#PictureBooks101

Collage of different templates for picture book creators, with small panels for thumbnail sketches. Promo graphic reads "Creating Picture Books: How-To Guides, free templates, and resources" by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

Picture book creators! Confused about the difference between self-ended & separated-ended picture bks in traditional trade publishing? Why paginating your mss can help you figure out pacing & more? Also feel free to download my free templates:

debbieohi.com/2025/09/pict...

#KidLit #PictureBooks101

Promo header for Creating Picture Books: How-to guides, free templates, and resources, by Debbie Ridpath Ohi along with the website link.

2/ This post originally appeared in my Substack, but I'm gradually moving my evergreen content like #PictureBooks101 over to my website instead.

You can see posts so far at:

debbieohi.com/resources/fo...

Header graphic for Picture Books 101. One spot illustration shows an enthusiastic woman handing a big pile of papers to another woman. First woman is saying, "Here's my 8628 word epic picture book mss!" Another spot illustration shows a blue flower-decorated cup full of drawing and writing tools.

Illustrated diagram showing how a cover is attached to a self-ended picture book.

Curious why a standard picture book is 32 pages in traditional #KidLit trade publishing? And why NOT all 32 pages are for story content? In this #PictureBooks101 post, I explain picture book format & construction:
debbieohi.com/2025/09/pict...

Banner with text: “CREATING PICTURE BOOKS. How-to guides, free templates & resources by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. DebbieOhi.com/PBcreation.” Illustration shows an open book with the words “spencer loved to READ,” a drawing of a child’s face, and a small purple book. On the right is a cartoon figure holding a large pencil.

I'm gradually updating and moving my #PictureBooks101 posts from Substack to my own website, adding them to my Creating Picture Books Resource: debbieohi.com/resources/fo...

Illustration of a cup holding paintbrushes and pencils, with text: “PICTURE BOOKS 101 for artists.” At the bottom: “©Debbie Ridpath Ohi - DebbieOhi.com/PBcreation.”

For artists interested in illustrating #KidLit: Wondering how to develope an illustration style? Gaining confidence as an artist? How to get "good enough at art" to illustrate children's bks? See my #PictureBooks101 post:

debbieohi.com/2025/09/pict... #KidLitArtist

Illustration of a blue container holding brushes and pencils, with a purple book and a spiral notebook on a desk. Large text reads “PICTURE BOOKS 101” with yellow highlights. The image includes the website DebbieOhi.com and is signed “D. Ohi.”

To those interested in writing/illustrating picture books for young people: I'm starting to post my free #PictureBooks101 series on my blog (updating & adding to posts I originally shared on Substack). First post is up today!
debbieohi.com/2025/07/pict... #KidLit #PictureBooks #EduSky

Picture Books 101: The Archives A directory of all my Picture Book 101 posts so far

For beginning picture book writers, I have a FREE series of #PictureBooks101 posts over on Substack: debbieohi.substack.com/p/picture-bo... #SubstackSky

Trying to figure out what topic (for beginning picture bk artists) to write about next, open to suggestions.

#kidlitchat

Illustration showing the process of attaching a book cover with separate-ended or colored ends. The image displays a labeled cover on the top, and an open book with colored endpapers being glued down on the bottom. The text "Separate-Ended/Colored Ends" and "Glued down" are included in the illustration. The artwork is signed by the artist and includes the website "DebbieOhi.substack.com."

Illustration demonstrating the process of attaching a book cover with a self-ended method. The image shows a labeled cover at the top and an open book being glued down at the bottom, with notes indicating "page 1 glued face-down onto cover" and "page 32 glued face-down onto cover." The text "Self-Ended" is included in the illustration, along with the artist's signature and the website "DebbieOhi.substack.com."

Picture book authors & illustrators: Confused about self-ended vs separate-ended picture books? Why 32 pages is standard but why not all 32 pages are available for story content? I explain here, with examples:
debbieohi.substack.com/p/picture-bo... #PictureBooks101 #KidLit

The image features a colorful and playful illustration. On the left side, there is a blue cup with large, colorful dots in orange, purple, and yellow. The cup holds various art supplies, including paintbrushes and pencils. To the right of the cup, large, bold black text reads "PICTURE BOOKS 101" with yellow highlights beneath the words "PICTURE" and "101." Below that, there is a sketch of a notebook with the words "for artists" written on it in a mix of purple and light blue handwriting. The bottom of the image includes the text "DebbieOhi.com ~ DebbieOhi.substack.com" in smaller print.

Artists! Curious about how to develop an illustration style for #KidLit Picture Books? How to gain confidence as an artist? I offer tips in Part 2 of my free #PictureBooks101 series on Substack: debbieohi.substack.com/p/picture-bo... #SubstackSky

Illustration of art supplies including brushes, pencils in a blue container, a notebook, and a pink book with a heart on the cover. The text "Picture Books 101" is prominently displayed in large, hand-drawn letters, with the words "Picture Books" highlighted in yellow. The artist's signature "DebbieOhi.com" is visible in the bottom left corner.

Have you ever thought about writing or illustrating children's picture books someday? I have a free series over on my Substack called #PictureBooks101.

Part 1: Getting Started
debbieohi.substack.com/p/writing-an... #SubstackSky

Picture Books 101: The Archives A directory of all my Picture Book 101 posts so far

*New* post in my free Picture Books 101 series about the craft and business of writing and illustrating picture books. Topic of this issue is ART NOTES (should you include them in your mss? why or why not? etc.): debbieohi.substack.com/p/picture-bo...

#PictureBooks101 #Substack