Every one of us might have read stories in our childhood. There are many stories that we still love, and many of them were illustrated stories. Our minds mostly remember images compared to words. We remember the way that character smiled, the colors on the page, and that one scene we’ve seen at the beginning or anywhere before turning the page. Although these are very small things, they stay with us. That shows the power of children’s story illustration.
Want to know how? Read an illustrated book to your children. They are likely to react more to the graphics than to the words. They’ll ask questions, point at different elements, or might laugh at something that they’ll find funny. That will be the moment you’ll realize that the story is really working.
Why the Drawings Matter So Much
For a kid who’s still learning how to read or just getting started, the drawings are everything. They help the child understand what’s going on. If a character is sad, they’ll see the tears. If it’s funny, they’ll see the goofy face. These things don’t need to be explained. They’re just felt.
Illustrations also give kids a break from all the words. Some children (even we) get tired or distracted while reading. A good picture pulls them back in. It gives them something to look at, something to feel, even if they don’t say anything about it out loud.
What Makes an Illustration “Good”?
It’s hard to explain what makes something “good,” because a lot of it depends on the story. But in general, the artwork should match the feeling of the book. If the story is warm and soft, the drawings should feel that way too. If it’s funny or wild, the colors and expressions should show that.
Here are a few things that usually help:
Drawings that are clear but not too detailed
Characters with emotions that are easy to recognize
Consistent looks so the child isn’t confused about who’s who
Colours that fit the mood – bright isn’t always better, sometimes soft is right
In the end, the pictures should fit in as if they were always supposed to be there.
A Timber Ghost Spirit – A Real Example
There’s a book by Robert Sturgeon that does something special with both story and artwork. It isn’t your typical children’s book. It talks about loss, family, and a spiritual journey. Those are big ideas, but the way the story is told and the illustrations make it feel gentle and thoughtful.
The book follows a native family that goes through a tragedy. There’s also a spiritual figure that guides them and a lost ring that plays a big role in the story. Without the drawings, the story might feel too heavy for a young reader. But the pictures help carry the emotion. They soften the more complex parts and make the quiet, powerful moments stand out.
There’s one scene in particular where the lost ring is found on an asparagus stalk. Sounds unusual, right? But in the artwork, it becomes this almost magical moment. You can feel the emotion without reading a single word. That’s what good illustration can do.
Telling Stories Through Culture and Spirit
Some stories come from a deeper place. They’re tied to history, to beliefs, to something bigger. And when it comes to books for children, that kind of story needs the right kind of art.
If the book is visioned by native stories or has some spiritual meanings, the illustrations should be appropriate. It’s not just about what looks nice, but it’s also about what feels right. The pictures help children understand parts of a culture they may not know, and they can even help preserve those traditions in a small way.
In A Timber Ghost Spirit, the mix of story and illustration gives young readers a chance to explore something meaningful without it being too complex.
Tips for Writers Working with Artists
If you’re a writer working on a children’s book, and you want to include illustrations (which you probably should), here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Don’t just think about what the scene looks like. Think about how it should feel.
2. Be open to the artist’s ideas. They might see something you missed.
3. Talk about the age group you’re writing for. It makes a difference in the art.
4. Keep the tone consistent. If the story is calm, the pictures shouldn’t be wild.
The collaboration matters. You don’t have to know how to draw, but you do need to care about how your story will look. Because kids won’t just read it, they’ll see it. This is where children’s story illustration becomes more than just decoration. It turns a written story into a full experience.
Final Words
Writing a children’s book is one thing. Turning it into something a child will love, remember, and maybe even grow from takes more. That’s where the pictures come in.
They fill in the spaces between the words. They hold the emotion when it’s too hard to explain. And they let the child be part of the story in their own quiet way.
If you’ve never paid much attention to the children’s story illustration, maybe take another look. Sometimes, what they show you stays longer than what was written. And if you’re looking for something that blends meaning with feeling, stories like the ones from Robert are a good place to start.
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https://robsturgeon.com/