Making Picture Books
The QK Process as Told by Isko
Have you ever wondered how a picture book comes to life?
Qamber Kids (and Isko) invite you to learn some of the in’s and out’s behind the picture book process. We’re sharing how we take an author’s manuscript and concept, and bring it to life with our fantastic illustrator team.
Maybe you’ve had your story playing at the back of your mind while you read to your students, or your children, your nieces, and nephews, or grandchildren. Maybe you’ve even put pen to paper, or typed out a basic outline, and envisioned the colorful pages. We know better than anyone how big a challenge it can be to take this concept and fully realize your picture book.
We all have dreams. Some of our dreams may be bigger than others, but what if your dream is to tell a story? While Qamber Kids works with authors for young adult and middle-grade readers, we primarily work on children’s books.
We know #kidlit from concept to cover. Sometimes an author already has illustrations in mind, and our team is only happy to map the layout out with their chosen artist.
But sometimes, especially if you’re just starting out, your picture book may not have been edited yet. Trust us when we say you absolutely need editing, no matter your manuscript’s length. More than this, you also need readers to review your story with a critical eye.
That’s where we come in.
Picture books are such a unique form of storytelling because they bring #kidlit and #art to seamless life. The very best picture books are a perfect blend between strong text and balanced illustration work, and we’re here to help you achieve just that.
After our team helps you polish up your manuscript, we work closely between you and the #illustrator to find the right pacing and hit your story beats.
Here is where we can determine what will best translate for your young audience. Kids look at the world differently than adults do. A big tip to always keep in mind is to keep the story from a child’s POV.
A few things to consider:
What is your story trying to say? ⠀
Did your main character change or learn something new?
Are there any characters who don’t advance the story? ⠀
Qamber Kids asks these questions and more as our team evaluates your picture book for strengths and weaknesses. Once we’re convinced we’ve helped you craft your best possible story, we’re ready for the fun part.
Sometimes you come to us with your illustration notes already mapped out. Others, you allow our team to put on our thinking caps to develop the #storyboard. We love the creative process, and we love helping bring a concept to illustrated life.
After weeks of back-and-forth, the illustrator is finally ready to sketch/line/color your picture book. We can’t describe how amazing it feels for us to watch your concept fully realized in such a colorful way. By this point in the process, we feel we know your story and characters as well as you do.
Creating a picture book is a team effort, and it’s part of the reason we love doing what we do. We’re here with you from the day you share your manuscript with us, to guiding our illustrator through each stage in the process, and beyond.
After months of e-mails, artwork, and multiple drafts of your book, we are finally ready for print! What many new authors don’t realize is just how vital the printing process for picture books is. Sure, anyone can upload their work to a POD (print on demand) service like KDP and let it fly free.
But are you getting the best quality?
Other print services, like Ingram Spark, offer higher quality printing options. But there are so many choices available to you besides the big POD companies.
Side note: One of our favorite groups who cater to Indies, Hybrid, and Traditional publishers, is Vervante
Another important tip we strongly encourage is to order proofs. Don’t trust your own eyes with the final product, but let your friends and street team read over as well. The more eyes you can get on a book, the quicker you can catch errors.
Our team is always here for you as you embark on that final step to printing and publishing. But we encourage you to reach out to professionals, to take your time, and plan your marketing before publication. You only get one shot at introducing your #bookbaby to the world, after all.
E-mail us at kids@qamberdesigns.com
