Illustrator Needed for Children's Book
Budget: $250 – $750 CAD
Project Overview:
I'm seeking a talented illustrator for my 32-page children's picture book titled "Chosen with Love." This heartwarming story is about two fox cubs who learn about belonging and chosen families when they're separated from their parents and find a new home with Nana Owl.
Target Age: 6-8 years old
Genre: Children's picture book about family, belonging, and resilience
Story Theme: Foster care/kinship care situations (sensitive, important topic)
Project Details:
What I Need:
14-16 full-color illustrations (including cover)
Consistent character designs for 4 fox cubs + 1 wise owl + forest friends
Warm, comforting art style appropriate for sensitive subject matter
Print-ready files (300 DPI, CMYK if possible)
3 front cover options
Book Specifications:
32 pages total (standard children's book format)
Likely 8" x 10" portrait format
Mix of full-page spreads and single-page illustrations
Text will be overlaid on illustrations
Art Style Preferences:
Warm, inviting, and emotionally expressive
Not too cartoon-y, but child-friendly
Think classic children's book illustration (similar to books like "Franklin" series or "Little Critter")
Characters should convey genuine emotion
Forest/nature setting with cozy treehouse
Story Summary:
Two young fox cubs (Finn and Ollie) wake up to find their parents gone. They must survive on their own, facing hunger, cold, and getting lost in the forest. When they call for help, wise Nana Owl finds them and offers them a home. Later, two more cubs (Pat and Mia) arrive, and Finn and Ollie learn that love grows bigger when shared. It's a story of resilience, chosen family, and belonging.
Timeline:
Project Start: [September 1 2025]
What I'm Looking For:
Must Haves:
Portfolio showing children's book or similar illustration work
Ability to create consistent characters across multiple scenes
Experience with emotional storytelling through art
Professional communication and reliability
Willingness to make reasonable revisions
Bonus Points:
Previous children's book experience
Understanding of print requirements
Experience with sensitive/therapeutic children's content
Ability to work collaboratively
Application Requirements:
Please include in your proposal:
Portfolio samples - especially any children's book work or animal characters
Your interpretation - brief thoughts on how you'd approach this story visually
Timeline confirmation - can you meet the proposed schedule?
3 questions for me about the project
Your rate - total project cost or breakdown
Sample Scene to Consider:
"Two small fox cubs huddled together in a dark forest, looking up hopefully at a wise owl perched on a branch above them, moonlight filtering through the trees."
About This Project:
This book comes from my personal experience raising my grandchildren and is intended to help children in foster care, kinship care, or any situation where they're learning to trust new caregivers. The illustrations need to convey both the challenges these children face and the hope and love that awaits them.
Next Steps:
Selected illustrator will receive:
Complete manuscript with detailed illustration notes
Character description sheet
Reference images/mood board
Sample contract for review
Questions? Please ask! I'm looking for the right artistic partner who understands the heart of this story and can bring these characters to life with warmth and authenticity.
Thank you for your interest in bringing "Chosen with Love" to life!
I'm seeking a talented illustrator for my 32-page children's picture book titled "Chosen with Love." This heartwarming story is about two fox cubs who learn about belonging and chosen families when they're separated from their parents and find a new home with Nana Owl.
Target Age: 6-8 years old
Genre: Children's picture book about family, belonging, and resilience
Story Theme: Foster care/kinship care situations (sensitive, important topic)
Project Details:
What I Need:
14-16 full-color illustrations (including cover)
Consistent character designs for 4 fox cubs + 1 wise owl + forest friends
Warm, comforting art style appropriate for sensitive subject matter
Print-ready files (300 DPI, CMYK if possible)
3 front cover options
Book Specifications:
32 pages total (standard children's book format)
Likely 8" x 10" portrait format
Mix of full-page spreads and single-page illustrations
Text will be overlaid on illustrations
Art Style Preferences:
Warm, inviting, and emotionally expressive
Not too cartoon-y, but child-friendly
Think classic children's book illustration (similar to books like "Franklin" series or "Little Critter")
Characters should convey genuine emotion
Forest/nature setting with cozy treehouse
Story Summary:
Two young fox cubs (Finn and Ollie) wake up to find their parents gone. They must survive on their own, facing hunger, cold, and getting lost in the forest. When they call for help, wise Nana Owl finds them and offers them a home. Later, two more cubs (Pat and Mia) arrive, and Finn and Ollie learn that love grows bigger when shared. It's a story of resilience, chosen family, and belonging.
Timeline:
Project Start: [September 1 2025]
What I'm Looking For:
Must Haves:
Portfolio showing children's book or similar illustration work
Ability to create consistent characters across multiple scenes
Experience with emotional storytelling through art
Professional communication and reliability
Willingness to make reasonable revisions
Bonus Points:
Previous children's book experience
Understanding of print requirements
Experience with sensitive/therapeutic children's content
Ability to work collaboratively
Application Requirements:
Please include in your proposal:
Portfolio samples - especially any children's book work or animal characters
Your interpretation - brief thoughts on how you'd approach this story visually
Timeline confirmation - can you meet the proposed schedule?
3 questions for me about the project
Your rate - total project cost or breakdown
Sample Scene to Consider:
"Two small fox cubs huddled together in a dark forest, looking up hopefully at a wise owl perched on a branch above them, moonlight filtering through the trees."
About This Project:
This book comes from my personal experience raising my grandchildren and is intended to help children in foster care, kinship care, or any situation where they're learning to trust new caregivers. The illustrations need to convey both the challenges these children face and the hope and love that awaits them.
Next Steps:
Selected illustrator will receive:
Complete manuscript with detailed illustration notes
Character description sheet
Reference images/mood board
Sample contract for review
Questions? Please ask! I'm looking for the right artistic partner who understands the heart of this story and can bring these characters to life with warmth and authenticity.
Thank you for your interest in bringing "Chosen with Love" to life!