade Novel which is now in the editing phase. My publisher just sent me an email this morning informing me that my contract will soon be ready, hopefully, next week. I am super excited about this! We have earmarked it for release on the 1st of September. WE plan to make this into a series.

I finished my memoir late last year and the edited manuscript was ready around December. Today I decided to send it into my typesetter for cover design, formatting and typesetting, etc so I am hoping I will be releasing this by the end of July.

Once this has all been done, I will have 21 picture books, 1 Middle-Grade Novel, and a memoir out there. I plan to spend the rest of the year marketing the books and looking for schools and libraries to do either on-site or virtual book readings. And in between all of this, I will continue doing what I do best, and that is write more books!

Oh yes, one more thing, my other plan is to make my books into an animated series. I don't quite have a specific plan on how I'm going to do this, but this is my dream and if there is anyone out there who can turn my dream into a reality, I'm all ears blush

So, what are your plans for the future? Do you have a specific plan? Or are you going where the wind takes you?

There are so many people out there who want to become authors and just don't know where to start. Some may have always wanted to be authors. Others may have discovered their desire to become an author later in life. Whichever category you fall into, I hope my advice will help you to realize your dreams, and whatever I might have left out, I host an online self-publishing course that will be a great help. I will share the link at the end of this blog.

If you have read my previous blog posts, you will know that I published my first book in November 2020. Since then, I have added another 16 titles and 4 more picture books will be finalized by mid-June. I also completed my middle-grade novel and it is in the editing phase, we hope to have it published in September. My memoir will also be released before the end of the year. I have done all of this in less than 2 years and prior to this, I hadn't the faintest clue of what it took to become a published author. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be sitting with all these titles and have a memoir and a novel on the way. It took a lot of research, reading, networking, and most of all dedication and hard work. Perseverance is also very necessary. Mistakes will be made along the way but as the old saying goes; We learn from our mistakes.

The internet is an amazing tool and search engines such as Google helped me to find out how to become an author. Knowledge is key and to quote Benjamin Franklin  "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.". I read hundreds of articles, blogs, and books. I subscribed to various newsletters and watch videos. I also took several online courses and eventually I started my own! As I am writing this, I still have a huge pile of articles and newsletters that I have to read, I don't throw any of them away in case I miss an important piece of info.

Social media also played a huge part in my becoming a successful author. I met so many good people via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. The Writing Community on these platforms is truly supportive, don't be afraid to ask for help and advice.

The best advice I can give to an aspiring author is to gather all this information, some of it may not apply to you, and some of it might be duplicated but at the end of the day, the amount of knowledge that you will have achieved will be enough to get you started on your author journey. 

I know it's not a long-drawn-out post with bullet points and stats but I hope it will help.

The link to my online self-publishing course is https://kamulengaselfpublishing.think...

Keep a daily or weekly writing routine and most of all, KEEP WRITING!

It has been a while since my last blog post. This is because I have been extremely busy! I was in London for the London Book Fair courtesy of the Alliance of Independent Authors( ALLi). I attended the fair on all 3 days(5th-7th April). For the rest of my stay in London, I did book readings at The Forest Hill Library, Roehampton Library, Greenwich Centre Library and at Lea Bridge Library.

Getting around London was a breeze as the Public Transport system is organized in a way that as long as you follow the correct directions, you will definitely find the place you are looking for.

The experience of attending the London Book Fair was fantastic and I attended various seminars and learned new things, one of which was to add Tik Tok to my marketing strategies. I was under the impression that Tik Tok was for little kids and had no idea that many adults are on this social media platform. I am enjoying uploading videos and using the tips that I got from the seminar.

I also met several authors and displayed my books at the ALLi stand.

At one of my readings, I had a nice surprise as a friend from Zambia came through with his 7-year-old daughter. I had not seen him for 20 years so catching up with him was great.

