Whimsical Children's Book Illustration

I need an illustrator to create artwork for a therapeutic children’s picture book designed to support emotional regulation, connection, and healing. The story blends neuroscience-informed metaphors with playful, symbolic imagery to help children and families navigate big feelings with curiosity and compassion. The book features a cast of metaphorical “brain characters” (e.g., a tiger, rabbit, possum and fawn, as well as 4 'brains') who parade through emotional landscapes—each spread invites readers into a playful yet meaningful journey of self-awareness and regulation. The illustrations should be whimsical in style, dreamlike Surrealism appealing to early readers aged 6-10 years.

Key Requirements:
- Illustrations must include expressive character work with symbolic or abstract elements
- Artwork should be suitable for early readers, engaging and age-appropriate.
- Whimsical style is preferred, but flexibility to adapt to other styles like cartoonish or realistic is appreciated for future projects.

Ideal Skills and Experience:
- Experience in illustrating children's books, especially for early readers.
- Strong ability to create whimsical and enchanting illustrations.
- Familiarity with creating art that resonates with young children and enhances storytelling.
- Sensitivity to trauma-informed storytelling and neurodiversity
- Comfort with iterative collaboration and feedback