So you’ve written a children’s story. Congratulations! Whether your book teaches a lesson, shares an important message, or is simply intended to make young readers laugh, this is a super exciting milestone. But most would agree that a children’s story falls flat if it’s not paired with beautiful illustrations. How are you supposed to bring those illustrations to life?
Fortunately, at Blue Balloon Books, we’re pros at helping authors navigate this process with joy and confidence. Here are some key steps to develop the artwork of your dreams to complement the text of your children’s story.
1. Finalize your manuscript.
It’s tempting to forge ahead to the illustration phase when you have a rough first draft. However, when it comes to children’s books, illustrations and story go hand in hand, and your manuscript helps determine the direction for art on each page. So, it’s important to have the manuscript completely nailed down before moving on to illustrations. You don’t want to end up having to rework things later (often at your expense) because you jumped the gun!
2. Determine the page breaks and specifications.
Did you know that hardcover and paperback books are generally twenty-four or thirty-two pages? And some standard sizes are eight inches by eight inches (or 8.5x8.5) for square, eight inches by ten inches for portrait rectangle, and ten inches by eight inches for landscape rectangle (although print on demand often only allows 11x8.5 for that orientation). Typically, the first three pages are title page, copyright page, and dedication page. Then, the story starts on page four!
Next, figure out where to break the pages based on changing scenes. It’s tough to show several different settings and/or actions on a single page! Unless you opt for spot illustrations, of course. And keep in mind that spreads can only start on even-numbered pages. That because even numbers are on the left, and odd numbers are on the right! If you keep those details in mind and consider the pacing of your story, it shouldn’t be too hard to get the page breaks established.
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3. Create a vision.
Do you like soft colors or bold? Do you prefer illustrations that go edge to edge across the page, or do you enjoy the look of a white background around the art? Are you pulled toward a style that is classically drawn or one that is more digital and modern? Look through your favorite children’s books and online samples for ideas
and to get a feel for your personal style preferences. This will guide everything else throughout the illustration process!
4. Develop illustration notes.
The best way to convey your vision to the illustrator you ultimately select is to create detailed descriptions for them. It’s a good idea to start with your main characters. What unique features does each have? If they’re human, note things like hair texture and color, skin tone, eye color, age, height, etc. If they’re an animal, what type and what specific characteristics do they have? It can help to include any reference photos you may have. Then, go through each scene and create an illustration brief for every page and spread. Don’t forget to do the same for the cover! Ultimately, you should have a detailed road map for your illustrator so they understand how to make your vision a reality.
5. Review promising artists.
Keeping your vision as your North Star, review the different illustrator options to identify the artists that are most closely aligned with your desired illustration style. If you’re planning to self-publish, you can scour websites like Fiverr, Reedsy, and Upwork to pick out likely candidates. If you work with a professional publisher like Blue Balloon Books, you should be able to peruse an illustrator portfolio chock-full of options spanning styles, mediums, and palettes.
As you review, pay attention to details and style. Try not to look for your main character, the same setting, or other elements specific to your book in this portfolio. Instead, look for the little details and style elements in each image. You don’t have to see your story in each sample, but can you imagine your story illustrated in a similar way?
6. Request samples.
Once you’ve narrowed it down to your top few artists, see if they would be willing to create a sample sketch of your main character and/or an important scene. This will help you determine who is truly the best fit for your book! (Note: There is no charge for this with Blue Balloon Books, but if you hire a freelance illustrator, there’s a good chance they will want to be paid for those samples.)
7. Celebrate selecting the perfect artist!
Congratulations—you’ve officially locked in the illustrator of your dreams! Now it’s time to put your patient pants on while your illustrator creates the first round of sketches. But with all the work you’ve put in to get to this point, you can feel confident that you’ve picked the ideal artist for your book, the perfect illustrator to bring your unique vision to life.
The illustration phase of the publishing process tends to be the most exciting because it’s the most visual. It may be hard to wait for new sketches and color illustrations to come in, but it’s usually well worth the wait. Soak up every moment of the process! In the end, you’ll have a fully illustrated book you can truly be proud of.
If you’re looking for the perfect illustrator for your children’s manuscript, Blue Balloon Books can help! Talk to an acquisitions editor to learn more about the process and the illustration styles available.