How to Write a Book for Children: Do I Need an Illustrator?

Hi everybody! I am Jon Bard, Managing Editor of Children’s Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children’s Writers and Fightin’ Bookwork-in-Chief at the CBI clubhouse, our brand new members only community all about writing children’s books and getting them published.

We’ll kickoff our series of frequently asked questions with the number one most frequently asked question. Do I need an illustrator for my picture book manuscript? And is also frequently asked question, 1A, which is, Can I illustrate my own submission, my own manuscript, or could I have a friend or family member illustrate my submission?

So, let’s start with the most basic simple part of this. No, you do not have to provide illustrations for your children’s book manuscript. It is the responsibility of the publisher to find and pay an illustrator to add art work to your manuscript if the publisher chooses to buy it. Illustrators, publishers have some of the best illustrators in the planet available to them and they can access them at any time. So, it’s their responsibility.

Now as to the second part of it, should you illustrate it yourself, or should you have a friend or family member, okay, go take a look at a library or bookstore and ask to see some of the most recent children’s book or picture book bestsellers. You will soon find out that when I said that these are some of the most talented artist on the planet, I wasn’t kidding. The artwork in picture books is quite often at an extraordinarily high level. So, when you send in your children’s book manuscript along with artwork that you did or your friend did or your family member did, remember that publishers will be comparing that artwork to the artwork of these fantastic illustrators they have access to and unless you are a world class artist, chances are, its not going to be a favorable comparison and its also not going to look very good in terms of the professionalism of your submission. So, in almost very case, we recommend strongly that people who want to try picture books worry only about the text in creating a strong and powerful story as they can. And not worry about illustrations.

For lots more information about writing children’s books, come and visit us at the CBI Clubhouse, we’re at cbiclubhouse.com.


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