Activities / Programs / Workshops

Solving the Picture Book Puzzle

What stories are best suited to the picture book genre? What are the conventions of the picture book? What are the central themes of the picture book?

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Description

Saturday, Apr 18, 10:30am-4:30pm       
Open to all
Limited to 12 participants
Hybrid Workshop*

During the day, we will read and deconstruct six picture books. Our goal will be to answer the following questions: What stories are best suited to the picture book genre? What are the conventions of the picture book? What are the central themes of the picture book? What kind of language works best in a picture book?

Our reading list (these books do not have to be read in advance):

  1. Pierre, by Maurice Sendak. This book will allow us to look at the role of humour in picture books. It will also help us understand the importance of “caring” about our subject matter.
  2. When We Were Alone, by David A. Robertson. This stunning book will let us see how picture books can tackle painful subjects, in this case the residential school system.
  3. Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems. This book is funny and charming, but it deals with the key themes of loss and growth.
  4. The Funeral by Matt James. This book shows us that death and loss are often central themes of picture books. James gives us the child’s view of a funeral.
  5. Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion, by Jane Barclay. A story about war, but also about friendship, love, and loss.
  6. I’m Glad That You’re Happy, by Nahid Kazemi. Simple, exquisite poetry. As we will see throughout the day, the best picture books aren’t just for kids.

We will also do an exercise designed to help participants return – via memory – to their own childhoods. This exercise, which focuses on the five senses, may help participants find the inspiration for a picture book project. Participants who wish to may share their memory. This exercise often has a “cross-pollination” effect, leading to even more memories and possible stories.

Some workshops participants may turn up at the workshop with a picture-book-in-progress. We will also make time to hear these stories, and the group will offer feedback, applying principles covered during our day together.

*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Westmount, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot, contact Riley at riley@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you.

Workshop leader

Credit: Paul Doumit
Monique Polak is the author of 36 books for young readers, including the picture book The Brass Charm (Scholastic). Monique’s most recent books are Christmas Weekend (LLP) and Just A Minute: Why Humans Tell Time, co-authored with Kirstie Hudson (Orca, 2025). She is a three-time winner of the Quebec Writers’ Federation Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature (formerly the QWF Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature). She taught English and Humanities for 35 years at Marianopolis College. Monique’s next book, a middle-grade novel called Wanted: Your House will be released in spring 2026 by Kids Can Press.
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Please note that workshop registration is on a “first come, first served” basis.

Payment is required to confirm your place in the workshop. 

Payments are to be made online via credit card or PayPal. Click on the link below to add the workshop to your shopping cart, then proceed to payment. QWF Members must be logged in to receive their discount. If you are not already a QWF member, you will have the option of purchasing a Membership, in which case you will receive the discounted workshop rate.

If you are unable to pay online, you can temporarily reserve a place by registering online. Your payment must be made to the QWF office by cheque or cash within 7 days of registration or it will automatically be cancelled. Cheques must be written out to “QWF–Quebec Writers’ Federation” or “Quebec Writers’ Federation”

If the workshop is full, you will have the option of joining the waiting list. If a space becomes available, all those on the waiting list will be notified at once by email. The available spot will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.

Please familiarize yourself with the rest of the Workshop Policies in the shaded box.

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Special Thanks

QWF gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Government of Canada.