You are not alone. Breaking into the children's book industry is not difficult; it's just about knowing how. 

Publishers are actively seeking children's stories every day. Writers are trying to get their books published. Our job is to give you the knowledge of how to make the link.

We asked our alumni to look back on their journey with our course — and what they shared was more than feedback. They talked about the exact moment it clicked. The AHA moment that shifted their perspective and made everything fall into place.

In this short video, they explain what made this course different from every other program they had tried, what they still carry with them long after finishing, and why — without hesitation — they would recommend it to others who are in the same position.

Watch the video and hear their stories. You might recognise yourself in them.


Whether you are just starting out or you are a seasoned artist ready to tell your own story, this class is designed to help you develop a picture book idea - with expert feedback, privacy, and support along the way.


Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to the Course!

    2. Welcome to the Class With Sally Anne Garland!

    3. Navigating Your Picture Book Journey: Key Dates Schedule

    4. Mini Dictionary

    5. History and Evolution of Author-Illustrated Picture Books

    6. Popular Themes in Picture Books

    7. Writing with Children in Mind

    8. OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Browse Bookstores

    9. Finding Ideas by Observing the Everyday

    10. Memories from Childhood: Finding Authentic Stories

    11. Mind Mapping

    12. ASSIGNMENT: Story Idea Pitches

    13. MEETING: Meet Your Mentor and Determine Your Story Topic!

    14. Behind the Narrative Part 1 of 2

    15. Behind the Narrative Part 2 of 2

    16. Cohesive Writing and Illustration Styles Part 1 of 2

    17. Cohesive Writing and Illustration Styles Part 2 of 2

    18. Picture Book Anatomy

    19. ASSIGNMENT: Character Study

    1. What Are Storyboards? How Do You Use Them?

    2. ASSIGNMENT: Create Your Story Outline

    3. Writing a Professional Manuscript: Formatting

    4. Editing Your Story

    5. How to Write a Synopsis for Your Book

    6. ASSIGNMENT: Writing Your First Draft and Creating a Storyboard

    1. ASSIGNMENT: Create Your Sample Spread

    2. ASSIGNMENT: Design Your Cover

    3. ASSIGNMENT: Final Draft

    4. SCHEDULE: Final Meeting with Your Mentor

    5. OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: Making Your Book Dummy

    6. Making a Book Dummy

    7. End of Course Checklist

    8. End of Course Downloadables

About this course

  • 33 lessons
  • 2.5 hours of video content
  • Two 1-1 meetings with your coach + emailed feedback between meetings
  • Downloadable guides, reading lists and supplementary materials
  • Coaching from concept through to final manuscript, including illustration feedback.


We help author-illustrators get deals with the world's leading publishers! Be a professional doing what you enjoy!

But don’t take our word for It — See what our PB Class alumnis have to say. We are proud of helping artists transition into a professional writing career. 


We’ve teamed up with author-illustrator Sally Anne Garland and The Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency to offer author illustrators personalized, professional coaching, industry insights, and a clear creative path from concept to page-turner. All for the exclusive price of $950 USD.

Caroline Wakeman

CEO and Founder of Caroline Wakeman Literary Agency

For more than 20 years, Caroline has worked to create award-winning children’s book content with many leading publishers across the world. Her ability to marry strong storylines from published authors, with amazing illustrations from professional artists, culminates in picture and chapter books that are full of the ideas that young minds crave. After all, great stories create passionate and independent readers. Caroline and her team at CWLA provide a one-to-one service, ensuring publishers and authors receive the time and dedication their projects deserve.

Sally Anne Garland

Published Author Illustrator, Represented by Advocate Art and CWLA

Sally Anne Garland loved drawing and stories from a very early age. After studying illustration at Edinburgh College Of Art she worked for many years as an in-house Designer/ Illustrator for a number of retail suppliers, before becoming a full-time freelance Children’s Illustrator with Advocate Art Ltd in 2010. Having successfully had her first author/illustrator picture books, Share and Don’t Speak With Your Mouth Full published with Little Tiger Press; she then went on to work closely with Caroline to have a further four Authored/Illustrated picture books published through Collaborate Agency. She now currently lives in Glasgow with her partner and son.

Liz Chadwick

Creative Children's Content Editor, CWLA

Liz has more than twelve years of publishing experience which began in Oxford at Oxford University Press and has since taken her to San Francisco, working as Senior Editor at No Starch Press, and back. She has honed her editorial skills over the years by working closely with authors to develop their ideas and drafts into successful books, including multiple international bestsellers. Liz has a degree in Creative Writing from UEA and likes thinking about the conceptual, bigger-picture aspects of story and character building, but also loves to get in deep with the words themselves.

Get Started on Your Author/Illustrator Career!

Course Dates: Monday, March 2nd to Friday, May 22nd, 2026.

Apply Here

Commonly Asked Questions

  • How long do I have to complete the course?

    You have access from the start to end dates of the program. The Spring course is March 2nd - May 22nd.

  • What will I learn during this course?

    To understand what this course covers, you can refer to the syllabus above. If you have any specific questions, please reach out to Milly at [email protected]

  • Does this course come with any live teaching?

    Yes, you receive two video meetings with your coach, as well as emailed feedback at set points throughout the course, and a live webinar with a Q&A component.

  • How is the course delivered?

    This course is a mixture of video lessons, downloads, suggested reading, writing assignments, and video call meetings.

  • Are there assignments to complete?

    Yes, there will be assignments aimed to develop your story from concept to page turner.

  • Who will be my coach for the picture book class?

    You will be assigned to your mentor on the first day of the class. We match you based on your application, to ensure you have the ideal coach for your goals. They are all experts who will help you take the next step in your creative career.

  • Are refunds available on the picture book class?

    No, we do not issue any refunds for the picture book class. Once you pay you are committed to the course you have been accepted into and we look forward to helping you bring your story ideas to life!