My flight stopped over in Qatar, the host nation of this year's World Cup. I was very impressed by the airport as well as the friendliness of each member of staff. The heat was another thing though, when we landed there at 10 pm the temperature was 28 degrees Celsius/ 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

All in all, it was a very productive trip since I also got to spend time with my family in London. I will definitely be making my way there next year!

I had the pleasure of interviewing actress/author Karyn Parsons, best known for her role as Hilary Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1996. Parsons also starred in the 1995 film Major Payne opposite Damon Wayans. Enjoy this very insightful and honest interview:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
After Fresh Prince had ended, a friend encouraged me to study writing with an incredible teacher and author named Jim Krusoe. It was during that time that I realized it was something I wanted to spend my time doing.


How long does it take you to write a book?

I’m sure it varies. How High the Moon was probably about 3 years from start to finish. That’s with all the ticky-tack copyediting and everything. I know some folks that can churn them out in a year. A friend of mine got a good first draft out in a month. The book I’ve been working on now has changed a lot along the way and I think it’ll exceed the three years of HHTM. And these are novels, mind you. The hardcover picture books are a whole other animal.


What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
When I was doing HHTM, I’d drop my son off at school and go straight to my workspace. I’d stay there until he was out of school. Not always writing – sometimes eating or tending to business phone calls – but declaring it my writing time. I got a lot done. No interruptions. Few distractions. Since COVID, I’ve been working from home and that’s SO much more distracting. I haven’t found a regular schedule that works for me. Something always seems to be pulling me away from my planned time.


What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Oh, I don’t know if I have a quirk, or if I’d recognize one as such. I find comfort in holding on to crystals throughout my time writing, but that probably wouldn’t qualify as a quirk, would it?


How do books get published?
I’m lucky enough to have an agent and he approached publishers about my work. The ones that were interested leaned in.


Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Everywhere. All around. I don’t think anything is too outrageous or too mundane. It’s in how you tell the story. Going in there and being truthful.


When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I was a big girl. I’d written short stories and the scripts for the Sweet Blackberry children’s short film (some of which have since become books), but my first novel was published in 2019.


What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love to spend leisure time with family. We’re big film people. I love watching movies with them or binging on good tv with them. And I love sharing meals with friends.


What does your family think of your writing?
About the actual content? Not sure. They support me. They’re there for me to bounce things off of and to cheer me on.


What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I think I’m currently grappling with the lesson of putting a strong idea aside when it’s not working as opposed to twisting and turning it about too much to meet other people’s criteria. Too much of that in anything can be lethal, I guess.


How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?
I’ve PUBLISHED three. I am completing one right now that should be published later this year.



Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Be truthful. Be specific. Read a lot. Write every day. Play in life and on the page. Really engage in life, with people and your experiences and surroundings. Be porous. Let that life fill you up. It’ll show up on the page.


Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Mostly kind words and words of encouragement. I appreciate that. I need that. I can take care of the critical part myself.


Do you like to create books for adults or only for children. How do you come up with the best topics for children’s books?

I started off writing short story fiction aimed at an adult audience. I think it’s where I’m most comfortable. I just write more for myself and don’t have to think of or consider my reader as I go.

The Sweet Blackberry series aims to bring little-known stories of Black achievement to kids. So, there I seek out stories of real people we seldom, if ever, hear about.

As for the novels, I don’t have a formula for choosing. Something sparks my interest and… well, I try to go with it.


What do you think makes a good story?
I’m no expert. I like to get hooked. Some kind of problem or mystery that has me longing for the resolve. I love complex characters with plenty of faults. And I love a good payoff.


As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Be an actress.

How can people get in touch with you and where can your books be found?
They can visit my website, karyn-parsons.com to see what I’m up to. Or, sweetblackberry.org to see what we’re doing there and to purchase our books, films, and other items. And they can write me at kparsons@sweetblackberry.org.

