I’m writing a Children’s book.
Are Illustrations necessary?
I am a new author, I want to write a children’s book. Is it necessary to have illustrations? In short YES! You need illustrations for your children’s book. It is important to remember your audience when making the book. Children love their illustrations, as you write your children’s book, use your illustrations to enhance the reading journey.
This blog is about: Why your Children’s book needs illustrations and what types of illustrations are out there.
What’s the point of illustrations?
Illustrations help describe your book to your young readers via visual aids. The pictures you place in the book tell the story just as much as the words do. Allowing children in different reading stages to enjoy your book. Making illustrations great young reader tools. If they can’t read the word “elephant” yet, I bet they know what an “elephant” looks like.
Author Tip:
If you started out writing a children’s book, but after writing the full story you’ve decided the story is for an older audience. Then it’s time to switch from children’s book and start looking at YA books. Of course this depends again on your ideal audience age groups.
What type of Children’s book illustrations should I go with?
Let’s take a look at the basic layouts for the popular children’s book
Illustrations come in so many different shapes, sizes and styles. Almost anything goes really.
Before choosing whatever illustration style you want, let’s talk about the way your illustrations will appear in your book. Formatting and layouts are extremely important in children’s books.
Appearance is a top priority!
- Spot Illustration
- Open a children’s book(middle grade level) and look at the chapter pages. Or find any page that is 90% text and has a single, simple, small illustration on the page. That simple illustration on a page of text is called a spot illustration.
- It helps break up the pages of nothing but text. It also can act as a fun way to start a new chapter.
- Most spot illustrations are simple, no color arts.
2. Half-page illustration
- As it says, this literally means the illustration is only half a page big.
- These half-page illustrations can be more detailed and in color if you want.
3. Single page illustrations (aka full page)
- As described these illustrations are full page sized!
- Allowing as much detail as you want.
- Colorful, full pages beaming with life!
4. Spread Illustration
- Meaning the illustration covers both pages. A complete two page illustration.
- Great choice for young children’s books.
- Helps create a flowing storytelling experience for your readers.
- Visually great!
How many Illustrations will my Children’s book need?
Great question!
Most Children’s books are anywhere from 24 to 32 pages long. However, this is not a steadfast rule for all children’s books. The 24 to 32 page guides are great guidelines for authors to follow when making their Children’s book for the first time.
Author tip:
Go look at other authors’ children’s books! Look at a few different age level books to compare the illustrations. Count the pages and see where they fall in the 24 to 32 page guide.
This is why it’s very important to write out the entire story first. Once the story is written, the author will build the illustration around it. Illustrations are your supporting cast. It should help drive the story forward.
Usually when an author wants to write a children’s book they already have some sort of book favorites in mind. If you didn’t have any in mind that’s fine, that’s why I suggested looking at other children’s books for inspiration and ideas. Pick your favorite book and pretend this was your book.
Ask yourself:
If this was my book where would I split the text?
Would I do illustrations on every page , like the spread illustrations? Every half page? Only full page illustrations for this book?
If this was my book would this illustration layout compliment my story?
Are you a visual person like me? Then grab your pen and paper. Sketch out 32 squares and fill each in with text, and illustration ideas.
Can’t sketch? No problem, write out simple directions for the pages you want illustrations added.
This might take some trial and error before you find a solid format you like. Take a break if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Look at more book examples if you’re not happy with the layout idea.
What if I’ve decided to hire an Illustrator.
Do I still need to do this layout planning?
Absolutely! You do! It doesn’t matter if you are outsourcing your illustrations. Your illustrator is not responsible for telling you where your illustrations should go or how big they should be.
That is the author’s job.
Before hiring an illustrator, authors should have a very clear idea of what they are looking for from their illustrations.
If you can’t draw, that’s understandable.
However, you can note down on your layout plan, notes like this:
Illustration here.
Full page color illustration here.
Only black and white spot illustration here.
Text only.
Text with half page illustration here.
Get as precise as you can. This will help give your illustrator useful directions that they can work with. The clearer you are about what you want and where, the better your illustrator will be able to do their job.
How does WritewithCecilia know so much about this?
Excuse me one moment! (Runs to room, grabs my own Children’s book–runs back to computer)
Why do I know so much about how to write a Children’s book you ask?
Why of course that’s because I have written my very own book! I sure did.
I even have permission to show it off a little. (all pictures and images are copyrighted)
(Shameless self promotion in 3…2…1… 🙂 )
Fellow Authors let me introduce you to:
Grandma’s Magic Blanket by Mary Cecilia Freeman.
This book is 27 pages long (that include the blank and book information)
Take a look at a few pages below and let’s see what type of illustrations I picked for my book.
When I created Grandma’s Magic Blanket I wanted the book to flow. The words are soft and the illustrations in a specific watercolor style that I LOVE!
For those of you readers who are new to my book here is a short book blurb:
A new baby is on her way. Mom and Dad are extremely excited, but even more excited are the new Grandparents. Especially Grandma. Grandma decides her granddaughter needs a special blanket made just for her. While working on the blanket, the growing baby listens in through the womb, as her Mom and Grandma talk about this Magical Blanket. The baby wonders if she will love this thing called a blanket. And her excitement over meeting her family and blanket grows as the time comes near.
Author fact:
If you look at the grandma in the book, she is based on my actual Mom! From her looks to the actual story. My Mom started a fun tradition years ago where she tries to make all her new grandchildren a blanket. Not buying a blanket, Mom buys the material and sews the blanket herself. I love this tradition and thought this would make a beautiful children’s book. Thus, Grandma’s Magic Blanket was born.
Inspiration isn’t gone, it’s everywhere! Look at your own life and the people surrounding you. That is where the best inspiration lies most of the time.
This blog is about: Why your Children’s book needs illustrations and what types of illustrations are out there.
Thank you for reading until the end. As a new blogger any and all support is appreciated and welcome.
Write on~
Cecilia
