how to write a picture book review

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How to Write a Children's Book Review

Things you'll need.

Writing reviews of children's books can be a lot of fun. If you do it enough, and do it well, you can even turn it into a source of income. However, don't let the fact that kids' books are short and full of pictures fool you: it still takes a certain amount of work to write a useful kids' book review. Remember, a review is more than just a book report explaining what the book is about. It should include key points like what you liked about the book, what you didn't, and most importantly, if the book is one that its target audience will enjoy. Here are some hints on how to write an effective children's book review.

First, read the book from beginning to end. This sounds like a no-brainer, but if you're going to write a review that's useful to readers, you need to read the whole thing. Don't just look at the blurb on the back cover, don't just skim over the first ten pages. Read the entire book. Go back later to re-examine key points of interest.

As you read, take notes. Mark down things that you want to go back and look at later. If there's something that doesn't make sense to you, jot it down. Conversely, if there's a line or a scene that really impresses you, keep track of that as well.

Briefly explain the story. Give the reader a general idea of what the story is about. Describe the main character or characters, the focus of the plot, any internal conflict, and what sort of adventures the characters have. Do this in just a few short sentences at most. No matter what, if there is a surprise twist ending, do NOT reveal it in the book review.

Write down your opinions of the book. Ask yourself whether the book meets its goals. It should not only be a book that parents will enjoy, but that children will like too. After all, it’s a children's book. There should be characters that children relate to, events that children will understand, and an engaging story line. If a character is obnoxious or preachy, make sure you mention that as well. After all, the best review is an honest one. If the book is a picture book, mention whether or not you liked the illustrations, and whether or not the illustrations relate to the text on the page.

Tell readers whether or not you recommend the book. If you think readers would enjoy it, explain why. Conversely, if you think it's a book best left unread, tell them why that's the case. Many people choose children's books based on reviews, so be sure to lay it all on the line.

• Remember that while children are the target audience, parents are the ones with the money to spend. If there's something in a children's book that you think parents might find objectionable, be sure to bring it up so they can make an informed decision.
• If you write a review and get a negative response from the book's author, which does sometimes happen, don't let yourself be forced into changing your opinion. Writers have to learn to take the bad reviews along with the good, and not take them personally.

Patti Wigington has been writing for nearly twenty years. Her work has appeared on a variety of websites and in a number of print publications, and she spent five years as a staff writer for a Columbus, Ohio, newspaper. She is the author of a children's book, a novel for middle grade readers, and two adult novels.

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How to Write a Picture Book Review

How to write a picture book review is not as difficult as you might imagine. Everyone has an opinion about the items they buy. Reviewers are candid and honest, but when it comes to leaving a review about a book they enjoyed … they almost always stop. Reviews are critical to authors on Amazon, especially for those of us who are self-published. A review helps other readers determine if they want to invest the money in buying the book or not, but it also helps to boost the book so other readers can find it.

Writing a Book Review

Writing a book review is no different than reviewing a product you have purchased online. Yet, no matter how many times I politely request a book review, there are those readers who do not follow through. I have given this one thought and I believe that readers are uncertain about how to write a picture book review. I am hoping that this post will help those who are hesitant to post a review.

We all know that when we are looking to purchase an item, the first thing we look at are the reviews. I want to know what others are saying before I place my order. An author’s sales are closely tied to the reviews it receives.

Book Review Basics

First, your book review is about the book and your personal experience with the book. It is not about your writing skills. You do not have to be clever or entertaining when writing a review. Simply review your experience or in this case a child’s experience with the book.

Second, the book review is about the reader, not about the author . Put the reader first. The reader wants to know if he or she should read the book. What did you like about the book? Was there something that you related to your own childhood? Was there something you think might upset a child? Write for the reader, not the author.

Third, be honest in your review. Give an honest opinion of the book from your perspective. Authors do read all reviews, both good and bad help us to learn how where we can improve our writing. It is perfectly fine not to like a book. When I am searching for a book I appreciate that the person has taken the time to share their thoughts and why they did not like the book. Honesty serves the reader and the author equally.

Rating a Picture Book

Both Amazon and Goodreads will ask you to rate the book, usually from 1 to 5. It is common practice for many reviewers to limit their use of 1 and a 5. Amazon rating of 3 is considered borderline for success. A rating of 2 is reserved for a book you really don’t like and a 1 for complete failure. I have no problem giving a book a ratings of 5 when I think a book has been well written and I back it up my rating with specific comments.

Your first step when writing a picture book review is to read the book. Not just skim the book, but read it aloud or share it with a child. Stop on each page to read the text and look at each of the illustrations. Reading the book a second time will allow you to discover new things about the text and illustrations. The second reading will help you to write your review.

Questions to Guide Your Review

• What did you like about the story or illustrations? Were you disappointed or confused in any way? Did your child ask you to read it again? What did they like about the book?
• Try to give specific examples of what you liked or disliked about the book, did you like or relate to one of the characters, was the story to slow or too fast, were there enough details, did it have a satisfying ending?
• What did other reviewers say about the book? Do you agree or disagree? I like to read other reviews before posting my review. I may agree with something they posted, but I want to add my personal experience to the conversation.

How Long Should a Book Review Be?

Book reviews do not need to be a specific length. Take a good look at some of the reviews. Keep it short and simple (KISS) is the way to go when giving a review. Give the review the detail it needs to pass on your perspective. Basically everyone wants to know if the book is good or bad and why. I usually write about 5 sentences. If I really like the book I tend to add more detail and a few more sentences.

Always Be Honest

If you have received an advance copy of the book to review, tell your reader. Always be honest to be considered a trusted relevant reviewer. Amazon takes the time to review each book review before it will post your review. They also will report if you are are verified purchaser. Meaning that you have purchased that book. Amazon will look to see if you are a frequent shopper and reviewer. They may refuse to post your review and you can respond to their email and find out their reason.

Call to Action

Now it is your turn to write a picture book review. For a limited time, Gertie Saves the Day , will be available for Free for those of you who have Kindle Unlimited. Download the book and share it with a child or maybe a group of children. Maybe you have purchased the book during the year, but haven’t had the opportunity to leave a review. Whatever the reason I am asking you to take 10 minutes this week and write that book review and post it to Amazon or Goodreads . I am counting on you to and so is Gertie!

As an incentive I will be offering a Free Authors Guide for Gertie Saves the Day . This 13 page guide offers fun activities for elementary age students to extend their learning   fro this book into English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. This is a valuable classroom asset or for parents to help their children learn through the summer. To receive your Free Guide send me a screenshot of your book review at [email protected]

I am so glad you’re here and so grateful that I can share my writing journey with you. I believe that you have a story to tell and the world is waiting to read your story.

I’m looking forward to helping you as a children’s book writer in any way that I can. Speaking of helping — please leave a comment below and let me know what questions you have about picture book writing. This will help me to tailor my posts to your needs.

If know someone who might be interested in this content, please forward this blog post to them and encourage them to subscribe to the website. My website has many  FREE  resources for  children ,  parents and teachers.

I am now booking  author visits  for the fall, 2022. I am available for in person visits and virtual classroom visits. Please book early as availability will become limited as back to school begins.

I am counting on you to write a review for Gertie Saves the Day this week! I can’t wait to read your reviews.

Have a great week.

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This piece highlights the importance of writing book reviews, particularly for self-published authors, and provides practical tips on how to write a picture book review effectively. It emphasizes honesty, focusing on the reader’s experience, and offers guidance on structuring the review. Additionally, it includes a call to action encouraging readers to write reviews for a specific book. Source: Audiobook Speed Calculator

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How To Write A Picture Book in 18 Steps

Ever dreamed of writing a picture book? Learn how with this simple guide on how to write a picture book in 18 steps with examples. We’ll cover everything from brainstorming ideas to final publication so you can share your story with young readers. Let’s dive in and start bringing your picture book to life!

Key Characteristics of a Picture Book

Types of picture books, step 1: define your target audience, step 2: brainstorm ideas, step 3: develop your idea, step 4: create memorable characters, step 5: outline your story, step 6: choose a narrative style, step 7: write a 1st draft, step 8: edit and refine, step 9: the book title, step 10: create a dummy book, step 11: format your book, step 12: illustrate your book, step 13: design book cover, step 14: update the dummy book, step 15: seek feedback, step 16: final polish, step 17: publish your book, step 18: celebrate, how do you structure a picture book, how do i write my first picture book, how much money can you make from writing a picture book, is it hard to write a picture book, what is a picture book.

A picture book is a form of children’s literature that combines written text with illustrations, often targeting younger readers up to around 8 years old. Unlike novels or chapter books , picture books rely heavily on illustrations to convey the narrative, making them an essential component of the storytelling process. These books typically feature a relatively simple storyline, accompanied by vibrant and engaging artwork that enhances the reader’s understanding and enjoyment.

Picture books come in various formats and styles, ranging from traditional hardcover editions to board books designed for infants and toddlers. They cover a wide range of themes and topics, from whimsical adventures to educational narratives, aiming to captivate young imaginations and foster a love of reading from an early age.

In addition to entertaining young readers, picture books also play a crucial role in promoting literacy and language development. The combination of text and visuals encourages children to make connections between words and images, aiding in comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. Furthermore, the interactive nature of picture books can spark curiosity and creativity, prompting discussions and inspiring imaginative play.

Here are the key characteristics of a picture book:

• Visual Storytelling: Vibrant illustrations, whether painted, drawn, or digitally rendered, play a crucial role in carrying the story forward. They expand upon the text, reveal emotions, and set the scene, igniting the reader’s imagination.
• Sparsity of text: Picture books typically have limited text, using simple, evocative language accessible to young readers. This encourages engagement with the illustrations and fosters imagination.
• Focus on character development: Picture books often introduce young readers to relatable characters who navigate challenges, experience emotions, and learn valuable lessons.
• Genre Versatility: Picture books encompass a wide range of genres, from whimsical fantasy to heart-warming realism, tackling themes of friendship, loss, identity, and more.
• Appeal to a range of ages: While primarily designed for children, picture books can resonate with adults as well, offering deeper layers of meaning and emotional connection.

Whether you’re an aspiring author or simply curious about this captivating literary form, understanding the essence of a picture book is the first step to appreciating its magic and exploring its potential.

Picture books come in various types, each catering to different ages, interests, and reading levels. Understanding these types can help writers and illustrators tailor their creations to suit their target audience effectively. Here are some common types of picture books:

• Board Books: Sturdy and often made of thick cardboard, board books are designed for infants and toddlers. They feature simple, colourful illustrations and minimal text, focusing on basic concepts such as shapes, colours, animals, and everyday routines. Board books are durable and suitable for little hands, making them ideal for introducing babies to the joy of reading.
• Concept Books: Concept books are centred around teaching specific concepts or skills, such as counting, alphabet, opposites, and emotions. They use engaging illustrations and straightforward text to help young readers grasp abstract ideas in a fun and accessible way. Concept books are invaluable tools for early childhood education, laying the foundation for future learning.
• Storybooks: Storybooks form the bulk of picture book literature, featuring narrative-driven stories with engaging characters, plots, and themes. They cover a wide range of genres, including fantasy, adventure, humour, and friendship, catering to diverse interests and tastes. Storybooks typically contain more text than other types of picture books, accompanied by detailed illustrations that bring the story to life.
• Wordless Picture Books: Wordless picture books rely solely on illustrations to tell a story, empty of any written text. They encourage readers to interpret the narrative through visual cues, fostering imagination, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Wordless picture books are particularly beneficial for pre-readers and language learners, allowing them to engage with the story independently and at their own pace.
• Interactive Books: Interactive picture books incorporate elements that encourage reader participation, such as lift-the-flap, touch-and-feel, or pop-up features. These books actively involve children in the reading experience, prompting them to interact with the story in various ways. Interactive books enhance engagement and sensory exploration, making reading a hands-on and enjoyable activity.
• Biographical and Non-Fiction Picture Books: Biographical and non-fiction picture books explore real-life people, events, and topics, providing educational and informative content for young readers. They combine engaging storytelling with factual accuracy, presenting complex subjects in a clear and accessible manner. Biographical and non-fiction picture books inspire curiosity and broaden children’s understanding of the world around them.

By understanding the different types of picture books available, writers and illustrators can create captivating and relevant stories that resonate with their intended audience.

How To Write a Picture Book in 18 Steps 

Follow this 18-step guide to take your picture book from the initial concept to the published masterpiece.

Before diving into the creative process, it’s essential to identify who your picture book is intended for. Understanding your target audience will guide your storytelling decisions, including the themes, language, and visual elements you incorporate into your book.

Let’s say you’re planning to write a picture book about a mischievous kitten’s adventures. Before you start brainstorming ideas, consider who will be reading your book. Are you targeting toddlers who love cute animal stories? Or perhaps preschoolers who enjoy interactive narratives? By defining your target audience as young children between the ages of 2 and 5, you can tailor your story and illustrations to align with their interests and developmental stage.

By defining your target audience upfront, you can ensure that your picture book resonates with the right readers and meets their needs effectively.

Once you’ve defined your target audience, it’s time to let your creativity flow and generate potential concepts for your picture book. Brainstorming allows you to explore different themes, settings, and plotlines, ensuring that you find the perfect idea to bring to life.

Imagine you’ve decided to create a picture book aimed at preschoolers with a focus on teaching empathy and kindness. To brainstorm ideas , grab a notebook and jot down any thoughts or images that come to mind related to these themes. Consider scenarios that young children can relate to, such as sharing toys, comforting a friend, or helping a lost animal.

You might brainstorm ideas like:

• A story about a shy bunny who learns to make friends by sharing her favourite carrot with a new classmate.
• An adventure featuring a group of animal friends who work together to rescue a lost puppy and reunite it with its family.
• A tale about a curious bear cub who discovers the joy of helping others when he finds a lost teddy bear in the woods.

During the brainstorming process, don’t worry about perfection or feasibility. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible, no matter how wild or unconventional they may seem. Once you have a list of potential concepts, you can evaluate them based on their suitability for your target audience and the message you want to convey.

By brainstorming ideas, you’ll uncover creative gems that have the potential to become captivating picture books that resonate with young readers. So grab your notebook and let your imagination soar!

Once you’ve settled on a promising concept for your picture book, it’s time to flesh out your idea and develop it into a coherent storyline. This stage involves expanding on your initial concept, crafting engaging characters, and mapping out the key events that will drive your narrative forward.

Here you can choose one idea from the previous step and form a paragraph idea summary for it. The idea summary should ideally include the following three elements, a hint at the main characters, what they want and why they can’t get what they want. 

For example for the idea of a shy bunny, your idea summary might look something like this:

In a peaceful woodland clearing, there lives a shy bunny named Blossom, whose heart is as tender as the petals of a spring flower. Despite her gentle nature, Blossom longs for the warmth of friendship but struggles to overcome her timid disposition. When a new classmate, a timid squirrel named Hazel, joins the woodland school, Blossom sees an opportunity to extend an olive branch. She yearns to share her most prized possession, a plump, juicy carrot, as a gesture of friendship. However, her insecurities and fear of rejection hold her back, making it challenging for her to take the first step towards forming a connection. As Blossom grapples with her inner turmoil, she must find the courage to reach out to Hazel and discover the transformative power of kindness and generosity.

By developing your idea in this way, you’ll lay the groundwork for a compelling and emotionally resonant story that will captivate young readers and leave a lasting impression.

One of the key elements that bring a picture book to life is its characters. Memorable and relatable characters can capture the hearts of young readers and keep them engaged throughout the story. In this step, focus on developing characters that are unique, multi-dimensional, and well-suited to the theme and tone of your book.

Let’s continue with the example of the shy bunny from our previous step. To create memorable characters, start by brainstorming traits and characteristics that will make your bunny protagonist endearing and relatable to your target audience of preschoolers. Consider aspects such as:

• Personality: Is the bunny timid yet kind-hearted? Does she have any quirks or special talents that set her apart?
• Appearance: What does the bunny look like? Does she have distinctive features or a unique fashion sense?
• Goals and Motivations: What does the bunny hope to achieve throughout the story? What drives her to overcome her shyness and reach out to others?
• Relationships: How does the bunny interact with other characters in the story? Does she have a supportive family or friends who play a significant role in her journey?

For example, you might envision your bunny protagonist as a soft-spoken but compassionate creature with floppy ears and a love for gardening. She dreams of making friends but struggles with self-doubt and anxiety in social situations. However, her love for growing carrots and flowers serves as a source of comfort and confidence, helping her connect with others on a deeper level.

In addition to the main character, don’t forget to create supporting characters that complement and enhance the storyline. These could include friends, family members, or even quirky sidekicks who add humour and depth to the narrative.

By crafting well-developed and relatable characters, you’ll create a strong emotional connection with your readers, ensuring that your picture book leaves a lasting impression long after the final page is turned.

With your characters established, it’s time to map out the plot of your picture book. Creating an outline helps you structure your story, ensuring that it flows smoothly from beginning to end and effectively conveys your message or theme to young readers.

Continuing with our example of the shy bunny protagonist, let’s outline the key events and plot points that will drive her journey of overcoming shyness and making friends, along with notes on illustrations to possibly include:

• Introduce the shy bunny protagonist and establish her desire to make friends.
• Illustration: Show the bunny in her garden home, surrounded by lush greenery and flowers, looking wistfully at other animals playing together in the distance.
• The bunny encounters a new animal friend, perhaps a lost squirrel or a curious bird, who wanders into her garden.
• Initially hesitant, the bunny observes the visitor from afar, curious but unsure how to approach them.
• Illustration: Show the bunny peeking out from behind a bush, watching the visitor with wide eyes, while the visitor looks back with a friendly expression.
• Through a series of gentle interactions and shared experiences, the bunny and the visitor gradually bond.
• They discover common interests, such as a love for nature and a fondness for carrots.
• Illustration: Show the bunny and the visitor exploring the garden together, perhaps digging in the soil or nibbling on carrots side by side.
• The friendship faces challenges when the bunny’s new friend must return to their own home or face a difficult situation.
• The bunny must summon the courage to say goodbye or find a way to help her friend, demonstrating her growth and resilience.
• Illustration: Depict a moment of farewell between the bunny and her friend, perhaps with a tearful hug or a solemn exchange of gifts.
• The bunny learns valuable lessons about empathy, kindness, and the importance of reaching out to others.
• Though sad to see her friend go, the bunny feels grateful for the connection they shared and looks forward to future adventures with newfound confidence.
• Illustration: Show the bunny standing tall and smiling as she waves goodbye to her friend, surrounded by blooming flowers and a sense of peaceful acceptance.

By outlining your story with notes on illustrations, you’ll ensure that the visual elements of your picture book complement and enhance the narrative, creating a rich and immersive reading experience for young audiences.

The narrative style of your picture book sets the tone and structure of your story, influencing how it will be told and perceived by young readers. Selecting the right narrative style involves considering factors such as the age of your target audience, the complexity of your storyline, and the overall mood you wish to convey.

Let’s continue with our example of the shy bunny protagonist and explore different narrative styles that could suit this story:

• Third-Person: In this narrative style, the story is told from an external perspective, focusing on the thoughts and feelings of the main character, the shy bunny. Using third-person allows for a deeper exploration of the bunny’s internal struggles and growth while maintaining a sense of distance from other characters.
• First-Person: Alternatively, you could opt for a first-person narrative style, where the shy bunny herself narrates the story. This approach provides a direct and intimate connection with the protagonist, allowing readers to experience her emotions and experiences firsthand. First-person narration can be particularly effective for engaging young readers and immersing them in the story’s world.
• Dialogue-Driven: Another option is to structure the story around dialogue between characters, with minimal narration. This dialogue-driven approach creates a dynamic and interactive reading experience, allowing young readers to actively engage with the characters and their interactions. Dialogue can also convey emotions and character dynamics in a natural and engaging manner.
• Narrative Poem: For a more lyrical and poetic narrative style, you could explore writing the story as a narrative poem. Using rhythmic language and vivid imagery, a narrative poem can evoke a sense of magic and wonder, drawing readers into the enchanting world of the shy bunny and her adventures.

