Caroline Wakeman, of Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency, has been elected as the judge for the 2023 Best Children’s Illustrated Books award! The competition is running from October 3rd to March 1st, 2023. Caroline is searching for exciting stories that young children will ask for over and over again! She highlights that “Picture books are a beautiful synergy of artwork and text, but it takes skill to create this fine balance and master. They are also instrumental to assisting a child in learning to read, as a lot of the storyline is told within the pictures.”
Submissions can include stories in development such as rough sketches, carefully positioned text and at least two finished double-page spreads in color. Picture books that are ready for publication or self-published can also enter! Entrants can submit individually or collaborate in illustrator/author pairs. Learn more about the award and what Caroline is looking for here.
Imagine having a guide who not only understands the creative path an individual wants to walk, but also has the knowledge and tools to help them get there – successfully. That’s the core of the ITSme Learning Mentorship. Whether someone is a student, a young professional at the beginning of their career, or an artist…
We are extremely excited to announce our first picture book class and mentorship program, in a collaboration between Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency and multi-talented author-illustrator Sally Anne Garland. Your Picture Book Journey: How to Write and Illustrate Your Own Picture Book is a 12-week course for writers, illustrators, and visual storytellers ready to bring their…
When you’re thinking about our favourite stories as a child, we often think about the narrative, the themes, perhaps a particular quote that stood out, but the most memorable elements are always the characters. The reason the characters always stay in our minds is because they are the gateway to the narrative, and all of…
Over the past few years, illustrated covers have become a defining visual language in the Young Adult (YA) and New Adult (NA) book market. And no, this isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a design evolution powered by the viral force of #BookTok, #bookgirlies, and a growing appetite for genre-fluid storytelling. Hear what’s driving the…
Every week we’ll be featuring a new article over on LinkedIn, in our new trend watch series! Graphic novels are having a moment—and it’s no passing trend. From classrooms to bestseller lists, graphic novels are dominating shelves and reading time across all ages. What was once seen as a niche format with a distinct, heavy-lined “comic book”…
By: Vicky Patoulioti, Talent Source Manager, ITSme This year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair was one to remember. From early mornings to late evenings, our team Vicky, Bhavi, Ed, and Emily — were on the ground offering free portfolio reviews to artists from all over the world. Mornings kicked off with pre-scheduled reviews, while in the…