Creating Worthy Picture Books

Guest Blog by Hope Lim

Picture books are written for children, but they often appeal to both adults and kids, which makes the genre unique and special. A 32-page book can challenge and change the way we see and think of the world with immediacy due to its brevity, aided by amazing visual elements. Around the time I opened my eyes to the power of picture books, I read an interview with Stephen Fraser, who shared the following:
 
“Composing words in a story or any kind of book is a responsibility, as a kind of gatekeeper of literature. Don’t take that lightly. Writing should be both worthy of you and worthy of your reader.”
 
As an aspiring writer at that time, I was moved by this quote and felt the desire to create stories worthy of my reader and worthy of me. I was also drawn to the word, “responsibility,” which not only spoke to the power of words, but also reminded me of the importance of choosing each word deliberately in a picture book text. Over time, I have developed a fondness for writing stories with a simple narrative that also deliver a deeper meaning through the deliberate choice of words. 

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In I Am Bird (Candlewick, 2021), birds represent being free from prejudices and bias, while also serving as a tool that connect people from different backgrounds.
 
In My Tree (Neal Porter Books, 2021), trees embody the circle of life and resilience of nature. A hopeful beginning is shown by a new plum tree taking root in the same place where an old tree once stood.
 
In Mommy's Hometown (Candlewick, 2022), an old river represents a steady force of life running through the city in different times as well as the presence and love of Grandmother. 
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​Sourgrass (Beach Lane Books, 2024) is about two best friends who, whether they’re right next door or far apart, find a way to keep their friendship alive. In this story, sourgrass represents friendship, trust, promise, and the return of friend. For me, the return of spring each year is a sure sign of trust in nature, and I wanted to connect that with trust in friends.

I also used the change of colors through the seasons to show the main character’s state of mind, impacted by the absence of her friend. I enjoy adding extra meanings in my texts even though sometimes they may be too subtle to be noticed.

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We are often told that the past has no power, but spotting sourgrass blooming in bright yellow flowers everywhere always takes me back to the same place in my memories. In my stories, including Sourgrass, the past matters, as a place where special memories reside. And in Sourgrass, Sofia finds a way to live in hope by connecting with her shared memories with May. 

Striking a balance between staying in a child’s frame of mind and telling stories with thematic elements that are open to interpretation has been challenging. But it gives me an opportunity to share my general reflections on life or on a specific time or event in my life. Most of all, it keeps me on the course of striving to create stories that are worthy of my readers and meaningful on a personal level.

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Hope Lim is the author of I Am a Bird (Candlewick, 2021) illustrated by Hyewon Yum; My Tree (Neal Porter Books, 2021) illustrated by Il Sung Na; and Mommy's Hometown (Candlewick, 2022) illustrated by Jaime Kim. She lives in San Francisco, where she spots the yellow flowers of sourgrass every spring. 
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To learn more about Hope visit her website and to order a copy of Sourgrass go here.