Writing your picture book title is key to the success of your book. Sometimes the trickiest part of writing is figuring out what to call your book! I have been struggling with my story titles and decided that I needed to do some homework in the form of research. A trip to the library helped me to take a closer look at picture book titles. Here are some thing that might help you come up with a terrific title that will catch a reader’s and draw them into your book.
Alitteration
Titles that are fun to say and easy to remember. Your Thesaurus can help. Play around with key words about your subject. I like to use
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut by Margaret Atwood
Freaky, Funky Fish: Odd Facts about Fascinating Fish – Debra Kempf Shumaker.
Questions
Several very popular books use questions as their titles. You can ask a fun and fascinating question and readers will keep reading to discover the answer.
How to Write a Story by Kate Messner
What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobe Yamada
What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobe Yamada
Twist
Everything today is about finding a fresh, new and original idea for your picture book. Look at your story and turn it upside down and inside out looking for a new angle or perspective.
The Library Fish by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Before Music: Where Instruments Come From – Annette Bay Pimental
How to Build an Insect – Roberta Gibson
Rhyming Titles
Many children’s book titles rhyme. It is no secret that children enjoy rhymes. Take a look at your story and try out several rhyming titles. Your story does not have to be written in rhyme to have a rhyming title.
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
It’s Time to Wake, Jake! by Amanda Beth Connolly
One Word
Sometimes less is more. Is there one distinctive and powerful word that can describe your subject?
Moo! by David LaRochelle
Petunia by Roger Duvoisin
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Do Your Own Thing
And now for something original and unique! Play around and do your own thing. You might just come up with an amazing title on your own!
Can you come up with a rhyming title, a twist?
Can you ask a question that demands an answer?
Does ONE word sum up your book?
Play around and have FUN!
If you have any tricks up your sleeve about writing your picture book title, I hope you will share them below.
Requests …
I am so glad you’re here and I thank you for taking the time to read this post. I am grateful that I can share my writing journey with you.
I’m looking forward to helping you as a children’s book writer in any way that I can. Speaking of helping — please leave a comment below and let me know what questions you have about picture book writing.
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One last request …
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