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Step 1
Devise creative ways to put a new spin on a classic children's tale. Look at the characters in new ways, put them in different situations or tell the story behind the story. In "Falling for Rapunzel," for example, Leah Wilcox turns the time-honored damsel in distress story into an entertaining rhyme. (See Resources.)
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Step 2
Browse through children's magazines, watch the news and read your local newspapers to find profiles on funny, talented and inspirational kids that can become the basis for a picture book character. Imagine scenarios where she would excel, tackle a conflict or encounter a humorous situation.
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Step 3
Remember the stories your parents used to tell you as a child to entertain or comfort you. Discover ways to make them more contemporary or give them a nostalgic twist. Consider a story like Patricia Polacco's "Thunder Cake" that helps kids combat their worries and fears about thunder and lightning storms.
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Step 4
Study your child's favorite toys or your treasured family heirlooms to discover a way to create a picture book around them. Develop an imaginative history, conflict and personality to surround the object itself or the child who cherishes it.
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Step 5
Brainstorm cute and clever ways to teach basic lessons of time, spelling, math or counting. Examine books like Audrey Wood's "Alphabet Mystery" that familiarize children with the alphabet using colorful graphics and a clever storyline.
