What to Know Before You Commission Children's Book Illustrations

Self-publishing a children's book is more doable than ever. The illustration part is still where most first-time authors get stuck, not because it is impossible, but because a few missteps early on cost a lot of time and money later.

Here is what to know before you commission artwork.

Start with a locked manuscript, not a rough draft

Page count drives illustration count. If your text is still changing, your page count is still changing, and so is your quote. Illustrators base scope on how many scenes need to be drawn, what level of detail each requires, and how many characters appear.

Lock your final text first. Even if it needs a copyedit later, the story beats and page turns should be set before you engage an illustrator.

Understand the difference between cover art and interior art

They require different skills and different approaches:

Cover art is a marketing asset. It needs to read as a thumbnail on Amazon, pop in a bookstore, and communicate genre and tone in under a second. It is usually the most polished piece in the book.

Interior art needs to carry the story. Each spread should advance the narrative, show character emotion, and give a young reader something to look at while the adult reads. Consistency across 20-30 spreads is harder than one great cover.

Make sure the illustrator you hire has a strong portfolio for both, not just one.

Know your printing specs before design starts

The two most common print platforms for self-publishing children's books are KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and IngramSpark. Each has specific requirements for:

Trim size (the book's finished dimensions, typically 8.5" x 8.5" or 8" x 10" for children's books)
Bleed and margin requirements
File format (usually PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4)
Color profile (CMYK for print)

If the illustrator delivers files in RGB at 72dpi without bleed, you will spend additional time and money getting them print-ready. Ask upfront what formats are included in the delivery.

Plan your revision rounds carefully

Most illustration contracts include 1-3 rounds of revisions. This sounds like a lot until you realize that a revision round covers the full project, not individual pieces.

Use revision rounds for:

Adjustments to character expressions or proportions
Color palette shifts
Scene changes where the text and image do not align

Do not use revision rounds for:

Replacing one scene concept with a completely different one
Adding characters or scenes that were not in the original scope
Style changes after the first round is approved

Be specific about feedback. "I do not like it" is not actionable. "The main character looks too old, can we make her face rounder and her eyes larger" is.

Get IP transfer in writing

This one matters a lot. When your book sells, when you pitch it to a publisher, when you license it for merchandise or a school curriculum, you need to own the illustrations outright.

Some illustration contracts license the work for specific uses. Read carefully. If a contract limits how you can use the art or retains rights for the illustrator, negotiate or walk away.

Every project we deliver at Fable Engine includes full IP transfer. The final files are yours.

Realistic timelines

For a standard 32-page picture book:

Character design and style approval: 1-2 weeks
Rough sketches for all spreads: 2-4 weeks
Final color artwork: 4-8 weeks
Print-ready file preparation: 1 week

Total: 8-15 weeks for a complete project, assuming responsive feedback at each stage. Revision rounds add time. Rush delivery is possible but costs more.

Plan backward from your launch date and start the illustration process earlier than feels necessary.

If you have a manuscript ready and want to talk through what illustration would look like for your book, start here. We respond within one business day.