Picture book basics: page count, pacing and illustration
Writing and producing a children's picture book is different from any other kind of book. Here are the fundamentals.
Book design and illustration, matched to your story
Pictures that belong to your story. Cover art, children's book and picture-book illustration, interior illustrations and maps, by illustrators matched to the style of your book.
Picture books don't have chapters, so tell us about yours and we'll say how to start. Prefer to talk first? Call or WhatsApp (opens in a new tab).
What's included in book design and illustration
Pictures that belong to your story.
- Picture booksCharacter design, page planning and full-colour artwork, laid out with your text.
- Illustrated coversOriginal cover artwork, painted or drawn, for books where photography won't do.
- Interior illustrationsChapter openers, spot illustrations, diagrams and maps.
- Character and world designFor fantasy, children's books and series: characters, settings and maps that stay consistent.
- Book designYour cover design, so that the front cover and the illustrations inside feel like one book.
Guides from our blog
Illustrated cover or photography? Choosing a cover style by genre
The right cover style tells readers what they are buying before they read a word. How to choose between illustration, photography and typography.
Questions about book design and illustration
Will the free review tell me which services I need?
It tells you where your book stands and what it needs next. If we're a good fit, we follow it with a recommended roadmap that names the services and explains why. For a detailed read with comments through the manuscript, an Alpha Reader Review is available as a separate service.
Our other publishing services
Book writing
Your story, written in your voice.
More about book writingBook editing
Editing that keeps your voice and sharpens everything else.
More about book editingBook cover design
A cover that does its job before anyone reads a word.
More about book cover designInterior layout design
Pages that are a pleasure to read.
More about interior layout designBook formatting
Files that work on the platforms you publish to.
More about book formattingIndependent assisted book launch
The practical side of publishing, explained and handled with you.
More about independent assisted book launchBook marketing and promotion
A plan for the months around your release.
More about book marketing and promotionReady for an honest read of your book?
Submit your manuscript for a free book review. Send the whole book, or at least the first three chapters. There's no obligation, and you'll hear what we think before you're asked to commit to anything.