Picture Book Critique Service

Do the first lines grab the reader? Do your characters have strong arcs? Is your ending satisfying? Melissa can help you with your craft!

You’ve brainstormed, drafted, revised, submitted to critique partners, but is your story query ready? Is something still not working, but you’re not sure what or how to fix it?

Make your story stand out.

If you’re tired of expensive critiques that don’t include inline comments or lack specific, actionable suggestions, this is the critique for you!

Your critique will include inline comments and offer specific suggestions that may focus on:

  • Character

  • theme (heart)

  • plot

  • tension/pacing

  • showing & not telling

  • rereadability

  • strength of your beginning/ending

  • dialogue

  • suggestions for alternative wording where applicable

Credentials:

Melissa is represented by The Purcell Agency, and her debut picture book, Ladybug Launch, released in 2024 with Margaret K. McElderry of Simon & Schuster. Her second picture book, The Girl Who Dreamed of Space, will release in 2027 with Sourcebooks.

Melissa helps run the #PitchMe writing competition with the wonderful Krista Van Dolzer and Tara Shiroff by helping the finalists polish their queries, manuscripts, and X/Twitter pitches. She’s also a 2024 mentor for SCBWI’s 8 and Under event.

She’s been writing for 15+ years, attended well over 100 conferences, webinars, and classes through SCBWI, The Highlights Foundation, The Writing Barn, Children’s Book Academy, Andrea Brown Literary Agency Big Sur Cape Cod, and was a Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature (RUCCL) mentee ‘22 & ‘23, SCBWI EPA mentee ‘22 & served as a mentor in ‘24. She has previously won online writing contests and was awarded a scholarship through The Highlights Foundation.

Melissa has been an active member in many critique groups over the years and knows what it takes to give a kind, and most importantly, helpful critique.

Lastly, Melissa knows what kids like to read! She has two young children and taught elementary school for 14 years.

Offering $50 Critiques with inline comments for:

  • non-rhyming picture books (fiction, info fiction, or nonfiction)

  • 900 words or less (not counting art notes & back matter)