When choosing a narrative style for your picture book, consider experimenting with different approaches to see which best suits your story and resonates with your target audience. Ultimately, the goal is to create a narrative that captivates young readers and leaves a lasting impression.

With your ideas, characters, and outline in place, it’s time to start writing the first draft of your picture book. This initial draft serves as the foundation upon which you’ll build and refine your story, so don’t worry about perfection at this stage. The focus is on getting your ideas down on paper and bringing your story to life.

Continuing with our example of the shy bunny protagonist, let’s begin writing the first draft of her story. Using the outline we created earlier as a guide, we’ll flesh out each plot point and scene, keeping in mind the narrative style and tone we’ve chosen.

Once upon a time, in a quiet corner of the forest, there lived a shy bunny named Blossom. She spent her days tending to her garden, surrounded by bright flowers and lush greens. Despite the beauty of her surroundings, Blossom often felt lonely, watching from afar as other animals danced and played together. One sunny morning, as Blossom was tending to her carrots, she noticed a small squirrel peeking out from behind a tree. Curious, Blossom slowly approached the squirrel, offering a friendly smile. To Blossom’s surprise, the squirrel, named Nutmeg, was just as curious about her as she was about him. They talked and talked, mostly about their love for crunchy carrots, and spent the day exploring the garden together. As the sun began to set, Nutmeg said that he was lost and needed to find his way home. Blossom felt a pang of sadness at the thought of saying goodbye, but she knew she had to be brave for her new friend. With a heavy heart, Blossom said goodbye to Nutmeg, promising to keep the memories they had shared. As she watched him disappear into the forest, she felt a sense of warmth and happiness for the friendship they had.

As you write the first draft of your picture book, focus on capturing the essence of your story and characters while allowing room for creativity and spontaneity. Remember, you can always revise and refine your draft in the editing stage, so let your imagination soar as you bring your picture book to life on the page.

Once you’ve completed the first draft of your picture book, it’s time to step back and take a critical look at your work. Editing and refining your manuscript is a crucial part of the writing process, helping you polish your story and ensure that it resonates with your target audience.

Let’s revisit our example from the previous step and explore how we can edit and refine the first draft to enhance its clarity, coherence, and emotional impact.

• Review for Clarity: Read through your manuscript with fresh eyes, paying attention to the clarity of your language and the flow of your narrative. Are there any confusing or ambiguous passages that need clarification? Make revisions to ensure that your story is easy to follow and understand, especially for your young audience.
• Refine Character Development: Evaluate the depth and complexity of your characters, particularly the protagonist, Blossom the shy bunny. Does she undergo a meaningful transformation throughout the story? Are her actions and motivations consistent with her personality and growth arc? Fine-tune your characterisation to create relatable and multi-dimensional characters that young readers can connect with.
• Polish Dialogue and Language: Review the dialogue in your manuscript to ensure that it sounds natural and age-appropriate for your target audience. Aim for dialogue that reflects the unique voices and personalities of your characters while avoiding overly complex language or adult-centric expressions. Additionally, pay attention to the rhythm and pacing of your prose, striving for a balance between descriptive passages and engaging dialogue.
• Streamline Plot and Structure: Evaluate the pacing and structure of your story, paying attention to the balance between exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. Are there any unnecessary scenes or digressions that could be trimmed to streamline the plot? Look for opportunities to heighten tension and suspense, keeping young readers eagerly turning the pages from start to finish.

By carefully editing and refining your picture book manuscript, you’ll ensure that it shines brightly and captivates young readers with its charm, warmth, and imagination.

Choosing the right title for your picture book is essential as it serves as the first point of connection between your story and potential readers. A compelling title can pique curiosity, convey the theme or mood of your book, and capture the attention of your target audience.

Let’s consider our shy bunny example and explore how we can craft a suitable title that encapsulates the essence of the story:

• Title Option 1: Blossom’s Brave Journey

This title highlights the protagonist, Blossom the shy bunny, and emphasises her journey of overcoming shyness and embarking on an adventure. The word “brave” conveys the courage and resilience Blossom demonstrates throughout the story, while “journey” hints at the transformative nature of her experiences.

• Title Option 2: Carrots and Friendship

Focusing on key elements of the story, this title highlights the themes of friendship and shared experiences. The mention of “carrots” reflects the bond that Blossom and her new friend Nutmeg form over their love for crunchy vegetables, while “friendship” underscores the central theme of forging connections with others.

• Title Option 3: Blossom Finds a Friend

This straightforward title succinctly captures the heartwarming essence of the story: a shy bunny named Blossom who discovers the joy of friendship. The phrase “finds a friend” conveys the journey of connection and companionship that Blossom embarks on, appealing to young readers’ curiosity and empathy.

When choosing a title for your picture book, consider the themes, characters, and tone of your story, as well as the preferences of your target audience. Experiment with different options, and don’t be afraid to seek feedback from friends, family, or writing peers to help you find the perfect title that will enchant and intrigue readers.

Creating a dummy book is an essential step in the picture book writing process, allowing you to visualise and organise the layout of your story. A dummy book is a mock-up of your picture book that includes rough sketches or placeholders for illustrations, text layout, and page design.

Let’s continue with our example and explore how to create a dummy book for this story:

• Gather Materials: Start by gathering materials such as blank paper, pencils, erasers, and a ruler. You’ll use these supplies to sketch out the layout of your dummy book.
• Sketch Thumbnails: Begin by creating thumbnail sketches of each page spread in your picture book. These small, rough drawings will help you visualise the composition and flow of your illustrations. Focus on capturing the key moments and scenes from your story, paying attention to pacing and page turns.
• Design Page Layout: Once you have your thumbnail sketches, use them to plan the layout of each page spread in your dummy book. Consider factors such as text placement, illustration size, and white space. Experiment with different arrangements to find the most visually appealing and reader-friendly layout.
• Add Text and Illustrations: With the page layout in place, add placeholders for text and illustrations to your dummy book. You can use handwritten text or printed text from your manuscript, along with simple sketches or stick figures to represent illustrations. Focus on conveying the narrative flow and visual storytelling of your picture book.
• Assemble the Dummy Book: Arrange your pages in sequence and secure them together to create your dummy book. You can use a binder, paper clips, or string to hold the pages together. Make sure the pages are easy to flip through and that the layout accurately reflects the pacing and structure of your story.
• Review and Revise: Once you’ve assembled your dummy book, review it carefully to identify any areas that need revision or refinement. Pay attention to the overall flow of the story, the balance between text and illustrations, and the coherence of the page layout. Make adjustments as needed to ensure that your dummy book accurately represents your vision for the final picture book.

By creating a dummy book, you’ll gain valuable insights into the visual and structural elements of your picture book, helping you refine your story and prepare it for the next stages of the publishing process.

Formatting your picture book involves arranging the text and illustrations in a way that enhances the reading experience and ensures visual coherence. Paying attention to formatting details such as page size, font choice, and text placement is essential for creating a professional-looking final product.

Let’s continue with our example of “Blossom Finds a Friend” and explore how to format the book for publication:

• Page Size and Layout: Determine the dimensions of your picture book, taking into account industry standards and printing specifications. Common picture book sizes include 8.5 x 8.5 inches or 10 x 10 inches. Choose a size that complements your illustrations and allows for easy readability.
• Text Placement: Decide on the placement of text within each page spread. Aim for a balance between text and illustrations, ensuring that the two elements complement each other and work together to tell the story. Experiment with different text arrangements, such as placing text above, below, or alongside illustrations, to find the most visually appealing layout.
• Font Choice and Styling: Select a suitable font for the text in your picture book, keeping in mind readability and aesthetic considerations. Choose a clear, legible font that aligns with the tone and style of your story. Consider factors such as font size, style (e.g., serif or sans-serif), and colour to enhance readability and visual appeal.
• Page Numbers and Pagination: Determine how you will handle page numbering and pagination in your picture book. Decide whether to include page numbers, and if so, where to place them within the layout. Considerations such as page breaks, chapter divisions, and endpapers should also be taken into account to ensure a seamless reading experience.
• Illustration Placement: Integrate illustrations seamlessly into the layout of your picture book, ensuring that they enhance the storytelling and capture the reader’s attention. Pay attention to the positioning and size of illustrations relative to the text, allowing for ample space and visual impact.
• Consistency and Cohesion: Maintain consistency throughout your picture book by adhering to a cohesive design aesthetic. Ensure that fonts, colours, and formatting elements remain consistent across all pages, creating a unified look and feel. Pay attention to details such as margins, line spacing, and alignment to achieve a polished and professional appearance.

By carefully formatting your picture book, you’ll create a visually engaging and cohesive reading experience that captivates young readers and brings your story to life.

Illustrations play a vital role in bringing your picture book to life, capturing the imagination of young readers and enhancing the storytelling experience. Whether you’re an illustrator yourself or collaborating with a professional artist, creating compelling and engaging illustrations is essential for captivating your audience.

There are several technical considerations to keep in mind when illustrating a picture book:

• Visualising Characters: Work with your illustrator to develop visually appealing and expressive character designs that reflect the personalities and emotions of your characters. For example, the shy bunny protagonist, Blossom, could be depicted with soft, rounded features and wide, expressive eyes to convey her gentle nature and timid disposition.
• Promoting Engagement: Incorporate interactive and engaging elements into your illustrations to capture the attention and imagination of young readers. For example, hidden details, interactive flaps, or playful visual motifs can encourage children to actively engage with the story and explore the illustrations more deeply.
• Page Size and Bleed: Ensure that your illustrations are sized appropriately for the dimensions of the book’s pages. Additionally, if your illustrations extend to the edge of the page (full bleed), you’ll need to include extra space around the edges to accommodate trimming during printing.
• Resolution: Illustrations should be created at a high resolution (usually 300 dpi or higher) to ensure crisp and clear printing. This is especially important for detailed artwork and images with fine lines or small details.
• Colour Mode: Use the appropriate colour mode for your illustrations. For print books, illustrations are typically created in CMYK colour mode to accurately represent colours when printed. If your illustrations are intended for digital distribution, RGB colour mode may be more suitable.
• File Format: Save your illustrations in a suitable file format for printing, such as TIFF or PSD for high-resolution images with layers, or JPEG for flattened images. Be sure to check the publisher’s specifications for preferred file formats.
• Text Placement: Leave space within your illustrations for text placement, especially if your illustrations include background elements or focal points where text will be overlaid. Consider how the text will interact with the illustrations and ensure that important visual elements are not obscured.
• Consistency: Maintain consistency in style, colour palette, and artistic elements throughout your illustrations to create a cohesive visual experience. This helps tie the illustrations together and reinforces the story’s themes and mood.
• Page Turns: Keep in mind the pacing and flow of the story when planning your illustrations. Consider how each page turn will reveal new information or advance the plot, and create illustrations that enhance the narrative tension and engagement.
• Accessibility: Ensure that your illustrations are accessible to all readers, including those with visual impairments. Avoid relying solely on visual cues to convey important information, and consider including descriptive text or alternative formats (e.g., braille) where appropriate.

By investing time and effort into creating captivating illustrations, you’ll create a visually stunning picture book that delights and inspires young readers, inviting them to embark on an enchanting journey of imagination and discovery.

The book cover is often the first thing readers see, making it a crucial element in attracting attention and conveying the essence of your picture book. A well-designed cover should intrigue readers, reflect the tone of your story, and entice them to pick up your book.

Let’s continue with our example of  “Blossom Finds a Friend”  and explore how to design an eye-catching cover for this picture book:

• Example: The title “Blossom Finds a Friend” is written in bold, playful lettering, with the author’s name, “Jane Doe”, placed below in a smaller font. Both elements stand out against a background of lush garden foliage, drawing the reader’s attention.
• Example: The cover features a charming illustration of Blossom the shy bunny peeking out from behind a bush, her eyes wide with curiosity as she gazes at the reader. In the background, colourful flowers and friendly woodland creatures add depth and visual interest to the scene.
• Example: The cover incorporates a bright and cheerful colour palette, with shades of green, pink, and blue dominating the background. These colours evoke the beauty and tranquillity of a garden setting, while also conveying a sense of joy and optimism.
• Example: The spine of the book displays the title and author name vertically, making it easy to identify when shelved alongside other books. The back cover includes a brief summary of the story, along with a small illustration of Blossom and her friends exploring the garden.

By carefully designing the book cover, you’ll create a captivating first impression that entices readers to pick up your picture book and embark on an enchanting journey with your characters.

Once you have completed the illustration process and made any necessary adjustments based on feedback, it’s time to update your dummy book to reflect the final layout and design of your picture book. This step ensures that the dummy book accurately represents the finished product before moving forward with publication.

Continuing with our example of “Blossom Finds a Friend” let’s explore how to update the dummy book with the final illustrations and design elements:

• Example: In the first dummy book, placeholder sketches were used to represent each page spread. Now, the final illustrations of Blossom the shy bunny and her garden adventures are added to the appropriate pages, bringing the story to life with vibrant colours and engaging details.
• Example: The text is carefully integrated into each page spread, with attention to text placement, font choice, and spacing. Captions and dialogue bubbles are added where appropriate, enhancing the storytelling and guiding the reader through the narrative.
• Example: The updated dummy book PDF is reviewed to ensure that the illustrations and text flow smoothly from one page to the next, capturing the reader’s attention and maintaining their interest throughout the story. Any inconsistencies or discrepancies are addressed to achieve a polished and professional final product.

By updating the dummy book with the final illustrations and design elements, you’ll have a clear representation of how your picture book will look and feel in its printed form. This step is crucial for ensuring that the final product meets your vision and expectations before proceeding to the next stage of publication.

Seeking feedback from others is a crucial step in the picture book writing process. Feedback helps you identify strengths and weaknesses in your story, gain new perspectives, and refine your manuscript to ensure it resonates with your target audience.

Continuing with our example of “Blossom Finds a Friend” let’s explore how seeking feedback can improve the quality of your picture book:

• Example: You provide copies of your picture book to a group of parents and their children for feedback. After reading the story together, the parents comment on the relatable themes and positive messages, while the children express excitement about the colourful illustrations and engaging characters.
• Example: You share your book with fellow writers in a picture book writing workshop. During a critique session, your peers offer suggestions for strengthening character motivations and tightening the pacing of the story. Their feedback helps you identify areas for improvement and revision.
• Example: You work with a children’s book editor who provides detailed feedback on your manuscript, including suggestions for enhancing dialogue, clarifying story arcs, and refining the emotional resonance of the narrative. Their expertise and insights help you elevate the quality of your picture book to industry standards.
• Example: You post a query about your picture book on an online writing forum for children’s authors. Within hours, you receive valuable feedback from writers, illustrators, and publishing professionals who offer insights into character development, plot pacing, and marketability.

By seeking feedback from a variety of sources, you’ll gain valuable insights into your picture book manuscript and identify opportunities for improvement. Embrace feedback as a valuable tool for honing your craft and creating a picture book that resonates with readers of all ages.

During the final polish stage, you’ll meticulously review and fine-tune every aspect of your picture book to ensure it’s polished, professional, and ready for publication. This step involves a comprehensive examination of the manuscript, illustrations, design elements, and overall presentation.

Let’s continue with our example of “Blossom Finds a Friend” and explore how to apply the final polish to your picture book:

• Example: You carefully review the book “Blossom Finds a Friend” paying close attention to sentence structure, word choice, and dialogue. You eliminate any redundant phrases, tighten up the prose, and ensure that the language is accessible and age-appropriate for your target audience.
• Example: You scrutinise the illustrations of Blossom and her garden adventures, checking for consistency in character design, background details, and artistic style. You adjust colours, refine linework, and add subtle details to enhance visual interest and reinforce the story’s themes.
• Example: You review the layout of “Blossom Finds a Friend” checking for alignment, spacing, and font consistency. You adjust page breaks, text formatting, and illustration placement to create a cohesive and visually appealing presentation that complements the narrative.
• Example: You enlist the assistance of a professional proofreader to review the final draft of “Blossom Finds a Friend”. Together, you meticulously comb through every page, checking for spelling errors, formatting inconsistencies, and layout issues. After thorough proofreading and quality assurance, you’re confident that the picture book is polished and ready for publication.

By applying the final polish to your picture book, you’ll ensure that it meets the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. Take the time to review and refine every aspect of your book, leaving no detail overlooked. Your dedication to excellence will shine through in the finished product, delighting readers of all ages.

After months of hard work and dedication, it’s time to bring your picture book to life by publishing it and sharing it with the world. Publishing your book involves making decisions about printing, distribution, and marketing to ensure that it reaches your target audience and achieves success.

Let’s continue with our example of “Blossom Finds a Friend” and explore the process of publishing your picture book:

• Example: You opt for self-publishing “Blossom Finds a Friend” to maintain creative control and have the flexibility to bring your vision to life without the constraints of traditional publishing timelines.
• Example: You partner with a reputable printing company that specialises in children’s books and offers high-quality printing services at affordable rates. You collaborate closely with the printing team to ensure that the final product meets your expectations and aligns with your vision for the book.
• Example: You establish distribution channels for “Blossom Finds a Friend” by listing it for sale on major online platforms such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores. You also partner with local libraries and schools to make the book available to young readers in your community.
• Example: You launch a comprehensive marketing campaign for “Blossom Finds a Friend” including social media posts, blog tours, and virtual author events. You collaborate with influencers, parenting bloggers, and children’s book reviewers to generate excitement and positive word-of-mouth buzz about the book.

By publishing your picture book, you’ll share your creativity and storytelling with the world, bringing joy and inspiration to young readers everywhere. Embrace the journey of publication with enthusiasm and confidence, knowing that your hard work and dedication have led to this exciting milestone.

Looking for some additional resources on how to write a picture book? See the books below for more guidance and ideas (The links below are Amazon affiliate links):

• How to Write a Children’s Picture Book and Get it Published :

• Writing Picture Books: : A Hands-On Guide From Story Creation to Publication

Celebrating the completion of your picture book is an essential part of the creative process. It’s a moment to acknowledge your hard work, perseverance, and accomplishments as a writer and creator. Take time to revel in your success and commemorate the journey that led to the publication of your book.

Let’s continue with our example of “Blossom Finds a Friend” and explore ways to celebrate the completion of your picture book:

• Example: You host a book launch party for “Blossom Finds a Friend” at a local bookstore or community centre. You decorate the venue with colourful garden-themed decorations and provide snacks and drinks for guests to enjoy. You read excerpts from the book, sign copies for attendees, and mingle with readers to share your excitement.
• Example: You announce the release of “Blossom Finds a Friend” on your social media accounts, accompanied by eye-catching graphics and behind-the-scenes photos from the book’s creation process. You express heartfelt thanks to your followers, friends, and collaborators for their encouragement and support.
• Example: You treat yourself to a weekend getaway to a tranquil countryside retreat, where you can unwind, recharge, and reflect on your creative journey. Surrounded by nature and serenity, you savour the moment and revel in the sense of accomplishment that comes from bringing your picture book to life.
• Example: You journal about your experiences writing and publishing “Blossom Finds a Friend” capturing memories, insights, and reflections on the journey. You express gratitude for the opportunity to share your story with the world and celebrate the transformative power of storytelling.

