CHILDREN'S BOOK PRO
The most comprehensive course on illustrating children's books ever made
In this comprehensive 10-week course we will show you a clear path to illustrating your own children's book.
Designing and Stylizing Characters, Interior and Exterior Environments for Children’s Books
How to organize a manuscript
Composition Guidelines including how to create Spots, Pages, and Spreads
Process for Creating a Book Dummy
How to Design a Children’s Book Cover
Prepping files for Print
Submitting Manuscripts to Publishers and Self-Publishing
1.1: Teacher Introduction
1.1: Overview of Children's Book Pro
1.2: Amazing Books
1.3: Types of Books
1.4: Anatomy of a Children’s Book
1.5: Children’s Book Map
Chapter 1 Lecture References
RESOURCE: Children's book breakdown pdf
HOMEWORK 1A: Amazing Books!
The Children's Book Map
2.1: Manuscript Introduction
2.2: Manuscript Breakdown
HOMEWORK 2A: Working with your Manuscript
Manuscript Visual Breakdown PDF
Pagination Assignment
LECTURE 3.1: Analyzing Characters from Different Children's Books
LECTURE 3.2: Drawing Kids vs Adults
LECTURE 3.3: Character Consistency
LECTURE 3.4: Stylizing Characters
LECTURE 3.5a: Character Design (Lee)
LECTURE 3.5b: Character Pose Sheet (Lee)
LECTURE 3.5c: Character Pose Sheet pt 2 (Lee)
LECTURE 3.6a: Character Design: Awesome Man Design (Jake)
LECTURE 3.6b: Character Design: Awesome Man Demo (Jake)
LECTURE 3.7a: Character Design: Skeleton Design (Will)
LECTURE 3.7b: Character Design: Skeleton Demo (Will)
LECTURE 3.8: Drawing realistic Animals
LECTURE 3.9: Drawing Anthropomorphic Animals
LECTURE 3.10: Drawing Stylized Animals
Chapter 3 Lecture References
HOMEWORK 3A: Character Interview
HOMEWORK 3B: Design Your Characters
HOMEWORK 3C: Character Structure
HOMEWORK 3D: Character Pose Assignment
HOMEWORK 3E: Animal Pose Assignment
OPTIONAL HOMEWORK 3F: Anthropomorphic Animal Design Practice
LECTURE 4.1: Exteriors vs Interiors
LECTURE 4.2: Structure and Volume in environments
LECTURE 4.3: Stylizing Environments
LECTURE 4.4: Drawing Props
DEMO 4.5a: Little Red Riding Hood Exterior (Lee)
DEMO 4.5b: Exterior of Jack's House (Jake)
DEMO 4.5c: Kitchen Interior (Will)
Chapter 4 Lecture References
HOMEWORK 4A: Design an interior and exterior from your manuscript
LECTURE 5.1: Spots, Pages, and Spreads
LECTURE 5.2: Composition Guidelines
LECTURE 5.3: Focal Point
LECTURE 5.4: The Peg-Leg Pig
LECTURE 5.5: Little Bot and Sparrow Case Study
NO HOMEWORK: CATCH UP WEEK
LECTURE 6.1: Process and Procedures
Lecture 6.1b How to Paginate
LECTURE 6.2a Basic Indesign (Lee)
LECTURE 6.2b: How to use the templates (Lee)
DEMO 6.3a: 3 Little Pigs (Will)
DEMO 6.3b: 3 Little Pigs (Jake)
DEMO 6.3c: 3 Little Pigs (Lee)
HOMEWORK 6A: Create a THUMBNAIL dummy
RESOURCE: Photoshop and InDesign Templates
Picture Book Breakdown: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
RESOURCE: DUMMY LAYOUTS
LECTURE 7.1 You Got This! Keep going!
LECTURE 7.2 Book Dummy Process with Lee: This Pretty Planet
Lecture 7.3 Book Dummy Process with Will: Boneparte Plays Ball
Week 8 Introduction
LECTURE 8.1: Production Process
LECTURE 8.2: Design Your Cover
LECTURE 8.3: Prepping Files for Print
LECTURE 8.4: Adding a Dedication
RESOURCE: 7-Step check list for prepping photoshop files
HOMEWORK 8A: Illustrate a Spot
HOMEWORK 8B: Illustrate a Page
HOMEWORK 8C: Illustrate a Spread
LECTURE 9.1: Building a Portfolio
LECTURE 9.2: Making Your Website
LECTURE 9.3: Social Media for Illustrators
LECTURE 9.4: Submitting Manuscripts to Publishers
LECTURE 9.5: Self Publishing Your Book
LECTURE 10.1: Final Thoughts
Week 10 Lecture References
Jake Parker
Lee White
Will Terry