NEW Opportunity: Picture to Picture Book Story Idea

For the next six weeks, Mira Reisberg has agreed to look at an illustration and help the author/illustrator to come up with an idea for a picture book. I created the picture below and have had many editors and agents ask for the story that goes with it. Unfortunately, I don’t have one. I figured there might be other illustrators in the same boat, so I sent Mira my lone illustration to give you a quick idea as to what Mira will do for the next 6 weeks on Wednesdays. (See the guidelines at the bottom.)

HERE IS MIRA:

Hi Kathy, I had no idea you could do work like this. Here are my comments and ideas for a lovely and very doable picture book.This is a beautiful piece of art but I needed to age him down a little to work for a picture book. I did this quick and dirty redo by shortening his legs (although the knees should be higher too), reducing the size of his feet, and enlarging his head a little while lowering his eyes a smidge so he has a little more forehead. I also blurred the floor to hide what a mess I’d made making those changes in Photoshop. 🙂

And here’s the basic story that has lots of room for changes, such as the big problem that he has to solve throughout the story could be needing to stop a new development going in that involves demolishing the only skate park in town or something like that.

Mac and his new puppy Pluto are pouring over maps trying to figure out how to stop the new freeway plans from going right through their town. But when Pluto runs out the gate, Mac follows his playful pup throughout the neighborhood where he not only makes new friends but also allies who band together to create a massive new park instead.

Thank you Mira, your thoughts have sparked some ideas on my end. 

If you have an illustration that you would like to explore picture book ideas, Please send in one illustration to kathy(dot)Temean(at)gmail.com. I will send them to Mira. This one small way Mira helps her illustration students and other’s who might need help with ideas during The Craft & Business of Writing Children’s Picture Books e-course at the Children’s Book Academy. 

https://www.childrensbookacademy.com/p/2020-the-craft-and-business-of-writing-childrens-picture-books

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy