June 1, 2024 In Giveaway

2024 BIG Announcement

You might say today is an Olympic-sized day! Today, we officially reveal our theme for our 10th Anniversary Picture Book Summit!

Perfect 10:

Going for Picture Book Gold!

This year we want YOU to take home gold in the form of picture books that shine! Get ready to stretch your writing muscles, level up your picture book game, and cross the finish line to success!

Who will our Superstar Speakers be? What amazing workshops do we have in store for you? Which agents and editors will be open to pitches from Summiteers?

We’ll answer all these questions and more in the coming days, so stay tuned to this blog for more information AND details on how you can win a ticket to our 10 year anniversary celebration!

For now, mark your calendar to attend live on October 5, 2024.

It’s almost time to go for the gold!

Learn More

 

This year’s Picture Book Summit is coming October 5, 2024.

We’re announcing our theme, presentation descriptions, and pricing structure as we build our way toward registration opening on June 12th. Be the first to know! Sign up for our Insiders List to be notified as soon as Early Bird registration opens. Plus, get our free download The 3 Biggest Reasons Your Manuscripts Get Rejected! (AND just for signing up, you get five entries in the Rafflecopter for a free ticket to this year’s event. So sign up and check that off on the above Rafflecopter.)

Click here for the FREE Download!
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061 PBSummit Podcast Roundtable Fresh Angles
May 21, 2024 In Podcast

Podcast – PBSummit Roundtable: Fresh Takes

061 PBSummit Podcast Roundtable Fresh AnglesToday we bring you a super fun episode of the PBSummit Roundtable episode as we talk about fresh takes in picture books. Our Roundtable discussions are where we discuss news and topics affecting picture book writers and illustrators today.

Agents and publishers are always saying they’re looking for stories that are “fresh and unique”, but what does that mean? Our Roundtable discussion centers around fresh angles in picture books.

Listen in as we take a look at some truly unique stories which perfectly exemplify what fresh takes on classic picture book topics can look like, and the common thread between them.

Books talked about in today’s episode:

 

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060 PBSummit Podcast Roundtable slow
May 7, 2024 In Podcast

Podcast – PBSummit Roundtable: Why is Everything So Slow?

060 PBSummit Podcast Roundtable slowThe Picture Book Summit Podcast is BACK! We kick off our newest podcast with a new PBSummit Roundtable episode. Our Roundtable discussions are where our PBSummit team sits down and talks about the topics affecting picture book creators today.

In this episode, we ask the question: Why is Everything So Slow? The pandemic is (basically) over, so why are things not back to normal? Will things ever go back to the way they were or is this slowness the new normal in publishing?

Emma Walton Hamilton leads our discussions. She reached out to her agent and two of her editors for their insights on trend in children’s publishing. We hope you find this discussion fascinating and maybe a little uplifting. Ultimately, there’s some good news related to this pace.

 

Listen here:

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PBS Roundtable Caldecotts Part 2Part 2 IG
March 29, 2024 In Caldecott, Roundtable

PBSummit Roundtable – Caldecott Honor Books 2024 – Part 2

Today we bring you Part 2 of our 2024 Caldecott breakdown!

If you missed the first part of our Caldecott discussion, we chatted about Caldecott Honor Books THERE WAS A PARTY FOR LANGSTON illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey and written by Jason Reynolds and IN EVERY LIFE written and illustrated by Marla Frazee. Click here to check it out.

In this video, we get to discuss the Caldecott Medal Winner BIG written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison and Caldecott Honor Book THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS illustrated by Hanna Cha and written by Julie Leung.

It’s an embarrassment of riches with this year’s honorees!

Emma Walton Hamilton starts the discussion by introducing to the BIG themes and emotions of BIG and Kelli Panique shares the quiet brilliance of THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS with more analysis and observations from Julie Hedlund, and Katie Davis. Get your library card out, you’re going to want to read these picture books again and again!

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PBS Roundtable Caldecotts 2024 Part 1
March 6, 2024 In Caldecott, Roundtable

PBSummit Roundtable – Caldecott Honor Books 2024 – Part 1

It’s time for another episode of the Picture Book Summit Roundtable. This is the time of year where we get to discuss the Caldecotts!

We are a chatty bunch—especially when we’re talking about picture books—so today we bring you our chat about two of this year’s Caldecott Honor Books: THERE WAS A PARTY FOR LANGSTON illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey and written by Jason Reynolds and IN EVERY LIFE written and illustrated by Marla Frazee

PBSummit Roundtable Caldecott Honor Books - Langston and In Every Life

In the first part of our video, Emma Walton Hamilton shares the judging guidelines for the Caldecott Medal, which is primarily an award for illustration. Then, Julie Hedlund, Katie Davis, and Kelli Panique jump into the discussion about these two marvelous books. Get ready to add them to your TBR list.