Karyn Parsons

This is my first blog post in quite a while so I'll get right to it!
I started writing children's books a year ago and have published 11 to date. I have also completed my memoir which is in the final stages of cover design and typesetting. A month ago, I was approached by a publisher to write a Middle Grade book which is very exciting and I am still doing the research.
So , I decided to write a day in the life....just to give you some insight on my daily routine. Here goes....
My alarm is set for 6am , I wake up my kids and make sure they are out of bed before I go back to my room ( I learnt my lesson because they would get back into bed and they would end up being late for school). My wife and I try to pray together every morning but on the days we don't manage, we pray when I get back from dropping the kids. We leave home at 7am and I am normally back home at 7.45.
The first thing that I do when I get to my desk is pray after which I check my text and Whatsapp messages and emails. Next on my list is to check my Social Media pages(Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, YouTube, Goodreads). Then I check my Amazon Sales Reports, I maintain a separate spreadsheet for this which keeps tabs on the sales and the formats. Paperback is by far my highest selling format. I then check my Amazon reviews and sales rankings. In case you are wondering, Chuck the Cheetah is by far my highest seller and most popular. It is also the Number 1 Bestseller in Children's Books Africa.
Next in my routine is to read. I am currently reading Joyce Meyers Battlefield of the Mind and a non-fiction book called Self Publishing 3.0. I try to read a chapter a day of each.
The rest of the day is spent on Ad Hoc stuff such as marketing, research for the middle grade novel, servicing my accounting clients(the few that I still have) etc. In between that , I check my social media pages again at 1pm and at 5pm. I have lunch at 1pm, go for a walk around the block, have a snack at 4pm and I normally shut down at 7pm.
On Wednesdays however, I take my son for soccer practice at 5pm so this is the only curve ball. Oh, I forgot to mention that on Mondays I have Men's Bible Study from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.I cook dinner for the family on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I have 10 books that need to be illustrated and published and I hope to have at least 2 done by the end of the year.
And that’s that! It might sound mundane but I love it!

With Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), you can self-publish your book on Amazon and start making money in as little as 24 hours.
Sounds a whole lot better than waiting months or even years to find an agent, get a book deal, and go through all the rigmarole of working with a traditional publishing platform, right?
And that’s not even the best part…
• Amazon lets you keep more of your money. A lot more.
• With over 90 million Prime subscribers in the United States alone, Amazon’s Kindle store reach is huge.
• Self-publishing with Amazon KDP is absolutely, positively, 100% free.
In short:
Kindle publishing makes it so that anyone can self-publish a digital book and sell it on Amazon.
The only problem?
If you want your Kindlebook to be a hit, if you want it to make real money, you can’t simply “publish and pray.” You need a strategy.

It’s a lot of hard work but in the end it will pay off. I have read books by David Gaughran, Robert J. Ryan, Richard McCartney and Mr Kindlepreneur Dave Chesson. Please google them and get their books, you won’t regret it.

I will give you the steps but you will have to then go and do the research on how to improve on the steps because like you I am no expert!

Here we go:

Step #1: Find Your Category On Amazon
First, you’ll need to find a suitable category for your book idea on Amazon.
Go to amazon.com and navigate to Departments > Kindle E-Readers & Books > Kindle Books

Next, click Best Sellers & More in the menu.

Scroll down until you see the menu below and click Kindle Best Sellers.

Select Kindle eBooks from the menu.

Pick a category and subcategory that fit closest to your book idea.

Once you’ve picked a subcategory, it’s time to investigate your potential competitors.

Step #2: Check Your Category’s Top 20 Books For Similar Topics
If you can’t find any similar books, you need to go back to the beginning. Go through your list of book ideas and try again.

Step #3: Check The Best Seller Rank Of The Top Books In Your Category
If you want to know whether you can compete in a category and whether there are enough potential readers, you need to know how well the books in your category sell.
You won’t find any actual sales numbers on Amazon, but through their “Best Seller” rank you can get a decent estimate.
You can find a book’s Best Seller rank by scrolling down its product page. The rank will be listed under Product Details.

