Writing children’s books is a delicate dance between words and illustrations that bring those words to life. If you get it right, it’s a beautiful thing to watch as it unfolds. It draws you in and moves you along to the end of the story. However, if you get it wrong, it can trip you up and make the dance look clumsy and out of sync.

The Content

Consider these questions:

How will you break the story into the typical thirty-two pages of a children’s book? Once you group the words so they make sense together on a page, then you need to determine what illustration best represents each group of words.

Are the “pictures” you are trying to create for the reader best represented in the words you grouped or the illustrations on the page? What story will the illustrations tell that the words do not? What picture would best bring this group of words to life, or what is the point you really want to make sure is shown in the illustration? How will you capture the feeling, the movement, or the focus you want the reader to experience?

Will it be a simple illustration or detailed enough that the reader could step into the world you are creating for them? The caution here is to support the story with the illustrations and not let the illustrations overtake the story.

Is there a character or characters that need to be introduced to your readers? Or is the place where the story unfolds more important? Does the book have movement and action, or is it still and reflective? Or a combination? If both, how will the illustrations move seamlessly throughout?

The Cover

For the cover illustration, you want to capture the attention of your readers without trying to tell too much. In other words, keeping the cover simple and focused is usually the best bet.

The Illustrator

It’s also very important to make sure you have an illustrator with a style that matches your vision. Quality communication in both directions will allow you to communicate your idea. At the same time, let go a bit to take advantage of the illustrator’s expertise with the possible outcome of something even better.

It’s thrilling to see your story come to life. When you put both the words and the illustrations together in a dance that works, the result is an exciting tango!

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