Welcome to Picture Books 101, my new blog about writing and illustrating children's books. I originally started posting this series on Substack, but have decided to move it to . I'm doing it gradually so I can improved and update each post.

A little background about my experience:

Collage of various picture books and middle grade novels, and smiling figure holding a book and a mug that says "Reading is my superpower." An inset text box says "Debbie Ridpath Ohi - DebbieOhi.com"

I'm Debbie Ridpath Ohi, and I've written and/or illustrated 15 picture books for Simon & Schuster, Random House, and HarperCollins. I've also provided cover art for Judy Blume books reissued by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, including Are You There God? It's Me Margaret and b&w illustrations for three Judy Blume chapter books (Freckle Juice, The Pain and The Great One, and The One In The Middle Is The Green Kangaroo).

I have no formal art training. I graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.Sc. and my first job after graduating was a computer programmer/analyst for Toronto Dominion Bank's head office in downtown Toronto.

You can find out more about me and my background at https://debbieohi.com/about/more-about-me/.

If you find my Picture Books 101 resource useful, here are ways you can thank me:

  • Consider buying or borrowing one of my books.

  • If you like any of my books, please tell others about it.

  • Tell others about Picture Books 101. The link: https://kidlit.leaflet.pub/

  • Send me a note via my Contact Page to say hi. Most of the notes I get are from people asking me for favours, so it's always a refreshing uplift to get one that doesn't. 😉

You can find older Picture Books 101 posts as well as more tips on breaking into the biz in my Main FAQ on my website.

Illustration of a girl with long dark hair and a white dog sitting atop a large stack of colorful books, with the text "Blogging in the Atmosphere: DebbieOhi.com/links" and credit @DebbieOhi.