Topic, Theme, Hook

"Every picture book typically has a topic and a theme. A topic is what your book is about on its surface--a ballerina, a dump truck, an alien, a duck, an airplane. The theme is the underlying emotional truth, like friendship, fitting in, the importance of family, being true to oneself, etc. The hook is those two things together."
— Tara Lazar*

Saint George and the Dragon bookplate
from the collection of Gustaf Sandstrom



*Via Picture Book Writing With Tara Lazar