Podcast

Jon Klassen on the Picture Book Summit Podcast

Podcast – Jon Klassen – Use Your Fear

Jon Klassen on the Picture Book Summit Podcast

Do you have creative fears that intimidate you when you’re trying to write or illustrate? Jon Klassen shares how to use those fears to your advantage when developing stories. You may just find that those fears are the exact things that make you (and your work) uniquely you.

Jon Klassen is the author-illustrator of This Is Not My Hat, winner of the Caldecott Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal, the first book to receive both honors; and its companion books, I Want My Hat Back, and We Found a Hat, and The Rock from the Sky. He also illustrated two Caldecott Honor Books, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole and Extra Yarn, as well as Triangle, Square, Circle, and The Wolf, the Duck, & the Mouse, all written by Mac Barnett.  There are over 2.7 million copies of his books in print.

Klassen’s work has received many awards and accolades. The New York Times Book Review says, “no one does perturbed animals better,” and The Los Angeles Times remarks “The hallmark of Klassen’s work is what is not shown but rather left to the imagination.” Klassen’s work has appeared in Kung Fu Panda, Coraline, and The New Yorker. 

 

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Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Julie-Hedlund

Podcast – Layers in Picture Books

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Julie-Hedlund

Layers are good in cakes and excellent in picture books!

Wouldn’t it be grand if there was a fool-proof formula for creating good picture books? That’s exactly what Julie Hedlund has spent years researching and studying, and she’s come up with 10 essential ingredients or “layers” for picture books that you can follow like a checklist.

You may not need all of these layers, but a dash of one and a sprinkle of another might just be what your manuscript needs to go from so-so to sold!

 

 

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Podcast – How to Get Out of the Slush Pile Part 3

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It’s time for the third episode in our three-part series: How to Get Out of the Slush Pile!

Our very own query whisperer Emma Walton Hamilton demystifies what makes a compelling hook and how you can achieve this in your query letters. Learn how to convey an agent or editor your understanding of your story as well as how the industry works.

It’s a lot of heavy lifting for a sentence or two. Let us help you make the most of it.

Catch the first two episodes in this series:

How to Get of the Slush Pile: Part 1 with Laura Backes

How to Get Out of the Slush Pile: Part 2 with Julie Hedlund

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Podcast – How to Get Out of the Slush Pile Part 2

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Julie-Hedlund Verse Curse

It’s time for the second episode in our three-part series: How to Get Out of the Slush Pile!

Author and rhymer extraordinaire Julie Hedlund discusses one of the best ways to signal to industry professionals that you’re not ready to be published: writing bad rhyme.

Writing poetry is one thing, but writing a rhyming picture book is a whole other kind of animal and if you’re not doing it right, you’ll never get out of the slush pile and on to a book contract. Julie spells out best practices for writing good rhyme for picture books. Hint: you’re probably doing it backwards!

Tune in to the next episode for the final installment of How to Get Out of the Slush Pile!

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Laura Backes - Picture Book Summit Podcast

Podcast – How to Get Out of the Slush Pile: Part 1

Laura Backes - Picture Book Summit PodcastReady to get out of the slush pile? Join us for the first of our three-part series: How to Get Out of the Slush Pile!

Author and Picture Book Summit Co-Founder Laura Backes is first up and speaks on one of the biggest mistakes new authors make: writing poor main characters.

To help you avoid this issue, Laura provides important questions to ask of yourself and your work. Listen in for actionable solutions in creating stories that kids (and industry professionals) will want to read over and over. It’s time to get out of that slush pile!

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Podcast – Sophisticated Storytelling with Julie Hedlund

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Julie-HedlundAre your picture books using sophisticated storytelling that trusts your kid reader and allows them to rise to the occasion?

“Don’t be too preachy in your writing!” You may have heard it many times before, but how? Try leveling up with sophisticated storytelling that uses humor.

Julie Hedlund discusses the sparkle of smart humor in picture books, where to find excellent mentor texts, and how to incorporate it in your own writing.

 

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Katie Davis - Picture Book Summit 2022

Podcast – Pacing and Shorter Texts with Katie Davis

Katie Davis - Picture Book Summit 2022

How is pacing in picture books different today from the books you read growing up?

Author Katie Davis spells out why pacing is important in picture book manuscripts and why it’s different in today’s market from some of your childhood favorites. In this episode, Katie analyzes pacing examples in some of her favorite picture books and reveals various methods for achieving excellent pacing in shorter texts.

 

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Podcast – The Verse Curse with Julie Hedlund

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Julie-Hedlund Verse Curse

If editors and agents say they don’t want rhyming picture books, then why are so many published each year? Some of the most beloved picture books of all time are written in rhyme. Should you really never write a rhyming picture book?

Spoiler: Of course not! Julie Hedlund, author of three rhyming picture books and Co-Founder of the Picture Book Summit, shares what you need to do to break the Verse Curse and write rhyming manuscripts that will actually sell.

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Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Emma-Walton-Hamilton

Podcast – A Brief History of Picture Books

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Emma-Walton-HamiltonToday’s episode comes from our previous Mini Summit: Don’t Write Your Grandma’s Picture Books. Emma Walton Hamilton unearths a brief history of picture books including how Randolph Caldecott started the genre by creating illustrations that helped to tell the story instead of the pictures simply reflecting what’s in the text. Emma shares how picture books evolved from morality tales to books for “naughty children” and books that break the rules and meet children where they are today.

It’s the best kind of history lesson for picture book creators.

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Podcast – Betsy Bird: Great Picture Book Read-Alouds

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Betsy-BirdThis episode is an excerpt from the Picture Book Summit presentation Performance on the Page by author and uber-librarian Betsy Bird.

Betsy provides an in-depth examination of what separates the good picture book read-alouds from the great picture book read-alouds. Librarians have always known that picture books can often break down into two groups: one-on-one titles and read-aloud titles. One-on-ones are great for getting snuggly at bedtime, but if you want to engage a large crowd of kids, you need a text that pops in an entirely different way.

Betsy breaks down some of the most successful read-alouds, from classics to lesser known titles and more recent favorites.

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