Table of Contents
Understand the Type of Children's Book You're Creating
Before you begin illustrating a children's book, it's important to understand exactly what type of book you're creating. Different categories of children's books require different amounts of artwork, different page counts, and different approaches to visual storytelling.
Board Books
Board books are designed for babies and toddlers. They usually contain very little text and rely heavily on simple, colorful illustrations that help children recognize objects, animals, shapes, and emotions.
Picture Books
Picture books are the most illustration-heavy category. Most picture books contain 24–40 pages, with illustrations appearing on nearly every spread. The artwork often carries as much of the story as the text itself.
Early Readers
Early readers are designed for children beginning to read independently. Illustrations remain important but are usually less dominant than in picture books.
Chapter Books
Chapter books contain significantly fewer illustrations. The focus shifts toward the text, with artwork primarily used to support the reading experience rather than drive the story.
Understanding where your book fits will help you determine how many illustrations you need and how much time to invest in the artwork.
Start With a Finished Manuscript
One of the biggest mistakes new authors make is starting the illustration process before completing their manuscript.
It can be tempting to sketch scenes as ideas come to mind, but changing your story later often means reworking or replacing illustrations.
A finished manuscript allows you to:
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Identify the most important scenes
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Understand the pacing of the story
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Plan page layouts effectively
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Avoid expensive revisions
The story should always come first.
Strong illustrations enhance a strong story. They cannot fix a weak one.
Create Your Character Designs
Characters are often the most memorable part of a children's book. Before illustrating pages, spend time developing consistent character designs.
Your characters should look recognizable from page to page, even when shown from different angles or displaying different emotions.
Consistency Matters
Children notice visual inconsistencies surprisingly quickly.
A character's hairstyle, clothing, proportions, and color palette should remain consistent throughout the book unless changes are intentional and support the story.
Developing Visual Personalities
Great character design goes beyond appearance.
Ask yourself:
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Is the character shy or confident?
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Energetic or calm?
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Curious or cautious?
Their personality should influence their posture, facial expressions, and movements.
Create Character Reference Sheets
Many professional illustrators create character sheets before beginning a project.
These sheets typically include:
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Front view
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Side view
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Different facial expressions
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Color references
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Clothing details
This makes the illustration process much easier later.
Plan Every Page Before You Illustrate
Before creating finished artwork, it's essential to map out the entire book.
This stage is often called storyboarding or creating a dummy book.
Creating a Storyboard
A storyboard is a rough visual plan showing what appears on each page or spread.
At this stage, simple sketches are enough. The goal is not beautiful artwork but effective planning.
Page Turns and Visual Flow
One of the most powerful tools in picture books is the page turn.
A page turn creates anticipation and surprise.
For example, you might build suspense on one page and reveal the solution on the next.
Good illustrations help guide readers naturally through the story.
Balancing Text and Images
Remember that text and illustrations share the page.
Avoid creating artwork that leaves no room for text placement.
Many first-time authors underestimate how much space text requires.
Choose an Illustration Style
Your illustration style should match your audience and story.
There is no single correct style for children's books.
Popular options include:
Watercolor
Watercolor illustrations often create a warm, classic feel that works particularly well for younger audiences.
Cartoon Style
Cartoon-style illustrations are highly popular because they are expressive, colorful, and engaging.
Digital Illustration
Digital artwork has become increasingly common due to its flexibility and efficiency.
Traditional Illustration
Traditional media such as pencils, ink, and paint can give a book a unique handcrafted appearance.
Minimalist Illustration
Some books succeed with simple illustrations that allow the story to remain the primary focus.
Choose a style that supports the emotions and themes of your story rather than simply following trends.
Illustrate the Key Scenes
Not every moment needs a full-page illustration.
Focus your efforts on scenes that move the story forward or create emotional impact.
These often include:
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Major action scenes
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Character introductions
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Emotional turning points
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Important discoveries
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Climactic moments
The best children's book illustrations do more than repeat the text.
They provide additional context, reveal emotions, and help readers understand the story on a deeper level.
For example, if the text says a character feels nervous, the illustration can show body language, facial expressions, and environmental details that reinforce that feeling.
