How do you see the future of children’s picture books?

Picture books are perhaps the most important of all books. Picture books introduce children to the world of reading and imagination. At first they attract the attention of the child through the colorful pages and illustrations, but soon the child realizes there is a story, characters, actions and activities that take place as well. A well worn picture book means there is a child that can recite the story, at first from memory, then by recognizing the words on the page.

The future of picture books may see more interactivity such as what has been done with the Leapfrog pads. E-books may become more mainstream as newer generations are being raised in the Internet and computer age. Distribution may change from brick and mortar stores to buying, downloading and printing over the Internet.

No matter what, picture books will continue to be the tools used to build a foundation of good reading skills and active imaginations for generations to come.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Do not give up.
Do not give up.
Do not give up.

Find someone who loves you and will tell you the truth about your writing. Find someone who will tell you, “This should be changed and this didn’t sound right.” Better yet, find someone who hates you and will tell you, “This should be changed and this didn’t sound right, plus you smell funny.” Let them read it and be open to what they have to say. In your head you know exactly how it should sound and the images it should convey. When someone else is reading it, they may not see what you were going for. Listen, but more importantly, hear.

Don’t give up.

Get used to rejection. Remember when you asked the hot girl/guy to the prom and they reached into your chest, pulled out your still beating heart and stomped on it while laughing maniacally? That feels better then the rejection letters from publishers. After all, that was just your heart, this is your BOOK! Just remind yourself that the person who rejected your book was a mouth-breathing troglodyte who wouldn’t know good literature if it bit them, but just in case, look over the manuscript again.

Don’t give up. This is your dream. Only you can make it happen.

Thanks for the interview, Jeff!