As adults, we may think of children’s picture books as short and simple. Kidlit editors know that they’re anything but. Editing for children is a joyful, engaging niche—but picture books come with editorial considerations that can differ from those in other fields of literature. As an editor and an author, I’ve been on both sides of the editing experience. In this webinar, I’ll share tips and examples to help new and aspiring picture book editors gain confidence in the following areas:
- identifying the different types of children’s literature (from board books through YA)
- recognizing current trends in picture book form and structure
- understanding the relationship between language and audience in picture books
- addressing common opportunities for refinement in picture book manuscripts at each stage of the editorial process
Note: while many of these principles can also apply to non-fiction, this webinar will focus on narrative fiction in picture books.
Laura Bontje
Laura Bontje (she/her) is a freelance editor in London, Ontario. She works with traditional and self-published authors across many genres, with a particular focus on the children’s literature market. Laura’s palindrome-packed picture book debut, Was It a Cat I Saw? (illus. Emma Lidia Squillari), was released in 2024. In April 2025, When the Air Sang (illus. Sarah Whang) will introduce children to the magic of cicadas. Laura volunteers as the managing editor for The Editors’ Weekly, the official blog of Editors Canada. Learn more about her at www.laurabontje.com.