Revision Strategies for Nonfiction Picture Books

How do editors approach revising a nonfiction picture book? Carol Hinz will share examples of how the text of a variety of published picture books changed in the course of the revision process and will share a variety of strategies that you can apply to revising your own work. We’ll include both big picture changes (such as changing POV or tense) and fine-tuning phrasing and details.

CRITIQUES AVAILABLE!

Carol will be offering 5 slots of written critiques. The price is $60 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Critique comments will follow the Gold Form. Nonfiction/informational picture book manuscripts, 1,200 words or fewer (not including back matter), will be due by June 22nd. Feedback will be returned by July 23rd. Details on how to submit will be sent to registrants directly.

SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY!

Registered attendees of the “Revision Strategies for Nonfiction” webinar hosted by Iowa SCBWI may submit nonfiction/informational picture book manuscripts and middle-grade nonfiction proposals to Carol Hinz, editorial director of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books, through July 31, 2026. Submission guidelines will be sent after the event.

Carol Hinz is Associate Publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books, imprints of Lerner Publishing Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She’s passionate about picture books, poetry, and nonfiction for young people, and she enjoys working with authors and illustrators who explore innovative approaches in their storytelling and encourage readers to see the world in new ways.