LuluPublishing Services

Children's Book Illustration

Children's book illustration that brings your characters to life

A picture book lives or dies on its pictures. We create original characters, covers and interior spreads in a style that suits your story, sized to print specifications from the very first sketch.

  • Original character design and style development
  • Cover art and full interior spreads
  • Pencil sketches approved before final colour
  • Artwork prepared at print resolution and correct bleed

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Illustration is half the story in a picture book

In a picture book the words and the pictures tell the story together. The text may say a bear is sad while the illustration shows a tiny bear in a vast empty room, and that gap between what is said and what is shown is where the magic happens. Choosing the right illustrator and style is one of the most important decisions a children's author makes.

We begin by reading your manuscript with you and discussing the age group, tone and style you imagine: soft watercolour, bold digital shapes, textured collage, or something else. We then develop your main characters through sketches, so you can approve how they look before we illustrate a single page. Consistent characters matter enormously, because young readers notice immediately if a character looks different from one page to the next.

Print requirements shape illustration from the start. Page count, trim size, bleed and the space reserved for text all affect how each spread is composed. We build every illustration at the correct size and resolution, so your artwork goes smoothly into layout and to the printer without compromises or rework.

Why authors choose our children's book illustration service

  • Original characters

    We design characters unique to your story, with turnaround sketches and expression sheets so they stay consistent on every page.

  • Style that fits your audience

    Board books, picture books and early readers each call for a different visual approach. We match style to age group and tone.

  • Sketch approval first

    You approve pencil sketches of each spread before final colour, so changes are made when they are quick and inexpensive.

  • Composed with text in mind

    We leave space for words and consider reading flow, page turns and pacing, so illustration and text work together.

  • Print-ready artwork

    Illustrations are created at the correct dimensions, resolution and bleed for your chosen printing platform.

  • One consistent look

    Cover and interior share a visual language, so your book appears as a coherent whole on shelves and in online listings.

What is included

  • Manuscript review and art direction discussion
  • Character design sketches and style samples
  • Pencil sketches for every illustrated spread
  • Final coloured illustrations for the agreed number of pages
  • Cover artwork matched to the interior style
  • Artwork at print resolution with correct bleed
  • Revision rounds as set out in your written scope
  • Final image files delivered for layout

Who it is for

  • Authors of picture books, board books and early readers
  • Parents and grandparents creating a personal book for a child
  • Teachers and educators making classroom story resources
  • Series authors who need consistent characters across several books
  • Small publishers needing reliable, professional illustration

How it works, step by step

  1. Story and style

    We read your manuscript, discuss your readers and agree the visual style, page count and trim size.

  2. Character sketches

    We design your main characters and send sketches for approval before illustrating the story.

  3. Spread sketches

    We sketch every spread so you can approve composition, pacing and text placement.

  4. Final artwork

    Approved sketches become finished, coloured illustrations created at print size and resolution.

  5. Hand off to layout

    You receive the final artwork, or we pass it directly to layout so text and pictures come together in a print-ready book.

Ready to start with children's book illustration?

Share a few details about your book and we will send a clear, written quote within one working day.

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Questions about children's book illustration

How many illustrations does a picture book need?

Many picture books run to around 32 pages, though length varies. We recommend a page plan based on your text and printing platform before agreeing a scope.

Who owns the illustrations?

Ownership and usage rights are set out in your written agreement before work starts, so you know exactly how you may use the artwork in your book and beyond.

Can I see the characters before you illustrate the whole book?

Yes. Character design is the first step, and nothing else proceeds until you approve the look of your characters.

Can you illustrate in a specific style?

We can work in a range of styles. Share books whose illustrations you admire and we will tell you honestly which styles suit our team and which might need a different artist.

Will the artwork be ready for printing?

Yes. We create illustrations to your chosen trim size with correct resolution and bleed, and we can also handle layout so text and pictures are combined for upload.

Looking for background reading? Visit the publishing blog or our platform guides.

Get your free quote

Tell us about your book. We reply within one working day.