By celebrating the completion of your picture book, you honour the effort and dedication you invested in bringing your vision to life. Embrace this moment of triumph and look forward to the exciting adventures that lie ahead as an author and creator.

Frequently Asked Questions

While there’s no one-size-fits-all structure for picture books, several common formats offer a solid foundation for your storytelling. Here are a few popular approaches:

• Beginning: Introduce your characters, setting, and the initial problem or challenge.
• Middle: Show your characters’ attempts to solve the problem, facing obstacles and setbacks along the way.
• End: Resolve the conflict or challenge, leaving the reader with a satisfying conclusion and takeaway.
• Introduce: Present the character, their world, and the problem they encounter.
• Attempts: Show the character’s multiple attempts to solve the problem, emphasizing their resilience and growth.
• Solution: Reveal the successful solution, showcasing the character’s learning and development.
• Departure: Show the character leaving their familiar setting or comfort zone.
• Challenges: Depict the obstacles and trials they face on their journey, highlighting their struggles and growth.
• Return: Showcase the character’s return, transformed by their experiences and carrying valuable lessons.
• Introduce: Present the initial element or situation.
• Additions: Gradually add new elements or characters, building on the previous ones.
• Resolution: Conclude with a satisfying payoff or twist that ties everything together.

These are just starting points. Feel free to adapt, combine, or invent your own structure based on your unique story and target audience.

Writing your first picture book can be an exciting and rewarding journey! Here are some steps to help you get started:

• Define Your Story Idea: Begin by brainstorming ideas for your picture book. Think about what themes or messages you want to explore, as well as the characters and setting you’d like to create.
• Develop Your Characters: Create memorable characters that will capture the imaginations of young readers. Consider their personalities, motivations, and arcs throughout the story.
• Outline Your Story: Once you have a clear idea of your characters and plot, outline the main events of your story. Determine the beginning, middle, and end, and identify key moments that will drive the narrative forward.
• Choose a Narrative Style: Decide on the narrative style that best suits your story. Picture books often use simple language and concise storytelling to engage young readers.
• Write the First Draft: Start writing your first draft, focusing on capturing the essence of your story and characters. Don’t worry too much about perfection at this stage—just get your ideas down on paper.
• Edit and Revise: Once you’ve completed your first draft, take time to revise and refine your manuscript. Pay attention to pacing, language, and clarity, and make any necessary changes to strengthen the story.
• Consider Illustrations: Picture books are a visual medium, so consider how your story will be enhanced by illustrations. You can either create your own illustrations or work with an illustrator to bring your story to life.
• Design Your Book: Think about the layout and design of your book, including the placement of text and illustrations on each page. Consider how the design will enhance the reading experience for young children.
• Seek Feedback: Once you have a polished draft of your picture book, seek feedback from trusted friends, family, or writing groups. Their input can help you identify areas for improvement and make your story even stronger.
• Finalize and Publish: After incorporating feedback and making final revisions, you’re ready to finalize your picture book and consider publishing options. Whether you choose traditional publishing or self-publishing, be sure to research your options and find the best fit for your book.

Remember, writing a picture book is a creative process, so don’t be afraid to experiment, take risks, and have fun along the way. With dedication and perseverance, you can bring your story to life and share it with young readers around the world.

The amount of money you can make from writing a picture book can vary widely depending on several factors, including the success of your book, your publishing arrangement, and your marketing efforts. Here are some potential sources of income from writing a picture book:

• Advance : If you’re traditionally published, you may receive an advance payment from your publisher. This advance is typically paid out in stages, such as upon signing the contract, upon delivery of the manuscript, and upon publication. Advances can range from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, depending on factors such as your publishing track record and the perceived marketability of your book.
• Royalties : In addition to an advance, authors typically earn royalties on sales of their books. Royalty rates vary depending on your contract and the format of the book (e.g., hardcover, paperback, e-book). Traditionally published authors typically earn royalties ranging from 5% to 15% of the book’s retail price. Self-published authors may earn higher royalty rates but are responsible for all production and marketing costs.
• Additional Rights Sales: Authors may also earn income from additional rights sales, such as foreign translation rights, audio rights, and merchandising rights. These rights can be licensed to other publishers or companies for a fee or a percentage of sales.
• Public Performance Rights: Authors may earn income from public performance rights if their book is adapted into other formats, such as a stage play, puppet show, or animated film. Public performance rights allow for the public performance or display of copyrighted works and can result in licensing fees or royalties.
• Author Visits and Speaking Engagements: Authors may supplement their income by conducting author visits and speaking engagements at schools, libraries, bookstores, and literary events. These appearances can generate additional income through honorariums, book sales, and merchandise sales.
• Merchandise Sales: Authors may also earn income from the sale of merchandise related to their book, such as T-shirts, posters, bookmarks, and other branded items. These sales can be conducted online or through book signings and events.

It’s important to note that while some picture book authors achieve significant financial success, many authors earn modest incomes from their writing. Success in the publishing industry often requires a combination of talent, persistence, and luck, as well as a willingness to adapt to changes in the market and industry trends. Additionally, income from writing can vary from year to year based on factors such as book sales, advances, and additional rights sales.

Writing a picture book can present its own set of challenges, but whether it’s “hard” can depend on various factors, including your familiarity with the genre, your writing experience, and your ability to craft a compelling story within the constraints of the format. Here are some factors to consider:

• Simplicity : Picture books are typically short, with limited word counts, so you must convey your story concisely and effectively. This can be challenging as you need to convey complex themes or ideas in a simple and accessible way.
• Visual Narrative: Picture books are a collaboration between words and illustrations, so you need to leave room for the illustrations to complement and enhance the text. Balancing text and visuals can be challenging, especially if you’re not an illustrator yourself.
• Audience Considerations: Picture books are primarily written for young children, so you need to understand your target audience and craft a story that engages and entertains them. This might require thinking about themes, language, and story structure from a child’s perspective.
• Story Structure: Even though picture books are short, they still require a well-developed plot, engaging characters, and a satisfying resolution. Crafting a compelling story within a limited space can be challenging and may require careful planning and revision.
• Market Competition: The market for picture books is highly competitive, with many talented authors vying for limited shelf space. Standing out in the crowded market can be challenging, especially for new and aspiring authors.

That being said, many writers find writing picture books to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Picture books have the power to inspire, educate, and entertain young readers, and seeing your book come to life can be incredibly gratifying. With dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to learn and grow as a writer, you can overcome the challenges and write a picture book that captivates readers of all ages.

Embarking on the journey of writing a picture book is an adventure filled with creativity, imagination, and endless possibilities. Whether you’re a seasoned author or a novice storyteller, the process of bringing your vision to life on the pages of a picture book is both challenging and immensely rewarding. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to embark on your own picture book journey and create stories that captivate and inspire young readers. 

And that wraps up our 18-step guide to writing your first picture book! I hope these tips help you bring your imaginative story to life for young readers. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions on how to write a picture book – I’d love to hear from you!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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How to Write a Book Review: The Complete Guide

by Sue Weems | 23 comments

If you've ever loved (or hated) a book, you may have been tempted to review it. Here's a complete guide to how to write a book review, so you can share your literary adventures with other readers more often! 

You finally reach the last page of a book that kept you up all night and close it with the afterglow of satisfaction and a tinge of regret that it’s over. If you enjoyed the book enough to stay up reading it way past your bedtime, consider writing a review. It is one of the best gifts you can give an author.

Regardless of how much you know about how to write a book review, the author will appreciate hearing how their words touched you.

But as you face the five shaded stars and empty box, a blank mind strikes. What do I say? I mean, is this a book really deserving of five stars? How did it compare to Dostoevsky or Angelou or Dickens?

Maybe there’s an easier way to write a book review.

Want to learn how to write a book from start to finish? Check out How to Write a Book: The Complete Guide .

The Fallacy of Book Reviews

Once you’ve decided to give a review, you are faced with the task of deciding how many stars to give a book.

When I first started writing book reviews, I made the mistake of trying to compare a book to ALL BOOKS OF ALL TIME. (Sorry for the all caps, but that’s how it felt, like a James Earl Jones voice was asking me where to put this book in the queue of all books.)

Other readers find themselves comparing new titles to their favorite books. It's a natural comparison. But is it fair?

This is honestly why I didn’t give reviews of books for a long time. How can I compare a modern romance or historical fiction war novel with Dostoevsky? I can’t, and I shouldn’t.

I realized my mistake one day as I was watching (of all things) a dog show. In the final round, they trotted out dogs of all shapes, colors, and sizes. I thought, “How can a Yorkshire Terrier compete with a Basset Hound?” As if he'd read my mind, the announcer explained that each is judged by the standards for its breed.

This was my “Aha!” moment. I have to take a book on its own terms. The question is not, “How does this book compare to all books I’ve read?” but “How well did this book deliver what it promised for the intended audience?”

A review is going to reflect my personal experience with the book, but I can help potential readers by taking a minute to consider what the author intended. Let me explain what I mean. 

How to Write a Book Review: Consider a Book’s Promise

A book makes a promise with its cover, blurb, and first pages. It begins to set expectations the minute a reader views the thumbnail or cover. Those things indicate the genre, tone, and likely the major themes.

If a book cover includes a lip-locked couple in flowing linen on a beach, and I open to the first page to read about a pimpled vampire in a trench coat speaking like Mr. Knightly about his plan for revenge on the entire human race, there’s been a breach of contract before I even get to page two. These are the books we put down immediately (unless a mixed-message beachy cover combined with an Austen vampire story is your thing).

But what if the cover, blurb, and first pages are cohesive and perk our interest enough to keep reading? Then we have to think about what the book has promised us, which revolves around one key idea: What is the core story question and how well is it resolved?

Sometimes genre expectations help us answer this question: a romance will end with a couple who finds their way, a murder mystery ends with a solved case, a thriller’s protagonist beats the clock and saves the country or planet.

The stories we love most do those expected things in a fresh or surprising way with characters we root for from the first page. Even (and especially!) when a book doesn’t fit neatly in a genre category, we need to consider what the book promises on those first pages and decide how well it succeeds on the terms it sets for itself.

When I Don’t Know What to Write

About a month ago, I realized I was overthinking how to write a book review. Here at the Write Practice we have a longstanding tradition of giving critiques using the Oreo method : point out something that was a strength, then something we wondered about or that confused us, followed by another positive.

We can use this same structure to write a simple review when we finish books. Consider this book review format: 

[Book Title] by [book author] is about ___[plot summary in a sentence—no spoilers!]___. I chose this book based on ________. I really enjoyed ________. I wondered how ___________. Anyone who likes ____ will love this book.

Following this basic template can help you write an honest review about most any book, and it will give the author or publisher good information about what worked (and possibly what didn’t). You might write about the characters, the conflict, the setting, or anything else that captured you and kept you reading.

As an added bonus, you will be a stronger reader when you are able to express why you enjoyed parts of a book (just like when you critique!). After you complete a few, you’ll find it gets easier, and you won’t need the template anymore.

What if I Didn’t Like It?

Like professional book reviewers, you will have to make the call about when to leave a negative review. If I can’t give a book at least three stars, I usually don’t review it. Why? If I don’t like a book after a couple chapters, I put it down. I don’t review anything that I haven’t read the entire book.

Also, it may be that I’m not the target audience. The book might be well-written and well-reviewed with a great cover, and it just doesn’t capture me. Or maybe it's a book that just isn't hitting me right now for reasons that have nothing to do with the book and everything to do with my own reading life and needs. Every book is not meant for every reader.

If a book kept me reading all the way to the end and I didn’t like the ending? I would probably still review it, since there had to be enough good things going on to keep me reading to the end. I might mention in my review that the ending was less satisfying than I hoped, but I would still end with a positive.

How to Write a Book Review: Your Turn

As writers, we know how difficult it is to put down the words day after day. We are typically voracious readers. Let’s send some love back out to our fellow writers this week and review the most recent title we enjoyed.

What was the last book you read or reviewed? Do you ever find it hard to review a book? Share in the comments .

Now it's your turn. Think of the last book you read. Then, take fifteen minutes to write a review of it based on the template above. When you're done, share your review in the Pro Practice Workshop . For bonus points, post it on the book's page on Amazon and Goodreads, too!

Don't forget to leave feedback for your fellow writers! What new reads will you discover in the comments?

Sue Weems is a writer, teacher, and traveler with an advanced degree in (mostly fictional) revenge. When she’s not rationalizing her love for parentheses (and dramatic asides), she follows a sailor around the globe with their four children, two dogs, and an impossibly tall stack of books to read. You can read more of her writing tips on her website .

23 Comments

The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin is about a girl that shows no emotion befriending a ice dragon.

I chose this book based on the cover that had a little girl riding a ice dragon, and wondered what is about.

I really enjoyed the interaction the little girl had with the dragon.

I wondered how how the girl’s bond with the dragon.

Anyone who likes a coming of age story set in a fantasy will love this book.

Thanks for sharing your practice, Azure!

You’re welcome.

A interesting, at times perplexing, subject! And one on my mind lately,as I’ve agreed to do a few. I do enjoy giving reviews and am delighted when I can say, “This was a great book!” Or even, “I enjoyed this book.” It gets perplexing when I agree to review a book — and simply don’t like it. Then what to say? I hate to disappoint the writer but I’ve promised to give my honest opinion.

I’ve found some books mediocre and yet I see a dozen other reviewers saying “A great story!” Tastes do vary. But when there are obvious flaws I tend to skip all the best-friend-and-cousin reviewers and find the first person who says, “This writer has a problem with…” Usually there’ll be a number of reviewers who spot the same problems I do.

I like upbeat main characters, but not aggressive, belligerent, and/or self-centered ones. I like to meet in a story the kind of people I’d like to meet in real life— not people I’d avoid if possible. I recently read a book where the main character came across as insipid and the story only mildly interesting. Other reviewers said it was great and I know for this specific audience — readers who want a certain slant to a story — it was quite suitable. So I tried to cut the book some slack. Everyone has their limit as to how much blood and gore, smooching and snuggling, they are willing to read about.

Once I agreed to review a book and would have tossed it after the first chapter — for several reasons. A lot of “writer inserting facts for reader’s benefit”; teach/preach paragraphs; excess of description; attitudes of MCs. Once it’s live on seller’s sites like Amazon, what can you say? The one thing good it had going for it was the story line or theme. With a pro editor’s help it could have been a great story.

As for a review, one book I read lately was “A Clue for the Puzzle Lady” by Parnell Hall. It’s one of those “Stayed up half the night to finish it” books; I think anyone who likes a compelling cozy mystery would probably like it. Downside: I didn’t care for the “Puzzle Lady.” She’s a lush, hangs out at the bar getting sloshed. The upside: her sensible niece has a starring role —trying to keep her aunt on the straight-and-narrow and the mystery keeps you guessing until the end.

Christine, Thanks for sharing your insight! It sounds like you are approached often to review new books. It does make it tricky if it’s a request, especially outside your own preferences. Thanks for chiming in about your process, as I’m sure others will appreciate the perspective too. I’ll have to take a look at the Puzzle Lady– I do enjoy cozy mysteries. Sue

Here’s another cozy mystery book review in case you’re interested. I’m not approached by writers that often, but there are the Story Cartel, Book Bub and Goodreads, all sites where authors ask for review volunteers.

Reel Estate Ripoff by Renee Pawlish

The detective Reed Ferguson is a fan of Humphry Bogart, movie memorabilia of that era, and fancies himself a bit of a Sam Slade. Though not your super-sleuth, rather inept at times, he’s a likeable character. Told in first person, the story has a Philip Marlowe tone to it, but much tamer. Dialogue and story line are well done, the story well plotted and believable. I’d gladly read more stories about this particular gumshoe.

If you like cozy mystery books, I’ll send you a list later, Sue. Love them too and I’ve met many authors who write in this genre. Back on topic– you inspire me again to add some reviews to my Blog. I have been reading and writing many middle grade mysteries for a project! My latest favorite: “The World’s Greatest Detective” by Caroline Carson (who I hope to meet tomorrow in Arlington, VA!) My 12 year old grandson borrowed it and finished it before I could. “It’s the best mystery I ever read, Grandma! You’ ll never guess the ending with unpredictable twists!” What better review could we read. The target audience and I both highly recommend this 2017 mystery.

Adding it to my stack, Beth. Thanks!

Not wanting to sound life an idiot, but willing to risk it here among friends: What exactly is a cozy mystery?

Glad you asked! It’s a subgenre of mystery. The best examples of cozy mysteries are those by Agatha Christie. They usually avoid profanity, excessive gore/ violence, and sex. They focus more on the puzzle, sleuth, and their smaller world. Hope that helps!

Thanks, Sue.

Wonderful article. The first I have read by you. It especially gets those of us who don’t feel we have the formula down for review writing to be introduced to a form we can build upon with experience. You’ve kept it simple but you have given us the main ingredients needed for a good review. I printed this one off to look at the next few times I write reviews. Thank you.

Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for reading and commenting!

I haven’t gone into all this. It’s a matter of time, Joe. I gad about all over the place, not knowing where I am or where I’m going. Within weeks, I’ll be 87. I’ve books of my own that I’d like to see reviewed. Even sorting them out, however, even finding where any of them are, would be a time burden. You see the fix?

Hi Dave, You aren’t alone in feeling the press of time for getting your stories out into the world. May I gently offer this: start with finding and sorting one. If you can’t find it, write it anew. You’ve probably grown in time and perspective since you wrote the first draft, which will make for a stronger story. Good luck. I’m cheering you on!

This is an article for me, because I am happy to receive a rating. I haven’t sold many books. But, at least some thinks that it was worth the time to read. That was refreshing. And, I think I wrote two reviews, so far. It was on Amazon.com. Thank you.

You’re welcome!

Hi, Sue. Thanks for the helpful advice. I did a review on Amazon for the first of a 7-part thriller titled ‘Mosh Pit (The Rose Garden Incident)’ by Michael Hiebert. [Here it is.]

“5.0 out of 5 stars Advance copy review. By A fellow author on September 18, 2016 Format: Kindle Edition I Recommend This Book Strongly

I enjoyed reading this first part of the thriller. The author’s opening chapter/prologue was fast paced, and set me in the middle of the inciting incident along with two of the main characters. After that thrilling opening, I felt the ensuing chapters moved at a more leisurely pace, and was about to grade them as less praiseworthy when I watched a lecture by Brandon Sanderson on YouTube about building three dimensional characters and realised Michael Hiebert had done exactly that by introducing the reader to the minutiae of other characters who had parts to play in the development of the story. So, instead of cardboard cutouts of bland stock characters, the author shows us real people with real concerns that the reader can relate to.and actually care about. I look forward to reading the rest of this intriguing thriller, and highly recommend it to all lovers of well-written, and well-crafted thrillers.”

I also reviewed Part 2 of the series, but that review is too long to post here.

Footnote: The author, Michael Hiebert, was so pleased with my reviews, he recently asked me to beta-read a short story collection he plans to publish in November.

Great review, John! I like how you shared a bit of your process as a reader too, in recognizing what the writer was doing with their characterization. Thanks!

Thank you, Sue.

