Our final picture book giveaway of July starts NOW!
This week, our Book Bundle features picture books created by our very own Picture Book Summit Founders: Emma Walton Hamilton, Julie Hedlund, and Katie Davis!
Read below for a quick preview of each picture book and then enter to win at the bottom of this post.
Enter today!
To say Julie Hedlund is a fan of wordplay might be the understatement of the year. Just one look at her picture book OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? will show you that you are in for some picture book fun with this workshop! On October 5, 2023, she will be online at Picture Book Summit presenting…
Wordplay works with all types of picture books. From funny stories to lyrical nonfiction, playing with words can be the best part of the writing and reading experience. Our own wordplay warrior, Julie Hedlund, will train us to recognize when we should lean into all the puns, alliteration, and double entendres and when to hold back.
It’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:
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:
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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 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!
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
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.
In this episode, children’s picture book authors Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Hedlund give an overview of the four essential components of a query (introduction, pitch, bio and market info, and conclusion).
Then they dig deep into crafting the ever-elusive perfect pitch. Listen in for tips on creating a pitch that captures the story and spirit of your book and piques an agent or editor’s interest. If you’re in the querying trenches, this one’s for you!
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Our first Workshop Presenters are authors Angela Dalton and Julie Hedlund!
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It’s time for the second biggest reason manuscripts get tossed out by agents and editors. Have you ever heard: “Your story didn’t resonate with me”? Julie Hedlund shares how this type of response maybe indicate a lack of emotional resonance in your story.
Listen in as Julie defines emotional resonance and how to ensure your picture book has it. You’re one more step closer to picture book success with these tips.
Which picture books really resonate? How can you study up on emotional resonance?
Check out the books below!
Dash’s Picture Books Picks for Emotional Resonance
Did you catch Part 1 of the 4 Biggest Reasons Manuscripts Get Rejected? Listen here.
Be on the lookout for Part 3 in the next two weeks!
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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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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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