How to illustrate a children's book step by step

Illustrating a children's book can be one of the most rewarding artistic endeavors you embark on. It's where your creative ideas leap off the pages and captivate young and curious minds. But where should you start? If you're looking into illustrating picture books, you'll find it's a mix of storytelling, conceptual design, and fine art all bundled together, which can be daunting for any artist.

This blog post is your helpful guide through the journey of how to illustrate a children’s book.  We'll walk you through essential steps, from developing the initial story concept to bringing your characters to life with engaging sketches. You'll learn how to create stunning page layouts, select vibrant color palettes, and ready your files for professional printing.

You'll also learn about the best tools for the job and how Gelato print on demand can professionally bring your illustrations to life.

• Illustrations create images crucial in capturing a child's imagination and bringing the story to life.

• Illustrating a children's book involves a sequence of planning, designing, and executing artwork.

• To create illustrations, seven detailed steps guide an artist from initial concept sketches to professional-quality prints.

• Professional printing solutions like Gelato help illustrators produce high-quality books and expand their brand with complementary products.

• Utilizing the right tools enhances the illustration process and helps achieve the desired artistic vision.

Illustrations are pivotal in children's books, enhancing the storytelling experience and stimulating young imaginations. Here's why they are important:

• Visual storytelling: Illustrations communicate complex stories and concepts engagingly.

• Stimulating imagination: A well-drawn image can transport a young reader into a fantasy realm, sparking creativity and imagination.

• Enhancing comprehension: Picture clues help children understand the storyline, making it easier to follow along and learn new vocabulary.

• Emotional connection: Characters and their emotions are more easily relatable when visually represented, allowing readers to connect more deeply.

• Encouraging a love for reading: Beautiful artwork paired with engaging narratives motivates children to read more, building a lifelong passion for books.

Now that you know the importance of illustrations for a children's book, let's explore the artistic process of illustrating a book from concept to completion with seven essential steps.

Step 1: Develop the concept and understand the story

Before you begin illustrating, immerse yourself in the story. Understand the plot, themes, and emotions that must be conveyed visually. Identify key moments that require strong visual storytelling. Consider the target age group and ensure your illustrations match the tone and complexity of the text. Discuss with the author, if applicable, to align creative visions. Creating a mood board with inspirations can help refine the visual approach. A clear understanding of the story ensures compelling, engaging illustrations.

Step 2: Sketch character designs and visual art style

Characters bring children's books to life, so start sketching various versions of your main characters. Experiment with different shapes, expressions, and proportions to create memorable figures. Define a consistent, whimsical, minimalistic, or highly detailed visual style based on the story’s tone. Consider movement, personality, and how characters interact with the setting. Character consistency across pages is crucial, so refine their details and test how they look in different emotional scenarios.

Step 3: Plan the page layout and composition

A well-thought-out layout enhances the story in many ways. Plan each page or spread to balance text and illustrations harmoniously. Use thumbnails or rough sketches to map out compositions, considering focal points and visual flow. Vary perspectives and angles to keep scenes dynamic and engaging. Ensure that whitespace is used effectively to avoid clutter. Think about page turns—create moments of suspense or delight by how illustrations guide the reader’s eye.

Step 4: Choose colors, textures, and artistic techniques

Colors set the mood of a story, so choose a palette that reflects the book’s tone—soft pastels for warmth, bold colors for excitement, or muted tones for serious themes. Experiment with textures through watercolor, digital brushes, or mixed media to add depth and charm. Decide on lighting and shading techniques to create dimension. Maintain color consistency throughout the book to create a cohesive experience. Your artistic choices should enhance the story while appealing to young readers.

Step 5: Finalize the illustrations and prepare files for print

Once satisfied with your artwork, refine each illustration by adding details, adjusting colors, and ensuring consistency. If necessary, scan or digitize hand-drawn work. Ensure files meet printing requirements—high resolution (usually 300 DPI), proper color mode (CMYK for print), and correct bleed and margin settings. Organize pages in the right sequence and format according to the publisher’s or printer’s guidelines. A well-prepared file prevents printing issues, ensuring vibrant, high-quality illustrations.

Step 6: Print and publish your own children's book

Based on your goals, choose between self-publishing and traditional publishing. If self-publishing, research reliable printing options, such as print on demand services or bulk printing. Consider paper quality and bookbinding for durability. Submit your work to literary agents or publishers with a strong portfolio for traditional publishing. Set up an ISBN and distribution channels for sales. Whether through bookstores or online platforms, a professionally printed book ensures reaching a wider audience.

Step 7: Create complementary products to expand your brand

Extend the reach of your book by developing merchandise based on your illustrations. Stickers, posters, plush toys, coloring books, or digital story apps can enhance engagement and brand recognition. Consider social media and interactive content to connect with readers. Schools and libraries may welcome author visits, adding more visibility. Licensing your characters for collaborations can also grow your brand. Expanding beyond the book creates a lasting connection with your audience.

With these steps in mind, here’s a curated list of the essential tools to help you bring your creative visions to life.

Pencils and sketchbooks

Sketching by hand allows for organic creativity, helping you refine characters, settings, and story elements before going digital. A sketchbook is a space for brainstorming and experimenting with different styles. Soft graphite pencils, mechanical pencils, and colored pencils can all be used to add depth and texture. Many illustrators prefer rough sketches before finalizing digital or painted pieces, making traditional tools an irreplaceable part of the creative process.

Watercolors, gouache, or acrylics

Traditional painting techniques bring children's book illustrations a vibrant and textured look. Watercolors create soft, dreamy background images, while gouache offers bold, opaque colors that pop on the page. Acrylics provide rich hues and durability, making them ideal for more expressive styles. These mediums allow for unique brushstrokes and layering effects, giving illustrations a timeless, hand-crafted feel. Many illustrators scan their painted artwork and make digital enhancements for print.

