Illustration

Creating a beautiful and timeless children’s book is not a matter of magic; it is the result of dedicated collaboration among an amazing team of creatives. From our directors and editors to our talented illustrators, our staff works tirelessly to produce books that inspire children to imagine, grow, and learn.

Our illustrators are world-renowned, having been published globally, and each brings a unique style, distinct skills, and valuable experience to every project. When an author expresses the specific illustration or art style they envision for their book, our creative team carefully selects the perfect illustrator to bring that vision to life.

Below is a high-level explanation of how our illustration process works.

Once an illustrator has been selected, they immediately begin the deep-dive process. They first read the full manuscript and consult with both our in-house creative lead and the author to gain a complete understanding of the story’s vision. Following this consultation, they develop each character to capture the author’s intent, detailing unique traits, personality, and expressions before illustrating the manuscript.

Below are examples of our character designing process from line art to coloring.

Storyboarding is an essential, preliminary step in every book we produce. By arranging the story into a sequence of rough visual panels, the storyboard effectively pre-visualizes the entire project. This vital visual roadmap ensures alignment among the author, illustrator, and creative directors, guaranteeing that the entire team shares a unified vision for the visual narrative and flow before committing to the final, detailed artwork.

Below are examples of our storyboarding process.

Following the approval of the storyboard, our talented illustrators move into the final illustration phase. Working spread by spread, they translate the rough sketches into polished, finished artwork. This highly detailed process is done in close consultation with our creative directors and authors. They collaborate continuously to refine the composition, modify color palettes, adjust character expressions, and ensure every visual element aligns perfectly with the author’s voice and the story’s emotional tone before each spread is individually approved for publication.

Below are examples of our finalization process.

While the old adage says not to judge a book by its cover, the reality is that the cover is often the very first thing that captures a child’s attention. The cover must serve as an irresistible invitation that sparks a child’s curiosity and imagination. Once the interior illustration process is complete, we transition to developing a signature cover. Our expert design team strategically applies all the details and established visual elements from the manuscript to create a timeless cover. We tap into decades of specialized experience, knowing precisely what aesthetic elements will successfully engage, tantalize, and inspire young readers.

Below are examples of our cover designing process.