Five out of five stars When I picked up a copy of “The Girl with All the Gifts,” by M R Carey, at the used book store, I somehow had it in my head that it was a YA dystopian novel along the lines of “Divergent” or “The Hunger Games.” While I would definitely say that I was not right about that, I wouldn’t say that I was completely wrong. I was, however, completely unprepared for a zombie novel–which is a good thing, cause I wouldn’t have read it, and I’m glad I did. Think “The Walking Dead” meets (why do I want to say ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night”?) “Peter Pan.” I really enjoyed seeing things from, the main character, Melanie’s point of view. Her limited knowledge of her own situation was intriguing, to say the least (and probably why I thought of “The Curious Incident”). I was a bit disappointed when the POV changed to another character’s, but, as the novel progressed, I found myself sympathizing with nearly all the characters–with one exception, and I’ll leave that for you to ponder when you read it. I wondered how much of the science was real, but not enough for me to research it myself. Although, based on other reviews, I guess most of the science about the fungus is real. I also wondered about the fate of the remaining ‘lost boys’ of the cities. If you liked…. well, I don’t know. I’m not typically a fan of things zombie, so I don’t have a comparison, but the book was somewhat similar to “Divergent” and “The Hunger Games” in that the main character goes through a hellluva time and comes out the other side with a plan for her future.

“Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom is a true story about how one man found meaning in life when his doctors gave him a death sentence. Morrie was a college professor who passed on his new found wisdom in the last year of his life to a favorite student, the author, who chronicled his professor’s perspectives on death and dying.

I chose this book because of its philosophical topic, and because it is so well written that the words just jump off the page.

Knowing we are all mortal beings, I especially liked the insights, the tidbits of wisdom imparted by the dying man. Death is a subject that few, if any of us, ever talk about seriously with friends and family. The subject of death is verboten. We deny its existence. And, if we are religious, we pretend we will not really die, but we deceive ourselves and think we will live on in some afterlife existence for all eternity. But the professor, Morrie, learns some valuable life lessons from his impending death, and Mitch Albom was gracious enough to capture them in this short but eminently readable book.

I really liked the book because it is timeless. This true story will impart serious life lessons for all future generations, and will help us gain perspectives on our lives and the relationships with those we love the most.

R. Allan Worrell

Sue, I’ve been meaning to come back since this was first posted to tell you thanks for a great article. I seldom review books for alllllll the reasons you listed. This is a perfect tool and I’ll surely use it. Cathy

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How to Write a Book Review: A Comprehensive Tutorial With Examples

You don’t need to be a literary expert to craft captivating book reviews. With one in every three readers selecting books based on insightful reviews, your opinions can guide fellow bibliophiles toward their next literary adventure.

Learning how to write a book review will not only help you excel at your assigned tasks, but you’ll also contribute valuable insights to the book-loving community and turn your passion into a professional pursuit.

In this comprehensive guide,  PaperPerk  will walk you through a few simple steps to master the art of writing book reviews so you can confidently embark on this rewarding journey.

What is a Book Review?

A book review is a critical evaluation of a book, offering insights into its content, quality, and impact. It helps readers make informed decisions about whether to read the book.

Writing a book review as an assignment benefits students in multiple ways. Firstly, it teaches them how to write a book review by developing their analytical skills as they evaluate the content, themes, and writing style .

Secondly, it enhances their ability to express opinions and provide constructive criticism. Additionally, book review assignments expose students to various publications and genres, broadening their knowledge.

Furthermore, these tasks foster essential skills for academic success, like critical thinking and the ability to synthesize information. By now, we’re sure you want to learn how to write a book review, so let’s look at the book review template first.

Table of Contents

Book Review Template

How to Write a Book Review- A Step-by-Step Guide

Check out these 5 straightforward steps for composing the best book review.

Step 1: Planning Your Book Review – The Art of Getting Started

You’ve decided to take the plunge and share your thoughts on a book that has captivated (or perhaps disappointed) you. Before you start book reviewing, let’s take a step back and plan your approach. Knowing how to write a book review that’s both informative and engaging is an art in itself.

Choosing Your Literature

First things first, pick the book you want to review. This might seem like a no-brainer, but selecting a book that genuinely interests you will make the review process more enjoyable and your insights more authentic.

Crafting the Master Plan

Next, create an  outline  that covers all the essential points you want to discuss in your review. This will serve as the roadmap for your writing journey.

The Devil is in the Details

As you read, note any information that stands out, whether it overwhelms, underwhelms, or simply intrigues you. Pay attention to:

• The characters and their development
• The plot and its intricacies
• Any themes, symbols, or motifs you find noteworthy

Remember to reserve a body paragraph for each point you want to discuss.

The Key Questions to Ponder

When planning your book review, consider the following questions:

• What’s the plot (if any)? Understanding the driving force behind the book will help you craft a more effective review.
• Is the plot interesting? Did the book hold your attention and keep you turning the pages?
• Are the writing techniques effective? Does the author’s style captivate you, making you want to read (or reread) the text?
• Are the characters or the information believable? Do the characters/plot/information feel real, and can you relate to them?
• Would you recommend the book to anyone? Consider if the book is worthy of being recommended, whether to impress someone or to support a point in a literature class.
• What could be improved? Always keep an eye out for areas that could be improved. Providing constructive criticism can enhance the quality of literature.

Step 2 – Crafting the Perfect Introduction to Write a Book Review

In this second step of “how to write a book review,” we’re focusing on the art of creating a powerful opening that will hook your audience and set the stage for your analysis.

Identify Your Book and Author

Begin by mentioning the book you’ve chosen, including its  title  and the author’s name. This informs your readers and establishes the subject of your review.

Ponder the Title

Next, discuss the mental images or emotions the book’s title evokes in your mind . This helps your readers understand your initial feelings and expectations before diving into the book.

Judge the Book by Its Cover (Just a Little)

Take a moment to talk about the book’s cover. Did it intrigue you? Did it hint at what to expect from the story or the author’s writing style? Sharing your thoughts on the cover can offer a unique perspective on how the book presents itself to potential readers.

Present Your Thesis

Now it’s time to introduce your thesis. This statement should be a concise and insightful summary of your opinion of the book. For example:

“Normal People” by Sally Rooney is a captivating portrayal of the complexities of human relationships, exploring themes of love, class, and self-discovery with exceptional depth and authenticity.

Ensure that your thesis is relevant to the points or quotes you plan to discuss throughout your review.

Incorporating these elements into your introduction will create a strong foundation for your book review. Your readers will be eager to learn more about your thoughts and insights on the book, setting the stage for a compelling and thought-provoking analysis.

How to Write a Book Review: Step 3 – Building Brilliant Body Paragraphs

You’ve planned your review and written an attention-grabbing introduction. Now it’s time for the main event: crafting the body paragraphs of your book review. In this step of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the art of constructing engaging and insightful body paragraphs that will keep your readers hooked.

Summarize Without Spoilers

Begin by summarizing a specific section of the book, not revealing any major plot twists or spoilers. Your goal is to give your readers a taste of the story without ruining surprises.

Support Your Viewpoint with Quotes

Next, choose three quotes from the book that support your viewpoint or opinion. These quotes should be relevant to the section you’re summarizing and help illustrate your thoughts on the book.

Analyze the Quotes

Write a summary of each quote in your own words, explaining how it made you feel or what it led you to think about the book or the author’s writing. This analysis should provide insight into your perspective and demonstrate your understanding of the text.

Structure Your Body Paragraphs

Dedicate one body paragraph to each quote, ensuring your writing is well-connected, coherent, and easy to understand.

For example:

• In  Jane Eyre , Charlotte Brontë writes, “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me.” This powerful statement highlights Jane’s fierce independence and refusal to be trapped by societal expectations.
• In  Normal People , Sally Rooney explores the complexities of love and friendship when she writes, “It was culture as class performance, literature fetishized for its ability to take educated people on false emotional journeys.” This quote reveals the author’s astute observations on the role of culture and class in shaping personal relationships.
• In  Wuthering Heights , Emily Brontë captures the tumultuous nature of love with the quote, “He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” This poignant line emphasizes the deep, unbreakable bond between the story’s central characters.

By following these guidelines, you’ll create body paragraphs that are both captivating and insightful, enhancing your book review and providing your readers with a deeper understanding of the literary work. 

How to Write a Book Review: Step 4 – Crafting a Captivating Conclusion

You’ve navigated through planning, introductions, and body paragraphs with finesse. Now it’s time to wrap up your book review with a  conclusion that leaves a lasting impression . In this final step of “How to write a Book Review,” we’ll explore the art of writing a memorable and persuasive conclusion.

Summarize Your Analysis

Begin by summarizing the key points you’ve presented in the body paragraphs. This helps to remind your readers of the insights and arguments you’ve shared throughout your review.

Offer Your Final Conclusion

Next, provide a conclusion that reflects your overall feelings about the book. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression and persuade your readers to consider your perspective.

Address the Book’s Appeal

Now, answer the question: Is this book worth reading? Be clear about who would enjoy the book and who might not. Discuss the taste preferences and circumstances that make the book more appealing to some readers than others.

For example:  The Alchemist is a book that can enchant a young teen, but those who are already well-versed in classic literature might find it less engaging.

Be Subtle and Balanced

Avoid simply stating whether you “liked” or “disliked” the book. Instead, use nuanced language to convey your message. Highlight the pros and cons of reading the type of literature you’ve reviewed, offering a balanced perspective.

Bringing It All Together

By following these guidelines, you’ll craft a conclusion that leaves your readers with a clear understanding of your thoughts and opinions on the book. Your review will be a valuable resource for those considering whether to pick up the book, and your witty and insightful analysis will make your review a pleasure to read. So conquer the world of book reviews, one captivating conclusion at a time!

How to Write a Book Review: Step 5 – Rating the Book (Optional)

You’ve masterfully crafted your book review, from the introduction to the conclusion. But wait, there’s one more step you might consider before calling it a day: rating the book. In this optional step of “how to write a book review,” we’ll explore the benefits and methods of assigning a rating to the book you’ve reviewed.

Why Rate the Book?

Sometimes, when writing a professional book review, it may not be appropriate to state whether you liked or disliked the book. In such cases, assigning a rating can be an effective way to get your message across without explicitly sharing your personal opinion.

How to Rate the Book

There are various rating systems you can use to evaluate the book, such as:

• A star rating (e.g., 1 to 5 stars)
• A numerical score (e.g., 1 to 10)
• A letter grade (e.g., A+ to F)

Choose a rating system that best suits your style and the format of your review. Be consistent in your rating criteria, considering writing quality, character development, plot, and overall enjoyment.

Tips for Rating the Book

Here are some tips for rating the book effectively:

• Be honest: Your rating should reflect your true feelings about the book. Don’t inflate or deflate your rating based on external factors, such as the book’s popularity or the author’s reputation.
• Be fair: Consider the book’s merits and shortcomings when rating. Even if you didn’t enjoy the book, recognize its strengths and acknowledge them in your rating.
• Be clear: Explain the rationale behind your rating so your readers understand the factors that influenced your evaluation.

Wrapping Up

By including a rating in your book review, you provide your readers with additional insight into your thoughts on the book. While this step is optional, it can be a valuable tool for conveying your message subtly yet effectively. So, rate those books confidently, adding a touch of wit and wisdom to your book reviews.

Additional Tips on How to Write a Book Review: A Guide

In this segment, we’ll explore additional tips on how to write a book review. Get ready to captivate your readers and make your review a memorable one!

Hook ’em with an Intriguing Introduction

Keep your introduction precise and to the point. Readers have the attention span of a goldfish these days, so don’t let them swim away in boredom. Start with a bang and keep them hooked!

Embrace the World of Fiction

When learning how to write a book review, remember that reviewing fiction is often more engaging and effective. If your professor hasn’t assigned you a specific book, dive into the realm of fiction and select a novel that piques your interest.

Opinionated with Gusto

Don’t shy away from adding your own opinion to your review. A good book review always features the writer’s viewpoint and constructive criticism. After all, your readers want to know what  you  think!

Express Your Love (or Lack Thereof)

If you adored the book, let your readers know! Use phrases like “I’ll definitely return to this book again” to convey your enthusiasm. Conversely, be honest but respectful even if the book wasn’t your cup of tea.

Templates and Examples and Expert Help: Your Trusty Sidekicks

Feeling lost? You can always get help from formats, book review examples or online  college paper writing service  platforms. These trusty sidekicks will help you navigate the world of book reviews with ease. 

Be a Champion for New Writers and Literature

Remember to uplift new writers and pieces of literature. If you want to suggest improvements, do so kindly and constructively. There’s no need to be mean about anyone’s books – we’re all in this literary adventure together!

Criticize with Clarity, Not Cruelty

When adding criticism to your review, be clear but not mean. Remember, there’s a fine line between constructive criticism and cruelty. Tread lightly and keep your reader’s feelings in mind.

Avoid the Comparison Trap

Resist the urge to compare one writer’s book with another. Every book holds its worth, and comparing them will only confuse your reader. Stick to discussing the book at hand, and let it shine in its own light.

Top 7 Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Writing a book review can be a delightful and rewarding experience, especially when you balance analysis, wit, and personal insights. However, some common mistakes can kill the brilliance of your review. 

In this section of “How to write a book review,” we’ll explore the top 7 blunders writers commit and how to steer clear of them, with a dash of  modernist literature  examples and tips for students writing book reviews as assignments.

Succumbing to the Lure of Plot Summaries

Mistake: Diving headfirst into a plot summary instead of dissecting the book’s themes, characters, and writing style.

Example: “The Bell Jar chronicles the life of a young woman who experiences a mental breakdown.”

How to Avoid: Delve into the book’s deeper aspects, such as its portrayal of mental health, societal expectations, and the author’s distinctive narrative voice. Offer thoughtful insights and reflections, making your review a treasure trove of analysis.

Unleashing the Spoiler Kraken

Mistake: Spilling major plot twists or the ending without providing a spoiler warning, effectively ruining the reading experience for potential readers.

Example: “In Metamorphosis, the protagonist’s transformation into a monstrous insect leads to…”

How to Avoid: Tread carefully when discussing significant plot developments, and consider using spoiler warnings. Focus on the impact of these plot points on the overall narrative, character growth, or thematic resonance.

Riding the Personal Bias Express

Mistake: Allowing personal bias to hijack the review without providing sufficient evidence or reasoning to support opinions.

Example: “I detest books about existential crises, so The Sun Also Rises was a snoozefest.”

How to Avoid: While personal opinions are valid, it’s crucial to back them up with specific examples from the book. Discuss aspects like writing style, character development, or pacing to support your evaluation and provide a more balanced perspective.

Wielding the Vague Language Saber

Mistake: Resorting to generic, vague language that fails to capture the nuances of the book and can come across as clichéd.

Example: “This book was mind-blowing. It’s a must-read for everyone.”

How to Avoid: Use precise and descriptive language to express your thoughts. Employ specific examples and quotations to highlight memorable scenes, the author’s unique writing style, or the impact of the book’s themes on readers.

Ignoring the Contextualization Compass

Mistake: Neglecting to provide context about the author, genre, or cultural relevance of the book, leaving readers without a proper frame of reference.

Example: “This book is dull and unoriginal.”

How to Avoid: Offer readers a broader understanding by discussing the author’s background, the genre conventions the book adheres to or subverts, and any societal or historical contexts that inform the narrative. This helps readers appreciate the book’s uniqueness and relevance.

Overindulging in Personal Preferences

Mistake: Letting personal preferences overshadow an objective assessment of the book’s merits.

Example: “I don’t like stream-of-consciousness writing, so this book is automatically bad.”

How to Avoid: Acknowledge personal preferences but strive to evaluate the book objectively. Focus on the book’s strengths and weaknesses, considering how well it achieves its goals within its genre or intended audience.

Forgetting the Target Audience Telescope

Mistake: Failing to mention the book’s target audience or who might enjoy it, leading to confusion for potential readers.

Example: “This book is great for everyone.”

How to Avoid: Contemplate the book’s intended audience, genre, and themes. Mention who might particularly enjoy the book based on these factors, whether it’s fans of a specific genre, readers interested in character-driven stories, or those seeking thought-provoking narratives.

By dodging these common pitfalls, writers can craft insightful, balanced, and engaging book reviews that help readers make informed decisions about their reading choices.

These tips are particularly beneficial for students writing book reviews as assignments, as they ensure a well-rounded and thoughtful analysis.!

Many students requested us to cover how to write a book review. This thorough guide is sure to help you. At Paperperk, professionals are dedicated to helping students find their balance. We understand the importance of good grades, so we offer the finest writing service , ensuring students stay ahead of the curve. So seek expert help because only Paperperk is your perfect solution!

What is the difference between a book review and a report?

Who is the target audience for book reviews and book reports, how do book reviews and reports differ in length and content, can i write professional book reviews, what are the key aspects of writing professional book reviews, how can i enhance my book-reviewing skills to write professional reviews, what should be included in a good book review.

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Posted on Mar 04, 2020

How to Write a Children's Picture Book in 8 Steps

It might be tempting to think that writing a children's picture book is easier than writing a full-length novel. However, a picture book actually requires all the same major storytelling elements that a novel does — such as well-drawn characters and an intriguing plot — just in a much smaller space.

The good news is that if you can achieve these things (with engaging illustrations to boot!), you’ll be poised to inspire the imaginations of young readers, who are always looking to welcome their next beloved picture book into their library.

To help all the aspiring authors who want to be the next Maurice Sendak or Margaret Wise Brown, we’ve put together this eight-step guide for how to write a children's picture book — plus tips for editing, illustrating, and publishing it!

Let’s start with the basics...

1. Come up with your idea

Successful picture books are the ones that strike the right balance between appealing to two different audiences: while a picture book is intended for children, it’s ultimately the parents who decide whether or not to buy it — or to read it aloud. (That being said, appealing to and entertaining adults shouldn’t take priority over the children you’re writing your children's picture book for.)

Luckily, coming up with an idea for your picture book is essentially the same as coming up with an idea for any book, for any age category. It’s how you present that idea that will differ. For instance, your picture book idea might center around specific childhood experiences, such as:

• Losing a favorite toy
• Bedtime struggles
• Imaginary friends
• Fear of the dark

But when you strip those ideas down to their core, you’ll find that their concepts are universal:

• Overcoming challenges

In that respect, successful books don’t connect with readers because they present an idea that’s never been explored before. They succeed because they convey topics in new and interesting ways. Sure, Goodnight Moon has been helping parents put their children to bed for over 70 years. But you can be sure that stories about bedtime will continue to hit the shelves for a long time to come, provided that they look at the topic from different angles or act as an educational tool.

To ensure your idea is solid, ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I presenting the theme of my book in a way that’s relevant to children?
• Do I explore the themes of my book in a way that feels unique?
• Will my book appeal to parents? This question can be trickier to answer, but if you can say “yes” to the first two questions, you’re probably on the right track here as well. Also, as an adult yourself, think about the picture books that have stuck with you, and then take note of the elements that keep the book fresh in your mind as an adult.

If you’re struggling to nail down the core concept of your book, this guide to story themes might help. Or perhaps it’s inspiration you’re after, in which case this list of the best 100 children’s books of all time is sure to get your creative wheels turning!

2. Identify your reading category

Let’s take a quick look at the different types of books that rely on illustrations, as well as some popular examples of each.

Board Books

• Reading age: 0-3 years
• Length: around 300 words
• Examples: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr., The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Picture Books

• Reading age: 4-6 years
• Length: 400-600 words
• Examples: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Early Readers

• Reading age: 6-8 years
• Length: around 2,000 words
• Examples: Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, Curious George by H.A. and Margaret Rey

Chapter books — for readers between 9-11 years-old — also typically contain illustrations. However, they’re often black and white sketches as opposed to full-color illustrations, and the pictures are used to complement the story rather than to help tell the story. If you’re looking for more in-depth details on the reading ages of various kid lit, check out this guide to writing a children’s book or sign up for the course below!

