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Illustrating Children's Books
A beautiful book for artists, illustrators, publishers, and educators
Illustrators interested in working with children's books often don't know how to start. They wonder how to go about getting involved, where the ideas come from, how to illustrate a narrative, and how to get published. This book answers all these questions and more. With practical tips and ideas throughout, it explains and follows the journey from first idea to final completed book. It is filled with illustrations that show how these images are made, and offers a rare chance to see the roughs, visuals, and ideas sheets from a variety of childen's illustrators. Exercises support the ideas discussed and suggest ways of developing them.
Illustrators interested in working with children's books often don't know how to start. They wonder how to go about getting involved, where the ideas come from, how to illustrate a narrative, and how to get published. This book answers all these questions and more. With practical tips and ideas throughout, it explains and follows the journey from first idea to final completed book. It is filled with illustrations that show how these images are made, and offers a rare chance to see the roughs, visuals, and ideas sheets from a variety of childen's illustrators. Exercises support the ideas discussed and suggest ways of developing them.
- GenresNonfictionArtWriting
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
42 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 9, 2018
November 23, 2017
Okay, I finished the book. It was alright. The writing was a bit frustrating and it kind of shaped my reading experience. I'm not that impressed with this book. It did have some good information here and there but the presentation leaves a lot to be desired.
November 22, 2017 2nd Update
Okay, I'm writing this minutes after the venting. I sounded too much of a curmudgeon. This book is good, as it pertains to information. The writing is not so good, as it pertains to communicating said information.
November 22, 2017 1st Update
Okay, I'm still reading this but I feel like I have to vent. I've read a little over a quarter of the book and god-damn, this book is annoying to read. The information is there but the way it is written is just so grating.
I feel like the author didn't structure the information in a good way and it comes across as shoddy. One of the sections is titled, The Use of Colour. This was under the chapter of Developing Character. What the author talks about is the importance of having variations. I am nitpicking but this isn't the only instance when the writing is grating. The author could have titled it Variations, Explorations, whatever, but something that makes more sense than the use of colour. While colour is mentioned in passing, it wasn't the main point. With a title, The Use of Colour, I expect information on colour connotations not the author saying have variations.
It's just annoying. The writing feels as if it lacks a structure when all the moving parts aren't working together. For non-fiction and informative books, I expect some sort of structure, with information building up to something. I didn't get that sense here. I feel like I have to mine for those little tidbits of gold when it should be presented in a proper way.
So far, the 32 page spread layout has been the most informative. However, couldn't the author use an example that is more in line with the structure? Instead, the author uses an example where there is a double page difference. Apparently, the story is too long and the author had to sacrifice the papers stuck down to the cover. It's like watching a movie with an audio lag. The author doesn't really explain either what the purpose of those stuck down pages are. If they could freely leave it be, why have it in the first place?
Perhaps I'm prompted to write this review because the author wrote, "If this all sounds complicated and confusing then do not worry: it will soon become apparent how it works when the dummy is in front of you." In my head, I'm thinking, "NO! Just explain it better!"
But seriously, a little tweaking in the presentation would do this book a world of good.
Okay, I finished the book. It was alright. The writing was a bit frustrating and it kind of shaped my reading experience. I'm not that impressed with this book. It did have some good information here and there but the presentation leaves a lot to be desired.
November 22, 2017 2nd Update
Okay, I'm writing this minutes after the venting. I sounded too much of a curmudgeon. This book is good, as it pertains to information. The writing is not so good, as it pertains to communicating said information.
November 22, 2017 1st Update
Okay, I'm still reading this but I feel like I have to vent. I've read a little over a quarter of the book and god-damn, this book is annoying to read. The information is there but the way it is written is just so grating.
I feel like the author didn't structure the information in a good way and it comes across as shoddy. One of the sections is titled, The Use of Colour. This was under the chapter of Developing Character. What the author talks about is the importance of having variations. I am nitpicking but this isn't the only instance when the writing is grating. The author could have titled it Variations, Explorations, whatever, but something that makes more sense than the use of colour. While colour is mentioned in passing, it wasn't the main point. With a title, The Use of Colour, I expect information on colour connotations not the author saying have variations.
It's just annoying. The writing feels as if it lacks a structure when all the moving parts aren't working together. For non-fiction and informative books, I expect some sort of structure, with information building up to something. I didn't get that sense here. I feel like I have to mine for those little tidbits of gold when it should be presented in a proper way.
So far, the 32 page spread layout has been the most informative. However, couldn't the author use an example that is more in line with the structure? Instead, the author uses an example where there is a double page difference. Apparently, the story is too long and the author had to sacrifice the papers stuck down to the cover. It's like watching a movie with an audio lag. The author doesn't really explain either what the purpose of those stuck down pages are. If they could freely leave it be, why have it in the first place?
Perhaps I'm prompted to write this review because the author wrote, "If this all sounds complicated and confusing then do not worry: it will soon become apparent how it works when the dummy is in front of you." In my head, I'm thinking, "NO! Just explain it better!"
But seriously, a little tweaking in the presentation would do this book a world of good.
June 29, 2025
Meh, didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.
The writing was a bit awkward and the examples / overall layout of the text wasn’t the best. I also wanted him to talk more about digital mediums and digital ways of working, as well as provide other examples that were more practical. The illustrator profiles toward the end of sections felt random and boring, and could’ve been incorporated more by showing their work in the different chapters.
While this provides some good ideas and knowledge that was new to me, it wasn’t revolutionary or incredible, I wasn’t riveted by the material or drawn into the delivery.
Gets nice and specific for some things, which is great, but then glosses over other topics entirely or just barely skims the surface.
The writing was a bit awkward and the examples / overall layout of the text wasn’t the best. I also wanted him to talk more about digital mediums and digital ways of working, as well as provide other examples that were more practical. The illustrator profiles toward the end of sections felt random and boring, and could’ve been incorporated more by showing their work in the different chapters.
While this provides some good ideas and knowledge that was new to me, it wasn’t revolutionary or incredible, I wasn’t riveted by the material or drawn into the delivery.
Gets nice and specific for some things, which is great, but then glosses over other topics entirely or just barely skims the surface.
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September 24, 2019I am not a big fan of this illustrator's "style" but he has excellent advice and I appreciate that he understands that everyone works differently. The book takes in consideration that illustrators use a variety of media and work in different ways.
April 22, 2018
Sloppy and badly executed, like the author couldn't be bothered to make any real effort and believes that acceptable for publication. Don't waste your time.
January 2, 2014
Superb book. It covers the basics and shows a lot of how to create illustrations and children's books. Some great projects work. So good, I bought a copy!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews