Picture Book Series?

Just write one really, really good PB. Focus on that. PBs become series when the first book sells so well that the editor figures out they could make a lot of money by publishing another.

1st, check the publisher's requirements. They may or may not take unsolicited submissions. If they do, then send a cover letter that explains -quickly- that you've sent a PB and the age range it's targeted at. Then include the full text of the story along with it.

Kids love series, but they can be a tough sell. That first book has to be perfect. For what it's worth, I've always included the fact that there are 4 books in the series I've pitched, with a short sentence or two about each.

Something like:

Dear editorperson:

I'd like to introduce you to [MC] and the world of [umbrella term for setting].

Here goes 2-3 sentences about the book and character.

Told in a simple rhyming format, My Really Awesome Book is meant to be the first in the [umbrella term] series.

Title 2: description
Title 3: description
Title 4: description

I've included My Really Awesome Book with this letter and can send the others on request.

Sincerely,

Me

I agree with what JudScotKev has said. Don't mention a series, it doesn't help sell manuscript 1 (and might hurt even)

ctripp said:

I agree with what JudScotKev has said. Don't mention a series, it doesn't help sell manuscript 1 (and might hurt even)

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That's not always true. I know it's unusual, but it does happen.

The letter I showed above is a template of the one I used - that got requests from 2 major publishers. The book wasn't ready to be sent out, and that was my mistake, but they loved the idea of the series. The character was unusual enough that one requested on that basis. I'm revising it now for another major house imprint as a resubmit, with the same pitch.

Cyia said:

That's not always true. I know it's unusual, but it does happen.

The letter I showed above is a template of the one I used - that got requests from 2 major publishers. The book wasn't ready to be sent out, and that was my mistake, but they loved the idea of the series. The character was unusual enough that one requested on that basis. I'm revising it now for another major house imprint as a resubmit, with the same pitch.

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Yes, I wouldn't worry that just mentioning a possible series is necessarily going to put editors off. The thing is, as a general rule of thumb the quality of a picture book submission is inversely proportional to the number of books that person has sent or is threatening you with in the cover letter, so there's a tendency to assume the worst when you see something like that. However, then you read the submission anyway and you judge it on its merits.

I still feel, though it may have a few exceptions, the "this book is part of a series, or this book is the first in a series", is often seen by an editor as a new writer mistake... sort of in the same vein as, "I read my story to a group of children at my son's school and they all loved it".
If the story is great, the editor will have no qualms in asking if you see this as a series or have more idea's for the characters. Picture books are so expensive to produce that relatively few authors have a series of them.
I think I would still just concentrate on the first manuscipt and it's acceptance. If it is terrific and makes good money for the publishers, they will be excited to see the rest.
Funny enough, most pic book series don't start off with a plan to become such, demand by the readers for more of the character is what can set the series wheels in motion.