I definitely agree with typing out favorite pbs--and a bunch of them. Sure, it takes a lot of time, but, imo, it's worth it to get that pb "feel."
Also, I always make up a rough dummy complete with stick figures. Believe me, I don't have an illustration bone in my body, but actually seeing how a story might lay out in book form can be extremely helpful. Dummies can help determine page turns and can assure that plenty of illustration opportunities are available.