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3. Work out your narrative voice

Even though many kids are able to read to themselves by the time they’ve graduated to the picture book and early reader categories, all books that rely heavily on illustrations are often still read aloud. That’s why rhyming in children’s books is pretty common — it creates a fun and engaging vocal storytelling experience. (Still, rhyming is not always a good idea for picture book writers — more on that below!)

Besides prose that sounds good out loud, there are a number of other factors to keep in mind regarding the narrative style of your picture book:

If you’ve ever casually dropped a word into a conversation with a child, only for them to ask you what it means, and stump you as you try to find a way to explain it, you’ll know the importance of tailoring the vocabulary of your picture book to the age range of your readers.

This, again, means striking the right balance. You want the vocabulary you use to be accessible to children. At the same time, you also want to offer young readers the chance to expand their understanding of language — aided by the illustrations. As children's editor Jenny Bowman says, “Children are smarter than you think and context can be a beautiful teacher.”

If you’re unsure whether the vocabulary in your book hits the right note, your best bet is to read other picture books to compare, and to get feedback from parents and children themselves. (But more on that later.)

On the note of helping young ones expand their vocabulary and reading skills: repetition plays a key role in many picture books!

The use of repetition allows children to anticipate what the next word or sentence of a story might be, encouraging them to participate in the act of reading and following along.

Examples include Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, and One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom. Oh, and almost anything from Dr. Seuss, of course!

As with repetition, rhyming can help children anticipate upcoming elements in a story. It can also contribute to a more fun, memorable reading experience — how many of us can still rattle off “I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam, I am!”

However, as all aspiring picture book authors know, it’s incredibly tough to get rhyming really right . An otherwise wonderful book can be brought down by sloppy rhyming, and unless you’re Dr. Seuss’ equally-talented grandchild, publishers will likely be wary of your rhyming manuscript. So deciding to go the rhyme-time route is taking a risk.

But if you decide that rhyming is the style for you and anything else simply won’t do (see what we did there?), remember that the story should always come first. Don’t sacrifice plot or any other important story elements for the sake of your rhymes.

Point of View

Point of view refers to the perspective of the narrator. If a story is told from…

• First person, the narrator is the person the story is happening to and will use words like “me” or “I.” For example, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.
• Second person, the narrator is placing the reader within the story and will use words like “you” or “your.” For example, In New York by Marc Brown.
• Third person, the narrator is telling the story from outside the action. In third person limited, the narrator is only able to reveal the thoughts and feelings of one particular character, while in third person omniscient, the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters. This POV uses words like “he” or “she.” For example, Corduroy by Don Freeman.

Deciding what POV you want to use is a big decision when it comes to how to write a children's picture book, and all of them have their own strong suits, depending on the story you’re telling. Love You Forever , for instance, is a book about unconditional love and is a comforting read (of course, until you’re older and suddenly it becomes a real tear-jerker!), so it makes sense that the narrator is speaking directly to the reader, using second person language like “you.”

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Learn more about each narrative perspective in this guide to point of view.

4. Develop engaging characters

Writing a picture book is not an opportunity to scale back the work that goes into creating realistic, well-rounded characters with their own motivations, struggles, strengths, and weaknesses. Yes, you’re telling a story with far fewer words than a novel, and you have the benefit of using illustrations to help convey meaning, but your characters should still feel like real people .

Think back to the books you enjoyed as a kid. Likely, they stand out to you because you loved or related to their characters. If a parent or guardian knows their child has become a fan of a specific character, they’re also far more likely to continue buying more picture books about that same character. So taking the time to write fully-realized characters will not only allow you to hone your craft, but it’ll also allow you to build a fanbase.

Keep in mind that characters don’t need to mirror kids to appeal to them. You don’t need to worry about alienating your customer base by writing characters that don’t look, sound, or act as they do. Indeed, striving to create a cast with as broad appeal as possible is a ticket to creating forgettable characters. Don’t be afraid of cooking up unique characters that will connect with children in their own special ways — think about how many kids hold animals, aliens, or anthropomorphized objects near and dear to their hearts.

To help you out on that front, we’ve got three handy resources:

• A free downloadable template to help you build your character from the ground-up.
• A guide to building up your characters and really zero in on what makes them tick.
• This list of character development exercises that you can turn to any time you feel a sense of disconnect with your characters.

Don’t forget to consider the significance of providing children with access to characters that represent them. Read up about the importance of diversity in children’s books here.

5. Show, don’t tell

A piece of advice extended to all authors, “show, don’t tell” actually puts picture book writers at an advantage because of the illustrations that accompany their books! And you should absolutely rely on your illustrations to convey things to readers, allowing you to save your limited word count for other things.

Of course, the concept of “showing” by employing sensory details in your writing still applies to children's picture books, too. For instance, in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day , author Judith Viorst doesn’t need to repeatedly remind readers about how annoyed Alexander becomes throughout the day. He does so by focusing on the frustrating events Alexander encounters, and by using the illustrations to elaborate on how Alex is feeling. Consider his disgruntled expression and tersely folded arms in the image above.

One tip for making sure your picture book shows instead of tells is to look for instances of the words “is,” “are,” “was,” or “were.” Double-check if any of the sentences associated with these words are telling the reader something you might be able to show them instead.

Brush up on this golden rule of writing with this comprehensive guide to “show, don’t tell.”

6. Edit and seek feedback

As we just mentioned, every word really needs to count in a book with so few words. So the first step of your editing process should be to go through your book line by line, and for each one consider: is this line crucial for my story? If the answer is yes, carry on. If it’s no, remove it!

After you’ve finished that, go back through your manuscript looking for any spelling or grammatical errors.

Once you’ve gotten your manuscript as polished as you can, it’s time to seek out feedback from the most honest beta readers out there: children!

If you have friends or family with children, ask them to read your book to their little ones, taking note of their feedback. Bonus points if you can watch someone reading your book to a child, as you’ll not only get their reaction, but you’ll also get a chance to hear what your book sounds like read aloud by another person.

There are also a number of great communities for children’s book authors out there that you can join for critiques and feedback.

Finally, if you want to be really sure that your picture book is ready to capture the imaginations of young readers, consider working with a professional editor . Editors pull from their insight into the publishing market they specialize in to inform their feedback — so the benefits an experienced children’s book editor can provide your story are significant.

If you want to dip your toes into the idea of working with a professional editor, you can sign up for a free Reedsy marketplace account and request quotes from a number of different children’s editors at no cost — including some who have worked with popular authors like R.L. Stine and Daisy Meadows!

Get a professional to edit your picture book.

Over 2,000 of the best picture book editors are on Reedsy. Sign up to meet them today!

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

At this point your children's picture book should be complete! You can now turn your sights to illustration and publishing.

7. Illustrate your picture book

If you’re hoping to have your book traditionally published, you can skip this step and go straight to the next. In just about every case, if your book is acquired by a publisher, they will want to choose their own artist to take care of the illustrations. In fact, sending a publisher your already-illustrated manuscript could harm your chances of landing a book deal as it may prevent editors from seeing how your book fits them . Think of it as going to see a house you’re interested in buying. If the place is covered with the current owner’s personality, you might have a tougher time seeing yourself living there. If the house is presented as more of a clean slate, you might walk in and spot the potential right off the bat.

Now, if you’re planning to self-publish your children's picture book, you will absolutely want to hire a professional artist to do the illustrations — unless you happen to be Eric Carle and possess both excellent writing and illustrating chops. Here's how to find the right illustrator for you.

1. Get an idea of the kind of illustrations you like.

Ultimately, the illustrator you hire will have input regarding what sorts of illustrations tend to work with the kind of book you’ve written. That being said, you should absolutely go into the process of finding the right collaborator with an idea of what you like. Head to your local bookstore and spend time browsing through the picture books there. Make notes of illustration elements you do or don’t like. Alternatively, scroll through these book illustration examples for illustration inspiration .

2. Establish a budget, brief, and deadline.

These are three key things you want to have in mind before you start looking for an illustrator. You want to know how much you can afford to spend on illustrations, how much work you need to be done (for instance, how many pages need illustrating and what type of illustrations you’re looking for), and what date you need the work completed by. This information will all play a big role in scouting out the designers that are right for your project. But remember, you may need to adjust your expectations as you start talking to illustrators and begin to get an idea of how much they typically charge and how long the average turnaround time is.

3. Thoroughly look through illustrator’s portfolios.

This is the best way to come up with a shortlist of illustrators you’re interested in working with. As well as getting a sense of their work and whether it’s up your alley, you should keep an eye out for their credentials: have they illustrated picture books for your age group before? Have they illustrated characters that resemble yours before? And so on and so forth.

4. Reach out to illustrators.

Once you’ve finalized your shortlist, start reaching out to illustrators by telling them about your book, and the budget, brief, and deadline details you worked out beforehand. If you’re looking for a secure environment to scope out experienced illustrators, sign up for a free Reedsy account to gain access to our vetted marketplace of professional illustrators. You’ll be able to check out their portfolios and past work experience with just the click of a button!

Looking for a professional picture book illustrator?

Over 100 of the best picture book illustrators are on Reedsy. Sign up for free to meet them!

8. Publish your picture book

If you’re not yet sure which publishing path you want to take , here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

Self-publishing a picture book

If you want to dictate the amount of time it takes to bring your book to market, have the final say on all creative decisions, and keep a much larger percentage of royalties, then self-publishing your picture book is likely the right move for you.

That being said, self-publishing also means that you need to be willing to do all the marketing and distribution work yourself — and the costs associated with publishing your book will all have to come out of your own pocket.

For many authors, one of the biggest draws of self-publishing is accessibility. The picture book market is notoriously competitive when it comes to landing a publishing deal. It can be a very long game with an unclear outcome. So if your primary goal above all is to see your book published and available for little readers, stick to self-publishing.

Here some resources to help you along the way:

• How to Self-Publish a Children’s Book [blog post]
• Guide to Marketing a Children’s Book [free course]
• Guide to Print on Demand [blog post]

Traditionally Publishing a picture book

In a plot twist that everyone saw coming , the benefits to traditional publishing coincide with the potential pitfalls of self-publishing. Those benefits include wider distribution and greater chances of seeing your book stocked in brick-and-mortar stores, a production team who will work on the book at no cost to the author, an advance against sales, and at least a degree of book promotion — though even with traditional publishing, authors are expected to shoulder a portion of marketing efforts as well.

On the other hand, there’s the inaccessibility, slower publishing timeline, less creative input, and smaller percent of royalties that we also mentioned above.

If you’re set on traditional publishing, don’t forget to consider smaller indie publishers and small presses outside of the Big 5 publishers , who might be more likely to take a chance on an unknown children’s author.

Here are is some extra reading to answer more of your trad publishing questions:

• How to Publish a Children’s Book [blog post]
• How to Write a Query Letter [blog post]
• How to Identify The Target Market of Your Children’s Book [blog post]

Finally, whether you’re planning to self-publish your book or go the traditional route, this free online course is a great resource that breaks the process of publishing a picture book down into manageable steps.

Free course: How to publish your picture book

Get your picture book into the hands of little readers everywhere with this 10-day online course. Get started now.

And there you have it: how to write a children's picture book in eight steps. Whether you’ve landed on this blog post at the very start of your writing journey or in the middle of the publishing process, remember to keep the goal of reaching young readers in mind every step of the way. Bonus points if you can approach this often-challenging endeavor with a sense of childlike curiosity and fun 😊

Are you in the process of writing a picture book? Tell us about it — and ask any questions you might still have — in the comments below!

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How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide

WHAT IS A BOOK REVIEW?

Traditionally, book reviews are evaluations of a recently published book in any genre. Usually, around the 500 to 700-word mark, they briefly describe a text’s main elements while appraising the work’s strengths and weaknesses. Published book reviews can appear in newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. They provide the reader with an overview of the book itself and indicate whether or not the reviewer would recommend the book to the reader.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A BOOK REVIEW?

There was a time when book reviews were a regular appearance in every quality newspaper and many periodicals. They were essential elements in whether or not a book would sell well. A review from a heavyweight critic could often be the deciding factor in whether a book became a bestseller or a damp squib. In the last few decades, however, the book review’s influence has waned considerably, with many potential book buyers preferring to consult customer reviews on Amazon, or sites like Goodreads, before buying. As a result, book review’s appearance in newspapers, journals, and digital media has become less frequent.

WHY BOTHER TEACHING STUDENTS TO WRITE BOOK REVIEWS AT ALL?

Even in the heyday of the book review’s influence, few students who learned the craft of writing a book review became literary critics! The real value of crafting a well-written book review for a student does not lie in their ability to impact book sales. Understanding how to produce a well-written book review helps students to:

●     Engage critically with a text

●     Critically evaluate a text

●     Respond personally to a range of different writing genres

●     Improve their own reading, writing, and thinking skills.

Not to Be Confused with a Book Report!

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BOOK REVIEW AND A BOOK REPORT?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are clear differences in both the purpose and the format of the two genres. Generally speaking, book reports aim to give a more detailed outline of what occurs in a book. A book report on a work of fiction will tend to give a comprehensive account of the characters, major plot lines, and themes in the book. Book reports are usually written around the K-12 age range, while book reviews tend not to be undertaken by those at the younger end of this age range due to the need for the higher-level critical skills required in writing them. At their highest expression, book reviews are written at the college level and by professional critics.

Learn how to write a book review step by step with our complete guide for students and teachers by familiarizing yourself with the structure and features.

BOOK REVIEW STRUCTURE

ANALYZE Evaluate the book with a critical mind.

THOROUGHNESS The whole is greater than the sum of all its parts. Review the book as a WHOLE.

COMPARE Where appropriate compare to similar texts and genres.

THUMBS UP OR DOWN? You are going to have to inevitably recommend or reject this book to potential readers.

BE CONSISTENT Take a stance and stick with it throughout your review.

FEATURES OF A BOOK REVIEW

PAST TENSE You are writing about a book you have already read.

EMOTIVE LANGUAGE Whatever your stance or opinion be passionate about it. Your audience will thank you for it.

VOICE Both active and passive voice are used in recounts.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF TEXTS

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This collection of  21 INDEPENDENT TASKS  and  GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS  takes students beyond the hype, special effects and trailers to look at visual literacy from several perspectives offering DEEP LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES by watching a  SERIES, DOCUMENTARY, FILM, and even  VIDEO GAMES.

ELEMENTS OF A BOOK REVIEW

As with any of the writing genres we teach our students, a book review can be helpfully explained in terms of criteria. While there is much to the ‘art’ of writing, there is also, thankfully, a lot of the nuts and bolts that can be listed too. Have students consider the following elements before writing:

●     Title: Often, the title of the book review will correspond to the title of the text itself, but there may also be some examination of the title’s relevance. How does it fit into the purpose of the work as a whole? Does it convey a message or reveal larger themes explored within the work?

●     Author: Within the book review, there may be some discussion of who the author is and what they have written before, especially if it relates to the current work being reviewed. There may be some mention of the author’s style and what they are best known for. If the author has received any awards or prizes, this may also be mentioned within the body of the review.

●     Genre: A book review will identify the genre that the book belongs to, whether fiction or nonfiction, poetry, romance, science-fiction, history etc. The genre will likely tie in, too with who the intended audience for the book is and what the overall purpose of the work is.

●     Book Jacket / Cover: Often, a book’s cover will contain artwork that is worthy of comment. It may contain interesting details related to the text that contribute to, or detract from, the work as a whole.

●     Structure: The book’s structure will often be heavily informed by its genre. Have students examine how the book is organized before writing their review. Does it contain a preface from a guest editor, for example? Is it written in sections or chapters? Does it have a table of contents, index, glossary etc.? While all these details may not make it into the review itself, looking at how the book is structured may reveal some interesting aspects.

●     Publisher and Price: A book review will usually contain details of who publishes the book and its cost. A review will often provide details of where the book is available too.

BOOK REVIEW KEY ELEMENTS

As students read and engage with the work they will review, they will develop a sense of the shape their review will take. This will begin with the summary. Encourage students to take notes during the reading of the work that will help them in writing the summary that will form an essential part of their review. Aspects of the book they may wish to take notes on in a work of fiction may include:

●     Characters: Who are the main characters? What are their motivations? Are they convincingly drawn? Or are they empathetic characters?

●     Themes: What are the main themes of the work? Are there recurring motifs in the work? Is the exploration of the themes deep or surface only?

●     Style: What are the key aspects of the writer’s style? How does it fit into the wider literary world?

●     Plot: What is the story’s main catalyst? What happens in the rising action? What are the story’s subplots? 

A book review will generally begin with a short summary of the work itself. However, it is important not to give too much away, remind students – no spoilers, please! For nonfiction works, this may be a summary of the main arguments of the work, again, without giving too much detail away. In a work of fiction, a book review will often summarise up to the rising action of the piece without going beyond to reveal too much!

The summary should also provide some orientation for the reader. Given the nature of the purpose of a review, it is important that students’ consider their intended audience in the writing of their review. Readers will most likely not have read the book in question and will require some orientation. This is often achieved through introductions to the main characters, themes, primary arguments etc. This will help the reader to gauge whether or not the book is of interest to them.

Once your student has summarized the work, it is time to ‘review’ in earnest. At this point, the student should begin to detail their own opinion of the book. To do this well they should:

i. Make It Personal

Often when teaching essay writing we will talk to our students about the importance of climbing up and down the ladder of abstraction. Just as it is helpful to explore large, more abstract concepts in an essay by bringing it down to Earth, in a book review, it is important that students can relate the characters, themes, ideas etc to their own lives.

Book reviews are meant to be subjective. They are opinion pieces, and opinions grow out of our experiences of life. Encourage students to link the work they are writing about to their own personal life within the body of the review. By making this personal connection to the work, students contextualize their opinions for the readers and help them to understand whether the book will be of interest to them or not in the process.

ii. Make It Universal

Just as it is important to climb down the ladder of abstraction to show how the work relates to individual life, it is important to climb upwards on the ladder too. Students should endeavor to show how the ideas explored in the book relate to the wider world. The may be in the form of the universality of the underlying themes in a work of fiction or, for example, the international implications for arguments expressed in a work of nonfiction.

iii. Support Opinions with Evidence

A book review is a subjective piece of writing by its very nature. However, just because it is subjective does not mean that opinions do not need to be justified. Make sure students understand how to back up their opinions with various forms of evidence, for example, quotations, statistics, and the use of primary and secondary sources.

EDIT AND REVISE YOUR BOOK REVIEW

As with any writing genre, encourage students to polish things up with review and revision at the end. Encourage them to proofread and check for accurate spelling throughout, with particular attention to the author’s name, character names, publisher etc. 

It is good practice too for students to double-check their use of evidence. Are statements supported? Are the statistics used correctly? Are the quotations from the text accurate? Mistakes such as these uncorrected can do great damage to the value of a book review as they can undermine the reader’s confidence in the writer’s judgement.

The discipline of writing book reviews offers students opportunities to develop their writing skills and exercise their critical faculties. Book reviews can be valuable standalone activities or serve as a part of a series of activities engaging with a central text. They can also serve as an effective springboard into later discussion work based on the ideas and issues explored in a particular book. Though the book review does not hold the sway it once did in the mind’s of the reading public, it still serves as an effective teaching tool in our classrooms today.

