Book Cover Design
Custom covers designed for your genre, for ebook, paperback and hardback, that look great as a thumbnail and on a shelf.
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Children's Book Illustration full of life and colour
In a picture book, the art tells half the story. Our illustrators create characters children love and pages parents are happy to read again and again.
- Character sheets before full artwork
- Storyboard for every spread
- Many art styles to choose from
Free quoteWithin 24 hours
Free quoteWithin 24 hours
Children's Book Illustration
Characters with personality, pages with rhythm
Every illustration project starts with your characters. Your illustrator sketches them in several poses and expressions until they feel exactly right, then plans every spread of the book as a storyboard so text and pictures work together.
Choose from watercolour, soft digital painting, bold flat colour, pencil and ink, collage or a style that matches an existing series. We match you with an illustrator whose portfolio already fits your vision.
Final artwork is delivered at print resolution with room for text, bleed and a cover, ready for layout and publishing. You own the rights to use your illustrations on the book and its merchandise.
- Character sheets before full artwork
- Storyboard for every spread
- Many art styles to choose from
- Print-ready, high-resolution files
What is included
Everything you get with our children's book illustration
Every project is handled by specialists and managed from start to finish by one dedicated project manager.
Character design
Turnaround sheets with expressions and poses that keep characters consistent.
Storyboarding
Rough page-by-page layouts that pace the story and leave space for text.
Full-colour spreads
Finished artwork for single pages and double-page spreads.
Cover illustration
Front and back cover art that matches the interior and stands out in shops.
Layout and lettering
Text placed and styled with the art, for print and fixed-layout ebooks.
Age-right storytelling
Illustrators experienced with everything from board books to fiction for readers aged 8 to 12.
How it works
A simple process, start to finish
Clear steps, regular updates and your approval at every stage.
Style match
Tell us about your story and we present illustrators whose style fits.
Characters
Approve character sketches and the colour palette.
Storyboard
Review rough layouts for every spread before final art begins.
Final artwork
Receive finished illustrations, cover art and print-ready files.
Recent work
Books our team has worked on
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Picture Book Ollie and the Moon Balloon -
Picture Book The Fox Who Counted Stars
FAQ
Questions about children's book illustration
Have a question that is not answered here? Our consultants are happy to help.
Talk to a specialist
How many illustrations does a picture book need?
A standard 32-page picture book usually has 12 to 16 spreads or around 24 to 32 illustrations, plus the cover. We will plan the exact count with you.
Who owns the illustrations?
You do. Once the project is paid in full, the rights to use the artwork for your book and related products are transferred to you in writing.
How long does illustration take?
Character design takes 1 to 2 weeks and a full picture book usually 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the number of spreads and the art style.
Can you also write or edit my children's story?
Yes. Our writers and editors specialise in children's books, including rhyming text, which needs a very careful ear.
Related services
Pair it with these services
Book Formatting & Typesetting
Professional interior layout for Kindle, ePub, paperback and hardback that reads beautifully on every device.
Learn moreBook Printing
Short-run and bulk printing in paperback and hardback for launches, bookshops, gifts and events.
Learn more
Free consultation
Ready to bring your story safely to shore?
Tell us a little about your book. A publishing consultant will send you a clear plan, timeline and fixed quote within one working day, free and with no obligation.
- Call us020 7946 0147
- Email us[email protected]
- Office hoursMonday to Friday, 9am to 6pm (UK time)