Children’s book illustration
Illustration that gives your characters a life beyond the page.
Children’s book illustration from first sketch to final art: character design, storyboard and full-colour spreads developed with you, page by page. The artwork is yours, and so is the character.
Questions first? Email hello@publishyourbook.com
Is it for you
Is this the right place to start?
Illustration is where a picture book is won or lost, and where it helps to have a plan.
- 01
You have a finished or nearly finished text and no illustrations.
- 02
You want a character who could carry a series.
- 03
You need a picture book planned to a standard 32-page format.
- 04
You want to see sketches before any final art is painted.
Included
What you get.
The whole book, or a single stage of it. Each part can be booked on its own.
- 01
Character development
A character sheet showing your character in the poses and expressions the story needs, used as the reference for every page.
- 02
Storyboard and sketches
A page-by-page plan showing pacing, page turns and where each picture sits, before final art begins.
- 03
Full-colour spreads
Finished illustrations developed spread by spread, in a style agreed with you at the start.
- 04
Cover artwork
A cover illustration that matches the interior and stands out among its neighbours on the shelf.
- 05
Text and image, together
Layout that places your words around the art so the book reads well aloud.
- 06
Colour prepared for print
Artwork set up so the printed pages look the way they do on your screen.
How it is done
From the first sketch to the final spread.
Picture books are planned before they are painted. You see sketches first, when changes are cheap.
- 1
Read the text and plan the pages
We fit the story to its format. A picture book is usually 32 pages, so pacing and page turns are planned before anything is drawn.
- 2
Develop the characters
You see character sketches and choose the direction. The final character sheet becomes the reference for every page.
- 3
Storyboard the book
Thumbnail sketches of every spread, so you can judge pacing and page turns while changes are still easy.
- 4
Paint the spreads
Full-colour spreads are developed page by page, with your feedback at each stage.
- 5
Finish the cover and files
Cover artwork, interior layout and print-ready files, all checked before you sign off.
Start to finish
Where it begins, and where it ends.
Step in
How it starts
Send the text and tell us who the book is for and what age. If you already have ideas for the characters, or images you love, send those too.
You bring
- The finished text, or a near-final draft
- The age range you are writing for
- Ideas, reference images or characters you like
- Your preferred format and trim size, if you know it
We send back
- A page plan for your story
- Character directions to choose from
- A schedule and quote in writing
Step out
How it ends
You finish with a complete illustrated book, and a character sheet you can use for the next one.
You receive
- Every finished illustration
- The character sheet
- Cover artwork
- Print-ready files for the interior and the cover
- Full ownership of the artwork
Proof
From a rhyming text to a character who can carry a series.
Mabel and the Nine Moons began as a finished text with no illustrations and no page plan.
Mabel and the Nine Moons
Children’s · Full colour
Case study · Children’s
Mabel and the Nine Moons
- Starting point
- A finished rhyming text with no illustrations and no page plan.
- Challenge
- Fitting 900 words to a 32-page format and developing a character that carries a series.
- Result
- A full-colour hardcover with a character sheet the author owns outright.
32
Pages
12
Colour spreads
100%
Author-owned art
“Mabel looks exactly like the drawing in my head, only better.”
FAQ
Questions about illustration.
Do I own the illustrations?
Yes. The artwork belongs to the author, and the agreement says so before work begins.
Can I see sketches before final art?
Yes. You approve the character designs and the storyboard before any spread is painted.
How many illustrations does a picture book need?
It depends on the format. A standard picture book runs to 32 pages, and we plan the page count with you.
Can you illustrate a book I have already written?
Yes. Starting from a finished text is common, and it is how the Mabel case study began.
Can you also publish the book?
Yes. Illustration, layout, print setup and distribution can run as one project, or you can take the art elsewhere.
Start here
Tell us about the story you want to illustrate.
Send the text, or a summary of it, and tell us who it is for. We reply within two working days.
- We reply within two working days.
- No cost and no obligation to start the conversation.
- You keep every right and every royalty.