It’s been a while since I posted about my progress illustrating the picture book “Peter Wore His Red Shoes”. It took a little longer than we originally planned, but it is now finished and available for sale so I can share more images without spoiling the big surprise.
Peter grows from a young boy worried about finding friends in a new country and a new school to a confident soccer hero who has lots of new friends. All because of his RED shoes and the confidence they give him.
Peter Walfrey and I worked closely together to create the characters to tell his personal story about coming to America from the Philippines and starting at a new school. Peter’s prowess at the game of soccer played an important part in the story as well as his red shoes.
If you have a picture book you would like me to illustrate, contact me. I love to talk picture books almost as I love to illustrate them. Click on the post-it note above to contact me or visit my website https://daynesislen.com
Step by Step: My process when illustrating a book for a self publishing author
I am illustrating a picture book for children’s book author (Peter Walfrey) who will be self-publishing this book with IngramSpark and KDP (Amazon) Our target date to have the book ready to publish is mid-July, with the printed books ready mid-August. It usually takes me about 6 months to finish designing, illustrating, laying out, and formatting a picture book. This gives us roughly a month from finished illustrations to printed book, to make sure everything is perfect in the publishing process. Mid-August is the perfect time to get a children’s book ready for Christmas sales.
Peter saw some of my illustrations online and contacted me by email in early January about illustrating a picture book he had written about his personal story of coming to the U.S. and starting a new school. I asked to read his manuscript and decided my style would be a perfect fit to bring his story to life on the printed page.
We e-mailed back and forth: We decided on the terms and signed a contract that explained everything on paper and to protect both of us. Payment was to be paid in 1/3 installments. 1/3 before starting, 1/3 after the enlarged pencil sketches are finished and compiled in book form with the text. And the final 1/3 payment when the whole book is illustrated in color with all the illustrations combined in place with the text in a digital file ready to be printed. Having a contract is important for both the author and the illustrator.
“The first step was for me to read his story over and over until I was familiar with each character and the direction the story was going. This step was really important to me. I must be fully immersed in the story to the point I fully understand the characters, their motives and the story line. A picture book is not just a collection of isolated illustrations, they must form a cohesive story that enhances the text.“
This is Peter’s early manuscript with my notes about illustrations.
2. The second step was to work on some rough character sketches of the major characters to see if my interpretation matched Peter’s vision. His book is a personal story, so it was important that the characters reflected his memories. Peter was happy with the initial sketches.
3. The third step was sketching out four different cover ideas so Peter could get a better idea of what his book would look like. Peter wanted to have the cover finished first so he could start promoting his book for pre-sales before publication. His job was to choose one of the four I presented earlier. He chose the top right cover.
4. The next step was taking his story and breaking down the words in the manuscript into a 32-page picture book format. I did this at a small size with very rough small sketches called “a thumbnail storyboard.” This shows exactly what will be on each page.
5. The fifth step was enlarging the small sketches into almost full sized pencil sketches of each spread to show more details for Peter’s approval. These are still rough and at this stage adjustments can be made before moving into the finished line work of each spread.
6. I am now working on the cover’s final line work and making some minor changes to the rough sketches I presented last week.
In the next few weeks, I will post follow-up details on this site about my illustration process on Peter’s book as I go along.
If you want to talk to me about your picture book idea, I would love to chat.
Last January I wrote about posting details about self publishing one of the many books I have written and illustrated. I wanted to start with “Little Marigold’s BIG Problem” It was a dream I had scheduled for this year. Well, like many dreams, it has been delayed when real life gets in the way. I got a new commission to illustrate a book for another picture book author. So I am working on this commission first before I finish up on my own work. I always put my own work behind that of paying customers.
Little Marigold will have to wait until July when I finished the current book.
I haven’t been posting as much as I would like. There’s no real reason except procrastination. The more I write, the more I want to write, and the better I write. The more I illustrate, the better I illustrate, and the more I want to illustrate. So I should write and illustrate more, YES?
This year, I will self-publish one of the many books I have written and illustrated. It’s still in dummy form, but I want to get it fully illustrated and published before my youngest grandson gets too old to enjoy it.
I will be using this blog to share my complete process, from creation and publishing to marketing. The story has already been written and through many rewrites and revisions with the help of several critique groups and professional critiques. I’m still not completely satisfied with the writing, but it is close enough to proceed with the finished illustrations. Hopefully, the final version will develop along as I work on the final illustrations.
The Title of the picture book is: Little Marigold’s BIG Problem. The story is about a little giraffe who learns how to bring peace between her BIG family and the little animals on the African savanna.
I am a professional picture book illustrator. If you are interested in discussing your picture book with me, send me an email by using the link below. I love to talk to picture book authors.
As I mentioned in some of my earlier blog posts, I get a stack of 6-7 picture books at the library every week. This week I was lucky enough to pick up Flight School by Lita Judge. I have checked this book out several times and each time I read it I fall in love with it just a little more. I wish I could purchase all the picture books I pick up each week for my collection, but my budget just doesn’t stretch that far. Flight School is an exception, I’m going to go out right now to buy my own copy because it means so much to me.
The teachers at Flight School have a rather unusual student this year: a penguin! They inform the him that even though they would love to teach him, penguins aren’t meant to fly. Little Penguin is insistent. He knows he has the soul of an eagle, and that he will soar among the clouds. He works very hard, along with his classmates. At last, all the Flight School students are successfully cleared for flight– except for Little Penguin. Little Penguin accepts his limitations and begins to leave– until teacher Flamingo suddenly has an idea that might help little penguin make his dreams come true.
It’s a heart warming story showing how physical attributes should never stop you from pursuing your dreams. Penguin’s teachers build him a set of wings from their own feathers, then help him to stay up in the air. It’s a lovely message that encourages all of us to believe in our dreams and other’s dreams to help them where we can. I loved this story about a community coming together to make a dream come true.
Lita judge is a talented and prolific author/illustrator. I love her expressive illustrations and the important stories she tells. She is the author/illustrator of 30 other fiction and non-fiction books. Be sure to read her other picture books, I have listed a few: Red Sled, Red Hat, Hoot and Peep, Bird Talk, Penguin Flies Home, Good Morning to Me!, Homes in the Wild, Born in the Wild, Play in the Wild, Dogs, Wake up Moon, Don’t Worry Wuddles, Something Beautiful, Even the Smallest Will Grow, When You Need Wings, How Big Were Dinosaurs?, and Pennies for Elephants.
Dayne Sislen Children’s book illustrator.
Contact me if you have written a picture book and are looking for an illustrator. I love to talk to talented picture book authors about their books.
I read a lot of picture books. I guess you could say picture books are my life. This week in the stack of five I picked up at the library, I found a picture book by Dan Brown. Yes, the same best selling author Dan Brown who wrote the Da Vinci Code and 60 other titles. It’s famous authors like Mr. Brown, who help keep the picture book genre alive by adding their block busters to the list of children’s authors published by the big publishing houses. It gives publishers the income they need to take a chance on a debut book by a talented new author who may not sell as many copies.
Dan Brown’s WILD SYMPHONY is very unique interactive picture book by Random House Children’s Books. On the first page is a QR code to download a free app that plays music for each animal in the story. I downloaded the app and it is delightful. Dan Brown composed the symphony and it was performed by the Zagreb Festival Orchestra especially for this book.
Each spread shows a different animal and poem to read along with the music from the app. Maestro Mouse is the conductor. He explains the journey and introduces each animal group. The illustrations by the talented Susan Batori are so fun. They show the cute cartoon animals singing along and so many details for little ones to notice. If all this isn’t enough, each spread also includes a thoughtful moral message sign held up by Maestro Mouse. Dan Brown has also included hidden coded messages in the book for older young readers.
I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying this book, from the youngest toddler to new readers and their parents and grandparents. This book is a great example why I enjoy picture books so much. It takes a lot of talented people to bring a book like this to market. If you only read one picture book this year, this is the one you should get.
Picture books are fun for all ages. We can learn so much from them.
If you have written a picture book and want to ask me some questions or if you need an illustrator to self-publish your picture book, fill out the form below or visit my website for more information. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Every week I visit my local library and spend a bit of time picking out 5 or 6 new picture books to study. There is much to learn from a well crafted picture book. Last week I picked up 6 great books. I learned about death from a story about a turtle, I learned about making friends, I learned about sharing and I learned about not making judgments about other people (other birds in this case) before you meet them.
My favorite book this week was “They’re So Flamboyant,” by Michael Genhart Phd, and illustrated by Tony Neal.
“When a flamboyance of flamingos moves into a neighborhood full of other types of birds, feathers get ruffled.”
A delightful story about inclusion, exclusion and stereotypes, fears, and assumptions that can lead to discrimination. Each band of birds—a gaggle of geese, a dole of doves, a charm of finches, a brood of chickens, a scream of swifts, and an unkindness of ravens—all have their feathers ruffled and express their apprehension about the new and different arrivals.
Conversations about differences and diversity should be straight forward open and honest. Showing situations using animals (or birds in this case) can bring these issues to the discussion without exposing a ingrained inclination.
The other birds fear that the flamboyant flamingos will destroy the neighborhood, but find out after meeting them that they are a delightful addition. This is a very positive feel good story kids will love.
I also appreciate the glossary page in the back of the book that explains common words to to describe groups of different species of birds. There are also author’s notes to help with using the book to start discussions.
This book can be purchased on Barnes and Noble’s website.
Creativity is the spark of magic that turns the ordinary into the amazing.
Children’s book authors are very creative people. They have the ability to take a fragment of an idea and by just using their imagination fabricate a completely new world filled with unique characters. These characters will have dreams, a past and a new story to tell.
My main job as an illustrator of children’s books is to take that wonderful fantasy world the author has created and expand it even more. My job is to take their story and tell a little bit more about each scene. What happened just moments before the written action or what happens just after the action. My job is NOT to just illustrate the written action or repeat what is written on the page in a visual form. I must bring another dimension to the story.
To keep my mind flexible, it helps to exercise my creative muscles every day. I like to participate in online challenges to help me stay on schedule. I just finished Tara Lazar’s StoryStorm. This is a friendly challenge to come up with 30 new ideas for picture books one each day in January. My idea list this year has 36 ideas, last year I had over 40. That gives me a head start coming up with the perfect idea for the next picture book I want to write.
12 x 12 is another challenge by Julie Hedlund and Kelli Panique, that encourages authors to write 12 picture books from February to November. That’s more than one a month folks. I’m a fast first drafter, but my rewrites and editing take forever.
There are also challenges and competitions just for illustrators. Inktober by Jake Parker is every October and SCBWI has a monthly prompt called Draw This! for members. SVS Learn has monthly prompts at Critique Arena with personal critiques by Jake Parker, Will Terry and Steve Light. It’s a lot of fun to join in and have fun with other creative people.
As a professional illustrator, I get emails from self-publishing authors all the time. They love my illustrations and want me to illustrate their book. They want me to quote a price by return email, but they fail to tell me anything about their book. Is it a picture book, chapter book or middle grade? How many illustrated pages they need or how many characters? Occasionally an author will say I don’t need a big fancy book or they only want a small book. Don’t spend much time on it, they say, I don’t have much money. How much will that be? These questions put me in an awkward position. I don’t have enough information to give them a price or even decide if I want to illustrate their book.
Some authors want me to just “sketch-up” something fast. “Don’t spend any time.” But they want the main character to look like their niece at four years old wearing the dress they gave her for her birthday. The little boy character to look like the boy on that program on TV (they can’t remember the name of) only change his hair to blond. The house in the background should look just like their Aunt Ethel’s house, they don’t have a picture, but it has shutters. AND of course, the dog should look like their deceased dog Rover (they do have many pictures). –Yes, people have asked me to do all of these things. None of this is fast or easy for me at all.
