Who IS the Picture Book Doctor™?
I’m Ryan G. Van Cleave, Ph.D.–the author of 100+ books of my own, though I’ve ghostwritten, coached, edited, and consulted on dozens more.
I run the popular picture-book blog, Only Picture Books, and I work as Editorial Director at Bushel & Peck Books and Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest magazine.
If you’re curious about how picture books work, here’s one of my articles on picture book structure.

What services do you provide?
Writing Services
- Creative Writing: Crafting or collaborating on original content for the children’s literature market.
- Ghostwriting: Authoring content that will be published under another person’s or company’s name.
- Writing-for-Hire: Offering versatile writing for a variety of client needs.
Editing & Feedback Services
- Editing: Improving structure, clarity, and overall flow of written works.
- Proofreading: Meticulously reviewing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
- Critiquing: Providing in-depth analysis and constructive feedback to help writers improve their craft.
Instruction & Development
- Coaching: Offering one-on-one guidance to help writers develop their skills and achieve their goals.
- Consulting: Providing expert advice on writing projects, content strategy, or career development.
- Teaching: Delivering structured lessons or courses on writing-related topics.
- Presenting: Sharing knowledge and insights through engaging in-person or virtual presentations.
- Keynote Speaking: Delivering inspiring and impactful speeches at events.
- Leading Workshops: Facilitating hands-on learning experiences to enhance writing abilities.
Branding & Media
- Branding: Helping define and shape a client’s unique identity and messaging.
- Media Training: Preparing individuals or teams to effectively interact with the press.
- Media Production: Creating and managing audio, video, or other multimedia content.
What does this cost?
Each situation is unique–my goal is to exceed your expectations without breaking your budget.
There’s a reason I’ve become the industry’s go-to person in this area. Let’s have an exploratory conversation and you’ll see why.

Current & Former Clients
Olympians
NFL Players
Thought Leaders
Hollywood Actors
TV Personalities
Social Media Influencers
Recent projects



Now available in a Turkish Edition!
★ “The book beautifully chronicles Boseman’s struggles and triumphs….Readers will be enraptured with this magnificent tribute to the life of Chadwick Boseman, who was a true hero that anyone could look up to.”—Booklist, Starred Review
★ “This empowering and engaging middle grade biography series about Black changemakers gets off to a strong start…..Strongly recommended for juvenile nonfiction collections.”—School Library Journal, starred review
Olympic Gymnast Fred Richard is a World All-Around Bronze Medalist and reigning NCAA Men’s All-Around Champion and took the world by storm at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has been named the 2024 TIME100 Next list which highlights 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, health, science and activism, and more.
Chris Singleton is an inspirational speaker and former professional baseball player who travels the country as a student achievement specialist. Chris has spoken to over 60,000 students and teachers across the nation and has helped thousands of students and teachers overcome hardships and excel in the classroom. Chris’s speech on overcoming hate with love has been seen or shared millions of times and has gotten him featured on Lifetime, ESPN E:60, USA Today, CNN, and Fox News.
CONTACT THE PICTURE BOOK DOCTOR TODAY
Email Ryan
88vancleave (at) gmail (dot) com
© Ryan G. Van Cleave 2025 | All Rights Reserved.