Children’s Entertainment: A Guide for Aspiring Picture Book Creators

“Creating a book like this is rather unexpected. After all, there is no definitive methodology for ‘making picture books.’ The best approach is for each creator to discover their own way. However, if this book, Starting Picture Books, serves as a spark for anyone to begin making picture books, I would be delighted. Picture books are fun—truly fun!”

A picture book is a gateway to joy for the mysterious beings we call children. Start, Illustration Book helps readers take their first step into the world of picture books, providing not only fundamental knowledge but also practical insights into publishing and printing terminology, workshop processes, and commercial publishing pathways.

For beginners unfamiliar with the genre, this book introduces a variety of picture book types, along with step-by-step guides on creating dummy books, using common tools and materials, and exploring different textures of coloring media. Additionally, the book includes interviews with five renowned picture book artists—Kenji Oikawa, Komako Sakai, Yuka Shimada, Kaya Doi, and Ryoji Arai—as well as realistic advice from editors at major Japanese publishing houses, offering valuable perspectives on the industry and creative process.