So you’ve got your characters. You’ve found a visual style that feels fun and doable. Now comes the part where your story meets the page: layout.
It’s not just about dropping pictures into boxes. Page layout is how your story moves. It’s the rhythm, the breathing room, the excitement, the calm. And no — you don’t need to be a trained designer to make it work.
Today, we’ll explore how to plan your picture book layout so it flows well, keeps kids engaged, and makes you look like you totally know what you’re doing. 😉
First, Know Your Page Count
Most picture books are 24, 32, or 40 pages (including front and back matter like title page, copyright, etc.). The classic format is 32 pages. Here’s a common breakdown:
-
Page 1: Title page
-
Pages 2–3: Copyright / Dedication / Story starts
-
Pages 4–31: Story
-
Page 32: End / Back matter
So your story really happens across about 28 pages.
That’s plenty of space for beats, emotion, action, and surprise.
Think in “Spreads,” Not Pages
In children’s books, two facing pages (like 4–5 or 10–11) form a spread. Kids often see both pages at once, so treat them like one visual unit.
Ask yourself:
-
What moment happens in this spread?
-
How does the page turn create anticipation?
Great layouts use the page turn as part of the storytelling. For example:
-
Build suspense on the right-hand page (“What’s behind the door?”), then reveal it on the next spread.
-
Show action flowing from left to right so eyes naturally follow the story.
The Golden Rule: One Idea Per Page
Keep it simple. Each page (or spread) should focus on one idea, emotion, or action.
📚 Bad: “She woke up, brushed her teeth, flew to space, met an alien, and had a dance party.”
📘 Good: “She woke up… and noticed something strange outside her window.”
Let each moment breathe. It’s not about rushing — it’s about immersing.
Start with Thumbnails (No Art Skills Required)
Before you illustrate full pages, sketch rough boxes showing where things go. These are called thumbnails, and they’re a life-saver.
You can do this on paper or digitally. Just draw 14–16 little rectangles and map your story beats:
-
Where does the character enter?
-
When does tension rise?
-
Where’s the big moment?
-
Where’s the calm?
This helps you avoid clutter and plan your illustrations strategically.
Layout Tricks That Just Work
-
Vary your compositions: Mix full-bleed (image covers the whole page) with white space and spot illustrations.
-
Use white space wisely: Don’t fill every inch. Empty space = breathing room for the eyes.
-
Let text and image dance: Don’t squash your words in a corner. Plan for them. Sometimes the text wraps around the image. Sometimes it sits in a quiet spot.
Pro tip: Draw a speech bubble around your text in thumbnails — it’ll help you visualize placement and balance.
DIY Layout Tools
No fancy software needed. Try:
-
Canva: Use custom-sized pages (usually 8.5 x 8.5 or 10 x 8 inches) and lay out text boxes + images.
-
Google Slides or PowerPoint: Super handy for drag-and-drop layouts and testing spreads.
-
Book Creator (free version): Designed for easy layout, especially for children’s books.
-
Figma or Affinity Publisher (if you’re ready to level up).
We’ll dive deeper into software later — but for now, pick something simple you can play with.
Your Tiny Assignment
Sketch out 8 spreads (16 pages) of your book using rough boxes (thumbnails). No need to draw actual characters yet — just place where the action happens and where the text might go.
Keep it flexible. You’re designing the flow — not locking it in stone.
You’re not just drawing — you’re directing a movie in book form. 🎬✨
Tomorrow, we’ll look at color palettes and how to choose one that gives your book an emotional punch without overwhelming your brain (or your readers).
Onward!
Comments
Post a Comment