I can already tell some authors will take a lot of my time and will not value my experience or expertise. Do I give them a ballpark figure that covers all kinds of books and situations, or do I probe for more details? Probing takes my time away from other illustration jobs.
Some hints about how to find and work with an illustrator:
• Do your research, search Google, Yahoo or other search engine for “children’s book illustrators.” Read their websites and blogs. Go to organization websites for illustrators such as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators www. SCBWI.org or ChildrensIllustrators.com.
• Be wary of inexperienced children’s book illustrators. While they cost much less, you may be very disappointed with the final results. It requires more than a good artist to illustrate a picture book. Inexperienced illustrators may find they are in over their head and don’t know how to turn their illustrations into a printable book.
• When contacting an illustrator to get pricing, give all the details they will need to decide how long your book will take to illustrate. What kind of book for children is it? What age child is the book for. Give them an idea of the length of the book, how many characters, how detailed do you want the backgrounds, do you want spreads or single pages, cover and back cover. Will the illustrator also be designing and digitally assembling the book for printing? This is a separate skill and not all illustrators will be able to design and digitally assemble your book. You may also need to hire a book designer.price
• When you find the illustrator you want to work with be nice. Nice goes a long way. Then be sure to give them enough information for them to decide if they want to illustrate your book. Be prepared to send them your manuscript before they will give you more than a very ball park estimate of their fees. There is really no such thing as a typical price per page. Think about it, would a builder give you a flat price for building “a house”, or a price per room?
• When working with your chosen illustrator let them know about any limitations or special requests BEFORE they begin. Don’t wait until the characters are designed and all the line work is finished before you tell them the main character (who is shown on 22 pages should look like your niece.
• Respond to your illustrator’s questions in a timely manner. Don’t wait a few days to answer their email, text or phone call. They probably need a quick answer to a question so they can proceed with their work. Holding them up really breaks up the creative flow and slows down the process.
Remember, in the marketplace (bookstore or online), your book will first be judged by its cover. Do you want your book judged solely by amateurish illustrations and awkward cover design?
Why am I willing to work with self-publishing authors?
Occasionally I find an author who values my time, talent and expertise. When I read their manuscript I can tell it has been carefully edited for content and as well as grammar. They belong to an experienced SCBWI critique group or they have used a professional children’s book editor. They have taken the time to learn about writing for children and their manuscript clearly shows it. The language and word count are perfect for the age group and type of book which they are writing.
I think children’s book authors are some of the most talented and clever people on earth. I enjoy getting to know them during the months we work together on their book. Contact me below if you want to talk to me about your children’s book.
I illustrated the picture book spread shown above this blog for the book “Don’t Be a Pig in a Panic!” written by Leila Leidke. The second spread was for The Cow Cocoon by Rachel Nolen and Maria Price.
Visit my website daynesislen.com to see if I’m the right illustrator to bring your picture book or chapter book to life.
I’m talking about the world of writing and illustrating books for children. I’m pretty sure the same applies to other fields also, but my experience is in the wonderful world of children’s literature. We all need insightful feedback from professionals in the field and trusted and a talented critique group to grow in our art.
This week I was lucky enough to receive a critique on my children’s picture book dummy from the talented Cheryl Klein, editorial director at Lee & Low Books. My critique was in conjunction with the KS/MO–SCBWI Fall Conference. It was the most insightful and thorough critique I have ever received, and I have received many through the years. She is a very generous person with her time, experience, and talents. I sincerely thank you, Cheryl Klein.
Miss Josefina’s Pockets was written and illustrated by Dayne Sislen.
Every writer and/or illustrator needs a critique group. A group of talented and helpful people who understand your goals and are willing to read or look at your work with fresh eyes and give you constructive feedback. You may not agree with their assessment, but you need to step back and view your work through their fresh eyes. We all get too close to our own work and fail to see the weaknesses. A professional in the field can help you even more, because they understand children’s literature and are aware of current trend.
