Picture Book Perfection: How to Successfully Write a Picture Book That Sells to Publishers

by Brooke Van Sickle

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2025

Reviews

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had a dream in my heart to write a picture book for a very, very long time. I'm happy to say that I am finally taking action on that dream and I'm so incredibly grateful for the many resources I have found on my journey. This book is one of them. Picture Book Perfection by Brooke Van Sickle Is such a helpful resource for anyone else who is also on a picture book writing journey of their own. From hatching your idea and plotting out the setting to choosing a publishing option that is right for you, this book helps you think about it all. My favorite part? The permission Brooke gives readers to become childlike as a picture book writer… to do anything that pulls us away from our adult brains and into the mind of a child. If you’re looking to write and/or publish a picture book in 2025, you’ll want to read this book.

[Rhonda Gatlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased the first version of Picture Book Perfection. I was so excited to be one of the members of the launch team. I heard Brooke’s voice as I read her book and highlighted passages to dig deeper into as I prepare for my next picture book. Brooke’s book provides vital information needed to become a children’s author. I am an avid listener of Brooke Van Sickle’s webinars and now the new released book Picture Book Perfection. Brooke jumped right in with an overview of what she expected you to learn. Then Brooke broke down each section so a beginning author could follow her blueprint step by step and an advanced writer would see they had more to incorporate in the following chapters. As a five-time self-published picture book author Brooke has been one of my mentors. She also gave a shout-out for one of my books. Brooke has been an important step in my ability to write picture books. In this book I read chapters that were a review, but I also learned about the best way to use dialogue in my next picture book like; to move a story along, understand the character’s personality and to reveal important information to the reader. I have already recommended Brooke to several of my author friends and now I will be recommending Picture Book Perfection. The title fits the book to perfection. By Rhonda-Kay Gatlin

[Louisa May Pemberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I am so grateful for Brooke’s invaluable insights into the children’s publishing industry! This book (along with the free companion workbook) was truly so helpful in breaking down the steps to writing, editing, and publishing a picture book. I’ve wanted to write a picture book for as long as I can remember, and this book answered so many of my questions about the process (i.e., word count, how to format a manuscript, when to bring in an illustrator, etc.).

I will say that her advice definitely presupposes that your book follows a narrative structure, so just be aware of that. (I would have liked to see it addressed that we seem to be seeing a big uptick in picture books that don’t have a traditional plot or characters.) Overall, though, I learned a lot from this book and feel motivated to get started on my own children’s book(s).

[Anna Dabill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of Picture Book Perfection and I found it to be very thorough with great details to help in writing picture books. I loved the step by step process. Finally a how to book for picture books. This is a must if you want to become a picture book author.

[Simona Rinfreschi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I dip back into whenever I need reassurance that I'm on the right track.

If you're looking for simple, step-by-step instructions from idea to finishing a children's book you can be proud of, this is it.