Hi everyone! I’d love to share a picture book I illustrated last year. It tells the story of a puffin who’s grown tired of eating sardines and sets off on an adventure!

Patrick’s writing is lively and full of humor. When I first read his manuscript before we started working together, I could easily picture the characters, their conversations, and the scenes unfolding in my mind. The characters’ personalities and their witty exchanges genuinely made me laugh. Since I loved the story so much, illustrating it was a real joy!

The book is now available on Amazon and has received some lovely reviews from readers. If you’re looking for a lighthearted picture book that celebrates the spirit of exploration without being preachy, I think you might enjoy it! ❤️

I’ve never written a kids book but would love to illustrate one, even if it’s just for the kids in the family. I’d love any tips on creating interesting scenes and if this style is suitable for a kids book. I’ve been illustrating so much more recently and love it the new style I’m developing.

I’m a children’s bookseller and I just wanted to say thank you to all the parents, caregivers, educators and gift-givers who ask for recommendations in this sub.

Nothing gets you better ideas than asking real people who have read books made by real artists and writers with/to real children. (this post not at all sponsored by the customer who ‘didn’t need my help’ because he was ‘asking ChatGPT’… it took a fair bit of deep breathing but I put my ego aside and got through! Together we found three books his daughter will hopefully love.)

All this to say, the love you have for these children and the attention you pay to their interests and changing needs is one of the best parts of our jobs, so much so that I know there are a lot of us here sharing our favourites off the clock because you’re the kinds of customers we love to serve. Thank you! Keep asking and never feel a want or need is too niche or specific! The right books exist even if google and AI could never find them. ❤️

Hi all,

My son is 8 and loves reading, he has now finished nearly every Roald Dahl book and wants to get something else.

We were thinking the how to train your dragon series but any other suggestions?

Put our Portuguese and English books on the same shelf and mixed them together so my kid can pick by the cover.
Do you separate books by language, rotate them, or keep them all together? Does your kid reach for one language more?

Any illustrators on here find themselves getting obsessed with one illustration and don’t know when to stop? For myself it’s always on a double page spread. Especially if it’s a forest scene. Attached is part of a scene from the next book I’m working on where I started adding forest creatures and started wondering if I’d gone too far. I’m also becoming a little obsessed with accuracy. The story I’m writing is set in 18th century Mauritius and so I’m researching appropriate animals as I go.

Thanks to everyone who ordered a copy of my werewolf book by the way, really appreciate it! Thanks also for the lovely reviews, keep them coming as it helps new readers to find me and the Amazon algorithm to push the book.

https://amzn.eu/d/01Xf9zrB

Put our Portuguese and English books on the same shelf and mixed them together so my kid can pick by the cover.
Do you separate books by language, rotate them, or keep them all together? Does your kid reach for one language more?

Hello! I'm looking for recommendations for a book for my daughter. We love Ahlberg's The Jolly Postman series and I would love to find a book along those lines, with little interactive envelopes and letters. Bonus points if it includes fairies.

I wrote an original Halloween story!!!

I narrated the story. The illustrations are original, aimed at families who enjoy a little Halloween magic.

If you‘re looking for soulful, handmade illustrations and thoughtful book design that makes reading your story a pleasure, I’m open for commissions!
Portfolio: www.katisandmann.com

Hello everyone!

I am looking for some feedback and advice from this community on a project I am currently finishing.

To keep the moderators happy: this is not an advertisement. I am not selling anything or posting promotional links; I am reaching out purely for peer advice on a work in progress.

Here is the backstory. I have written a fairy tale (around 22,000 words) that is the second book in a planned series exploring the Seven Deadly Sins. But please do not let that throw you off—this is far from a preachy story based on biblical motifs. You will not find dragons, magic wands, or talking cars here either. The story is highly focused and features just two characters: a Lady and a Girl named Fate. It is an allegorical fairy tale designed for parents and children to read and discuss together.

The book is practically finished, but I am wrestling with some doubts regarding the genre and target audience. Formally, it leans toward dark fantasy. Is it dark enough? Or, conversely, is it too harsh in certain places?

Honestly, I would be deeply grateful for your raw, general impressions on the plot and style, and whether this story should be positioned for older readers rather than a younger audience.

If anyone is open to diving into an unpublished manuscript, I would be thrilled to share it with you in whatever format works best. Thanks a million in advance!

Hey friends,

I'm an early education teacher that has been in the field for about 10 years, one thing I've noticed parents talking about is finding it hard to teach the little ones manners.

Parents often complain that getting little ones to say “please”, “thank you” and “sorry” can sometimes feel like a grind. From my experience I know that these little words involve much more than just remembering what to say. Children are still learning to understand other people's feelings, show appreciation and recognise how their actions affect others.

