[Mike Karg Posts: 71 Status: Offline Dream well. WWW]

I have a PB WIP that features 7 named characters, each with some dialogue, and I'm hoping to find published picture books that also feature a big cast. I would exclude those with litters/clutches such as Make Way for Ducklings, because the ducklings are really one conglomerate character. I'm writing a science fiction caper and having the large cast feels like a better team than just 2 or 3 characters, but I'd like to see how introducing them all without overloading the reader has been done.

[KDuBayGillis Posts: 281 Status: Offline]

The two Dunderhead books by Paul Fleischman w/illustrations by David Roberts. It is a heist sort of book and each kid is introduced as they are recruited on the team for a specific talent.
 
Good luck!

[SarahW Posts: 304 Status: Offline The extraordinary in the ordinary. WWW]

You caught my interest when you said books with a large cast. I look forward to seeing updates to this. (My tendency for that has become less so, but still a good question.)

[Arona Posts: 449 Status: Offline The house didn't fall on me. It fell on my sister.]

This is a good PB question, especially with the subject matter.

[Pons Posts: 2,453 Status: Offline]

Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Allburg has about ten characters - all named and important - but they are fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters, so they are already familiar.

[Mara Posts: 448 Status: Offline WWW]

Haven't counted them, but I've got a large ensemble cast in THE GRUDGE KEEPER and THE BUSIEST STREET IN TOWN. Also CHIK CHAK SHABBAT, which comes out in September.

[Alison A Posts: 359 Status: Offline Writing! WWW]

My picture book series These Things Count! published by Albert Whitman (4 books) features a large group of named kids (five who speak) and two adults (both speak) in each story, as well as "talking" trees, bees, seas, and rocks.

[iyerani Posts: 241 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

Nancy Tufari's wordless picture book "Where is my duckling?" comes to my mind.

[Mike Karg Posts: 71 Status: Offline Dream well. WWW]

Thanks! I'll check those out.

[Robertvs Posts: 54 Status: Offline 1 <3 PB WWW]

I honestly can't think of anything, or at least my mind keeps 'short-circuiting' to Magic School Bus. (But I don't know if that's necessarily a PB)

I'm kinda wondering how many words your manuscript would be? More character and dialogue, I'd expect, would make a longer book and maybe more difficult to 'fit' into a picture book.