Course notes
110 pages
A downloadable PDF packed full of tricks, tips, and exercises to get you thinking and writing like Julia.
Coming soon
Julia Donaldson
Writing Children's Picture Books
Do you dream of writing children's picture books? Learn from the author of The Gruffalo, who's sold more than 100M books.
The Course
Julia's industry secrets and creative tips will guide you from initial idea to final manuscript and how to get your children's picture book published.
Your Maestro
You couldn’t ask for a more qualified teacher. Julia’s books have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, won too many awards to list and been adapted into eight award-winning animated films. And she’s a former Children’s Laureate to boot. So soak up the wisdom and insight from this formidable writer and her frequent collaborators – including her agent, her editor and The Gruffalo illustrator, Axel Scheffler.
Lessons
-
1 min
Julia introduces the glorious world of picture books.
-
15 mins
Take a peek at the vast range of topics and styles.
-
11 mins
Understand how a book is built and what each page is for
-
19 mins
How to spark and develop original ideas children will love.
-
15 mins
Using traditional stories as a jumping off point.
-
14 mins
How to create original, relatable and memorable characters.
-
13 mins
Building a brilliantly brutal baddie to challenge your hero.
-
14 mins
Master the art of a satisfying, yet unpredictable story.
-
14 mins
Why to put your hero on a journey – inside and out.
-
14 mins
Weaving values and life lessons into your picture book story.
-
10 mins
Charming children with wicked words and slick sounds that POP!
-
15 mins
Learn how to create catchy choruses and repetition.
-
21 mins
Nailing that rhyme and keeping in time.
-
13 mins
How to craft conversation between characters and readers.
-
14 mins
Use mischief and bottom burps to make children laugh.
-
15 mins
Julia’s top tips for giving your story a satisfying conclusion.
-
14 mins
Why and how to include number, letter and colour recognition.
-
12 mins
Valuing representation and introducing children to other cultures.
-
14 mins
Find out what to expect when pictures are added to your words.
-
14 mins
Discover how Julia works with illustrator Axel Scheffler on books like The Gruffalo.
-
15 mins
How to find the perfect artist to illustrate your story.
-
18 mins
A case study of Julia’s book, from initial idea to live performance.
-
15 mins
How to get an agent and the role they play in the process.
-
15 mins
How to pitch your book to an editor and what happens next, featuring Alison Green.
-
14 mins
Bringing your stories to life for book tours and school visits
-
17 mins
What to expect if your story is transferred to stage or screen.
-
1 min
Well done – you’ve learned how to write a children’s picture book!
What People are Saying
I loved Julia Donaldson's clear, no-nonsense approach. She was very generous in sharing her advice and expertise. She's definitely opened up the world of children's book writing for me. As a writer who had already written a non-fiction book, it was super helpful to learn the nuances in children's fiction writing. Julia's is a fascinating world to delve into and I loved 'meeting' her, her agent, her editor and illustrator too!
- Anon
I felt so motivated taking this course. It covers everything from initial idea inspiration, story development, language patterns and then finally on to the publishing processes. Knowledge from the best in the industry - it is fantastic!
- Kara Bee
I loved Julia’s presentation of the course. It was full of tips and ideas and gave a real insight into what it takes to be a successful writer of children’s picture books.
- Gabrielle Mccallion
Insightful and thorough. Very well delivered by Julia. Sparked lots of ideas. Very inspiring!
- Ruairidh Forde
Julia offers so many fascinating insights into her writing process. I could listen to her forever!
- Joanna
I absolutely love it! Thanks @bbcmaestro. Julia is super inspiring. The course is very clear and informative. I'm loving learning all about picture books from the Queen of rhythm and rhyme! Julia's books are firm favourites in our house and it's an honour to be her student.
- Sidra Ansari
Thinking of writing a children's picture book? Honestly, I can't praise this @bbcmaestro course highly enough. 25 modules, 6+ hours of learning from the very best in the business. I've learnt so much and come away with 3 exciting book ideas. Highly recommended.
- Tony Walsh
I'm really enjoying Julia Donaldson's @bbcmaestro course. I've re-imagined a fairy tale and I'm dreaming up a 'baddy'.
- Anna Chorlton
I'm enjoying the course. Lots of practical information with worksheets to print out to help with story-telling and characterisation and much more.
- Carol
Get a free lesson
Sign up now for a free teaser on preparing to write a picture book.
Common Questions
At BBC Maestro, we want to educate and inspire people to explore their creativity with online courses taught by experts. We've curated top talents in various fields, who deliver video courses to teach you everything you need to know to follow in their footsteps.
BBC Maestro is currently available in the following territories: United Kingdom, Isle of Mann, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Australia, South Africa, Canada, India, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. We are planning on launching BBC Maestro in other territories in the future. Please subscribe to our mailing list and follow our social media channels for updates.
BBC Maestro does not currently offer a subscription service. Each individual course can be bought with a one-off payment.
Yes, all our courses have English subtitles that can be accessed by clicking the CC button on the video player. We also have downloadable PDF course notes in English to accompany each course, which offer more detailed information and tips. We do not currently offer subtitles in any other languages.