Can You Illustrate Your Own Children's Book?
Many authors wonder whether they should create the illustrations themselves.
The answer depends on your artistic abilities, goals, and budget.
Advantages
Illustrating your own book offers several benefits:
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Complete creative control
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Lower production costs
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Faster communication
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Stronger connection between story and artwork
Challenges
However, self-illustration also presents challenges.
Creating professional-quality artwork takes time and skill.
Poor illustrations can negatively affect a book's success, even if the story itself is excellent.
When Hiring an Illustrator Makes More Sense
If illustration is not your strength, hiring a professional may be the better investment.
Before deciding on page counts and formatting, it can also help to understand the differences between longer and shorter book formats. This guide on novella vs novel can help authors better understand how manuscript length influences publishing decisions.
How Much Does It Cost to Illustrate a Children's Book?
Illustration costs vary dramatically depending on the artist's experience and the complexity of the project.
Typical ranges include:
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Beginner freelancers: $500–$2,000
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Mid-level illustrators: $2,000–$8,000
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Experienced professionals: $8,000–$20,000+
Picture books generally require the largest investment because of the number of illustrations involved.
Factors affecting pricing include:
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Number of pages
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Illustration complexity
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Color vs black-and-white artwork
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Revision requirements
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Commercial rights
While professional illustration can be expensive, quality artwork often has a major impact on sales.
Working With a Children's Book Illustrator
If you choose to hire an illustrator, preparation is essential.
What to Prepare Before Hiring
You should have:
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A completed manuscript
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Character descriptions
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Style references
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Target age group information
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Budget expectations
Questions to Ask
Before hiring an illustrator, ask:
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Have they illustrated children's books before?
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Can they provide a portfolio?
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What are their revision policies?
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Who owns the final artwork?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes include:
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Hiring solely based on price
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Providing vague instructions
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Failing to discuss rights ownership
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Constantly changing the manuscript
Professional presentation matters throughout the publishing process. These about the author examples can help you create a stronger author profile before your book launches.
Preparing Your Children's Book for Publication
Once your illustrations are complete, you'll need to prepare the book for publication.
Important considerations include:
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Page dimensions
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Print bleed requirements
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Resolution settings
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Cover formatting
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Ebook compatibility
If you're publishing through Amazon KDP, make sure your files meet their specifications before uploading.
Many publishing delays occur because authors overlook technical requirements.
How to Get Reviews for a Children's Book
Reviews play a major role in helping readers discover children's books.
Parents, teachers, librarians, and gift buyers often rely on reviews when deciding which books to purchase.
Launching without reviews can make it difficult to build trust and generate early sales.
One strategy many authors use is gathering reviews before and shortly after launch. This helps create social proof and gives potential buyers more confidence in your book.
Authors looking to get more book reviews can use Bookblaze to connect with readers and build momentum for a new release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I illustrate my own children's book?
Yes. Many successful authors illustrate their own books. However, professional-quality artwork is important if you want your book to compete effectively.
How many illustrations does a children's book need?
Picture books often contain illustrations on nearly every page, while chapter books may include only a handful.
Do publishers provide illustrators?
Traditional publishers often assign illustrators to children's books. Self-published authors typically hire their own.
What software is used for children's book illustrations?
Popular options include Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Clip Studio Paint.
How much do children's book illustrators charge?
Costs vary significantly but commonly range from several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on experience and project scope.
Can I self-publish a children's picture book?
Absolutely. Many authors successfully self-publish children's books through platforms such as Amazon KDP.
Conclusion
Learning how to illustrate a children's book involves much more than creating attractive artwork.
Successful children's books combine strong storytelling, thoughtful page planning, consistent character design, and illustrations that enhance the reading experience.
Whether you choose to illustrate the book yourself or hire a professional, the goal remains the same: create visuals that help bring your story to life.
By starting with a finished manuscript, planning your pages carefully, and focusing on the needs of your target audience, you'll be in a much stronger position to create a children's book readers will enjoy.
And once your book is ready to launch, don't overlook the importance of reviews. Building an early review strategy can help your book gain visibility and reach more readers from day one.
