The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books

by Lara Cain Gray, Tim Ide (Illustrator), Lorena Carrington (Illustrator)

A picture’s worth a thousand words, but a picture book? Priceless! The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books explores the complexities of modern picture books, from why our favourites tend to linger so long in our memories, to how we can maximise the deep reading opportunities they provide once we’ve learned to read between the lines. There’s a lot more to picture book reading, not to mention picture book writing, than meets the eye! Here is your A to Z, go-to guide to what makes a great picture book great.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Adult

Hardcover

Published September 1, 2024

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you’re a university student writing an essay about picture books, a classroom teacher brushing up on teaching with picture books or, someone who reads and works with children’s books this is your new go-to-reference book.

Written as an A to Z of picture book features and functions author, Lara Cain Grey presents easy to follow (unreferenced) concepts, along with examples.

The illustrations are exceptional and makes flipping through the book a pleasure.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting way of how picture books are created.

[DonutKnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more detailed insight into picture books that makes me excited to read more from this collection in 2026!!

[Ryan Bartok · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grown Ups Guide to Picture Books by Lara Cain Gray is a clever exploration of the wonders of picture books, crafted for both children and their adult counterparts.

This insightful guide highlights the depth and creativity found within the pages of picture books, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the genre.

Particularly helpful are the talking points included throughout, which serve as excellent prompts for adults to engage more meaningfully with the child they’re reading to, enhancing the experience for both.

A must-read for all adults—not just parents and teachers—this book shines a light on the joy and importance of shared reading moments.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-Z
Mentions Katherine Rundell 🙂
Dialogic reading: engage in discussions, what does the book means to the readers (unique interpretation and activation based on own life experiences, sense of humour and mood of the day)
Narrative structure
500 words, number of page multiples of 8 (publishing mechanics)
“ a book read by a thousands different people is a thousands different books”
Picture and words influence each others
Talking points 👍
Dialogues’ Tags “Jean said”, Beats (action words outside quotations marks)
Endpapers, “décalage” (between text and pictures), subplot, visual literacy, oldest surviving illustrated books 1430 BCE, alliterations (the red rat run), “why did the author/illustrator decided to…?”, opening lines, anthropomorphism, guidance, kindness (moral), queens (authority figures), spread (image on single or double pages), PINC method for title: Promise, Intrigue, Need, Content), playfulness, underlining meanings, white/negative spaces…
International Literacy Association: 10 fundamental rights to read
Zeitgeist: spirit of the time (vibes of an era)

[Karen Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grown-Up's Guide to Picture Books by Lara Cain Gray, is a picture book like no other. An A to Z description of all the elements involved in creating a picture book. M is for Magic and that is the perfect word for this "guide". I is for illustrations - these are crafted by Timothy Ide and Lorena Carrington, in such a beautiful way as to make them works of art in themselves.

As an aspiring author, I have been studying The Grown-Up's Guide to Picture Books to help me create a picture book worthy of publication. The "lessons" in this book are not just for authors, but for any adult who wants to inspire children to read. The take-aways allow you to help your children see more than the story on the page. They will allow you to feel the magic and see the hidden treasures inside every picture book.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, creative and informative exploration of picture books! From covers to endpapers, narrative style to white space around illustrations and values as well - for parents, for building moral fortitude to nurturing deep thinking. This book seems to cover everything that astute readers of pictures could benefit from - teachers, teacher librarians, librarians, academics and students studying literature and literacy and to the general and lovers of the form, including parents who want to nudge their children into deeper reading experiences.

Starting with a solid introduction on picture books and their value, the topics are covered from A (Animals) to Z (Zeitgeist) each double page entry is supported by stunning charicature styled illustrations to extend and challenge the reader guided by questions posed at the end of each entry.

Amazing!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Learning to read the imagery as well as the words highlights the importance of the reader in being an active part of producing the text and making each picture book their own adventure in interpretation." [p26]

I’m a huge fan of picture books and have quite an extensive collection of my own. So when a Goodreads friend alerted me to “The Grown Up’s Guide to Picture Books” it sounded like a book I just had to read and I was not disappointed.

Like its subject matter, this rich and informative text is itself published in Picture Book format. Written by Lara Cain Gray and illustrated by Timothy Ide & Lorena Carrington the text uses an A to Z format. Each double page spread explores a single feature of Picture Books , such as O Opening Lines; L Language; U Underlying Meanings; E for Endpapers or W White Space.

The spreads also have a common structure and include an informative entry for the topic followed by two other short sections: “Talking Points for when you are next Reading a Picture Book Book” and “Practice using this Book”

The illustrations - a collaboration between two illustrators - are quirky and add a rich dimension for adult readers.

This beautiful text will be a valuable resource for classroom teachers but most importantly a joy to own! It shall henceforth occupy a prominent place in my prized picture book collection.

[Steve MinOn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a reason Lara Cain Gray seems to be everywhere in the picture book world. She's a scholar of the form but also a passionate advocate for it and it shows in this clever and instructional (did I mention entertaining and witty) breakdown of what makes some picture books great and how to make the most of them as an adult with children. This should be required reading for all teachers and parents of children but also for those of us who remember a particular picture book from our childhood and who just want to know why it stuck with us.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I've read more picture books as an adult than I did as a child (I get mocked for reading picture books for some strange reason and my sad little come back is that they are the ones missing out).

This is a great book. It talks about picture books in a very logical way, about different devices that are used to tell a story. I am glad to hear that rhyming books are on the way out... they aren't always done well.

The illustration of the dragon taking tea with a mouse is my favourite!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent "picture book" about the importance and relevance of picture books. As a loud supporter of reading picture books to ALL ages (I still read them to my teenagers), this is a fabulous resource. It discusses the importance of picture books, the elements of picture books, and the difficulty in writing a successful picture book. Well written and beautifully illustrated, this is a must read for everyone who loves books (and picture books).

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deceptively simple to read yet comprehensive book about picture books. Words, pictures, white space, themes, genres, styles - it's all here. An interesting read which I will no doubt be returning to again and again.
Because you never stop learning how to write picture books.

[Rebecca Fung · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful exploration of different elements of picture books. It very much makes you think about the different parts of picture books carefully and I loved the beautiful illustrations.

[Jamie Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grown-Up's Guide to Picture Books is a must-read. A stunning A-to-Z guide from A for Animals to Z for Zeitgeist, it provides talking points on endpapers, narrative structure, underlying meanings, xenophobia and more.

The perfect gift for the creative person in your life, like you!