I'm seeking a children's book designer and illustrator to create the complete visual design package for a contemporary middle grade chapter book (ages 8–12); a contemporary illustrated mystery-adventure with expressive characters.
The manuscript is approximately 13,000 words and will be published in print and eBook formats. This is book one of a trilogy.
Freelancer should have experience designing books for traditional or independent publishers and can create artwork that appeals to today's middle grade readers while maintaining a polished, bookstore-quality appearance.
Scope of Work
1. Interior Book Design
Design a professional print interior
•Trim size: 5.5" × 8.25"
• Black-and-white interior
• Approximately 88–96 pages, about 180–200 words per page
• Readable serif font / typography suitable for ages 8-12 (Body text: 11.5-12 pt, 15-17 pt leading, comfortable spacing)
• Margins (generous margins for middle grade chapter books) Preferred: Inside: 0.75", Outside: 0.65", Top: 0.75", Bottom: 0.85"; the pages should feel open and inviting.
• Chapter opening design
• Running headers and page numbering
• Proper margins, spacing, and print-ready formatting
• Files prepared for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark
2. Cover Design
Design a full-wrap cover including:
• Front cover
• Spine
• Back cover
• Print-ready PDF
• eBook cover (JPEG)
• Source files (Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, or equivalent)
The cover should be contemporary, eye-catching, and appropriate for the middle grade market.
3. Character Design (7 total: 1 teacher and 6 students)
Create original character illustrations based on manuscript descriptions.
Deliverables include:
• Main protagonist
• Key supporting characters
• Character turnaround or expression sheet (preferred)
• Style guide to maintain consistency throughout the illustrations
4. Interior Illustrations
Create approximately 6-8 black-and-white line illustrations for key scenes throughout the book.
Artwork should:
• Enhance the story without overwhelming the text
• Be print-ready in grayscale or black line art
• Match the tone and age group of the book
• Integrate cleanly into the page layout
• Deliverables
• Print-ready PDF (interior)
• Print-ready PDF (cover)
• eBook cover
• Source files
• High-resolution illustration files (minimum 300 dpi)
• Fonts licensed for commercial publishing (or open-license alternatives)
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience designing middle grade or children's books
• Strong portfolio of book covers and interior layouts
• Experience with Adobe InDesign
• Ability to create expressive, age-appropriate character illustrations
• Familiarity with Amazon KDP and IngramSpark specifications
• Excellent communication and attention to detail
Style
The overall design should feel:
• Contemporary
• Warm and inviting
• Professional
• Bookstore quality
• Appropriate for readers ages 8-12
• The pages should feel open and inviting.
• A modern layout
• Beautiful opening page
• Decorative chapter title
• Occasional small illustration
• Plenty of white space
• Large, readable font
• Short paragraphs
• Dialogue broken into manageable chunks
• The illustrations should have personality, expressive characters, and clean line work suitable for black-and-white printing.
Character Designs
Overall Style (
• The illustrations should feel contemporary and inviting, similar to modern middle grade novels.
• Characters should be expressive, relatable, and slightly stylized rather than highly realistic.
• Clean line art with expressive faces, natural body language, and enough personality that each character is immediately recognizable in black-and-white illustrations.
• Avoid exaggerated cartoon proportions or anime styling. Aim for a timeless look that appeals to readers ages 8-12.
FINAL NOTES
Audience:
Independent readers ages 8-12 who enjoy mystery, adventure, teamwork, and solving puzzles.
Tone: Suspenseful, adventurous, hopeful, not frightening.
Style:
Contemporary middle-grade with expressive characters and cinematic lighting. Characters should feel authentic and diverse, with personality conveyed through posture, expression, and action rather than exaggerated caricature.
Setting:
A realistic middle school transformed by a severe storm.
Visual Goal:
Every illustration should invite curiosity. Readers should feel there is always one more clue waiting to be discovered.
Please include:
Examples of children's or middle grade books you've designed
Examples of character illustrations
Confirmation that commercial publishing rights will transfer upon final payment