From Middle Grade to Picture Books by Pip Harry

From Middle Grade to Picture Books by Pip Harry

On the occasion of multi-awarded Pip Harry’s Over and Under? picture book being announced as a CBCA 2025 Notable Book and the publication of The Inside Dog, Pip writes about moving from middle-fiction to picture books.

Guest Author Post by Pip Harry for Paperbark Words blog about writing picture books

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to write picture books. I’ve been entranced by them since I was a child. Our home library was stocked with well-thumbed classics like Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat, Harry the Dirty Dog (a firm favourite in our family, not surprisingly!) and Richard Scarry’s books. When my brother was born in the 80s, we moved onto newer titles like Animalia, There’s a Hippo on Our Roof Eating Cake, Who Sank the Boat? Possum Magic.

I kept reading picture books as an adult and wrote my first attempt in my early 30s, sharing it with my writing group at the time. Afterwards, one of the more honest members of the group delivered some hard to hear news: “that was…. a little, ah, disappointing,” he muttered. Ouch. Was he right? Yes. The concept wasn’t fresh, the execution was lacking. In short it didn’t deliver that timeless, I-could-read-this-a- thousand-times feeling, that satisfying aha! moment at the end. My characters did not leap off the page with personality and verve.

I slunk away with my failed picture book text, but I kept at it, quietly determined that one day my words would be teamed with an illustrator’s artwork. That I could make 500 words unforgettable. I had stories to tell for preschoolers – especially now I was a mum to a busy toddler. There were ideas everywhere.

At the same time, I was getting on with other writing projects – young adult novels and then into the middle grade space with The Little Wave, Are You There, Buddha? and August & Jones. My picture book file grew. Dozens and dozens of stories, some of them not great, some of them not too bad. I sent a few to my publishers, hoping one might make it past the tall gates of acquisitions meetings. There were close calls, but no picture book contract.

I decided to enroll in an online course, 4 Weeks to Write a Picture Book, run by Jen Storer at Girl And Duck. Something in my writing unlocked as we worked though practical exercises, and I learned more about the different types of picture books (traditional, hybrid, nonfiction). It was fun and freeing.

During that course, I wrote a rough draft of a story called ‘Overs & Unders’ where a young girl and her grandfather jump waves at the beach. A year or two later, back in my home on Sydney’s northern beaches, my daughter was badly dumped in the surf which gave me the drama and tension the manuscript needed. My character, Maisie would also get dumped by a wave and find the courage to try again. I re-wrote that story in the car park of North Curl Curl beach, salt on my skin.

After a bit of polishing, I sent it off to my publisher at Hachette, called it Over or Under? And changed the grandfather character, to a father. Within minutes I’d heard back with an enthusiastic ‘Yes! Love this!’ response. Another picture book was going to acquisitions. Finally, it felt like the right story, the right time, and I was ready. The contract did come, and a partnership with incredible New Zealand artist Hilary Jean Tapper. Over or Under? was launched in October 2024, at the Manly Surf Lifesaving Club, overlooking the bluest of waves.

I started to find my groove with picture book writing, joining a lovely PB critique group who helped shape my ideas. Soon, I’d signed another contract for The Inside Dog. The idea emerged from a phone chat with my sister, Nicola. She was heading off to her sister in law’s farm for a visit and they were bringing their dog Rufus – a fluffy and slightly pampered Spoodle who wore coloured bows around his neck. “But Rufus is an inside dog,” Nicola sighed. “And he’ll have to be outside with the farm dogs.”

She sent me a photo of Rufus on the back of a ute with a pack of lean kelpies, and I just knew there was a story to tell about an inside dog who winds up on a farm and has to learn to try new things. The Inside Dog is illustrated by my childhood friend Carolyn Davis, who now lives in New York City where she works as an advertising art director. Her vision for Cuddles the inside dog is beyond perfect. We reconnected at Milkwood Farm, a children’s literature creative retreat in the Catskills run by author illustrator Sophie Blackall and her husband Ed and haven’t stopped talking since.

There are more picture books to come from me – six contracts at last count! – and I’m starting to feel as much a picture book author now, as a middle grade and YA scribe. I adore the shining faces of my new, younger audience, the way they fall silent when I read my books to them, completely immersed in the story and the illustrations.

Truly, it was worth the wait.

******

Books mentioned are published by Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette Australia

https://www.hachette.com.au/pip-harry-carolyn-davis/the-inside-dog

https://www.hachette.com.au/pip-harry-hilary-jean-tapper/over-or-under

Pip Harry’s website

Books by Pip Harry at Paperbark Words

August and Jones Guest author post by Pip Harry

Are You There, Buddha?  Author interview

The Little Wave Author interview