What Makes a Good Children’s Book?

“A good children’s book can be read by an adult to a child, and experienced genuinely by both.”  – Anna Dewdney

This quote is really at the core of my picture book writing, though I only recently came across it.

When I started my picture book writing journey I knew what types of books I wanted to write – I wanted to write books that were equally fun for the adult to read, as they were for the kid to listen to. 

Initially this came to me in two ways. First I wanted to tell my daughter stories about the outdoor sports we were doing together, and that she was learning. There seemed to be a huge lack of picture books about outdoor adventure sports, so I wrote stories about climbing, skiing, and camping. As a parent I would relive our adventures through looking at pictures I’d taken, or following other outdoorsy parents in their social media posts about skiing. But I’m not scrolling social media with my 3 year old, so I thought how can I combine the experience I want to have while also giving her something to experience.  As the adult, I enjoy reading about topics that are also my personal passions.

Secondly, I love rhyme. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge poetry fan, but I do like rhyming poetry with a kick ass rhythm. So of course I really enjoy reading a picture book that has fun rhyming words and good meter and flow. Some are sweet and calm, like Dream Animals by Emily Winfield Martin. Some are short and funny, like Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton, and some are laugh out loud silly like Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk. Whatever the topic or length, rhyming picture books are so much more fun for me to read! 

So here I am today, working through manuscripts that combine special moments in nature (and my passions and hobbies) with playful rhyme and flowy rhythm. I hope the adults reading them enjoy them as much as the kids who are listening.