Dear Helen,

Does the main character have to be facing towards the page turn on the cover?

Hi Helen,

I am currently working on a self published picture book, and my question is... Does the main character have to be facing towards the page turn on the cover? The image I am using would actually look better the opposite way along with the title. Would this go against the rules of a PB cover? I have an example but unable to post with my question!

Many Thanks

Sandy

Sandy’s Newsletter

Dear Sandy,

Thanks for your excellent question, this is a good one. Let’s dig in.

As a general rule your main character would face out of the book, looking at the reader like this:

Character looking out at us.

This makes an instant connection with the reader: eye contact, ‘Hi there!’

Or they would face the page turn (rather than the spine) like this:

Character whizzing into the book.

This gives the book a feeling of forward flow through the story. ‘Open the book, we’re off!’

Facing the direction of travel is a good way to lead your reader into the book.

It feels right.

Generally speaking, the only time the character would face the spine on the cover of a picture book is if they are facing another character like this:

Two characters connecting.

Interacting with another character gives a warm feeling of connection and friendship.

It’s unusual to have just one character on a cover who is facing the spine. It wouldn’t feel right. You generally want to point your reader in the direction of travel through the book, which in the west, is left to right.

This counts for the images inside the book too. BUT there are exceptions. There might be occasions where you want your character turn back into the story.

A good example of this is in ‘I Want My Hat Back’ by Jon Klassen (a brilliant book). There’s a turning point in the story where the bear realises he might have seen his lost hat earlier in the story, so he stops and then heads back, retracing his steps, heading right to left, to find it.

I Want my Hat Back by Jon Klassen

So there are no hard fast rules. Just give some thought to what you are trying to say. Are you moving the story forward or is there a good reason that your character might be facing away from the usual direction of travel?

After 25 years of making picture books I am so programmed to see the world this way that when emojis point right to left they drive me crazy! 🚗 🚂 👨🏾‍🦽🐠 THEY ARE FACING THE WRONG WAY!

Send me your questions, go on ask me anything!

Love Helenxxx

© images Helen Stephens and Jon Klassen