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

BOOK REVIEW GRAPHIC ORGANIZER (TEMPLATE)

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Book and Movie review writing examples (Student Writing Samples)

Below are a collection of student writing samples of book reviews.  Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail.  Please take a moment to both read the movie or book review in detail but also the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the key elements of writing a text review

Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of book review writing.

We would recommend reading the example either a year above and below, as well as the grade you are currently working with to gain a broader appreciation of this text type .

BOOK REVIEW VIDEO TUTORIALS

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO BOOK REVIEWS

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MSL Book Review

Sample picture book reviews.

Relive the fun and wonderment of winter’s first snow with  The Snowy Day  by Ezra Jack Keats. Children ages 3-8 will enjoy this simple, calm story that sparks imagination and love of discovery in nature. A young African American boy, Peter, ventures out alone after the first snowfall to explore and play. He recounts his exploits to his mother, dreams about snow, and tries to retrieve a snowball he saved in his pocket (it had vanished!)

The colorful mixed-media collage illustrations allow young readers to use their imaginations as they tag along with Peter through the snow. The large print text is written with short sentences as a third grade reading level, maintaining a slow and easy pace so readers have time to experience moments with Peter as he plays and learns about his environment.

The Snowy Day  is perfect for lap reading with a preschooler or to transition a child to quiet time. Teachers can use the book as a writing or art activity starter, or as an introduction to a weather lesson. Purchase a library binding edition of this title, as it will prove very popular with patrons. The story is similar in tone to Jane Yolen’s  Owl Moon,  which is for older readers, and is not as visually busy as Lois Ehlert’s  Snowballs. 

Original Review

There Was an Old Sailor  is a new tat on  There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly  – this time with sea creatures. The old sailor swallows first a krill, and moves down the line until he finally swallows a whale. Always a favorite “tell” or “sing” along with the required rhyme and repetition, this version does follow the food chain and at the end there isa double page of Fishy Facts. I enjoyed this book.

Improved Review

There Was an Old Sailor  is a new and nautical take on the old classic  There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly.  The imagery is based on sea creatures that the old sailor swallows and the illustrations are whimsical, though accurately drawn. This old rhyming classic is always a good read aloud and the new nautical theme and rhyming work well to liven up and old standard. This would be a book an excellent book to use as a group read where the children can begin to repeat the list of animals – especially if they are studying sea creatures in kindergarten or preschool. The last page gives “Fishy Facts” about all of the creatures that were swallowed throughout the book.

This is Writing

How to Write a Book Review

By Kara Hutchings

A great book review is one that helps a reader decide whether they will pick up the book and read it. This article will provide guidance on how to write a book review. It will answer the question ‘what is a book review’, help you choose which book to review and explore the key elements that form a successful review.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional, student, or brand new to book reviewing, here’s our strategies and suggestions for writing an effective book review.

What you’ll learn in this article

The purpose of this article is to teach you how to write a book review. By reading this article you will learn the following: 

What is a book review?

• How to choose a book to review
• How to critically analyse a book
• The key elements of a book review
• Rating a book
• FAQs about book reviewing

Before you even pick up the book, it’s important to understand exactly what a book review is. 

A book review describes, analyzes and evaluates a book based on elements including writing style, plot, characters, significance, impact and fitness for purpose. The criteria for evaluating a book are explored in more detail below.

The most important part of a book review is the analysis and evaluation. A book review requires a critical evaluation meaning you must form an opinion about the book and support your opinion with evidence. Evidence from the book can include direct quotes, writing techniques, themes and character dialogue.

To ensure you are critically evaluating a book, it’s important to avoid falling into the trap of simply describing the plot and characters. Your opinion must be clearly stated, whether it’s positive or negative. The following is an example of a simple description, without any analysis or evaluation:

“The unnamed narrator, a woman writer, lives in Vienna with a man named Malina who works at a military museum, and she is conducting an affair with a Hungarian man named Ivan, who lives nearby and has two young children.” [1]

Book reviews can vary in tone and style, depending on the author of the review (i.e. whether you’re an academic writing a scholarly review, a journalist, or an amateur reviewer, etc) and the book you are reviewing. 

However, there are key elements that should always be addressed in order to create an effective book review. These include:

• a summary of the book,
• a critical assessment, and;
• a conclusion, including whether or not you would recommend the book to your audience.

You can read more about the key elements of a book review below. 

Choosing a book to review

The first and probably most important step of writing a book review is choosing the book you would like to review.

If you’re considering writing a book review then you most likely already have a book in mind. But if not, a good place to start is by thinking about your favourite author, or genre, and finding books in this area.

Don’t be afraid to choose a book from an author you love. Some people can feel intimidated by well-respected or famous authors and hence avoid being overly critical of them. But it’s important to choose a book that you’re actually interested in. 

Reviewing a book you don’t really want to read will feel too much like a school project.

If you’re truly interested in the book before you, you’ll find the time to properly research, carefully read, and form ideas about the book – all elements of a good book review.

If you’re hoping to get your review published online, it’s also best to select a recently published book. A newer book is less likely to have already been reviewed by another book reviewer and therefore more likely to get published.

Writing the book review

Now the fun part begins. Getting your opinion out there for the world to see. But there’s much more to a book review than simply writing. A sound structure, supported by thorough research, will ensure your book review gets the credibility it deserves.

Here’s how to get started:

Before you start writing

Before you jump into writing, it’s important that you do your research. It’s easy to know whether you do or don’t like a book. But why you have that opinion needs to be supported by research and evidence (i.e. the elements that inform your critical evaluation ).

• Download sample book reviews

A great place to start, particularly if this is your very first book review, is to read other reviews. Most of the reviews you read will follow a similar structure and touch on similar points, so use others as a guide for how you should be setting out your work. If you come across a book review that you find really engaging, ask yourself why it was so impactful and try to reproduce those elements in your own work. Because if the review was persuasive enough to encourage (or dissuade) you to read the book, it’s a successful book review.

You can browse professional book reviews from writers all around the world on websites including:

• The Telegraph (UK) website
• The New York Times Sunday Book Review
• The New York Review of Books
• National Library of Australia website
• The Australian newspaper website
• Kirkus Book Reviews
• This Is Writing

As you’re reading through the book reviews make sure to take notes on factors that will form the basis of your review

• What are the common elements of the book reviews you have read? 
• What do you like about the reviews? 
• Do you prefer reviews with controversial opinions? 
• Do you like when a serious tone is used, or do you prefer a more casual review? 
• What could you do better? 

2. Do your research

A good book review is one supported by thorough research.

Understanding the context in which a novel was written will help you form an opinion later when you start writing.

It’s difficult to form an argument about the author’s choice of language, for example, if you don’t understand the time period in which the novel was composed. If you’re reading a vampire mystery book, how can you evaluate the structure of the storyline if you don’t understand the elements of that genre?

There are a number of complex and competing elements that will influence the choices an author has made, so it’s crucial to understand the reasons behind their choices in order to form an opinion about things like style, tone, character development, plot and language. Here is a great example of a book review which considers the historical context in which the novel was composed.

To help you with your contextual research, use the below template as a starting point: 

In addition to the above criteria, you should also be reading actively and critically. As you’re reading, ask yourself questions like;

• how did the author structure their argument and how did they support it?
• has the book helped you understand the topic?
• And most importantly, would you recommend this book to others? 

We will explore how to form an opinion and making recommendations more in-depth below.

How long should a book review be?

The length of your book review depends on why you are writing the review and who it is for. Is it simply to provide your opinion to your social media followers, or are you trying to get published online? Is it for an academic purpose? Perhaps it is a university assignment.

Generally, book reviews are around 500 words. However, professional and academic book reviews can be thousands of words in length. If you’re interested in writing a professional book review, check out example book reviews on The Guardian online to get an idea of length. Ultimately, the more words you use, the more thorough your analysis can be. But always be conscious of keeping your writing concise and to the point.

If you are opting for a longer review (around the 1,000 word mark), you can break up long paragraphs of text by using headings and sub-headings. This helps make the content more digestible for the reader.

The elements of a book review

Now that you’ve finished reading the book, made extensive notes, and completed your research, it’s time to begin writing.

Any writer would know that a high-quality piece of writing is well structured. Your arguments should be developed in a logical manner, beginning with the context of the novel and a general overview of the plot, followed by an exploration of the author’s argument, your own opinions about the book, and ending with a conclusion – what rating do you give the book and would you recommend it to others.

The three key elements that you should include in your book review are:

• A summary of the content – including the plot, context, author’s argument, etc. (i.e. all the information you gathered in your initial research).
• A critical assessment of the book – your reaction to the book and whether or not it was effective in meeting its purpose.
• A recommendation – whether or not the audience you are writing for would appreciate the book.

Here’s a breakdown of each point:

1. Introduction

Your book review should begin with a captivating introduction to draw your reader in and make them want to continue reading. Generally, it’ll be around one sentence in length and give a quick overview of the main theme of the book. Here are two examples of short and snappy introductions that hook the reader in:

 “For every child kidnapped, another must be taken. Otherwise The Chain will be broken.” [2]

“Throughout college, Evvie, Maggie, and Topher were the best of friends. But time and the mistakes that come with simply being human may strain their love to the breaking point.” [3]

While trying to keep your introduction short, it’s important to also be concise. A complicated introduction can turn your reader away before they’ve even gotten to your analysis.

By trying to contain the introduction to a single, lengthy sentence , the below opening line is complicated and overloaded with commas, making it difficult to read:

The English nature writer Robert Macfarlane’s new book, “Underland: A Deep Time Journey,” has a title that evokes a burrowing theme park ride or an IMAX movie, and indeed, like Alice in Wonderland or Orpheus in the underworld, down we go. [4]

2. Describe the plot

Your introduction should lead into a description of the plot. In a few sentences, Include a description of the book’s setting, the main characters, and a loose summary of the plot. An outline of the storyline will help your audience decide whether or not they’re interested in reading the book.

However, make sure your introduction doesn’t give everything away. There should be just enough details to make the reader want to pick up the book, without giving away the whole story.

Not only do you want to touch on the plot of the book in your introduction, but you will also need to set the context. What is the historical, political, and/or social context in which the novel was written? What is the author’s background? What genre is the book written in? These questions set the scene for your critical assessment. Whether the author was successful in meeting their intended purpose will be informed by the reasons behind writing the novel.

3. Avoid spoilers

It almost goes without saying. Don’t spoil the book!

While your readers will want to know what the book is about, don’t rob them of experiencing genuine emotional reactions to the shocks and plot twists of the book. For example, if the main character dies at the end of the book, keep those details to yourself. There’ll be no point in your audience reading the book if they already know what happens.

It can be really tempting to reveal spoilers in your book review, because more often than not, the big shocks of the book are those that you want to talk about. When forming an opinion of the book’s effectiveness, your emotional reaction to surprising details are likely to be the evidence you need to prove the book’s effectiveness.

But it is possible to review a book without completely revealing the details if you choose your words carefully. After all, the purpose of your book review is to encourage others (or discourage if you didn’t enjoy the book) to read the book, and no-one is going to want to read the book if you’ve already told them the ending.

For example, ‘I Let You Go’ by Clare Mackintosh is renowned for having two ‘absolute stunner’ plot twist , however, this review on The New York Times only alludes to the twist enough to entice the reader to want to pick up the book, without completely  giving it away:

“The big plot twist in Clare Mackintosh’s first novel, I LET YOU GO, is genuinely shocking. The jolts that follow, right up until the last page, are pretty good too. And if you’re the kind of genre geek who jumps back to the ­beginning of a book to work out how you’ve been hoodwinked, you’ll find that the author has played fair and square.”[5]

4. Form an opinion

By far the most important part of writing a book review is forming an opinion. As we touched on earlier, your critical evaluation is what takes your writing from a simple summary of a book, to a review.

Keep in mind your critique doesn’t have to be all negative or all praise. A well-balanced book review would explore both sides so that the reader of your review gets the whole picture. A one-sided book review can give your audience the impression that your critique is an unfair assessment. Remember, a bad book takes just as long to write as a good one and every author deserves fair treatment. Even if you hated the book, you’ll be able to find some positives. And ultimately, make sure you are reviewing the book you read, not the book you wished the author had written.

Think back to the list you wrote when you were first reading the book. Here’s where those considerations come into play – the author’s background, the genre, the purpose of the book and the main thesis of the work are all elements that inform your opinion. Whether you did or did not enjoy the book can be supported by opinions based on factors such as whether the author effectively subverted traditional elements of the genre, or whether the author’s thesis didn’t challenge your way of thinking.

This review of the novel ‘Malina’ provides an example of the reviewer evaluating how the author’s academic experience influences her language style and the overall readability of the novel:

“Taken in bites, Bachmann’s prose is often lucid and powerful, enlivened by her poetic gifts. At length, she can be tough chewing. She wrote a doctoral dissertation on Heidegger and was a devoted reader of Wittgenstein’s “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus,” though she’s nowhere near that tough. For every aphoristic dart she throws at the human condition (“the world is sick and doesn’t want a healthy force to prevail”), there is a sentence or meaning that remains tightly knotted, and a general lack of clear orientation prevails. Whatever verifiable facts about the plot and characters might exist beneath the novel’s psychological static, you can imagine Bachmann insisting, are none of your business.”[6]

Your book review will include multiple different arguments, so aim to break them down into separate paragraphs that each deal with individual aspects. And each paragraph should contain an evaluation with an example from the book to support it.

The following criteria can be used to help you form an evaluation: 

• objectivity
• thoroughness
• usefulness for intended purpose.

5. Include your favourite quotes

When making an argument you need examples to support your opinion. The easiest way to do this is by directly quoting the book.

For example, one of the key themes of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird , is prejudice and the following quote directly illustrates this theme:

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” [7]

The main thing to consider when quoting the book is to keep the quotes short. A lengthy quote will take up too many words and potentially overpower your review. A short quote will help to get your point across while still letting your work shine through. The purpose of including quotes is to simply bring your argument to light.

6. Provide recommendations to your audience

Would you recommend the book to your audience?

In order to recommend the book, you need to determine who your audience is. Who are you writing the book review for? Not every book is suited to every reader. For example, a book written under the magical realism genre, wouldn’t be recommended to an audience that enjoy non-fiction.

This goes back to the point above, it’s important to remember that your individual tastes don’t necessarily reflect those of your readers. Even if you didn’t enjoy the book, there may be readers out there who it would appeal to so make sure you consider diverse tastes when making a book recommendation.

If you’re reviewing children, teenage or young adult books, it’s a good idea to give an ‘age-appropriateness’ recommendation. It can be tricky for parents when buying books for their children to know whether the book would be appropriate or not, so do the hard work for them. Check out Common Sense Media for ideas on how to give an age-appropriateness rating – this site rates books by age and learning value.

A captivating way to make a recommendation is to also compare the book to other similar ones. If the book you are reviewing has similar themes, characters, writing style, or is even composed by the same author, you will be able to make a recommendation based on how it compares to other work. You might write something along the lines of ‘If loved XXX book, you will love this one’. If your audience has already read the other book, they will be able to get a good idea of whether they will also like your book based on this comparison.

7. Rate the book

You might wonder if you’ve already expressed your opinion about the book throughout your review, why give it a rating as well?

Attaching a rating to your book review is a great way to give your audience an immediate sense of how you felt about the book. Before they even begin reading your review, they already know whether you’re recommending it or not.

The simplest way to rate a book is using a star rating. Goodreads uses a 5-star book rating system.

You can see the most popular books published in 2018 here based on the star rating. If you intend for your book review to be published on a website such as this, you will need to use the rating system provided by the site.

But if you’re self-publishing the review, you can choose whatever rating system that works best for you. You could break your rating system down into categories – maybe the book deserves four stars out of five for writing style, but only two stars for the plot development. It’s up to you.

8. Write a conclusion

The conclusion to your book review is the last thing your audience will read so you want to make sure it leaves them with a lasting impression. A reader has most likely come to your review to decide whether they will or won’t read the book, so if you want them to read the book, make it clear.

Your conclusion should follow general conclusion writing guidelines. The University of Melbourne suggests a conclusion should :

• Summaries the key points made in reaching your position; and
• Make a final comment on the topic.

While summarising the key points you should aim to balance the strengths and weakness of the book. What did the author do well? What could be improved upon? And remember, no new information should be included in the conclusion. Any interesting points you want to make about the book should be included in the body of your text.

This review of Laura Lippman’s ‘Lady in the Lake’ wraps up the book in the following short and sweet sentence:

The racism, classism, and sexism of 50 years ago wrapped up in a stylish, sexy, suspenseful period drama about a newsroom and the city it covers. [8]

9. Bibliographical details

A professional book review will also include a bibliographic citation of the book. Check out some examples on Kirkus Reviews to get an idea on how you can format your citation.

Here are the bibliographic details you should include in your review:

• Title: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices)
• Author: Cassandra Clare
• Place of Publication: USA
• Date of Publication: Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Date of publication edition: August 31, 2010
• Number of pages: 496
• ISBN number*: 978-1416975861

*ISBN or ‘International Standard Book Number’ is a unique identifier for books . It is used by publishers, booksellers, libraries, internet retailers and other suppliers for ordering, listing, sales records and stock control purposes. It identifies the registrant as well as the title, edition and format of the book.

10. Editing

After you’ve completed the first draft of your book review, it’s time to start the editing process. Step away from your work for at least an hour to give your brain a rest. When you come back to review your work with fresh eyes, look out for the following:

• Is the paper well-organised?
• Are the transitions between paragraphs smooth?
• Have you backed up each point with evidence?
• Is there an introduction and a conclusion?
• Have you cited all your references?

Take the time to rewrite your work and make any changes necessary to improve it.

There are also some great tools that can assist in editing such as the Hemingway App . Copy and paste your work into the app and it will give you a readability score as well as highlight sentences that are too long and complicated.

Another useful tool is Grammarly . Grammarly is a handy application that detects spelling, punctuation, grammar, word choice, plagiarism and style, and suggests corrections. It’s also available as an app for both iOS and Android.

11. Proofread

The best way to undermine your credibility as a book reviewer is with spelling mistakes. To critique the work of another writer with a piece of writing that is littered with typos and incorrect punctuation tells your audience you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Before publishing your work, read over it a few times to catch any spelling or grammar errors, as well as double-checking your facts – including double-checking that the quotes and character names you referenced from the book are accurate, as well as the facts you’ve included about the author’s background.

If you’re not feeling confident in your proofreading skills, test yourself by reading this article from The Writing Centre . It contains seven errors (two punctuation errors, two grammatical errors and three spelling errors). See if you can spot them, then refer to this handout with the errors marked in red .

It might even be worthwhile also having another person proofread your work. Once you’ve read over your own work a few times it can be easy to miss things, so a fresh set of eyes could be useful in picking up any errors you haven’t. 

12. Have fun!

While it might seem like there are a lot of rules that go into writing a high-quality book review, the most important thing is that you enjoy what you’re doing! Your passion for the book you are reviewing will shine through in your writing.

If you have been book reviewing for some time and begin to feel burned out, take a break and remind yourself why you started writing book reviews in the first place – to share your love of reading with your fellow readers all over the world.

What is the objective of a book review?

The main purpose of a book review is to help a reader device whether to read the book themselves. For this reason, a book review should include a brief summary of the book’s content, characters and setting, as well as a critical evaluation on the success or effectiveness of the book.

Book reviews save other readers time and offer them a chance to connect with the book before they even pick it up. They help validate the worthiness of a book – if someone else enjoyed the book, I might enjoy it too .

Book reviews are also very important to authors . They give a book greater visibility and a higher chance of being found by readers whether it’s online, in bookstores, among book clubs or blogging communities. A book review is a great opportunity for an author to expand their reach, as well as a platform for other books written in a similar style or from the same genre to be found.

Can you use ‘I’ in a book review?

Whether or not you use first person to write your book review will ultimately come down to why you are writing the review.

An academic piece of writing, for example, would not use first person. So if you’re writing your review for a school, university/college assignment or to be published in an academic journal or magazine (for example, the Oxford Academic Journal of Communication ), avoid using first person.

If you’re writing the review for your personal blog or website, or writing customer reviews online, then it’s okay to be a little more casual. Depending on your writing style and the purpose of your website, first-person can make your review more personal and relatable for your audience. It’s easier to give an opinion about how you felt about a book when writing in the first person, for example – ‘I loved the way the author used XYZ to ABC’.

Where can I get my book review published?

If you’re looking to get your book review published, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to:

• Identify where you want your book review to be published

There are a number of journals devoted to book reviews if you’re interested in having your book review published in a scholarly journal like the Oxford Academic Journal of Communication , Cambridge University’s Historical Journal , or the Australian Book Review .

If you’re not interested in going down the academic route, there are a host of websites where you can publish your book review, including This is Writing. A quick Google search will help you find websites where you could potentially have your review published, or check out our list of ‘Book Blogs and Review Websites for Book Lovers ’.

Otherwise, you can self-publish your book review on your own website or blog.

• Reach out to the editor Once you’ve decided where you’d like your book review to be published, get in contact with the journal or website. Your email to the editor or website owner should include a brief introduction about yourself, the book you intend on reviewing and why you’d like to write a review for the publication.It’s important to do your homework before contacting the editor or website owner. If you have a book in mind, do a quick search of the journal or website to make sure the book hasn’t already been reviewed by someone else. It’s recommended to select a book that has been published in the last two years, as anything earlier has likely already been claimed by another reviewer.And above all else, be confident! Even if you’re brand new to book reviewing, it’s perfectly alright to reach out to editors to ask them to publish your work. Conta c t us at This is Writing to have your book review featured.
• Read the book and write the review Once the editor or website owner has accepted your proposal to write a review for their publication, it’s time to get started. Refer to our recommendations on how to structure your book review above. If you’re writing for a journal you might even be lucky enough to be sent a free copy of the book.
• Submit and wait After you’ve completed the final proofread of your work it’s time to submit it to the editor or website owner. Be sure to read the journal or website submission guidelines thoroughly. Each publisher will have unique submission guidelines relating to criteria such as spelling and grammar, and offensive content, etc. Most book review journals and websites will receive a large number of submissions, so if yours doesn’t meet the guidelines it’s not likely to be considered for publishing.If you haven’t heard back after a month, it’s worthwhile following up. Send a second email asking the editor or website owner if they’ve received your submission and tell them you’re looking forward to hearing from them. The most important thing is to keep it polite and respectful. And make sure to check the website’s submission guidelines first to see if there’s a general timeline for feedback before you start harassing them after only a few days!

Can I get paid to write book reviews?

Yes. There are a number of websites that will pay writers to create book reviews for their website.

If you’re just getting started and looking for a bit of unpaid book reviewing experience, a great place to start is by writing customer reviews on websites that sell books, such as Amazon . These websites allow customers to give a star rating for the product as well as leave a comment. On Amazon, others can then mark your review as ‘helpful’ so you’ll be able to get a good idea on how people feel about your reviewing. Interacting with other book lovers and reviewers can also help improve your own reviewing style and build an audience.

You can also share your book reviews via your social media platforms, or start your own website or blog to publish your book reviews. Check out these tips on how to create a website from the Queensland Government.

The book I have chosen to review is not the first book of the series, does it matter?

No. As mentioned earlier in this article , if you want your book review to be published, you should be aiming to review a recently released book. The newer the book, the less likely it has already been reviewed by another review. If the first book of a series was released five years ago, and the second book released this year, review the second book. Chances are, the first book has already been reviewed to death. Reviewing book two is a chance to create brand new content for your audience.

Despite this, it’s still worthwhile touching on the storyline of the novels that have come before your book in the series as this provides context on the effectiveness of the book. Was book two a good sequel to the first book? What was different? What was the same? If the reader of your review has already read the first book, a comparison between the two will help them decide if they want to read the next book of the series.

[1] John Williams. “ A Postwar Love Triangle in Which One Partner May Be Pure Fantasy ”. The New York Times . July 24, 2019. Viewed 25 July 2019.

[2] “ The Chain ”. Kirkus Review. Viewed 29 July 2019.

[3] “ The Friends We Keep ”. Kirkus Review . Viewed 29 July 2019.

[4] Dwight Garner. “ ‘Underland’ Offers Excellent Nature Writing From Deep, Dark Places ”. The New York Times . Viewed 29 July 2019,

[5] Clare Mackintosh. “ Clare Mackintosh’s ‘I Let You Go’, and More ”. The New York Times . Viewed 25 July 2019.

[6] John Williams. “ A Postwar Love Triangle in Which One Partner May Be Pure Fantasy ”. The New York Times . July 24, 2019. Viewed 25 July 2019.

[7] Harper Lee. “To Kill a Mockingbird”. J. B. Lippincott & Co . Chapter 3.

[8] “ Lady in the Lake ”. Kirkus Review . Viewed 27 July 2019.

Scott Mullins

How To Write A Picture Book

There’s a lot to know about how to write a picture book. whether you’re self-publishing or will work with a traditional publisher, there are some picture book rules to know and follow. your book must be well written, professionally illustrated, and entertaining for kids, but there are other non-negotiables in picture book writing too., to help you understand better how to write a picture book , we’ll cover:.

• Picture book rules (like age groups and word count)

How to become a good picture book writer

• Finding and refining your picture book ideas

Picture book characters

Plotting your picture book.

• Tense and point of view

Writing your first draft

Revising your picture book manuscript.

• Show, don’t tell

Let’s get into it to get you one step closer to writing your fantastic picture book and getting it published!

Picture book rules, it’s crucial to bear in mind some critical guidelines when writing. when we say a picture book is well written, it’s not only about the story and word choices, it’s also about delivering what people expect. while sometimes these picture book rules can be broken, it’s not recommended, especially not for newer authors. if you look at bestselling picture books and books published by traditional publishers, you’ll see they follow these rules. these rules are crucial to getting accepted by traditional publishers, but even if you’re self-publishing, it’s good to model the pros., picture book age groups, have a clear age group for your picture book. there are two picture book age groups:, these age groups are slightly flexible, but write for one or the other because two-year-olds are not the same as eight-year-olds. the language, vocabulary, theme and content should align with your target age group. avoid using many big words or complicated story themes., learn more about picture book age groups here., picture book word count, your book should contain about 200-500 words if it’s for ages two to five, and 500-800 words for the older age group. your word count can be lower than these guidelines, but not higher. it can be a challenge to keep your word count low, but ensuring each sentence adds value to the storyline will help. having a well-planned plot also helps, so you don’t have unnecessary scenes or sections. and remember, your illustrations will contribute to narrating your story too, as well as take care of descriptive details.

Picture books spread from A Song in Her Heart by Kathy Dye . Illustrated by GetYourBookIllustrations . Note the low word count.

Publishers are strict about these word counts, but even if you are self-publishing, honour these word counts since that’s what readers have come to expect. If your picture book is too long, adults won’t read it again, and kids may also get bored with it. So, even if you are writing for your grandchildren, it’s still best to stick to the right word count.

Do these two things before you start writing:

1. Read a lot of picture books

2. practice, when you read picture books, read like a writer. consider word choices, the interplay of words and illustrations, how various subjects are addressed, how many sentences there are per page or spread, the characters and what sets them apart, dialogue, repetition, how fast the story starts and ends, how the story builds, how many and which types of illustrations there are, and everything else you can notice. doing this regularly is indispensable. it is, in fact, one of the most valuable exercises you can do to enhance your skills as a writer. don’t overlook its significance..

Spread from Bibi Saves the Honey Bees by Judith Ewa . Illustrated by GetYourBookIllustrations . Note the dialogue.

Spread from Winnie Acts Up by Pat J. Wheeler . Illustrated by GetYourBookIllustrations . Note the dialogue and how it’s handled differently from the previous example.

Regular practice can give you remarkable improvements. Write as often as possible to find your voice and practice different aspects of writing craft that are used in creating quality picture books. As you practice, also think about how your story would work with illustrations, since illustrations are so important in picture books. This constant practice should include creating engaging characters and developing interesting storylines. Experiment with different tones, tenses, and points of view. Over time, you’ll become a skillful picture book writer. Remember, writing high-quality picture books requires determination, persistent practice, and never-ending learning.

While self-publishing offers a wonderful opportunity to authors, too many self-publishing authors don’t take the time to learn their craft and create fantastic books. writing amazing picture books takes more than just inspiration. it takes hard work. take the time to learn how to write a picture book manuscript that is truly well-written, even if you never intend to submit to traditional publishers., finding picture book ideas.

Most authors I work with don’t have trouble coming up with ideas, but if you do, try one or a few of these for inspiration:

• Observe and listen to kids.
• Decide what the purpose of writing is, e.g., to write something fun, funny, or inspiring.
• Consider your motivations, such as writing for your own children
• Simply have fun with it and write about something you are passionate about.
• Google “idea generator,” “children’s book idea generator,” or “writing prompts” to get some prompts for inspiration. You can also use this online picture book idea generator.
• Make your own idea generator with many small cards or Post-it notes. Write down characters, desires and/or decisions, and problems, then combine them randomly. For example, a tiny alien – wants to see an Earth sunset – is very scatterbrained .

Tip: When writing a story about morals or life lessons, don’t be preachy or obvious with the lesson. Keep this in mind as you develop the idea. Just make the story entertaining for your little readers, so that they can draw their own conclusions about what they should or shouldn’t do.

Without a character , there is no story. characters propel the story forward, engage readers and keep them wanting more. if you don’t care about the main character, it doesn’t matter what else happens in the book. for picture books, the main protagonist must be someone children can relate to. they must be childlike, memorable, likeable, believable, and at least a little flawed. it’s also crucial that they overcome their own problems., types of picture book characters.

The characters you get in picture books are:

• a child (boy or girl)

• a toy (normally an anthropomorphic/human-like, like a teddy bear or a doll)

• an animal

• a mythical or fantasy creature (e.g. a unicorn, mermaid, phoenix, or fairy)

• an inanimate object (e.g. a pencil or bottle)

These would all be a child-like character, e.g., a child mermaid, a child teddy, or a child unicorn.

Characters designed by GetYourBookIllustrations

You can learn more about different types of characters, like main characters, supporting characters, and antagonists, in this article .

Character and plot are the two fundamental components of a story. characters may originate plot lines or influence the plot, while at the same time, plots can shape characters. plotting means “devise the sequence of events” and involves planning out the sequence of events that make up the story. it isn’t the entire story, though—it is a brief summary of what happens. imagine you were briefly, in a few sentences, explaining a whole storyline to someone. there are two types of storytellers: plotters who map out their stories before writing them down, and pantsers who don’t plan and just go with the flow. i recommend outlining your plot before writing your first draft to save time and help yourself be more creative because you’re not trying to figure out what should happen next. it makes it easier to end up with a well-written manuscript because you’ll avoid possible plot mistakes., the type of plot a story follows is called a “plot line,” “story arc, or “narrative arc”. the most widely used plot line for fictional or narrative nonfiction picture books follows this structure:.

• Inciting incident
• Building action
• Diminishing action

Thousands of fantastic books follow this same plotline. Click here for an article that explains each part of this plot line .

As you can see, you want building action throughout most of your manuscript, where the main character runs into difficult situations and needs to overcome them. this will keep your audience interested. this leads up to the climax, then diminishing action (which should only take up a spread or two) and then a satisfying resolution. note the satisfying in the previous sentence. picture books should never end on cliffhangers, but always have a complete, satisfying resolution., you can also include repetition in your plot, like goldilocks and the three bears , where she keeps trying out things in sets of three. kids love repetition and using repetition wisely can make your book more fun., part of how to write a picture book is knowing language and grammar, for instance, tenses and point of view., the tense you use for your picture book should be based on the story, its goals, and your preference. you can choose past, present tense, or even future tense, and then stick with it throughout your manuscript. it’s distracting and incorrect to jump between tenses., past tense means the story has already occurred in the past, so the narrator or character can reflect on what has happened and foreshadow future events. writing in the past tense can make for a more natural, fluid storytelling style because we normally tell stories about things that have already happened. it allows you to jump around in the timeline of your story without using flashbacks, however, this kind of nonlinear writing should be limited in picture books to ensure it is easy to follow. past tense is the most popular tense used for writing books and is easier for most writers., when writing in the present tense, the story unfolds as it’s being told, giving an immediate and impactful atmosphere. this can add to the tension, as the narrator doesn’t know what will happen next. it also allows for a stronger connection between the reader and the events of the story. however, it has drawbacks too. the character cannot reflect on the events in the story, since they are living these events in the moment, and you can’t foreshadow much. this tense works best for stories that take place over a limited period., the future tense is less common than the past and present, but can be an effective tool for storytelling. a manuscript written in future tense will be based on assumptions, making it ideal for fantastical stories, but not suitable for other stories. many examples of this type of writing include titles centering around “if…” or “when…”. in other words, they are stories of an imagined future. these kinds of stories give off a feeling of possibility, where anything can happen; nothing is solidified yet. for character arcs that involve historical events or what has already happened to them, the future tense might not work very a good example of a picture book written in the future tense is if you give a mouse a cookie (and other books in this series) by laura joffe numeroff ., point of view, most picture books are written from a first or third person limited point of view. second person writing is also an option, though rarer. lastly, there is an omniscient point of view, which i’ll explain below., first person, first person writing is told from the narrator’s point of view using “i”, “me”, etc. this viewpoint reveals the inner world of the protagonist, making it clear who they are, and can make readers feel close to them. it can be a good writing style if your character is quite unique or quirky, but may be limiting if your story wants to make fun of the character, or if the character is dishonest or can’t see things as they are., third person limited, third person limited (also called “third person narrow”) uses “she,” “he,” “they,” and other pronouns to narrate the story through the perspective of the main character. it offers insight into the main character’s thoughts and feelings, but not those of other characters. the plot will stay with the main character only, although observations about others can be revealed. third person writing works well if you’ll make fun of the main character, if the main character is dishonest or misrepresents themselves, or if one needs to evaluate their actions objectively. third person writing is generally easier than first person., second person, the second person point of view is rare in books and uses “you” and usually refers to the reader. it can place the reader as a character in the book, or “speak” to the reader directly (outside the book). take care when referring to the reader, as they may disagree. for instance, if you say, “you always come first in class” the reader may react with, “no, i don’t…” which will cause them to distance themself from the book. so limit making statements about the reader and inner world descriptions, as it can feel unreal. it’s best to stick to action and events in second person writing, like telling the reader what or what not to do., examples of second person books:.

• Don’t push the button by Will Cotter
• Song of the Old City by Anna Pellicioli

Omniscient (aka third person unlimited)

Finally, we have the omniscient point of view. this writing style isn’t as common in literature today. it refers to an all-knowing external narrator that is not part of the story and is written in the third person. the narrator has unrestricted access to all events and characters and tends to be more objective in their description. unlike third person limited, third person unlimited is written from a distanced perspective rather than through the eyes of a character. the advantage is that the reader can learn things beyond what the main character knows, but the downside is it’s harder to make the reader connect with the character., the first step to completing a picture book is writing the first draft. don’t try to make it perfect. your first draft isn’t meant to be good, it’s simply meant to get the story out of your head, into a written manuscript. things like the vocabulary you use, beautiful word pictures, etc. don’t matter for the first draft. also, don’t edit while writing. editing requires a different way of thinking than creative writing, so trying to do both at once requires switching between two ways of thinking, which can be difficult., give yourself enough time and a quiet environment and write the entire story in one sitting. the faster you write, the easier it will be to not pause and reassess. afterwards comes the revision stage, where you should switch to editor mode and make any necessary changes., once you have completed your initial draft, revisiting and revising your book is a key component of writing a picture book. looking at the story from an outside perspective can help make necessary changes. maybe you need to shorten the plot, improve the character development, make events flow better, add repetition, adjust your pacing, or be clearer in your theme. it may even require changing the point of view or expanding the whole idea. the end goal should be a picture book that is captivating and appropriate for its audience., think or refer back to picture books you’ve studied, and keep in mind your word count and the age group you are writing for. also, think about the illustrations and see if you can remove text that will be shown in the illustrations. if you’re planning on working with a traditional publisher, revise your book until it’s as good as you can get it. this will help your manuscript to be accepted. if you’re self-publishing, also revise to the absolute best of your ability, so you can publish a fantastic book., picture books don’t always have dialogue, but when they do, it should sound natural, but not true-to-life. written dialogue should be concise, compressed and to the point, so cut out any long explanations, pleasantries and filler words. you need to be economical with your words for a picture book, so only include the essence of the dialogue..

True-to-life:

“No, no, no! Paws off my tablet, Rocky! Look what you’ve done. You’ll wake up Daddy!”

Daddy heard the crash. “zuri, what on earth is going on what was that noise, and what are you doing” he asked., “oops i was only trying to help, since you’ve been so tired lately and i wanted to let you sleep, daddy. so i thought i’d do my own hair, and not wake you up, you know”, daddy smiled. “can i help, too i can do your hair, you don’t have to do it by yourself. it’ll be a piece of cake, zuzu.”.

Natural, concise dialogue, quoted from Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry:

“Paws off, Rocky!”

Daddy heard the crash. “zuri, what on earth” he asked., “i was only trying to help,” i said., daddy smiled. “can i help, too it’ll be a piece of cake, zuzu.”, see the difference each line of dialogue is concise and lets the reader fill in the gaps. yet it feels natural and clear. also note, the author doesn’t opt for the shortest wording in every single case. he could’ve used “easy” instead of “a piece of cake”, but he chose the more colourful wording. once you’ve trimmed down your dialogue to be concise, read it aloud and make sure it sounds natural and good to the ear., show, don’t tell, the famous anton chekhov quote, “don’t tell me the moon is shining. show me the glint of light on broken glass,” embodies the concept of show, don’t tell. telling is simply conveying what and how something is, without allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. for example, the author states that a character was “sad,” “beautiful,” or “embarrassed”. showing, however, involves conveying the scene in a way that allows readers to experience it using their senses. to put this into practice, i ask myself: “can i observe this with my physical senses, without concluding anything from my frame of reference” this doesn’t encompass every aspect of show, don’t tell, but it’s one way i find useful., let me illustrate with some examples: you can see and hear someone laughing, but you cannot see or hear their happiness. you can infer they are happy, but you can’t see it with your eyes. you can only see them laughing. expanding further, it’s more than just distinguishing between the visible versus the invisible. take, for example, a person being short. we can detect with our eyes that they are short, but writing “julie was short” is simply informing the reader. to showcase instead, you would need to write, “julie stood on tippy-toes, yet her view remained blocked by the other children’s backs.” keep in mind to prioritize experience and action over information. what is the character doing or experiencing in this instance, we visually perceive that julie is short through her actions and experience., show, don’t tell, is a key part of how to write a picture book manuscript that will make the story more real and draw readers in., okay, now that you know the basics of how to write a picture book, what are the next steps how do you go from manuscript to published, here are the steps to take once your picture book manuscript is complete:.

