Is a Children’s Book Illustrator Job Right for You? When people hear that I’m a children’s book illustrator, the first thing they usually say is, “Wow, that must be fun, just drawing all day!” Well, yes and no. A children’s book illustrator’s job is fun, but it’s not only about doodling cute characters. It’s a […]

Cost to Hire a Children’s Book Illustrator As a children’s book illustrator for more than 15 years, one of the most common questions I hear from authors is: “How much does it cost to hire a children’s book illustrator?” The answer is not always the same because every book is different, and so is every

Why Investing in a Professional Children’s Book Illustrator Many authors I talk to ask me if working with a professional children’s book illustrator is really necessary. Some even say, “What if I just draw it myself or hire someone cheaper?” It’s an honest question, and I hear it a lot.. But after working as a

How to Choose Between Different Children’s Book Illustration Styles When you open a children’s book, what do you notice first—the words or the pictures? For most people, it’s the illustrations. Beautiful children’s book illustrations grab a child’s attention before they can even read. They bring the story alive, make characters lovable, and often stay in

The Magic of Professional Children’s Book Illustrations Hey there, I’m Ananta Mohanta. I work as a children’s book illustrator, and I’ve been at this for more than 15 years now — sometimes I can’t believe it’s been that long! In all these years of illustrating childrens books, I’ve seen one thing again and again: good

Hand versus Screen: Finding What Fits Your Children’s Book illustration Best Hello everyone, so sometimes I just grab my paintbrush and go for it. It’s slow, a bit messy, but there’s something real about it. No buttons, no undo. Just me and the paper. Other times? I’m all about my tablet, quick fixes, try stuff,

Illustrating Children’s Books for Diverse Audiences: Why Inclusion Matters in Today’s Art When I first started out as a children’s book illustrator, most of the projects I worked on followed a familiar pattern—similar characters, same kind of settings, and predictable styles. But over the past few years, something has changed. A good change. More authors

How Culture Shapes the Work of Children’s Book Illustrators Around the World I’ve been illustrating children’s books for more than 15 years now, and if there’s one thing I’ve noticed again and again, it’s this — culture has a big role to play in how we tell stories through art. Every country, every region, even every family

Before Hiring a Children’s Book Illustrator: Top 5 Questions to Ask Hello everyone! I am Ananta Mohanta, a children’s Book illustrator. If you’re working on a children’s book, picking the right children’s book illustrator really matters. The artwork isn’t just something extra—it’s a big part of the story. Good illustrations can bring the characters to