Writing a Children's Book

Lesson 2: Planning Your Book.

Supplement: Anatomy of a Specific Picture Book.

In this section, we are going to look at a specific picture book and see how it is constructed. I am using one of my own books because I own the copyright and thus am able to quote from it freely without paying permissions. “I’m Big Enough” was published in 2002. It represents the “cosy” picture book genre, and is usually read to children rather than by them. Its sub genre is “animal story”. The illustrations and cover picture were done by Lloyd Foye.

P.1. has the title, author and illustrator names and publishing imprint.

P.2. is the imprint page, with dedications, publishing details and copyright notice.

P.3. shows a picture of a wallaby joey hopping after his mother. The text begins.

“Joey was hopping along with his mother.”

(This sets the situation. Mother Wallaby looks placid, in the picture, while Joey looks lively and a bit anxious. He’s trying to keep up.)

Pp 4/5. Picture spread, showing Joey and Mother facing one another, conversing happily.

Text on P 4 has Joey asking his mother if he may hop alone to Wallaby Grove. Mum offers a lift, but Joey insists he wants to hop himself.

P.5. text has Mother asking if he knows the way. Joey details the route “Past Pretty Creek, Big Rock, Great Gum, Wattle Knob and then it’s Wallaby Grove.” (This sets up a rhythm and partial refrain.)

Pp 6/7. Spread shows Joey and Mother bidding affectionate farewell with a kiss. No text on P.6.

P.7. text has Mother giving Joey permission and reiterates his destination.

Pp 8/9. Picture on P.8. shows Joey eating grass. Text states that he is eating, but things seem too quiet… so he decides to start hopping.

P.9. has a small continuation of picture, showing ground and a tree. The text tells how Joey goes “Hoppity-hoppity-hop”. (This is another rhythm and refrain.)

Pp 10/11. Big spread picture, showing Joey on the bank of a creek, conversing with Platytpus, who is in the creek.

Text on P.10. has Platypus ask where Joey is going, and has Joey’s proud answer.

Text on P.11. has Platypus opine that Joey is too little to be alone, and set him a test of maturity. He is to catch a worm.

Pp 12/13. Spread shows Joey failing and Platypus succeeding.

Text on P.12 has Joey explaining he can’t do it, while Platypus says he will accompany Joey. No text on P.13.

Pp 14/15. Spread shows Joey and Platypus meeting Wombat by a big rock.

Text on P.14. has Joey and Platypus travelling, and meeting Wombat. Wombat asks where Joey is going, Platypus responds. Wombat says he’s too little. Joey tries to intervene and say he’s big enough. (The “adults” are taking away Joey’s independence, and his attempt to win it back doesn’t succeed.)

Text on P.15. has Wombat set a test of maturity. Joey must dig a burrow.

Pp 16/17. Spread shows Joey scratching the soil while Wombat digs an impressive burrow.

Text on P.16 tells of Joey’s failure.

Text on P.17. has Wombat show how it’s done, and announce she’s coming with him.

Pp 18/19. Spread shows Joey hopping towards a big tree, while the others discuss him and follow.

Text on P.18. says that Joey hops while Platypus runs and Wombat trundles. They agree it’s a long way – too far for Joey.

Text on P.19 finds Joey remembering his failure and doubting his own readiness.

Pp 20/21 shows Joey, Platypus and Wombat peering up at Possum in the tree.

Text on P.20. has Possum asking where they’re going while the others explain. Joey says he thought he was big enough… but admits his failures.

Text on P.21. has Possum setting his test for maturity. Joey must hang by his tail.

Pp 22/23. Spread shows a big tree in the centre, with Possum on the right and Joey on the left. Joey is examining his tail with startled attention.

Text on P.22. has Joey saying he can’t hang by his tail because “my tail doesn’t bend enough!” (This is the beginning of Joey’s rebellion.)

Text on P.23. has Possum seeing his test failed, and the “adults” agree that they’ll look after Joey.

Pp 24/25. Picture on P. 24 shows Joey, Platypus, Wombat and Possum travelling. The “adults” look smug, Joey annoyed.

Picture on P.25. shows Kookaburra flying towards them.

Text on P.24. has the “hoppity hop” refrain, and the “Platypus ran, Wombat trundled and Possum scurried beside him” refrain as well. Kookaburra greets them and asks Joey where he’s going “with such a mob?” Joey tells his destination and the others break in and tell how he failed their tests.

Text on P.25. has Kookaburra mockingly setting her maturity test. “Let’s see him fly! That will prove he’s not too little.”

Pp 26/27. Picture on P.26 shows consternation on the faces. Picture on P.27 shows Kookaburra waiting.

Text on P.26. has the three “adults” saying “But- how could he do that?”

Text on P.27. has Kookaburra reiterate her challenge.

Pp. 29/30. Picture on P.29. shows Joey looking exasperated. Picture on P. 30. shows Kookaburra again.

Text on P.29. has Joey expostulate that he hasn’t got any wings. Kookaburra agrees. The others agree, and say they never thought of that…but “all the same, he’s only little.”

Text of P.30. has Kookaburra asking Joey what he can do to prove his maturity. Joey says “I can hop along. That’s what wallabies do when they’re getting big.” Kookaburra tells him to “hop along”, and Joey does so.

Pp 31/32. Big spread shows Joey happily meeting Mother Hopalong at Wallaby Grove.

Text on P.31 has Joey telling Mother that wallabies can’t catch worms, dig burrows, hang by their tails or fly. Mum agrees, then ask why they’d want to. (This underlines Kookaburra’s point, and shows that Mother is a much better judge of Joey’s capabilities than the other “adults”.)

P.32. Vignette picture of Joey and Mum greeting one another with a kiss as they parted on Pp 6/7.

Text says “Beats me,” said Joey, and kissed his mother’s nose.

This is a simple little story with around 700 words. The theme is yardsticks for maturity, and the foolishness of expecting others to use your own yardsticks… or yourself to use theirs. The “happy” pictures echo the generally positive tone of the story. There are no tricks in the pictures, but a few little jokes, such as the spotty lizard that appears in most pictures but never in the text.

The book was originally titled “Joey Hopalong” and the animals all had names, but the editor preferred to use “Wombat”, “Possum” etc and chose a thematic title.

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