Creating Children's Books
ENGL 297Z
Winter 2026
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01
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The goal of the course is to introduce and begin to develop the skills necessary to create stories and sequential art specifically aimed at young readers, and produce a written story and small dummy book that could eventually be developed into a picture book submission to a publisher if the student chooses to pursue publication of their story idea. In an industry that welcomes unique voices and styles, there are underlying guidelines that inform children's literature and typically apply to most picture books. The course will cover specific considerations for writing manuscripts for children as well as the creation, style, layout, and pacing of sequential art for picture books. By looking at, reading, and analyzing picture books -- both current titles and classics from the past -- and reading about the work process of published authors and illustrators, students will examine the elements that help create compelling narratives, engaging characters, and memorable themes. In addition to studying the craft of effective storytelling, we'll look at how imagery reinforces and expands the narrative through the use of dynamic elements like scale, perspective, texture, line, color, lighting and pattern. We'll also take a look at the business of publishing. There will be a visit, in person or virtual, by a publishing professional -- an editor or literary agent -- to discuss what expectations are for manuscript and dummy book submissions, current trends in book proposals being bought by publishing houses, the business of publishing, and what their jobs entail beyond editing books for young readers. The class will operate in a workshop format with group feedback and support on story concepts and development, thumbnail sketches demonstrating the pacing of the written and visual narrative, and book dummies with text and sketches in place. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (English) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
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Molly Bang PICTURE THIS, HOW PICTURES WORK, Uri Schulevitz WRITING WITH PICTURES; HOW TO WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE CHILDREN'S BOOKS
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Examinations and Assignments:
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INITIAL OUTLINE: Written synopsis of story idea.
FINAL MANUSCRIPT: Typewritten story, written to incorporate illustrations as part of the combined text/visual story telling narrative indicative of picture books for young readers.
KEY SCENES AND CHARACTERS: Sketches showing setting, location and elements to establish the environment in which the story takes place, and drawings visually defining characters in the story.
THUMBNAILS: Small sketches drawn in a grid formate demonstrating the sequential pacing of the written and visual narrative.
DUMMY BOOK: 32 page small dummy book based on the thumbnail sketches comprised of
black and white sketches and text in position; this is a mock-up demonstrating the pacing of the written and visual narrative and how the text and illustrations would be combined over 32 consecutive pages, forming an approximation of how a final picture book would look.
RESEARCH: Books, film, any influences and materials used to inspire, inform and develop the final manuscript and dummy book.
FINAL PROJECT:
-Typewritten manuscript
-32 Page dummy book comprised of text and sketches. This is a beginning example of a story idea and illustrations, and can be seen as a jumping off point for developing a more finished written and illustrated project.
-List of research used for final project. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
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Student grades will be determined by the work and thought put into the assignments demonstrating an understanding of the blending of text and illustrations to create a picture book, class participation and their final project. Students will not be graded on how lyrical their writing is, or their drawing skills.
No prior experience in writing or drawing required. |
| Instructor(s): McClintock,Barbara Times: .MT.RF. 10:00AM-12:00PM; .MT.RF. 01:30PM-04:30PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 12 | | SR major: 2 | JR major: 2 | | |
| Seats Available: 12 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 2 | JR non-major: 2 | SO: 2 | FR: 2 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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