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Download EIB: Picture Books

Emma Walton Hamilton / Download EIB: Picture Books

Download-Editor-In-A-Box-For-Picture-Books


Welcome! This kit contains everything you need to take your manuscript through the revision process and prepare it for submission to editors and agents!

Below is the order in which I suggest you use the resources in this kit (all of which can be found on this page, by scrolling down just below these instructions):

1. Watch the “Revision for Picture Books” video, below.

2. Scroll down to listen to the recordings, below, and/or read the transcripts and Top Takeaways of the interviews with

  • Emma D. Dryden,
  • Lisa Rojany Buccieri and
  • Liza Baker

3. Download and print out a copy of all the pdf files:

4. Take your manuscript through the 6-Step Revision process as outlined in the video.

  • Use the Editing Checklist to track your progress and the List of Overused and Unnecessary Words and Grammar Crammer when you get to Step 4 of the revision process, line editing.

5. Format your manuscript according to the formatting guidelines. 6. You’re ready to submit!

*Please Right Click and ‘Save As’ on the Links or Images Below to Download PDF files.*


Video of 6-step revision process for picture books:

NOTE: If you have difficulty viewing the video, please refresh your browser and try again.
PDF of Slides from the Revision Process Video
Download EIB: Picture Books(Click on the image above, or right click and save as, to download the pdf of the slideshow)


Download and print out all PDF Files:

Depending on your operating and system and browser, click on the image or title, or right click and ‘save as,’ to download each pdf.

Picture Book Editing Checklist

Download EIB: Picture BooksList of Commonly Overused Words

List of Overused and Unnecessary Words_Page_1

Common Grammatical Errors to Avoid

Download EIB: Picture Books

Manuscript Submission Formatting and Guidelines

Manuscript Submission Guide

Finding, Hiring and Working With a Freelance Editor

Guide to Finding, Hiring and Working with Freelance Editors


Picture Book Editor Expert Interviews

Below are Audio Recordings, Transcripts and Top Takeaways from Emma’s interviews with esteemed picture book editors Emma D. Dryden, Liza Baker and Lisa Rojany Buccieri.

Emma Dryden

Emma-DrydenEmma D. Dryden started her career in children’s publishing at Viking and Random House, followed by a position with Margaret K. McElderry, of Macmillan Children’s Books, where she eventually became Vice President, Editorial Director of McElderry Books, and in 2005, Vice President, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, a position she held until May 2009.

Emma has edited over five-hundred books for young readers across all genres, including works by Ellen Hopkins, Karma Wilson, Susan Cooper, Alan Katz, David Catrow, Raul Colon, Shelia P. Moses, Marjorie Priceman, Lee Bennett Hopkins, David Diaz, and Paul Zelinsky, among others.

In March 2010, Emma launched her own editorial consulting firm, drydenbks (www.drydenbks.com), through which she edits children’s books (Emma Walton Hamilton has consulted with Emma D. Dryden editorially for her independent projects); consults with authors, illustrators, agents, and foreign publishers; is a creative consultant with several e-book and app publishers; is a collaborative writer; and does some of her own poetry and fiction writing, as well as keeps a blog (www.emmaddryden.blogspot.com). A highly sought-after speaker for regional and national conferences, where she often speaks about story and the digital landscape, Emma is also on the SCBWI Board of Advisors.

Click here (or right click/save as) to read a transcript of the interview.

Click here (or right click/save as) to read Emma’s Top Takeaways from the interview.

To listen to an mp3 of the interview, click on the play button below:


Liza Baker

Liza-BakerLiza Baker oversees the Little Brown Books for Young Readers editorial department with a special focus on picture books and the novelty and licensed books imprint, LB Kids. She is particularly interested in high-quality picture books with commercial appeal, character-driven pic­ture books with line-extension potential, and innovative non-traditional formats. She is the editorial hand behind a number of New York Times bestsellers including The I LOVE YOU Book by Todd Parr, Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies and The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-up Book by Matthew Reinhart, Dewey: There’s a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron, and Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney. Liza manages Sandra Magsamen’s award-winning Messages from the Heart baby book line and Ed Emberley’s collection of drawing and novelty books. Prior to joining LBYR in 2004, Liza began her career at HarperCollins in 1993, going on to become Executive Editor & Director of Special Projects at Scholastic and Editorial Director at Hyperion Books for Children. Liza is the author of several acclaimed children’s books of her own, including I Love You Because You’re You and Mama’s Right Here, illustrated by David McPhail.

Click here (or right click/save as) to read a transcript of the interview.

Click here (or right click/save as) to read Emma’s Top Takeaways from the interview.

To listen to an mp3 of the interview, click on the play button below: https://emmawaltonhamilton.com/emmawaltonhamilton/eib/pb/Liza-Baker-Interview.mp3


Lisa Rojany Buccieri

Lisa-Rojany-BuccieriLisa has published over 100 children’s books, including several award-winning and bestselling titles. She is also a publishing executive and editor with over 20 years of professional experience in the industry, and is the lead writer for Writing Children’s Books for Dummies, the updated 2nd edition of which is coming out January 1, 2013. Her latest YA, Surviving the Angel of Death: The True Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz, with Eva Kor, got a stellar review by Archbishop Desmond Tutu; it was released in German and in paperback in 2012. As well as spearheading four publishing startups, Lisa has simultaneously run her own successful business, Editorial Services of L.A. She is also Publisher & COO for nyjournalofbooks.com, a the premier online-only book review site.

She has been Editorial/Publishing Director for Golden Books, Price Stern Sloan/Penguin Group USA, Intervisual Books, Gateway Learning Corp (Hooked on Phonics), and other established publishing houses.

Click here (or right click/save as) to read a transcript of the interview.

Click here (or right click/save as) to read Emma’s Top Takeaways from the interview.

To listen to an mp3 of the interview, click on the play button below: https://emmawaltonhamilton.com/emmawaltonhamilton/eib/pb/Lisa-Rojany-Buccieri-Interview.mp3

For more resources such as this one, join the Children’s Book Hub! For just $19.95 a month, you’ll get access to scores of interviews, presentations, articles and other invaluable information for children’s book authors, with new ones added every month… Click on the image below find out more!

Resources and Coaching for Children's Book Author's