Fine liners and ink pens

For precise linework and dynamic contrast, fine liners and ink pens are excellent tools for children's book illustrations. These tools help define characters and settings with crisp, clean lines, making details stand out. Artists often use them to ink after sketching with a pencil. Waterproof fine liners work well with watercolors, ensuring lines don’t smudge. Brush pens add expressive strokes while dip pens create vintage-style illustrations. These pens give depth and personality to each drawing.

Lightbox or tracing paper

A lightbox or tracing paper is invaluable for refining sketches and transferring drawings onto final illustration boards. Tracing paper allows for adjustments without damaging the original work, making testing different character poses or expressions easy. A lightbox helps artists recreate clean versions of sketches or add layers to an illustration. These tools are especially useful for maintaining consistency in character design across pages, ensuring a cohesive final product.

Adobe Photoshop

This is a powerhouse for digital illustration, offering endless possibilities for children's book artists. It allows illustrators to create layers, blend colors easily, and add textures for a hand-painted effect. With digital brushes mimicking traditional drawing mediums, artists can experiment freely without worrying about mistakes. Photoshop’s ability to adjust colors, refine linework, and add special effects makes it a go-to choice for illustrators creating vibrant, high-quality artwork.

Adobe Illustrator

This is ideal for creating crisp, vector-based illustrations perfect for children's books. Unlike raster programs, vector graphics remain sharp at any size, making them great for book printing. Illustrator’s powerful pen tool allows for precise linework, while custom brushes add personality to designs. It’s particularly useful for bold graphic styles and whimsical, geometric shapes. Many illustrators use Illustrator alongside Photoshop, combining vector precision with painterly textures.

Procreate (iPad)

Designed for the iPad, it provides an intuitive interface with customizable brushes replicating traditional art styles. The Apple Pencil makes sketching feel natural, and its layer system allows for non-destructive editing. Procreate’s ability to export high-resolution files makes it ideal for publishing. With features like time-lapse recording, illustrators can also share their creative process, making it an all-in-one tool for digital storytelling.

Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Paint is a versatile tool illustrators love, particularly for creating comics and storybook-style illustrations. It offers a wide range of brushes, vector tools, and advanced inking features that mimic traditional media. Its ability to handle detailed linework and coloring makes it a favorite for artists who want a hand-drawn look with digital precision. The software also includes animation features, making it a strong choice for illustrators who want to expand into multimedia storytelling.

Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator, offering powerful vector and raster tools for children's book illustrations. It allows for precise linework and scalable artwork while enabling textured, hand-drawn effects. With its smooth switching between vector and pixel modes, illustrators can blend sharp details with painterly finishes. It’s perfect for those who want professional-level features without a subscription, making it a popular choice for indie authors and illustrators.

Canva

This beginner-friendly tool is great for assembling and formatting children's books. While not a dedicated illustration program, it allows illustrators to easily import artwork, arrange layouts, and add text. It’s useful for self-published authors who need a simple way to design book pages, covers, and promotional materials. With its drag-and-drop interface and pre-made templates, Canva simplifies the publishing process, making it an accessible choice for aspiring children's book creators.

Blurb BookWright

A self-publishing tool tailored for illustrators and authors looking to create high-quality children’s books. It provides intuitive layout and formatting options, allowing for precise control over page design. Artists can easily import illustrations and add text while ensuring their book meets printing standards. Blurb’s integration with print on demand services makes it ideal for independent authors who want to bring their stories to life without upfront publishing costs.

Scrivener

This writing tool is designed for authors, but it’s also helpful for illustrators who want to organize their storytelling process. With its flexible structure, artists can outline their children's books, arrange scenes, and integrate reference images for illustration planning. It’s perfect for keeping track of plot points, character descriptions, and illustration notes in one place. While not an illustration tool, Scrivener ensures a smooth workflow between writing and illustrating.

Gelato Print on Demand

Gelato’s print on demand is an excellent choice for illustrators looking to self-publish their children's books with global reach. It offers high-quality printing and distribution, allowing authors to sell books without managing inventory. The platform integrates with design tools, ensuring vibrant colors and crisp details in print. With eco-friendly printing options and international fulfillment, Gelato helps independent creators share their stories with global audiences while maintaining professional production quality.

You've mastered the steps to illustrate a children's book—from developing brilliant character concepts to finalizing gorgeous illustrations ready for print.

Enter Gelato, your perfect partner in this creative journey.

With Gelato’s print on demand service, your illustrated stories can leap from the canvas into reality. Our range of photobooks and custom products ensure your stories are presented with the utmost professionalism, enhancing your brand even further.

Gelato’s global network of printers in over 34 countries means quick shipping and lower carbon emissions, making it a sustainable choice. Our user-friendly interface is perfect for beginners and seasoned illustrators.

The ease of integrating with ecommerce platforms lets you effortlessly sell your work worldwide. It’s more than just printing; it’s turning dreams into pages.

What are you waiting for? Sign up for Gelato today and bring your children’s book illustrations to life!

Where do you start with illustrating your first children's book?

Begin by understanding the story and defining your characters. Sketch rough drafts to explore styles and compositions. Develop a storyboard to plan layouts and visual flow. Choose a medium—traditional or digital—and refine your illustrations.

Best tools to create your own illustrations for a children's book?

Digital tools like Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, and Clip Studio Paint offer flexibility, while traditional media like watercolors, gouache, and ink pens provide a unique charm.

How long should the creation process take to illustrate children's books?

The timeline for the entire book varies depending on complexity, style, and experience. A children’s book illustration project takes three to six months, factoring in character development, sketches, final artwork, and revisions. More detailed, hand-painted styles may take longer.