Publishing: The Picture Book

You don’t have to be writing your remembrances for a two- year old in order t o create a childlike “picture book” enjoyed by all ages. Just use the concept of small storybook using one single photo with large print text on the facing page for a simple and unique approach for telling a story.

Here’s the step-by-step how to….

Using My Storybook Publisher, you can make a simple yet poignant picture book with a couple dozen photos and short descriptions about each. The 7” wide x 5” high Short Storybook is perfect for this project.

Once you’ve logged into your storybook account, choose the 7×5 Short Storybook from Book options. Using Simplicity Category, choose the Full Page Photos as your book Theme. Once you are in your storybook workroom, review the interior pages for alternating text and photos. Use the Theme tab to drag over the proper thumbnails.  One text, one full page photo. In this case we are using the Simplicity files, and look for the gray boxes with Place Photo here, and white backgrounds. The all white thumbnail is a text only page. You could also use a color text page if you prefer.

You’ll need 22 digital photos: one for the front cover, one small back photo and 20 or more interior page photos. Because the book is wider than tall, the best photos will either have this same landscape aspect, or can be cropped to fit this shape.

Make sure your photos are high resolution. In digital format your photos are best at 2100 px x 2500 px at 72 dpi ( dots per inch) or larger. For scanned photos, use 300 dpi or higher.  My Storybook Publisher will give you a warning if your placed photos are not print quality.

For the text page use a large simple font, such as arial 24 point, and skip a line in between. Text should be centered to the page and in the middle. Your writing will need to be concise as each page at this size will only hold about 26-30 words in one or two sentences.

If you have longer writing, go ahead and use a smaller font with standard spacing.  Consistency throughout the pages will give the finished book a professional edge.

Storybook concepts to consider:

• For a book to toddlers and young children, use high action or storytelling photos such as at the park, cooking, playing, which include the child when possible. Use simple age appropriate sentences that reinforce both feelings and action. Ex., Sally loved to play dress up with Daddy.  You can also choose to write to directly to the child. Ex., Mom would hold you in her lap and read every night.

• Create a book of poems. Use favorite photos and poetry either written by you, your loved one or just favorites to express your feelings. You can even quote songs that have meaning to you both. You’ll need to adjust the font size accordingly, based on the longest quotation or poem.

• Use random descriptive words. Try three words per page throughout for a different approach to storytelling.

• Use milestones for a chronological history. 20 photo for 20 highlights in the life of your loved one.  From birth, to school or sport, to marriage and children; perhaps a career photo, 25^th or 50^th anniversary, etc.

• Publish a picture book to showcase one specific role or aspect, such as grandparent, father, husband, mother, wife, sports fan, hobbyist, or any number of ways you identify you loved one.  Then the writing will focus on everything about that subject in his or her life. You can even make your own Short Storybook library with several titles!

Most of all, picture books can be a fun and quick book of remembrance, that can be tucked away in the nightstand, carried inside a purse, or read nightly with a young child. Story is comforting, even a short story.

New! Storybooks for Healing has created a Picture Book Template for you to customize. Just use the Browse the Bookstore link from the home page of My Storybook Publisher.  Once you open this file, you can make any change in your own workroom or just replace text and photos for a quick finished project.