Hiring a children’s book illustrator goes more smoothly when you can explain what your story needs and what you hope the finished book will do. You don’t need a polished art brief or every production detail settled. Start with a clear manuscript, a few useful visual references, and practical information about your audience, format, and timeline. This checklist helps you gather those materials, ask better questions, and give an illustrator room to bring their own ideas to the project.
Get the Manuscript Ready
Share the complete manuscript, not just a summary or a favorite scene. The full text helps an illustrator understand the story’s rhythm, character development, and emotional shifts. If you’re still revising, label the file as a draft and note which parts may change. Include page breaks or a rough page plan if you have one, but don’t assume the final layout is fixed.
Flag details that affect the pictures: character ages, clothing, setting, time period, repeated objects, or actions that must appear. Note any text that needs to sit beside or over an illustration. If the story includes unfamiliar terms or a specific cultural setting, provide brief context and references. Keep factual requirements separate from ideas you’re open to changing; that distinction helps prevent avoidable revisions later.
Collect Visual References
Gather a small set of images that communicates the mood, color, or level of detail you like. References might include book covers, paintings, photographs, or fabric and landscape textures. For each image, say what appeals to you, such as expressive faces or quiet backgrounds. This is more useful than sending a large folder with no explanation, and it avoids asking an illustrator to copy another artist’s work.
Think about the visual choices that matter to your story. Describe how characters should feel to a reader, whether the world should look cozy or adventurous, and whether you picture bold or muted colors. You can also identify things you don’t want, such as frightening expressions or busy backgrounds. Treat these notes as guidance rather than a finished design; the illustrator can suggest an approach that fits the story.
Set Goals and Practical Details
Clarify who the book is for, where readers will encounter it, and what you want them to take away. A book for bedtime may need a different visual pace from a lively read-aloud. Share the intended age range, whether the project is for print or digital use, and any known trim size or page count. If you plan to publish through a particular service or publisher, pass along its artwork specifications when available.
Prepare your preferred schedule, budget range, and the work you expect the illustrator to provide. Ask whether the proposal covers character sketches, finished illustrations, cover art, revisions, and print-ready files. Discuss how many feedback rounds are included and who will handle lettering or layout. Confirm how the artwork may be used, including formats, territories, and promotional materials, before work begins; put agreed terms in writing.
Make a Clear Brief
Bring the manuscript, reference images, notes, and practical details together in one concise brief. A simple document can list the story summary, required visual details, open creative questions, deliverables, and target dates. Add contact information and identify who will approve the artwork. A focused brief saves time for both sides and gives illustrators enough information to estimate the project without forcing you to decide every artistic detail in advance.
Before sending it, check that your notes are consistent. Make sure the requested page count matches your latest manuscript and that reference images have short captions. Mark decisions as either essential or flexible, then invite the illustrator to raise questions. When reviewing portfolios or proposals, compare how well the artist’s experience and process fit your goals, not just whether one image resembles your references.
A complete manuscript, thoughtfully chosen references, and realistic project goals give an illustrator a strong starting point. Prepare what you know, mark what remains flexible, and agree on scope and usage before work begins. When you’re ready to discuss a children’s book project, contact Bramble & Ink with your brief and questions.