• Get feedback, preferably from adults and kids. Use the feedback to revise.
• Get professional editing. This is crucial!
• Get your book illustrations.
• Get your book cover and interior designed.
• Get your book published! This can be with a traditional publisher or you can self-publish.

Even before your book is published, marketing also comes into it, but that’s a big subject we won’t address here. You can also check out this article about how to write a children’s book. (with template PDF). Writing a picture book is an exciting journey and it can be immensely rewarding, especially when we take care to create the best book we can.

We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

1. What do you want to write about?

2. Which part of this article helped you most?

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How To Plot A Children’s Book

Having a strong plot is essential for a successful children’s book, and how to plot a children’s book is one of the first skills to learn if you want to write a book. Too many authors don’t realise that there is an art to this and exact guidelines to follow. Once you realise this, plotting…

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Picture Book Review

About 200 words, our children’s picture-book reviews include summary to give our readers context, along with a concise, unbiased opinion that can be positive, negative, or, most likely, mixed. Each Kirkus review gives both a general sense of a book’s worth and specific information about its strengths and weaknesses. With picture books (48 pages or less), reviewers may comment on any or all of the following: plot, instructiveness, integration of illustrations, media, text placement, and the diversity of characters. No matter the outcome, you will have the option of keeping the review private and simply using the assessment as feedback to improve your craft. Otherwise, you can publish the review and use it to market your book to consumers or to try to catch the attention of a literary agent or publisher.

THE REVIEWING PROCESS FOR A PICTURE BOOK REVIEW

1. Request review

Select the Picture Book Review  option. When you submit your order, you’ll get an email from the Kirkus Indie team confirming receipt of your request.

2. Submit manuscript

After you place your order, you will be directed to a page with simple instructions to send us your book or manuscript.

3. Stand by while we review your book

Upon receipt of your book or manuscript, our editor will assign your project to a qualified reviewer who will read the complete book and write a full review (approximately 200 words). Our reviewers include librarians, business executives, journalists from national publications, PhDs in religion and literature, creative executives in entertainment and publishing industries as well as other professional reviewers.

How we choose your reviewer: A Kirkus editor analyzes your book and considers its elements individually, including content, style, and voice. The editor matches your book with a reviewer who has significant experience with and appreciates your book’s genre and topics.

4. Download review

Kirkus Indie will email you a link to your author dashboard when your review is ready. Simply click the link and download your review directly from our site.

5. Keep your review private or publish it for free on  KirkusReviews.com

We'll email you with a link when your review is ready to download. After you read your review, you will have the option to publish it on KirkusReviews.com , where it may be discovered by industry influencers, agents, publishers, and consumers. Our editors will also consider your review for publication in Kirkus Reviews magazine, where we include an average of 80 Indie reviews per month. You may keep your review private by simply not publishing it on our site.

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7 tips on how to write a successful picture book (that might surprise you)

Australian Writers' Centre Team

• May 30, 2020

So you’ve got a fantastic idea for a picture book – but you’ve never done it before, and you’re a bit lost on where to start? You’ve come to the right place. Here are seven surprising tips from successful Australian Writers’ Centre graduates and teachers on how to make your picture books the best they can be. 

1. Remember there will be pictures

Though it might sound like an obvious thing to consider, writers forgetting about the illustrated component of the picture book they’re working on is surprisingly common. Done properly, illustrations can add a whole lot of plot development and humour that you’d otherwise have to use precious words to write in: make sure you take full advantage of the opportunity.

Catherine Pelosi , author of Quark’s Academy and Something for Fleur , says this is feedback which comes up often at critique groups: that the writer has not left enough space for the illustrator.

“I don't know if a lot of writers do think about that: they’re sort of thinking about the story and the concept, but not actually crafting the words to make space for the illustration,” she says. “It's not just about the words reflecting the illustrations. Often, in illustrations, there’s a whole other character development going on, sometimes a whole other plot that's unfolding just through the pictures.”

2. Trust your gut

While the advice and feedback you’ll get from other writers can be helpful, you don’t want your picture book to end up designed by committee. Take on board the opinions of others, but don’t feel you have to change everything, Catherine advises.

“You get so many different opinions and the story can start to change and move really far away from what you initially intended to the point that it can sort of die, which I've seen happen with people – like a manuscript will just fall over because it's been overworked,” she says. “So really learn to understand what you want to say and what you want your story to be, and then stick to that.”

3. Read it out loud – and recruit a friend

While you might endlessly reread your words in your head as you edit, never forget that picture books are designed to be read aloud, writer and illustrator Judith Rossell says. 

Judith teaches Writing Picture Books and How to Write for Children and Young Adults at the Australian Writers’ Centre, and has been writing and illustrating children’s books for nearly 20 years. She recommends reading your manuscript aloud to yourself, and listening to how it flows, or you could go one further and ask a friend to record themselves reading it. That way, you can hear if there are any areas where the reader might trip up, and check, if you have used rhymes, that they work for another reader. 

4. Keep it simple

Simplifying your central story ideas can be the key to success, Judith says.

“One simple, great idea is all you need, you don't need to try and do too much,” she says. “It's really common for people to end up with a story that could actually be two separate stories, trying to do two things or three things, when you really need to try and do one thing – really well, of course.

“Picture books are deceptively simple. They need to look like they're really simple, but underneath there's a whole lot of thought going on.”

 5. Sleep with your story

Getting a good night’s sleep, and allowing your subconscious to mull your story over, can help you take it to the next level. Shelly Unwin , author of There’s a Baddie Running Through This Book , Blast Off and the You’re series, advises reading over your manuscript right before you go to sleep. 

“Make sure you have a pen by your bed ready to write down any thoughts you have in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning,” she says. 

6. Throw a spanner in the works 

One common piece of feedback picture book writers get from publishers is that the story is great, but it needs to be taken up a notch. Once you’re happy with your story, but before sending it off, try to go through that process yourself: read through it and see if there’s some way you can lift the stakes even higher.

“A new plot twist, make the drama more dramatic or make the funny funnier: what can you do to really push its limits?” Shelly says. “It’s that little bit that takes it from being a nice but quiet story to one that’s a bit more edgy, and might catch the editor’s eye a bit more.”

Cathie Tasker is one of Australia’s most experienced children’s book editors. She is the creator of the popular course Writing Picture Books at the Australian Writers' Centre. Cathie says: “Picture books seem simple but they still need a strong story with strong themes. You need rising tension and conflict if you want to engage readers and make sure they turn the page. But stories with rising tension and conflict don't mean you need to write about dark topics or world annihilation. A good story could be about Johnny being lost in the supermarket but finding mum by the end of the book.”

7. Think of it like a chapter book

Finally, Victoria Mackinlay , whose debut book Ribbit Rabbit Robot was published in April 2020, says a trick she learned is to think of every spread within your picture book as a chapter.

“You need to check with each of your spreads: is there enough intrigue, humour, action, suspense on that page to make the reader turn over? You almost need a cliffhanger on each page to make sure that your reader is going to turn the page,” she says.

Keen to craft your own picture books? Our comprehensive Writing Picture Books course takes you through the process step by step so you can approach the writing and publishing process with confidence.

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How to Write a Book Review Tips

Book reviews are like guiding lights in the world of literature, helping readers navigate through countless stories. But writing a good review isn't just about summarizing a book – it's about making your thoughts resonate with the audience. 

Whether you're a writer, a critic, or someone who loves books, knowing how to prepare a book review can enrich your reading experience and contribute to the literary community. 

In this article, experts of our book review writing service break down the key elements and tips for compelling book reviews that spark conversation and excitement.

What Is a Book Review

A book review is a critical evaluation of a book, where the reviewer discusses its content, themes, and overall impact. It typically includes a summary of the book's main points, the reviewer's analysis and opinions, and a recommendation for potential readers. The goal is to inform others about the book's strengths and weaknesses, helping them decide if it’s worth reading.

Later in the article, you’ll find a quality book review example for your inspiration and motivation. If you’re in a hurry, try our cheap essay writing service that covers all types of academic papers.

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How to Write a Book Review: Step-By-Step

Writing a book review might seem complex, but in reality, the process can be divided into only three steps:

Summarize the Book's Content

Book reviews summarize the source's content by providing a brief and clear overview of the main plot, key characters, and central themes without giving away any spoilers. This helps readers understand the essence of the book and sets the stage for your analysis and evaluation.

Actionable Tips:

• Read the Book Thoroughly: Ensure you grasp the full story, including subplots and character development.
• Highlight Key Points: Note down significant events, character arcs, and main themes as you read.
• Be Concise: Keep your summary short and to the point, focusing on the most important aspects.
• Avoid Spoilers: Do not reveal major plot twists or the book’s ending.
• Use Your Own Words: Write the summary in your own language to maintain originality and avoid plagiarism.
• Provide Context: Include the book’s genre, setting, and relevant background information to help readers understand the summary.
• Focus on Clarity: Ensure your summary is easy to read and understand, avoiding complex language or unnecessary details.

Feeling tired already? Maybe you should use our book report writing services and give yourself a break until tomorrow.

Analyze and Evaluate

You’re always halfway through writing a book review! Next, you have to critically examine its elements, such as the writing style, character development, plot structure, and thematic depth. This step is where you share your personal insights and opinions, providing evidence from the text to support your views.

Conclude with a Recommendation

We’re almost reached the finishing line of the how to write a book review race. Conclude your review of a book with either a summary, recommendation, or addressing readers directly. This step provides a clear and concise verdict based on your analysis, helping potential readers decide if the book is right for them.

Dive into literary analysis with EssayPro . Our experts can help you craft insightful book reviews that delve deep into the themes, characters, and narratives of your chosen books. Enhance your understanding and appreciation of literature with us.

Book Review Structure

A book review outline usually follows a structured format with an introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Introduction

This section introduces the book, mentioning its title, author, genre, and publication details. It gives a brief overview of the book's premise and main themes to provide context for the reader.

The main body offers a detailed analysis and critique of the book. It's divided into paragraphs focusing on specific aspects such as plot, characters, and writing style. Each paragraph provides evidence from the book to support the reviewer's analysis.

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The conclusion summarizes the reviewer's overall thoughts and impressions of the book, restating key points and the main argument. It often includes a recommendation for potential readers and may provide final reflections or insights about the book's significance.

Book Review Template

Here's a basic structure you can follow every time you’re tasked with such an assignment:

Extra Tips for Writing Better Book Reviews

Here are 11 extra tips for writing better book reviews:

• Look for essay topics that are interesting personally for you.
• Consider your audience and what they might want to know about the book.
• Be mindful not to give away major plot twists or endings that could ruin the reading experience for others.
• Use quotes or examples from the book to support your analysis and critique.
• Express your opinions openly, but respect the author and their work.
• Think about the book's historical, cultural, or social context when evaluating its themes and messages.
• Paint a vivid picture of the book's qualities using descriptive language to engage your readers.
• Acknowledge the book's strengths and weaknesses to provide a balanced review.
• Aim to be concise and to the point, focusing on the most important aspects of the book.
• Let your enthusiasm for the book shine through in your review to captivate your readers.
• Gain insights from reading other reviews to see different perspectives and approaches to reviewing books.

Book Review Example

As promised at the beginning of the article, we’d like to share a good example of a book review as it should be done by students either in school or college:

Final Thoughts

Book reviews empower students to become active participants in the literary conversation. They learn to contribute their unique perspectives and interpretations to the broader discourse. With a custom term paper writing service , learners can become true educational powerhouses who never miss deadlines.

Through critical engagement with literary sources, students develop a deeper understanding of complex themes and issues, honing their ability to think analytically and empathetically. At the end of the day, aren’t these two skills that every educated individual should possess? 

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How To Write A Book Review?

What to include in a book review, what is a book review.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Added new infographics.
• Updated writing tips.
• Added new example.
• How to write a book review | BookTrust. (n.d.-b). https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/tips-and-advice/writing-tips/writing-tips-for-teens/how-to-write-a-book-review/
• Book Reviews – The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (2024, May 14). The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/book-reviews/
• Research Guides: Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments: Writing a Book Review. (n.d.). https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/assignments/bookreview  

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Picture Book Publishing 101-Preparing your manuscript

I've gotten a few requests for my primer on publishing a picture book. I've broken it into 3 parts. Part 1 is below and covers what your manuscript needs to succeed. Part 2 focuses on how the industry works and part three covers how to write a query letter. I'm not claiming to be an expert in all things picture book related, so do your own research on everything you read here. If you find these helpful, you can do me a solid by ordering books from one of my writing peers or leaving them reviews. I'll leave a list of my favorites at the end of the last post.

Publishing 101-Your Manuscript

You’ve written your story, now it’s time to turn it into a manuscript that convinces an agent or editor it’s publishable. Like movies and television, picture books have their own rules. Understanding and following them will increase your chances. Of course, there's always the odd book that breaks the rules, but you’ve got better odds if you follow them than if you hope to be the exception.

The majority of picture books today are 500 words or less. Less is okay, (WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE comes in under 100 words and is a classic) but going over decreases your odds of capturing an agent or making a sale.

A standard picture book is 32 pages. There are a few different ways they are put together, but after title pages, dedications and copyright info, your left with either 12 or 15 spreads. While you editor will make the final decisions on what goes on each page, it pays to attempt to layout your story to make sure it fits into this format. (See http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2015/11/4/free-picture-book-thumbnail-templates-for-writers-and-illust.html for examples of picture book templates) Talking about our template leads us to…

Your hook is what convinces everyone to buy your book. What is unique about your book? Marketable? What is going to make an agent or editor believe they can sell it? Every story needs a great hook. You’ll know if you have one if you can sum it up in one sentence. This is similar to an elevator pitch or logline from a movie. (For example: Cujo was pitched as Jaws with paws.) Some people also use a mix and match as part of the description. Children of Blood and Bone (great book!) is Harry Potter meets Black Panther. A simple formula to get started is Hero + Problem + consequence of failure.

Page turns are important parts of your story. What is pulling the reader through the story? What makes them want to turn the page? Each spread should ask a question. Using the template, sketch out the action on each spread. Once you’ve got a rough idea of the pacing, write your story down, putting each page on a separate post it note. Stick these notes in a mentor text (a book that's similar to your manuscript), and read it aloud to your kids or even in front of a mirror. You’ll be amazed at what will jump out at you.

Pacing/Story Arc

Think about the movies or television shows you’ve seen recently. Which ones left you excited? Were you full of anticipation for what happened next? Were there parts that dragged? Moments that left you confused? Did the ending take too long? Good stories often follow a similar pattern in order to build suspense and create a meaningful character arc.

There are certain moments, or beats, that every story arc needs to hit. We meet our hero and are introduced to their world. A problem is presented, the hero is called into action! He or she tries and fails to solve the problem, but just as things look darkest, our hero finds a way to prevail! They return to their world changed.

This is sometimes referred to as The Hero’s Journey. It’s also known as the Save the Cat method. (Check out https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/save-the-cat-beat-sheet/ for examples.) It’s the formula most modern entertain follows. Marvel in particular has perfected this formula. Everything they do in an hour long TV show or two hour movie, we do in our 500 word picture book.

Not every story will hit every one of these beats, but it’s a great guideline to ensure your story builds to its climax and resolves the conflict at the right time. Most picture books also end on the last page with what is referred to as a wink to the reader. One last joke to make the reader laugh or wonder what will happen to the character next.

Dialogue is a momentum killer. Use it only where absolutely necessary and no more than three lines if possible. Keep the action focused on your character and their progress toward their goal.

Don’t use adverbs. 99 times out of 100, they detract from the story. Say, “he dashed” instead of “he ran quickly.” She bawled or sobbed instead of she cried loudly etc.

Your illustrator is chosen by your publisher. Sometimes you will have the chance to give input, but most of the time you won’t. In your head, you may know exactly what your character looks like, what she wears, what her room looks like, etc. You might be tempted to write detailed notes for the artist for each page. At best, the illustrator will ignore these. At worst, your manuscript will end up in the rejection pile. The only time you should use art notes is to describe something that is not apparent, in contrast to your text, or a joke of some sort. For example:

“It’s a beautiful day,” Sally said

[Art Note: It’s rainy and miserable]

State this as succinctly as possible so not to distract from the story. Let the reader’s imagination fill in as many of the details as they can.

For more tips, check out Josh Funk’s guide for writers here https://www.joshfunkbooks.com/resources-for-writers

Once you’ve polished your manuscript, it’s time to share it. Before submitting to editors and agents, it’s best to have unbiased peers take a look. Our stories are like our children. It’s easy for us to overlook their flaws due to how devoted we are to them. Critique services and editors for hire are a dime a dozen online, but I don’t recommend them. Anyone talented enough to be worth it either already works in publishing or charges waaaaay to much. Your best bet is to find a critique group.

A critique group is a group of aspiring authors who work together to help revise each other’s manuscripts. The best critique groups help strengthen each other’s manuscripts while providing support throughout the revision and submission process. A good one isn’t easy to find, and you may go through a few before you find the right fit. But they are worth it.

Now, where to find one. Remember how I said you didn’t have to spend money? There are two options here that I think are worth the investment as they will provide learning opportunities, networking, and even submission opportunities.

#1. Join the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators (SCBWI). It’s about $80 for a yearly membership and they provide access to a ton of resources, from conferences and workshops to critique groups. I’m stingy, and I’ve never regretted my membership. There are forums and regional advisors who will help you connect with a group.

I’m a part of The New England Chapter (NESCBWI) (founded by Jane Yolen) and attend their conference every year in Springfield. It’s worth attending as they have great workshops, plenty of agents and editors to meet, and a chance to network and find critique partners. It’s where I met my critique group. Most regional chapters have a yearly conference, along with 2 national conferences in New York and LA.

#2. 12x12 is an online writing group with a goal of producing a polished manuscript each month of the year. Membership is only open from January-February. Each month there are webinars and some submission opportunities. There is an online forum where members help each other with query letters, manuscript revisions, or finding critique partners. 12x12 helped me land 1st my agent.

Once you’ve made it through Revision, your ready to write your query letter and begin submitting. I’ll tackle that one next 😊

Check Your Picture Book’s Story Arc

You’ve written your picture book text and it divides nicely into about fourteen sections, so your first draft is looking good. Now, focus on the narrative arc.

Narrative Arc Formula

Here’s an easy formula to fill in for your narrative arc:

This is a story about ______________________________

Who more than anything else wants __________________ (Alternate: Who more than anything else fears_________________)

But can’t get it because of these complications: (Alternate: But has to face it because of these complications:)

UNTIL (climax/resolution) _______________________________________.

Of Course, It’s Just a Formula

Of course, this is a formula for a story that actually has a plot, not a mood story or a concept story or a nonfiction story. We’ll talk about those this month. But for now, this is a good formula for a story with a plot.

Of course, any formula like this is useful only up to a point, but it does a good job of checking the overall structure of your story. It can point out useful things:

• Does the main character solve the problem? (No fair bringing in parents, adults, older siblings, etc.)
• Do the complications get worse and worse, building to a climax?
• Does the character actually want/fear something?
• Have you provided the most interesting, least cliched complications possible? (Or at least done the cliched things in the most interesting vocabulary possible?)

Order the Ebook Now available: A Fiction Notes Ebook, How to Write a Children’s Picture Book . 110 pages packed with information. Everything in one, easy-to-read format. Instant access! Find this Helpful? Read the Complete Series as an Ebook: How to Write a Children’s Picture Book Available Now! The 30 Days to a Stronger Picture Book series has been collected into a Fiction Notes Ebook. Available on Nook Kindle PDF Look for it as an iBook

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