How Many Illustrations Does a Children’s Book Need?

A 32-page picture book can use about 12 to 14 main story illustrations when each image fills a two-page spread. Add the cover and any extra artwork to that count. This is a planning starting point. Your final illustration count depends on the story, page layout, and type of book.

An essay by a picture book publisher in Books for Keeps describes 12 to 14 illustrated spreads within the traditional 32-page format. A book with separate pictures on each page can need more pieces of art. A chapter book needs its own plan.

What counts as one illustration

Before asking for a quote, agree on what the illustrator will count. These terms describe different ways to use artwork:

·        A full-page illustration fills one page. Text may sit within the picture or in space left beside it.

·        A spread illustration runs across two facing pages. It is one composition, though an illustrator may charge more for it than for a single-page picture.

·        A spot illustration is a smaller picture, such as a character, object, or action. Several spots can appear on one page.

·        Cover art is a separate item to discuss. Ask whether the quote includes the front cover, a full cover wrap, and the design work that adds the title and other text.

The count alone does not describe the workload. A spread showing a crowd may take more work than a small picture of one character. Give the illustrator a scene list so the quote reflects what each image needs to show.

A sample plan for a 32 page picture book

IngramSpark’s picture book guide describes 32 pages as a common standard while allowing for shorter or longer books. That total includes pages used for the title, copyright information, and other material.

Here is a hypothetical layout with 14 story illustrations:

·        Pages 1 to 3 hold the title, copyright, and dedication. These pages use no new artwork in this example.

·        Pages 4 to 31 hold the story. They form 14 facing spreads, starting with pages 4 and 5. Each spread uses one illustration.

·        Page 32 holds an author note with no new artwork.

This plan needs 14 interior illustrations, plus any cover art. If you add a new picture to the title page, the interior count becomes 15. The cover is outside the 32 interior pages.

The same 28 story pages could instead use 28 separate full-page pictures. Both layouts have the same page count, but they require different amounts of artwork. Also, pages 1 and 32 are single pages at opposite ends of the book. Dividing 32 by two does not give you 16 facing story spreads.

How the type of book changes the plan

For a board book, start with the actual pages and spreads your printer supports. Mark what each opening needs to show. A counting book, for example, might need several objects within one composition. Ten pictured objects do not automatically mean ten separate illustration fees.

For a picture book, plan the text and images together. Give each page turn a purpose. A new image might show an action, reveal a problem, or let readers see a change in a character’s expression.

For an early reader or chapter book, decide where pictures will help readers follow the action. SCBWI’s chapter book guidance describes spot art throughout chapter books. It does not set a required number of pictures. A sample chapter layout will give you a better estimate than a picture book formula.

How to work out your illustration count

Finish the story revisions

Settle changes that affect the characters, setting, and action before approving finished art. Moving or cutting a scene later can leave you paying for a picture you no longer need.

Mark the moments readers need to see

Write one short note for each story moment. For example, a hypothetical story might show a child losing a hat, searching for it, and finding it in a dog’s bed. Those moments could use three pictures or a sequence of smaller images. Choose the layout that makes the action clear.

Make a rough page plan

Draw boxes for the pages. Add the text and a brief note about the art. Include the title and copyright pages. Rough sketches or written labels are enough for this stage.

Read it aloud and test the page turns

Check what the reader knows before and after each turn. Does a surprise appear too soon? Does one spread contain several actions that are hard to show together? Adjust the plan before fixing the illustration count.

Count the artwork by type

List spreads, full-page pictures, spots, and cover art separately. Ask the illustrator to review the plan. A quote for “14 illustrations” leaves much more open to interpretation than a quote for “14 interior spreads and one front-cover illustration.”

Check your print options before ordering art

Choose the book’s finished size, binding, and color option before final artwork begins. These choices affect the layout and the page counts you can use.

For example, Amazon KDP’s print options currently list a 24-page minimum for premium-color paperbacks in supported sizes. Standard-color paperbacks start at 72 pages, and hardcovers start at 75. A 32-page plan therefore needs a compatible print option. Check the requirements for your exact size and edition before you commit.

Confirm where the text will go and how the art will fit the center fold. Ask the illustrator and formatter to agree on the file dimensions before the finished pictures are delivered.

Keep the illustration budget tied to the scope

Ask for a written list of what the quote includes. It should identify the artwork, the number of revision rounds, and the files you will receive. Confirm whether cover design, character reference sheets, or extra pictures for activities need a separate quote.

If the budget is tight, ask which scenes could use spots or simpler backgrounds. Get a revised quote before assuming that one spread will cost less than two single-page pictures. Each illustrator prices the work differently.

Also check whether repeated art needs any changes. Reusing the same picture may still involve cropping, resizing, or layout work. Agree on that work before treating it as free.

Plan the pages before you place the order

If you plan to submit your manuscript to a publisher, check its submission guidelines before hiring an illustrator.

Start with a rough page plan, then count the artwork that plan requires. Bring the manuscript, intended reader age, and planned book size to your illustrator. This gives you a useful basis for discussing the number of pictures and the cost.

At Publishmojo, we offer children’s book editing, illustrations, formatting, and cover design. Contact us with your story and any page plan you have so we can discuss the work your book needs.