A storyboard is an essential tool used by authors, illustrators, and designers to map out picture books. A storyboard is different from a dummy book in that you can see the whole story at once. The dummy book simulates the real book with page turns. A storyboard is different from a dummy book in that you can see the whole story at once. The dummy book simulates the real book with page turns.
- An author may use a storyboard to visualize the manuscript and make decisions about what to add and what to cut as they bring the story to fruition.
- An Illustrator may use a storyboard for thumbnail sketches to plan layout and pace the story before beginning the actual illustrations.
- A designer may use a storyboard to make decisions about typography and paratexts, which are found in the front and back of the book
Images of what typical 32- and 40-page storyboards might look like. Click on images to see larger versions.