Ya Gotta Have Heart... in Picture Books
with Julie Hedlund
Why do kids read some picture books over and over again, while instantly forgetting others?
It’s not the plot, the setting, the subject, or even the character(s). It’s heart: the deepest layer that creates connection, meaning, and transformation for both child and adult readers.
In this advanced craft webinar, we’ll explore the four dimensions of heart (character, relationship, universal, and reader) that editors and agents expect in today’s picture book market. Using recent picture books as examples, we’ll break down precisely how to incorporate heart in every part of your manuscript.
Whether your stories are humorous, lyrical, plot-driven, or character-driven, you’ll learn how to infuse them with emotional resonance without becoming too saccharine or preachy.
What you'll learn:
- What is Heart? Not just emotion anymore
- The Four Dimensions of Heart in Picture Books
- Writing with Heart - Story and Line Levels
- Heart Blockers or Pitfalls to Avoid
- Evaluating Heart in Your Manuscripts
This webinar purchase includes access to the live session, extended replay period, and a handout.
Join us live on October 29, 2025, at 8pm ET/5pm PT!
Your Instructor
Julie Hedlund is an award-winning children's book author, the founder of the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, which boasts more than 1,700 members. She is a co-founder of Picture Book Summit, an annual online conference, and the co-creator (with Emma Walton Hamilton) of The Complete Picture Book Submissions System.
Julie's picture books include OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? (Philomel), MY LOVE FOR YOU IS THE SUN (Little Bahalia Publishing) and A TROOP IS A GROUP OF MONKEYS (Little Bahalia Publishing). Her Crystal Kite winning picture book biography SONG AFTER SONG: THE MUSICAL LIFE OF JULIE ANDREWS is available now.
Julie lives in Boulder, Colorado with her son and daughter and a whoodle who is high-maintenance enough to be considered a third child.
Course Curriculum
It's time to give your picture books some heart!
Join us!