February 2025 - Picture Book People

Picture Book Prompt 91

“The desire of monks and mystics is not unlike that of artists: to perceive the extraordinary within the ordinary by changing not the world but the eyes that look.”
—Jane Hirshfield

Children naturally experience the world with “eyes that look.” And they can help adults do the same. Learning to look at the world with new eyes is the work of picture book writers too. What do you see in your world that you would like to see afresh? See in a way that is raw and honest and true. Write about that.

Picture Book Prompt 90

“Play is the highest form of research.”
—Albert Einstein

Children’s play helps them learn valuable skills as well as discovering valuable information. Devise a playful situation in which a child learns a great deal about a particular topic of your choice.

Picture Book Prompt 89

“I never notice I’m angry,
just that I’m right.”
—Anne Lamott (who attributes the words to her friend Tom Weston)

Understanding different emotions and figuring out how best to manage them is an important thing for children to learn. It’s important for adults too. Write about what righteous anger might feel like from the perspective of a seven-year-old.

Picture Book Prompt 88

“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.”
—James Thurber

Children excel at asking questions. Often inconvenient ones. List three crazy, sweet, inappropriate questions that a child might ask, that a child you know has asked, or that you might have asked as a child. Pick one and write an answer. The questions and answers can be realistic or fantastical, serious or playful.