Writing

20 Online Courses to Write and Illustrate Children’s Books

Learn how to create engaging stories for children and young adults with these top courses for beginners

Books help stimulate young readers' imaginations, offering them an opportunity to explore new worlds filled with adventure, fantasy, and humor. At the same time, they help children and teens develop a better understanding of the world we live in, by sharing information about daily life in a fun and engaging way.

To create a story that appeals to future generations, you’ll need to create that magic, using both words and illustrations. It’s a skill that involves various techniques as you learn to develop plot, characters, language, and images.

Works by children's book author Isabel Thomas.

Ready to get started? Read on for fifteen online expert-led courses to learn the process of creating a children’s book every step of the way—whether you’re interested in writing, illustrating, or a mix of both.

But first, let’s take a look at some of the main characteristics that define these genres.

Common characteristics in books for children and young people

To get started as a children’s book writer or illustrator, you’ll need to understand the features that are typical of these genres. Three of the main characteristics include:

1. Simple stories with a deeper meaning and takeaway message that can teach something.

2. Images often play a central role. However, the relationship between text and illustration can be either complementary or contradictory, depending on the message.

3. In children’s book illustration especially, there is often an open approach to using various techniques. Some common styles include collage, ink, watercolors, acrylics, or pop-ups.

Children’s book illustration courses

From illustrations inspired by nature to vintage-style drawings, learn how to create images that encourage young readers' imaginations.

1. Vintage Illustration for Engaging Children’s Books, a course by Ingela P Arrhenius

Children’s illustration gives us the opportunity to pique curiosity in the minds of young readers from an early age through words and images. Illustrator Ingela P Arrhenius (@hello_ingela) specializes in doing just that through her bold and colorful artwork, and has illustrated and published multiple children’s books.

In this course, Ingela teaches you how to design an illustrated children’s book with a vintage twist. Create a visual universe that inspires young readers by exploring illustration techniques, playful typography, and book design.

2. Animal Characters in Watercolor for Children’s Books, a course by Julie Mellan

Watercolor allows you to paint atmospheres and bring a personal approach to any scene. Illustrator Julie Mellan (@julie_mellan) uses it to create captivating illustrations for children’s books. She explores color, light, and shadow to paint images full of personality that have been published by the likes of Penguin Random House, Clavis, and Fleurus.

In her course, you will learn to create animal characters in watercolor for children’s books. Create dynamic and expressive animal protagonists as Julie guides you through all the stages—from your initial ideas and sketches to deciding color schemes, and more.

3. Character Creation for Illustrated Stories, a course by Valentina Toro

Learn the tools to write and illustrate characters, both inside and out, by understanding their essence and their world with illustrator and writer Valentina Toro (@valentinatorog).

In her course on character creation for illustrated stories, Valentina teaches you how to create a character using a text to understand their essence, while sharing all the tools you need to write and illustrate a scene inhabited by your story's protagonists.

If you'd like to delve even deeper, take a look at her other course, Illustrating and Writing a Children's book.

4. Illustrated Children's Books: Create a Unique Story, a course by Weberson Santiago

An illustrator defines their style in their strokes, lines, and colors that evoke certain feelings or sentiments in their viewers. Building on that principle, in this course, you will develop a story idea graphically, by learning how to create illustrated children's books with a unique visual narrative.

Teacher, author, and illustrator Weberson Santiago (@webersonsantiago) will guide you through each step with a series of exercises, showing you how to create characters and build the environment using a variety of composition techniques.

5. Wildlife Illustration for Children's Books, a course by Dieter Braun

The natural world offers endless inspiration for people of all ages. Get inspired by wildlife to create a nature-inspired storybook that reminds children of the world we live in with help from illustrator and author Dieter Braun (@dieter_2).

In his course, Wildlife Illustration for Children's Books, dive into the world of illustration and learn how to turn your sketches into digital drawings full of texture and color. Then, learn his tips for bringing it all together creating a double-page spread for a children’s book.

Picturebook courses

Learn to create memorable stories that shape young minds by combing both words and pictures.

6. Visual Narrative for Picturebooks: Create a Playful World, a course by Renata Galindo

Discovering a story through both visual and verbal language has the power to spark young imaginations on multiple levels. Explore this art further by diving into the world of visual storytelling with published author and illustrator Renata Galindo (@r_galindoprieto).

Renata is passionate about combining visual and verbal narratives to tell compelling stories full of surprises. In her course on creating a visual narrative for picturebooks, she guides you through writing, illustrating, and designing your first story.

7. Pitch Writing for Non-fiction Picturebooks, a course by Isabel Thomas

When it comes to writing a non-fiction children’s book, the choice of topics is endless, and each of them can help young readers learn more about the world around them.

An award-winning science writer and children's book author, Isabel Thomas (@isabelthomas) has written over 180 non-fiction titles, published in over thirty languages. The first step in her process? Writing a pitch that captures the attention of publishers.

Sharing her expertise on how to write a pitch for non-fiction picturebooks, in this course she shows you step-by-step how to create an original idea and craft it into a polished pitch. Explore strategies for ideation, storyboarding, writing a sample text, and more.

8. Picturebook Creation, a course by Flavia Z Drago

Learn the differences between an illustrated book, a picturebook, and all the different types that exist along with their characteristics in this picturebook creation course by Flavia Zorrilla Drago (@flavia_zdrago).

Flavia has collaborated with publishers Combel, Petra, Delete Dog, Walker Books, and the Mexican Secretariat of Culture to author illustrated albums for children of all ages. In her course, you will learn about the basic narrative principles and find brilliant ideas for creating your own illustrated album.

