It’s ironic that embarking on an exciting adventure of creating and publishing a book, can be boiled down to a pretty dull checklist. I skip the part where I rewrote the poem 20 times, and I don’t include the botched painting time and the nights where things were going so well I painted until 3 a.m., leaving me pretty tired for work the next day. Those are not on the list. But the essential to-do’s are. Before I share the list, I want you to know that I published a few low-content books before I tried to publish a complex children’s book. It took extra work to do this while I was also working on the paintings for the children’s book, but I’m so glad I did. I learned so much about formatting, templates, resolution, and publishing in the process of building and publishing a simple blank journal, that it was well worth my time. Now, on to the children’s picture book journey, checklist-style.

• Idea. Focus on one idea. I focused on corvids, a children’s summer camp theme I facilitated years ago.

• Storyline. Create a storyline from that idea. I wrote a rhyming poem.

• Plan the pages. Work out the words and break them into pages. Some of my favorite books are about 24 to 30 pages. Words can be on just half of those pages or less with illustrations on the other pages, or some combination of both.

• Connect with others for help and advice. Decide what skills you have and what you will need help with. I decided my skills included illustration and file processing. I knew I needed help with editing and proofing. Reach out to your local writing groups and local bookstores for publishing advice. I used Village Books in my town. They have a writer’s corner and shared so much great information with me.

• Set a budget. Set dollar goals and hire help as needed. I will share an accounting later. So far I’ve stayed under $1,000.00, but I have not started paying for ads, yet.

• Rough sketches. Create or obtain sketches that enhance the words and allow room for the words. I created my thumbnail pencil sketches, then I developed a couple of larger comprehensive versions of two pictures using colored pencils. This step was to develop the style I wanted for the illustrations. If you don’t draw, it is acceptable to use stick figures to describe what you want to communicate to an artist, but if you hire a good artist, you may want them to take the reins in this area.

• Refine the story text. When you are confident that the storyline is interesting and compelling, test it out with the pictures. Use an editor if possible, or at minimum a proofreader. Welcome constructive criticism and adjust your work if it makes sense.

• Obtain page size templates. You will need templates or other guidance tools from the company that will do your book printing. I used Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) for my digital and paperback versions. KDP is popular for self-publishing and is a great way to learn how to do it without spending a lot of money. I used Ingram Spark for the hardcover. You have to pay for uploading on Ingram Spark and pay for revisions. KDP charges nothing, but they don’t offer hardcover for low page counts.

• Create final art. You can then paint or draw the final art based upon the sketches, or have a professional do it for you. I decided to paint watercolor on paper, even though doing a digital painting would have been much more forgiving. I wanted the authentic hand-worked quality of watercolor. You can study the work of other accomplished artists to better understand what direction you want to go. I recommend looking at Caldecott-winning books to set a standard for your picture book. Aim high. Make the art the best that you can. If you are hiring an artist, be choosy. The art affects the reader and influences the child’s experience of the story. Visual art creates a feeling and often will fall into a genre. Be aware of how the art makes you and others feel and how the art is perceived. Welcome constructive criticism and adjust your work if it makes sense.

• Create Cover Art. Use the same artist for the cover as the interior illustrations. This will make the book harmonious.

• Photograph the art. Images can be taken with a camera or a newer cell phone camera that allows a high-resolution photograph of the artwork. Avoid casting shadows on the art. Use full daylight. Use a tripod or phone stand. I used an iPhone 12 and I unchecked the efficiency box. Efficient transfers of images mean they are small. You will want large images with excellent resolution, so be aware of the resolution associated with your camera settings.

• Combine the words with the pictures on finished pages. To be successful with the finished product, adhere strictly to the page size guidelines provided by the printing company when creating each page. Several programs could work to do this, including Word and Publisher, but I am very comfortable with Adobe Illustrator and it worked great with custom text placement, and custom page sizes. In the case of my first book, the words were done digitally on top of the photographed artwork.

• Important extra pages. Include a title page, a copyright page, and a dedication page at the beginning. Include a publishing page about the artist at the end. I included all of these in my book. KDP offers templates for all of these for free. Or you can look at published books to learn how things go together.

• Obtain ISBN. Do some research on ISBN identifiers and the possibility of purchasing your own. You can also become your own publishing company pretty easily. I am now, Steady Horse Publishing and I own my ISBN identifiers. I used Bowker to accomplish this. These items can be included on your copyright page. Or, you can skip this step and let the printing publisher provide you with an ISBN.

• Print your book as a PDF, MOBI, or other compatible file type and upload it to your printing publisher. There will be a couple of pages to fill out, including a book description, category choices, keywords, and pricing. In the case of paperback or hardback, save the finished picture book as a draft online. Don’t publish just yet.

• Order printed proofs from the uploaded draft. Look into marketing strategies while you wait for the proof if you have not already. Once you approve the printed proofs, you are ready to publish, so it’s a good idea to align a marketing campaign with the publishing date.

• Market the book. This might include an announcement to an email list, paid advertising, local bookstore events, and social media posting. I’m just now getting into marketing.

That’s the list for now. I hope this will help you understand the process better, and maybe encourage you to do your book.