[lindsay-sanchez Posts: 14 Status: Offline WWW]

I've been researching like crazy but there's so much out there it's hard to know what's good... any suggestions would be much appreciated!

[darshana Posts: 298 Status: Offline WWW]

My favorite beginner picture book class is Making Picture Book Magic by Susanna Hill.
https://susannahill.com/for-writers/making-picture-book-magic/
Easy digestable lessons, great and timely feedback.
I have taken several PB classes, this is my favorite.

[gregory-bray Posts: 35 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I have yet to take Susanna's class, but I have it on my list of classes to take. She is a great person and very helpful to the writing community. Thanks for the recommendation darshana.

[nancy-kanyuk Posts: 13 Status: Offline]

I've never taken it but Anastasia Suen offers one.

[lisa-katzenberger Posts: 69 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Check out www.manuscriptacademy.com. They offer an online "conference" of classes (videos) that you have access to for 30 days and can watch at any time or classes you can watch one at a time. The bigger conference package covers more than just picture books, but I enjoyed it. Great staff of agents, editors, and published authors.

[carrots Posts: 551 Status: Offline]

I really liked the classes through The Institute of Children's Literature. Some Blueboarders have even been instructors!

https://www.instituteforwriters.com/about/institute-of-childrens-literature/

[kwlarson Posts: 180 Status: Offline Books for curious kids WWW]

I second what Darshana said. I found Susanna Hill's MPBM class to be very comprehensive.

[lindsay-sanchez Posts: 14 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks everyone! Darshana and Kirsten, did you guys take the Interactive or Self-Study level?

[Anne Marie Posts: 2,855 Status: Offline VAMPIRINA season 3 is on Disney Junior now! WWW]

Harold Underdown has one. I've only seen the free webinar that was part of it, but it was excellent.

[RebeccaL-G Posts: 1,414 Status: Offline RA SCBWI Cen-Cal WWW]

UCLA Extension program has online classes including a picture book class with Terry Pierce.  I've heard lots of good things from attendees.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,883 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

I've also done Harold's free webinar, and I'm sure the class is amazing.

[marla-lesage Posts: 376 Status: Offline Write. Illustrate. Revise.]

I'm doing Arree Chung's Storyteller Academy ( http://www.storytelleracademy.com/p/spring-2017/ )
I've been writing for a few years & am finding lots of helpful info & it would be great for new writers. Arree gets you making picture book dummies which is great for both illustrators & non-illustrators. I signed up for a critique group with Arree as I wanted to have the feedback from a published author/illustrator & not just the course. But there's lots of different price points. It's very indepth & you have access to any future versions of the course.

When I signed up he did a free webinar beforehand which is a great way to see if you might like the course.

I've just signed up to do a MG course at Children's Book Academy - I've heard great things about their courses too.

If you're looking for free - make sure you sign up for Kidlit Summer School when time rolls around. (Not PB specific but it's free & great for everyone);

[Vonna Posts: 1,799 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks, Maria! I didn't know about the Storyteller Academy. I have added it to the table of online writing workshops on my website.

[lrzajac Posts: 72 Status: Offline I write science as a story, sprinkled with art WWW]

I've taken a few of these reasonably priced webinars and found them helpful. http://www.kidlitcollege.com/store/c8/Webinars.html

[lindsay-sanchez Posts: 14 Status: Offline WWW]

Harold Underdown has one. I've only seen the free webinar that was part of it, but it was excellent.

Do you have a link by chance? I tried searching on his site but didn't find anything...

UCLA Extension program has online classes including a picture book class with Terry Pierce.  I've heard lots of good things from attendees.

Shoot looks like it's no longer available. Maybe another year or semester?

I've also done Harold's free webinar, and I'm sure the class is amazing.

Do you have a link to the free webinar?

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 6,883 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

The best bet for Harold is to follow him on Facebook or other social media. He'll mention when he's doing one. I don't know that there is a dedicated web page for them. You can also keep checking this page for updates: http://www.underdown.org/conferences.htm. The online classes are all preceded by a free webinar, or at least they have been up until now. I assume that will continue. You can always ask when they next post a webinar.

[darshana Posts: 298 Status: Offline WWW]

Lindsay - Interactive. They didn't have the self-study back then. Of all the classes I have taken Susanna is the one instructor who has provided the most direct feedback to question and homework assignments which I love. I learn by Q&A since it helps to solidify the concepts for me.

[lindsay-sanchez Posts: 14 Status: Offline WWW]

Excellent, thank you Debbie and Darshana!

[Carol Samuelson-Woodson Posts: 47 Status: Offline Rhymers will be readers!]

Not exactly a "class," but for PB's there's a lot to like on 12x12. Not free.

[Bobi Martin Posts: 222 Status: Offline Writers open the world to readers. WWW]

If you're looking for an excellent PB class that will teach you how to develop an idea and create a dummy (it's okay if you make stick figures, the dummy is just for you to help with pacing), I recommend StorytellerAcademy.com.  They have a page on Facebook where you can ask questions before signing up. Arree Chung runs the Academy. He's an illustrator/author who has a number of books out now. It's worth checking out.