9. Creation of a Children's Picturebook, a course by Claudia Rueda

If you would like to learn all the steps involved in creating an illustrated children’s book for young readers, Claudia Rueda (@clau_2) is the ideal person to guide you.

An author and illustrator who has published more than thirty books, in her course Claudia takes you through the full process for creating children's picturebooks. From setting up the album book to making a final mock-up, you’ll learn how to plan and create your picturebook project from scratch combining narrative and illustration in a unique way.

Children’s book writing courses

Children’s fiction writing is a chance to take the imagination of young minds on fantastical journeys, whilst diving into an exciting literary journey of your own!

10. Introduction to Writing a Children’s Fantasy Novel, a course by Piers Torday

Embark on a writer’s journey to create a children’s novel that transports the little ones to another universe and inspires them to ask big questions in this children’s fantasy novel writing course for beginners.

With children’s book author and recipient of the Guardian Award for Children’s Fiction, Piers Torday (@ptorday), discover the creative process behind world-building, plot development, and character arcs that can inspire the next generation.

11. Children’s Fiction: Write Compelling Adventure Stories, a course by Ross Montgomery

Explore the process of writing a captivating quest story for children and create a one-page synopsis of your book ready to submit to a literary agent with Ross Montgomery (@rossjamesmontgomery).

A children’s author whose stories invite young readers into worlds full of oddity, mischief, and laughter, in his children’s adventure fiction writing course, he helps you explore what a children’s book is, understand your readers, develop your plot, and learn how to approach publishers with your story.

12. Creating Children's Stories, a course by Ilan Brenman

Experiences from daily life offer all kinds of avenues for exploration when it comes to creating stories that really connect with young readers. If you want to write a story that leaves an impact, learn how in Ilan Brenman’s (@ibrenman) course on creating children's stories.

An award-winning children's book author and international best-seller, with Ilan you’ll discover techniques to develop your own creative writing process. Study the key components of a narrative structure, learn how to turn your ideas into an outline, discover how illustrations interact with text, and lots more.

13. Writing Children's Novels from Start to Finish, a course by Olney Goin

Ready to start writing your first children’s novel? Author Olney Goin (@olneygoin) knows all kinds of tricks of the trade to enhance your creativity, bring characters to life, and get you started on writing your first fantasy adventure.

With Olney as your teacher, learn how to write a children's novel, from start to finish. Transform the ordinary into the extraordinary and write your first novel for young readers—from the initial idea to the final page.

Pop-up book courses

Learn the art of paper folding and cutting to create 3D worlds that will get young readers excited to turn each page.

14. Pop-Up Book Creation, a course by Silvia Hijano Coullaut

Pop-up books are a feat of storytelling and paper engineering that rely on various stages (cutting, folding, assembling, and binding) to create a new world for the reader to dive into with every turn of the page.

An expert in this artform, founder of the Libracos studio, Silvia Hijano Coullaut (@silvia_libracos) will teach you the essential skills to create your own pop-up book in her course (audio available in English and Spanish).

If you want to continue improving your technique, check out her second course, Advanced Techniques for Creating Pop-Up Books.

15. Paper Cutting Techniques for Storytelling, a course by Karishma Chugani

Learn the manual techniques to craft a theater book using paper and scissors in this course by illustrator, fashion designer, and founder of L’École de Papier, Karishma Chugani (@karishma_chugani).

By experimenting with a few tools and your imagination, you can tell all kinds of stories. With Karishma to teach you, learn paper-cutting techniques for storytelling as you make your own theater book (a hybrid between a tunnel book and a paper theater).

16. Children's Book Illustration: A story in a moment, a course by Mark Hoffmann

In this children's book illustration course, you'll master the art of creating illustrations that blend seamlessly with narratives, using color, texture, and character design to captivate young readers. Learn to hint at the past and future within a single illustration, refining concepts, palettes, and text integration. Gain essential skills for painting narrative moments, making your storytelling shine.

17. Children’s Illustration with Procreate: Paint Magical Scenes, a course by Lucy Fleming

Explore the art of children's illustration with Lucy Fleming in Children’s Illustration with Procreate: Paint Magical Scenes.This course delves into Procreate techniques for creating enchanting digital art, from concept development to final composition. Alongside practical Procreate skills, it offers insights into story crafting and portfolio building, ideal for anyone aspiring to captivate young audiences.

18. Sketchbook Techniques for Children's Illustration, a course by Ema Malyauka

Ema guides you through sketchbook practices, character creation, and color use. This course, perfect for aspiring artists, emphasizes sketchbook experimentation and developing a unique style, culminating in your own fairytale illustration. Discover the power of a sketchbook in bringing your imaginative stories to life.

19. Picturebook Character Illustration with Procreate, a course by Gozde Eyce

Explore the art of creating captivating children's book characters with the 'Picturebook Character Illustration with Procreate' course. This course focuses on crafting digital characters that engage and inspire young readers. You'll learn to develop characters from initial sketches to expressive, colorful illustrations, culminating in a professional portfolio piece. Perfect for anyone looking to enrich their portfolio with memorable, child-friendly characters

20. Imaginative Character Illustration with Watercolor, a course by Emma Thrussell

In the course Imaginative Character Illustration with Watercolor, you'll learn to transform imaginative ideas into vivid watercolor characters. This is a unique opportunity for artists at any level to develop and bring their whimsical characters to life, from concept to final digital touches.

Learn more top tips for creating children’s books

If you want to continue exploring the world of children's books, read on for more top resources and advice from the experts.

- Discover the key dos and don'ts of writing for young readers in this storytelling tutorial on writing children's books.

- Learn tips to make your illustrated characters stand out with thischildren’s illustration tutorial for character design.

- If you want to hear more industry advice and follow in the footsteps of experts, check out any of Domestika's online children's illustration courses.

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