12 Online Courses for Creating Children’s Books
Learn to create a range of illustrated books and albums with a little help from these experts in children’s and young adult literature
International Children's Book Day is celebrated every year on April 2, which is also the same day that Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen was born. You are sure to have come across his works, such as The Ugly Duckling, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and The Little Mermaid, which have also been made into films. This annual celebration aims to fuel children and young adults’ interest in books.
Discovering original and inspiring stories on the page helps children and young adults to unleash their imaginations in the real world. These 12 online courses will help you to become an expert in children’s and YA literature and invent a unique language that combines words with illustrations. From picture books to theater books, the possibilities are endless.
Creation of a Children's Picturebook, a course by Claudia Rueda
When it comes to embarking on the creation of an illustrated children's book, it’s always better to seek out the advice of experts. Claudia Rueda is here to guide you, having published over thirty works and been nominated for important international awards such as the Hans Christian Andersen Award and Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Learn how Claudia plans and elaborates a picture book from scratch, starting with the first idea to creating the layout and finalizing the project before delivering it to a publisher.
Creation of an Illustrated Foldable Book, a course by Rocer Ycaza
Did you know that you can use music to create a story? Illustrator and musician Roger Ycaza is an expert in creating illustrated stories inspired by art and music. If you want to try this out yourself, this course is for you. Under Roger’s guidance, you will look for references; define the concept, characters, and setting; and start illustrating. You will use a song to inspire the mood of your story before evolving the narrative of your folding book.
Picturebook Creation, a course by Flavia Z Drago
Discover the differences between a picture book and an illustrated album with illustrator Flavia Zorrilla Drago. Flavia is passionate about telling stories that engage people through images and words. In her course, she will teach you the basic principles of storytelling and guide you as you search for ideas for your own picture book. You'll also get tips on how to overcome creative block and prepare a great layout.
Illustrated Children's Books: Create a Unique Story, a course by Weberson Santiago
It’s important to get both the storytelling and the visuals right in children's and young adult literature. In this course, Brazilian writer and illustrator Weberson Santiago will introduce you to a picture book’s main features. Weberson will guide you through each step in a series of exercises, in which you will create characters and scenarios using different composition techniques. You will begin by drawing out your book. Then, at the end of the course, you will digitize the project so that it’s ready to present to a publisher or client.
Design and Production of an Editorial Project, a course by John Naranjo
If publishing is the stage that interests you the most, then get ready to discover the pre-production, production, and post-production processes involved in creating an informative book-album. John Naranjo, who has dedicated a lifetime to developing editorial projects, will teach you about the different steps a book goes through before reaching bookstores. You will also explore adding finishing touches and what offset printing entails.
Children’s Illustration: From Storyboard to Picturebook, a course by Rafael Yockteng
Do you know how to create a storyboard for your book? In this course, Rafael Yockteng will walk you through his creative process and show you how he develops visual narratives in his work. This illustrator for children's and YA literature will help you discover the power of images so that you too can tell stories without words. Your goal will be to create a picturebook and, to do so, you will start off developing a storyboard.
Illustration and Design of Children’s Books, a course by Carlos Higuera
ABC books radiate warmth, and so does the work of Carlos Higuera, an illustrator and designer specializing in children's illustration. This format is aimed at children up to the age of three and is usually printed on card. In this course, you will learn a simple process for making this type of book. Carlos will give you some tips on looking for ideas and shine a light on his entire process, including illustration. You will gain more confidence in your drawing skills and eventually discover your own style.
Narrative Techniques for Children’s Books, a course by Natalia Méndez
This course is an introduction to the world of children's publishing. After briefly going through the history of children's books, Natalia Méndez–editor, author, and teacher at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA)–will show you how to write a story, step by step, using play. Not only will you have fun, but you will also learn about the different elements and narrative structures you can use to turn your ideas into children’s stories.
From Autobiography to Illustrated Story, a course by Paloma Valdivia
According to Paloma Valdivia, all you need to create a story is a personal anecdote and an object from your childhood. This illustrator and children's book writer invites you to discover different illustration and writing techniques that will enable you to retrieve memories and bring them to life in a unique and intimate picture book. Paloma will show you her method and take you on an inspiring journey through colors, lines, and words.
Pop-Up Book Creation, a course by Silvia Hijano Coullaut
A pop-up book, or a book made with pop-up techniques, has the power to surprise the reader with its beauty. However, the content is also key. Work out all the details and create your own pop-up book with Silvia Hijano Coullaut, founder of the Libracos studio. She will take you through all the different stages of the production chain: cutting, assembling, gluing, and binding. You will discover different pop-up techniques before going on to develop your own projects.
Advanced Techniques for Creating Pop-Up Books, a course by Sivia Hijano Coullaut
Once you’ve got the basics down for making pop-up books, you can continue exploring the infinite possibilities this format presents. In this course by Silvia Hijano Coullaut–founder of Libracos studio–learn different techniques, step by step, such as how to create multiple scenarios using a wide variety of mechanisms and binding by hand. You will bring a unique work to life: a fold-out map-book that will also function as a pop-up book.
Paper Cutting Techniques for Storytelling, a course by Karishma Chugani
Discover the creative possibilities of papercut–a technique used for making theater books. While these books are flat, they create a unique sense of depth and perspective. With the help of Karishma Chugani–illustrator, fashion designer, and founder of L'École de Papier–learn the manual techniques used in making this type of book. In this course, you will use play and improvisation to tell a story using paper, a pair of scissors, and your imagination.
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