Childrens Book

Im lookiing for a Childrens book Illustrator

Brief – Emna Book Series (Pahari Publishing)
1. Project Overview

I am developing a 5-book children’s series titled Emna’s Journey, set across Bhimber, Kotli, and Mirpur (Jammu Occupied by Pakistan).

The series combines:
cultural heritage
landscape storytelling
spiritual themes (river, memory, ancestry)

The illustrations must carry both:
child-friendly warmth
emotional and historical depth

2. Target Audience
Primary: Ages 5–8 (or confirm if 8–11 depending on book)
Format: 32-page illustrated picture book
Layout: Full-page illustrations + some spot illustrations
3. Main Character – Emna

Age: 5–7(depending on book)
Personality:
curious
observant
emotionally sensitive
connected to nature and history

Visual Requirements:
expressive eyes (key requirement)
clear emotional range (joy, curiosity, sadness, wonder)
consistent design across all pages

Clothing:
culturally accurate Pahari/Jammu attire
modest, traditional influences (not generic “South Asian”)
4. Art Style Direction

Required style:
soft, painterly or textured digital illustration
warm lighting (golden, natural tones)
expressive characters (NOT flat cartoon style)

Avoid:
stiff poses
repetitive facial expressions
overly glossy / plastic 3D look
generic stock-style cultural visuals
5. Environment & Setting

Scenes include:
hills and mountains (Pir Panjal region)
rivers (especially Jhelum symbolism)
forts, villages, natural landscapes

Key requirement:
Environments must feel:
lived-in
atmospheric
culturally grounded

6. Emotional Tone
The story includes:
joy and discovery
memory and history
moments of reflection

Illustrations must support:
emotional storytelling, not just decoration

7. Deliverables (Test Phase First)
Initial test includes:
Character close-up (Emna expression study)
Full scene (environment + character)
Interaction scene (Emna + another figure)

8. Workflow Expectations
Sketch approval before final rendering
2–3 revision rounds per illustration
Consistent character model sheet required early

9. Long-Term Potential
This is a 5+ book series, so I am looking for:
consistency
reliability
ability to grow with the project

Additional info:
“This project is very meaningful to me culturally and personally, so I’m looking for an illustrator who can bring emotional depth as well as technical skill.”