Can you believe the PBParty contest is almost here? Wahoooooo! In less than a week, entries will flood in. The judges and I are so excited to see them. We always have a party behind-the-scenes celebrating the ones we love (don’t worry–we’ll share teasers with you). I’ve been known to squeal and happy dance around the room when I find an incredible gem. I’ll start stretching now, because I have a feeling there will be a lot of happy dances in my future. 💗
We want you to succeed, so this post is packed with helpful tips, including some slides our awesome Ninja Superstar/Judge Sylvia Chen put together for our PBParty Prep Zoom. This way, you can take a closer look at them.
Here’s the list of participating agents, editors and ADs (I’m sure more will join by the time the showcase is here–it happens every year). So exciting!
IMPORTANT: Here’s what you’ll need to fill out the Google form.
Below are links to Google docs which contain all the questions you’ll need for each form…so you can copy/paste it into a new file, fill in your responses, and be 100% ready to paste them into the entry form when the window opens. Wahoooo!
Writers
Author/Illustrators
Author/illustrators: We suggest you upload your two illustration samples to our Illustration TEST form to make sure you won’t have issues on submission day.
Check out the 2025 PBParty Showcase and Illustration Showcase to get a feel for what agents/editors/ADs will see from finalists. Reading through them is like taking a masterclass in strong beginnings, language that sings, awesome concepts and great queries. You’ll also see how much of a difference the connection to a story makes. And the illustrations will blow you away. No wonder so many of them have found agents and/or editors. I can’t wait to see these picture books out in the world…hopefully soon! 💗
Don’t miss the PBParty contest!
Every year, finalists admit they almost didn’t enter because they didn’t think they’d win. They were so grateful they did, because it changed their life in so many wonderful ways.
If you enter…you have a chance to be featured in the showcase! Hope is such a wonderful thing. And preparing for the contest and being part of the community can give you and your picture books a boost.
Do your best to prepare…then take a deep breath and go for it. You and your stories deserve it. 💗
Thank you judge Stacey Byer for this inspirational illustration. You’re welcome to print it and post it near your desk or share it online…but please give Stacey credit.
If you haven’t watched the PBParty Prep Zoom replay yet, what are you waiting for? It’s packed full of helpful info. Since we typically receive over 1000 entries a year, you want to be as prepared as possible.
PBParty Prep Zoom Replay
Password: Xr3m*u$S
Please thank the amazing judges and volunteers for all their hard work!
Scroll through to see them all 🙂
2025 stats and 2026 agent wishes/non-wishes
Stay tuned for a post full of helpful tips for author/illustrators!
If I have time, I’ll add a Google doc with additional agent/editor wishes and non-wishes. I read through them all as they came in but haven’t been able to log them all in yet. It’s clear that bios and rhyme are still extremely difficult…but we always have a few amazing ones that make it into the finals.
Tips!
If a sample you’re considering entering to a contest like PBParty has a lot of art notes in the first 70 words…try to streamline them or use another manuscript. It’s hard to get a taste of the voice when art notes take up precious space.
Please look closely at the PB you’re entering. If something amazing happens soon after the 70 word limit…do everything possible to streamline the beginning to work it in. That could be what boosts you into the finals! And chances are, it’ll make your full manuscript stronger, too.
Streamlining tips:
Look for words you can easily cut, such as: that, just and make sure every word you use is as strong as possible. (Amazing resource of Crutch Words from Writers Helping Writers).
See if you can strengthen verbs like: ran fast to bolted (Incredible Weak Verb Converter Tool from Writers Helping Writers).
Tip: If you use these tools, make sure they’re the perfect words for your picture book.
If you streamline text or art notes…please see if you can get someone with fresh eyes to look over it to make sure your entry still makes sense. Those who have read your manuscript can fill in the blanks, but new readers will have the same view as our judges.
If you’ve included any art notes (which count for the first 70 words) make them as short and simple as possible. Don’t waste words by saying art note. If it’s in brackets, we know it’s a note. One of my PBs has a stray cat in a new home try to escape through a watery exit. [Toilet]
I have the word in brackets in a line of its own and it’s 1 word vs. 3 [Art note: toilet] Plus, it’s easier and less distracting to read inside a manuscript. We strongly prefer art notes this way.
Good luck. 
I know you can get it down to 70! You can ask anyone critiquing it to show you places to streamline, especially in the beginning.
More Tips!!
How to Craft an Amazing Picture Book Query. The judges shared queries and we went through what made them so strong and shared tons of tips!
If a PB is humorous, there should be at least a hint of humor in the first 70 words (and sooner, if possible). But it should show up in the sample to set the tone for the book. A child wanting a funny read might be disappointed enough to stop part way through the book. (Although, if illustrations are really funny, that could help a lot.)
Please follow directions! It was awful having to disqualify a bunch of entries because…
*Word count was under 200 (this is to protect YOU from having so much online with a 70 word sample that it could be considered published)
*Query was missing a bio or pitch. If you’re newer, saying SCBWI, 12x12PB, participating in PBParty, etc. is fine! But you need to have a bio. The bio also needs to be from you—not switch to 3rd person mid-way through. And it should be in paragraphs, not a list of comps or list of accomplishments like you’d have in a resume.
Don’t say: My name is or switch to 3rd person midway through a query. It’s a personal letter from you, not a business resume.
You must be unagented and the only creator of the entry (don’t worry, having critique groups and paid critiques still makes you the sole creator–it just can’t be co-writers or an author/illustrator team).
This didn’t disqualify people…but it’s frustrating when we do everything possible to let people know to ONLY choose up to 3 genres…and the form even says it right where you fill it out…and some participants mark way more than that. Finalists have their genres show in the main page of the final round…that and the title could entice agents/editors to click on an entry. But you can only see about 3 of them, so you need to showcase the strongest ones (and rhyming, if it rhymes).
Don’t end the sample mid-sentence!
In the past, some of the concepts were amazing…but something kept them back from the finals. In some cases, it was:
*The opening wasn’t strong enough (the hook didn’t show, awkward phrasing, or talking heads that didn’t allow for enough unique art bait, etc.)
*The writing felt older—more like a chapter book or MG
*The language didn’t sing
*The manuscript itself was too long, and would be stronger streamlined
*The sample was confusing
*Rhyme that wasn’t spot-on, didn’t feel right for the tone of the manuscript, or didn’t sing
*Not child-friendly enough
Don’t wait until the last minute to get your entry ready. In case of tech issues, it’s best to send it earlier in the window. Once the window closes, it won’t reopen until the 2027 contest.
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