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059 PBSummit Podcast Julie Hedlund
November 28, 2023 In Podcast

Podcast – Books with Great Voice Part 4

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Julie-HedlundIt’s the final installment (for now!) in our discussion of Picture Books with Great Voice! If you haven’t heard the rest of this series, be sure to catch up at the links below:

  • Episode 56 – Julie Hedlund outlined types of voice in picture books and Katie Davis gave us a laugh with books showcasing humorous voice.
  • Episode 57 – Laura Backes revealed picture books that use lyrical voice
  • Episode 58 – Emma Walton Hamilton dove into defining character voice.

Today in part 4, Julie gets chatty while talking about conversational voice in picture books.

Get ready to feel connected to some beautifully written picture books!

Books mentioned in this episode:

 

Listen here:

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PBSummit Podcast Emma Walton Hamilton
November 14, 2023 In Podcast

Podcast – Books with Great Voice Part 3

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Emma-Walton-Hamilton

There are so many more picture books with great voice! We started the Books with Great Voice series in episode 56, where Julie Hedlund defined the types of voice found in picture books and Katie Davis made us laugh while discussing the funny style of voice. In episode 57, Founder Emeritus Laura Backes read examples of picture books that use a lyrical voice.

In part 3 of our series, author and Picture Book Summit Founder Emma Walton Hamilton digs into character voice: how to recognize it, distinguish it from other types of writing voice, and how to utilize it in your own work. Emma picked some stellar books to read and share. You’re going to love this one!

Books mentioned in this episode:

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PBSummit Podcast Laura Backes
September 26, 2023 In Podcast

Podcast – Books with Great Voice Part 2

Laura Backes - Picture Book Summit Podcast

In this episode, we continue to discuss voice in picture books. We started this series in the last episode where Julie Hedlund defined the types of voice found in picture books and Katie Davis gave us hilarious examples of the funny style of voice. If you haven’t already, be sure to go back and listen to episode 56 for help pinning down the elusive meaning of “voice.”

Today, we bring you Founder Emeritus Laura Backes and examples of using a lyrical voice in picture books to reinforce certain types of stories.

Let’s jump in.

Books mentioned in this episode:

  • GIANT SQUID* written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohman
  • WHEN YOU ARE BRAVE* written by Pat Zeitlow Miller and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler

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PBSummit Podcast Julie Hedlund and Katie Davis
September 12, 2023 In Podcast

Podcast – Books with Great Voice Part 1

Julie Hedlund and Katie Davis Podcast

In working with authors, one thing comes up again and again is how to develop “voice.” How do you find your characters’ voice? Is your story’s voice the same as the character voice? And, how do you find your own voice as an author?

As you can see, voice is tough to define and even tougher to capture, so we’re bringing you excerpts from a Mini Summit we gave about books with great voice. This is part 1 of a four-part series. We start with Co-Founder Julie Hedlund defining the types of voices found in picture books and jump to funny girl and Co-Founder Katie Davis for thoughts and examples on using a funny voice.

Enjoy!

Books mentioned in this episode:

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September 5, 2023 In Giveaway

Picture Book Launch Giveaway 2023!

September is big month here at Picture Book Summit. We have three new picture books* making their way into the world from four of our speakers this year! To celebrate, we’re giving away books from all of our 2023 presenters in our Book Launch Giveaway! Enter to win the six picture books below!

Picture Book Summit Book Launch Giveaway 2023!

 

SONG AFTER SONG: THE MUSICAL LIFE OF JULIE ANDREWS written by Julie Hedlund & illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati

Song After Song by Julie Hedlund

Debuting TODAY, September 5th, is this lovely gem. Long before she starred in movies like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and The Princess Diaries, Julie Andrews was a little girl struggling with her parents’ divorce and the ravages of World War II. To comfort her and fill her time during the London Blitz, her stepfather taught her to sing, and Julie found her voice—one of the most extraordinary singing voices of all time.

Lyrically told by Julie Hedlund and lushly illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati, this is the story of how Julie Andrews became one of the world’s most beloved performers.

Order a signed copy from Julie’s local independent bookstore, Second Star to the Right here.

THE ENCHANTED SYMPHONY written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton & illustrated by Elly MacKay

The Enchanted Symphony by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton

Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton’s latest collaboration hits bookshelves on September 12th! When a lively village is beset by a mysterious fog, the town turns dull and silent; melancholy neighbors stop visiting each other and even going outside. Until one day, when a boy’s simple melody strikes a chord, reminding everyone of what matters most–even in the darkest of times.

Beautifully and colorfully illustrated by Elly MacKay, The Enchanted Symphony is a powerful, hopeful fairy tale celebrating life’s simple pleasures that bring us together.

Order your signed copy of this book (and many of their other books!) at Julie and Emma’s local independent bookstore Sag Harbor Books here.

Preorder The Enchanted Symphony from the retailer of your choice by 9/11/23 and submit your receipt to get a signed art print and wildflower seed plantable book (while supplies last) from Abrams here.

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