The higher the rank (with #1 being the highest), the more copies it sells — but also, the harder it will be to beat. You have to look for categories where the average best seller rank is neither too low nor too high.
Here’s how it generally breaks down:
• Rankings above 1,000 will have great sales numbers, but will be very competitive.
• Rankings from 1,000 to 30,000 are less competitive, but will still have decent sales numbers.
• Rankings of 30,000 and lower are the least competitive, but will also have lower sales numbers.
• Aim for categories where you think you can crack the top three books.
• If you follow the strategies laid out in this post, you should be able to reach the top three in categories with medium competition.
• And if you can get your book featured in the top three when you launch, the chances your book will be featured highly in the Hot New Releases list will skyrocket.
• If you appear high enough in that list, your book will get lots of exposure. Amazon will feature your book in a highlighted section above other books that are similar to yours

Step #4: Make Sure You Have a Great Cover, One That Grabs Attention
Step #5: Write a Description That Sells Your Book for You
Step #6 :Keep the Book Sales Going and the Royalties Coming In
• Raise Your Price Once Per Week
• Run promotions
• Run Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads, Bookbub Ads
That’s the gist of it in a nutshell. Like I said earlier , this is just a summary but to get more details I advice you to check out the Authors above. Remember their names are : David Gaughran, Robert J. Ryan, Richard McCartney and Dave Chesson.
Good luck!
Please subscribe to my newsletter on my website www.kamulenga.com and I will give each subscriber an electronic copy of a book of your choice. Also check out my Amazon Author Page https://buff.ly/3drEbWT

Here are some FAQ’s about children’s books that I often get asked:



Which age group is appropriate for my book, and how do I best reach them?



Though picture books are aimed at kids from approximately ages three to nine, I suggest you narrow that range for your own purposes. Every book needs an ideal reader, and if you’re writing a children’s book, that reader will be at a specific stage of development.

First, take a look at the method or idea you’re promoting with your book—perhaps it’s how to be a better friend, or learning to take deep breaths, or feeling our feelings with an open heart. How old does a child need to be to comprehend your idea?

Some ideas are more universal and could be tailored to a wide range of ages. In that case, take a look at any elements of your story—such as the character(s), points of conflict, or setting—that you have already determined. Then, ask yourself, which age group will relate to them?

For instance, the idea of school, and everything associated with it (school buses, schoolmates and teachers), will be much more likely to appeal to a child over the age of five.

Then, make sure everything else in the story more or less matches a child of that same age. Set the story firmly in that child’s world, creating characters of roughly their age. Give those characters problems that your reader may need to solve in her daily life (say, giving away her favorite sticker even though she is attached to it, or feeling sad about a friend who moves away) and age-appropriate triumphs (like facing her fear by riding the school bus for the first time).

If your book is funny, make sure it’s funny for kids in your target age group. Great picture books speak to children’s unique concerns, joys and challenges. The more you can picture that ideal reader in your mind’s eye, the more likely you are to be able to achieve that end.



How many characters should I use, and how should I develop them?



Most picture books focus on one main character or protagonist, regardless of how many auxiliary characters there are in the story. At maximum, aim for two main characters.

A great rule to follow is to keep fewer than five names in your story. This will help ensure that each of the characters you name will mean something to your reader.

The protagonist is usually a child. In some cases, the main character will be something else that represents a child—like an anthropomorphised animal (e.g. The Berenstain Bears) or even an inanimate object (e.g. The Little Engine That Could, who gave us the classic self-help motto, “I think I can! I think I can!”).

The auxiliary characters are usually other children, wise adults, or non-human but adult-like characters (e.g. The Giving Tree) who offer the protagonist guidance.

Be sure to give all your characters easily identifiable features (physical features, catch phrases, or personality traits) and then refer back to those features over and over again. Children love repetition!

Remember: simple is best. The more your reader can understand your characters, the more she will identify with them.



I want to teach something. How do I set it to a story arc?