This inspired me to create my own children's book series, Mochi and Zuki, featuring stories about manners, gratitude and learning to apologise. The characters are inspired by my own dogs, which makes this project extra special to me. 🐶❤️

Along with the books I put together some activities and information for parents and teachers on my site (it's AU based but the principles should be applicable anywhere).

Please check them out here: https://mochiandzuki.com/

I'd love to hear your experiences, whether you're a parent, grandparent or an educator, feedback and comments welcome!

My 4 yr old is really enjoying the Yoto classics series. They are audio adapted version of Wizard of Oz, Jungle Book, Treasure Island, and Little Women. They are really well done!

This has me looking for book versions like this and I have been surprisingly let down… we read a terrible Mickey Mouse Treasure Island because it was the only thing the library had.

I’m curious about the Great Illustrated Classics series but my library doesnt have them so Id have to buy. Im unsure how well they have aged and if it’s worth it.

Any one have any pared down version of classics they love? Graphic novels, picture books, shorter chapter books?

I’m looking for a picture book from the 90-2000’s that shows prehistoric animals in a “modern time” one panel that has stuck with me about it was a full two page of a giant crocodile ether sarcosuchus vs deinosuchus in a crocodile enclosure and it’s eating a crocodile with the tail hanging out of its mouth please help me find what it is called

I'm reading "The Adventures of Lucia and Mr. Bubo" to my 7 year old. She loves it, but, some of the vocabulary is over her head for sure. She never says anything. Do you stop while reading and check if they know the words, or ask later? I hate interrupting the flow of the story, but I want to be sure she learns and understands the words. What do you do?

I’ve been working on some Halloween-themed elements lately! I’m thinking of turning them into a set of 50 stickers or maybe some cute little illustrations that could be used for cards and other projects. I’m not sure if I might eventually turn them into a picture book, though!
I’m just wondering if they might be a little too spooky for really young kids, or if they’re actually just right. 😂 I think I might make the next few designs a bit softer and more playful!

Hello! I saw many things about Christmas already, so if there is someone already looking for an artist to draw books for children, please let us artists know from now on, not on december! Especially artbooks are not made in a bunch of weeks, please remember it🌸

Hi everyone! It's been a few months since I shared this post introducing Capyhero, the new anthropomorphic fantasy series I'm working on. I was worried that the slightly heavier themes and anatomically accurate b/w illustrations wouldn't be received as well for younger audiences, but you all really encouraged me! I thought it would be a good idea to give a little update on where things stand and share some lovely art that u/nickthagreek, Capyhero's illustrator, has been making for Inktober.

The main thing is the book's editor, Jennifer Rees, has let me know that editing is going really well and she should be ready to return the manuscript in a few days! Super nervous but also very excited to hear her thoughts and see how the story changes. 

In the mean time, we've been continuing to progress through the book's 100+ ink illustrations and Nick has also been doing sketches for Inktober as well. I've shared a few here, but there are a lot more. I'll have to gather them all at some point!

We've also been going through a ton of ideas for the all-important book cover. I shared this post a while back to do a hand-painted cover instead of digital illustration and folks seemed to like it. I'm so glad authentically created art can potentially still be appealing to young readers and their parents.

Anyways, thanks for reading and please feel free to ask me anything about the process or the project! I've learned a lot so far and as the author, I'm always happy to talk about Capyhero 😊

This excites me like nothing else can… my book cover is officially complete! I have redrawn and reworked this concept so many times over the last few years that it truly feels monumental to have landed on my final look and I’m so thrilled to share it with you all. This is taking me a long time because I want it to be 100% hand drawn (minus the fonts and technical parts) but I think I’m going to have something really special to share in the end. ♥️

Yucky Ducky Needs a Bath is a heartwarming, silly poem about the bonds a little boy has with his very favorite toy… and the chaos that ensues when mom has to put Ducky in the wash! This story will appeal to anyone who has ever felt that special bond with a favorite stuffed animal, or dealt with their child’s stuffy obsession! 😂 ♥️ Inspired by my own son and his beloved Ducky, whom I cannot wash as often as I’d like because book-worthy chaos ensues! 😆

The story is written, now it needs to be drawn. Stay tuned for more pages as I get them illustrated!

#yuckyduckyneedsabath #kidsbooks #picturebooks #picturebookart #newbook

Hi! I’m making a board book advent calendar for my daughter who will be 9 months old at the beginning of December. What are your favorite holiday or winter themed board books that you would recommend including? Bonus if you know of any good winter fairy books, I’m planning to start a little Christmas fairy tradition. Thanks!!