Diana Murray is the author of over twenty children’s books, including the bestselling UNICORN DAY series and Jr. Library Guild Selections like CITY SHAPES and GOODNIGHT, VEGGIES. Diana has taught rhyming picture book workshops at the Highlights Foundation and Storyteller Academy, and her poetry appears in many magazines and anthologies. She grew up in New York City and still lives nearby with her husband, two children, and a dancing dog. 
Jannie Ho has been an illustrator of children's books for more than ten years. Her work has appeared in both trade and educational books, magazines, toys, crafts, and digital media. Currently based out of Boston, MA, she's also known as Chicken Girl. Jannie (pronounced Jane-nee) received her BFA in illustration at Parsons The New School of Design in New York. 
Jodi is the author of the award-winning When A Dragon Moves In When A Dragon Moves In Again, and I Love My Dragon (illustrated by Howard McWilliam, published by Flashlight Press.) She is a member of SCBWI, a raving fan/student of Storyteller Academy, and has been a Critique Ninja for the online 12×12 Picture Book Writing Challenge for the past seven years.
Nadia Salomon (
Rebecca Gardyn Levington is a children’s book author, poet, and journalist with a particular penchant for penning both playful and poignant picture books and poems – primarily in rhyme. Her debut picture book Brainstorm! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022) hits bookshelves this summer. She has four more rhyming picture books releasing in the next two years.
Award-winning author Rita Lorraine Hubbard is a retired special education teacher of 20 years. She now writes for children and middle graders full-time. Her books, THE OLDEST STUDENT: HOW MARY WALKER LEARNED TO READ; HAMMERING FOR FREEDOM: THE WILLIAM LEWIS STORY; and AFRICAN AMERICANS OF CHATTANOOGA: A HISTORY OF UNSUNG HEROES, have garnered awards that include the New Voices Award, the East Tennessee Historical Preservation Award, Amazon Editor's Pick, and the 2022 Texas Bluebonnet Master List Award. You can find Rita online at: 
Sage Blackwood was an ESL teacher for many years, mostly to Central Yup'ik-speakers on the Bering Sea Coast of Alaska. Her books include Jinx, Jinx's Magic, Jinx's Fire, and Miss Ellicott's School for the Magically Minded, published by HarperCollins. President Obama once bought a copy of JINX on a visit to a DC bookstore with his daughters.
Shannon Anderson taught for 25 years and is now an award-winning children's book author of over a dozen books in the traditional market and over 20 books in the educational market. She is the former Regional Advisor for the Indiana SCBWI and has taught many picture book writing workshops and classes. She loves doing author visits and mentoring aspiring writers. You can learn more about her at Get one-on-one feedback on your work from an instructor.
A one-on-one with an illustration or writing coach is a 25 to 30-minute critique via Zoom.
First, review the list of instructors (below) as each specializes in specific types of work.
Next, select and pay for your critique. From the confirmation page we will link you directly to our calendar system to book your date and time.
Lastly, remember to submit your work at least a week in advance via the link provided.
MORE DETAILS
- You'll need to upload your work at least at least a week in advance to give the instructor of your choice time to give you thoughtful feedback.
- If you choose someone who specialize in picture book critiques, please only submit ONE manuscript or dummy for critique.
- The instructors available will fluctuate throughout the year.
- After checking out, just wait a few minutes to schedule your one-on-one through the instructor's calendar in Calendly. You can book a date from there and add it to your calendar.
- Make sure you upload your work for the instructor in advance and show up for your one-on-one through the Zoom link provided!
- If you need help, please email support@storytelleracademy.com.
OUR CURRENT ONE-ON-ONE CRITIQUE INSTRUCTORS
Our Writing Picture Book Manuscripts instructor, Jim Averbeck, is brilliant at helping students see how to revise their picture book manuscripts and dummies. You may be familiar with Jim's Hierarchy of Revision. Jim is a great mentor for any stage your story is in. You will need to upload either a dummy or a manuscript as a Word Doc or a PDF.
Tim McCanna writes rhyming picture books and taught our Storytelling in Rhyme mini-class. If you have a rhyming picture book, you may submit one manuscript for Tim to critique. Tim is also happy to critique non-rhyming picture books
Isabella Kung is the instructor of our Illustration 1 and Illustration 2 courses. For a critique with Isabella, you may submit one picture book dummy OR two illustrations for detailed critique OR an illustration portfolio for an overview.
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez is a mom, wife, agent with Context Literary Agency, middle school math teacher, and picture book author. She's also the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest.
For critique, you can submit one picture book manuscript or dummy.
Helen H. Wu is the associate publisher of Yeehoo Press, a San Diego-based children’s book publisher. She is the author of Tofu Takes Time, and author and illustrator of over 20 picture books. You may submit one picture book manuscript or dummy for critique.
Rena Rossner has been a literary agent at The Deborah Harris Agency since 2012 and has represented numerous New York Times Bestsellers, a National Book Award Finalist, Morris Award Finalists, a Coretta Scott King award winner, a Caldecott Medalist, and more. Rena accepts queries for Adult, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Book projects and also works with illustrators.
You may submit one of the following combinations for critique:
- Two picture book manuscripts or dummies
- A query* and a picture book manuscript or dummy
- A query* and the first 10 pages of an MG, YA, or adult novel
Note: You don't have to submit a query if you don't have one ready.
Karen Boss is an editor at Charlesbridge. She holds an MA in Children’s Literature from Simmons College and is now a mentor in their MFA program. Karen also has an MA in higher education administration and worked at colleges and in the nonprofit sector for 15 years.
You may submit one picture book manuscript or dummy for critique.
Eve Adler worked as an editor for over 16 years before becoming an agent. She's building her list with authors and illustrators of board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, and middle grade projects. She’s drawn to stories that make kids feel comforted, loved, and understood; to diverse voices; to ideas that break the mold; to projects that meet kids where they are developmental; and to books that expand kids’ worlds while helping them understand their own.
You may submit a whole picture book or illustrator portfolio, and the first ten pages of a chapter book or an MG novel.