At the heart of nearly every story is a conflict that needs to be resolved. In the case of a children’s book, we recommend that the protagonist’s conflict be their need to learn something. One or more auxiliary characters will help them learn it—either by directly explaining it to them, or by guiding them through a process of self-discovery.

If your concept is very simple and you need to build more story around it, consider having your story reach a few, even very subtle, mini-conflicts before the final conflict. In all cases, the story will likely end with the resolution of the primary learning conflict you’ve chosen.



How long should my book be?



Unlike adult books, children’s books are very uniform. The majority of picture books contain precisely 32 pages, about 28 of which are story. The other pages are made up of front matter, such as title page, copyright page, etc. Each set of two pages is called a spread, and most stories have 14 of them.

The number of words distributed throughout those 14 spreads varies based on the ideal reader’s age. Younger readers will appreciate books of 300-800 words, while school-aged children can usually handle 800-1200 words. At the absolute maximum, a picture book should be 2000 words. (And if you’ve ever tried to read to kids at bedtime when you, yourself, are exhausted, you’ll know why!)



Should I get an editor?



Ok, I bet you already know what I’m going to say: Yes. You should get an editor.

Even—in fact, especially—if you’re going to try to pitch your book to a publisher.

It’s not easy to convey something important in fewer than 2000 words, and your editor’s job is to make sure that each one counts. As renowned author Eric Carle openly admits, “Children’s books are harder to write.” Roald Dahl, who wrote both children’s books and adult fiction, stated that children’s books are “deceptively simple.” Making a story both sufficiently simple and sufficiently compelling requires you to strike a delicate balance.

Some authors will choose to bring their draft to someone who works with children, such as a teacher, parent, or nanny, to determine whether their draft is age-appropriate before they consult an editor. This makes a lot of sense, and I support it!

But after that, please find an editor with experience in picture books to help you hone each word. Your editor can help you with factors like rhythm and balance, ensuring all 14 spreads of your book are compelling.

Finally, many editors can help you develop your idea into a first draft.



How do I prepare my manuscript for an illustrator?



First off, your manuscript should be completely finished with the editing process before an illustrator gets involved.

That said, you can be thinking about and planning for your illustrations all along the way!

An art log is a simple document that helps the author explain their vision to the illustrator. While there’s no one way to do it, a simple format is to create a basic table in a document.The art log will help you convey what’s happening between the words, even before the illustrations are created.



Here is an example:



Donk the donkey lived on Donkey Farm with his mum, his dad, his brothers and his sisters.

Every day, the farmer would yell at all the donkeys in his rough scary voice, “Move, you stubborn donkeys! Why, oh why are you so stubborn?”

Page 1-Picture of Donk and his family , in the background the farmer is shouting at other donkeys







Should I hire an illustrator myself? If so, where do I find one?



This depends on how you plan to publish.

Most traditional publishers will provide an illustrator of their choosing. Since they are taking a fairly big risk on publishing the book, they will want to control its look.

In fact, most publishers would rather not see illustrations in your proposal, unless you’re working with a seasoned, previously published children’s book illustrator.

Self-publishing authors, on the other hand, will need to find an illustrator on their own. I recommend you find one who has children’s book illustration in her background. The illustrations should match your book’s tone, target age, and message. An experienced illustrator will know how to make that happen.

Great places to look are on freelancer networks like Fiverr or Upwork. Some authors have also had great success finding illustrators on Instagram.

Prices vary widely, but in general, you can expect to pay more for traditional, hand-drawn or painted illustrations than you will for digital ones. It can be very tricky to convey your vision to another person, so you may need to explore working with several illustrators before you find the perfect match. Once you feel you’ve landed on the right one, I recommend hiring the illustrator to create 1-2 pages to start. That way you’ll be able to see if you like their work as much as you had hoped, before engaging them to illustrate the entire book.

I got my illustrator from Fiverr, the best decision I have ever made!