It’s also important to have experienced professional on your side when you self publish. I have professional illustrated 15 books for other authors and publishers since 2011. Each books takes me between 6 months and a year to finish. I work very closely with each author to bring their vision to the printed page. I also write and illustrate my own books when I have time between illustrating for other authors.
Below are a few of the books I have been privileged to illustrate for other authors:
“Harry & Larry’s Epic Adventure,” by Tracey O’Brien; “The Cow Cocoon”, by Rachel Nolen and Maria Price; “The Girl Who Found Christmas,” by Barbara Escher; and “There’s a Mouse on my Head,” by Donna Warwick.
If you would like more information about having me illustrate your book, contact me. I can also help you successfully navigate through the confusing world of self-publishing.
Dayne Sislen is a children’s book writer and picture book illustrator. #Picturebooks, #KidLit, #KidlitArt, St. Louis Picture book Illustrator, Member of SCBWI,
A book review though an illustrator’s eyes by Dayne Sislen
My last post was a book review of the fun book, BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY, also by Melissa Sweet. On that post, I received a great comment from JennieFitzkee, a teacher and the writer of the wonderful blog, “A Teacher’s Reflection.” She asked if I had also read SOME WRITER! The story of E.B. White, by Melissa Sweet, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company in 2016. I immediately put myself on the request and pick-up list at my local library. I finally was able to get my hands and eyes on the book this week.
I absolutely love reading and looking at this book. Every page is a joy to behold. SOME WRITER! The Story of E.B. White is an incredible middle-grade biography of E.B. White, written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. The book is beautiful to look at and intriguing to read. Melissa enjoyed the full support of E.B. White’s family for this undertaking, so it is filled with old photos and original hand-written and corrected first drafts of STUART LITTLE, THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN, and CHARLOTTE’S WEB. Also included are early writings and journal entries. E.B. or Elwin as he was called when young knew he was a writer from a very early age.
SOME WRITER! is a delight to read and behold. Melissa has combined old photos, maps, original sketches of book covers, three-dimensional objects and her wonderful illustrations in her graphics. Every page is a feast for the eyes. I hope you enjoyed this book review from an illustrators perspective.
I just love the picture book, BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY. It’s a story about Tony Sarg, the first innovative puppeteer of Macy’s famous parade on Thanksgiving Day. It was written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, who is one of my favorite illustrators. This is not a new book it was published in 2011, but you might say it’s new to me. I heard a lot about it when it first came out, but had never really took the time to study it carefully. With the self quarantine, I have more time to really study, well written and designed children’s books. This one is now a must buy for my home collection.
“But what if the controls were Below and the puppets could rise up?”
–Balloons Over Broadway
BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY is a work of art, both for the writing, the research and the delightful illustrations and models. I didn’t know the story about the first Macy’s parade and didn’t know Tony Sparg’s part in making it SPECTACULAR. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but every page is a delight for the eyes. If I was my five year-old past self, I would be collecting materials right now to make my own puppets and marionettes. I hope you enjoyed this review.
I illustrate picture books for authors and publishers. If you would like to talk to me about illustrating and designing your picture book, fill in the form below. I like to talk to children’s book authors.
There are two very important children’s book awards given annually by the American Library Association. Everyone involved in children’s literature awaits this event each year. The author and illustrator choose are given a great honor. These books are considered the best of the best. They are both very coveted awards.
The Newbery Award
The Newbery has been awarded annually by the ALA since 1922 “to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” There is a medal winner and usually from one to five honor books, which I list below the medal books. Sometimes referred to as the “Newbery award,” the Newbery Medal is the oldest and most prestigious children’s book award given in the United States.
Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother.
The Caldecott Award
The Caldecott has been awarded annually by the ALA since 1938 “to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” Like the Newbery, there is one medal winner and usually a number of honor books, which I list below the medal books. Also known loosely as the Caldecott award, winners are likely to stay in print indefinitely due to the Caldecott’s prestige.
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption—a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.
I love seeing the books that are chosen for these awards each year. I can’t wait to read them.
Dayne Sislen Children's Book Illustration 