How Many Illustrations Does a Children's Book Need?

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If you're creating a children's book, this question probably showed up early in your planning. Maybe you've written a story and you're staring at the manuscript wondering: how many pictures do I actually need to bring this thing to life?

There isn't one magic number that works for every book.

Your illustration count depends on three things:

What type of children's book you're making (a chunky board book for babies is wildly different from a chapter book for third-graders)

Your page count and book construction (not every page in a "32-page book" is actually available for story content)

How you're defining "an illustration" (full spreads, single pages, spots, cover art, and endpapers all count differently)

Once you understand these variables, you can calculate your exact number instead of guessing. And with the right tools, creating those illustrations doesn't have to break your budget or take months.

How Many Illustrations Per Book Type?

If you're short on time, these are the numbers most creators use as their starting point:

Book Type	Age Range	Typical Illustration Count
Board Book	0-3 years	10-24 interior pieces (art on every page)
Picture Book (32 pages)	3-7 years	12-15 story illustrations + cover + optional extras
Early Reader	5-8 years	1 illustration every 2-4 pages
Chapter Book	7-10 years	1 per chapter or chapter openers only
Middle Grade	8-12 years	Minimal to none (often just cover art)

For a standard 32-page picture book, most creators end up with 13-17 total illustration deliverables when you count everything: story spreads, cover, and any extras like endpapers or title page art.

The rest of this guide explains why these numbers exist and how to calculate yours precisely.

What Counts as an Illustration in a Children's Book?

Before you can count your illustrations, you need to know what you're counting. This sounds obvious, but it's actually where a lot of confusion happens.

When people ask "how many illustrations do I need?", they usually mean one of three things:

1. Interior story images

These are the illustrations that actually tell your story. They might be full double-page spreads, single-page images, or smaller spot illustrations scattered throughout the text.

2. Total art files you need to create or commission

This is bigger than just story images because it includes:

Cover art (front, spine, and back as one wrap file or separate pieces)

Endpapers (the decorative pages inside the front and back covers)

Title page spots (a small illustration on the title page)

Bonus pages (activity pages, glossaries, about the author sections, maps)

3. Billable deliverables if you're hiring an illustrator

Professional illustrators typically price their work like this:

How Does a 32-Page Picture Book Actually Work?

When most people think "children's book," they're picturing a 32-page picture book. According to formatting guides from Kindlepreneur, this is the industry standard length for picture books, and there's a practical reason for it.

Why Are Picture Books 32 Pages?

Books are printed in signatures, which are groups of pages created when large sheets of paper are folded. This means page counts almost always land in multiples of 8 for cost-efficient production. Thirty-two became the sweet spot for picture books because it's enough room to tell a complete story without making the book too expensive to print or too long for young attention spans.

Why Don't All 32 Pages Have Story Content?

Many first-time authors get confused here. A 32-page picture book includes all pages, from the very first page to the very last. But several of those pages get consumed by book construction elements:

Title page

Dedication (optional)

"About the author" or back matter

That typically means 3-6 pages disappear into non-story content.

How to Calculate Your Story Pages

Here's the math:

32 total pages / 2 pages per spread = 16 spreads maximum

Now subtract front and back matter. If you reserve 4 pages for these elements (a common middle ground):

32 pages - 4 non-story pages = 28 story pages = 14 spreads

This is why so many picture book dummies land around 12-14 story spreads. It's not a random number. It's the math of how 32-page books actually work.

How Do Different Layouts Affect Illustration Count?

Once you know how many spreads you have, your illustration count depends on how you use them:

Pattern A: Mostly Full Spreads (Most Common)

One major illustration per spread, with text overlaid on the art. If you have 12-14 story spreads, you'll need 12-14 story illustrations.

Pattern B: Mix of Spreads and Single Pages

You might do 10 spreads (requiring 10 illustrations) plus 8 single pages (requiring 8 illustrations), for a total of 18 illustrations. Each single page is its own image.

Pattern C: Spots and Vignettes

You can use smaller illustrations that don't fill the whole page. This often increases your piece count (because you might have 3 spots on one page) but reduces the complexity and time per piece.

The key insight: A book can have the same number of pages but wildly different illustration counts depending on whether you choose spreads versus singles versus spots.

What Should Each Page in a 32-Page Book Contain?

Use this as your default template. It's realistic for self-publishers and easy to communicate to an illustrator (or to your AI workflow).

Pages	Content	Illustration Needed?
1-2	Endpapers	Optional (or solid color)
3	Title page	Optional spot illustration
4	Copyright and dedication	Usually none
5-28	Story content (24 pages = 12 spreads)	Yes
29-30	Story finale or back matter (1 spread)	Yes
31	"The End" or about the author	Optional spot
32	Usually blank or minimal	None

This gives you:

12-13 spread illustrations for the story

Plus optional: endpapers, title spot, back-matter spot

Plus cover

Total package: 13-17 illustrations for a standard 32-page picture book. That's the number most people are actually looking for.

How Many Illustrations Do Different Children's Books Need?

Different children's book formats have dramatically different illustration needs. Here's what to expect for each:

How Many Illustrations for Board Books?

These chunky cardboard books for babies and toddlers are usually 12-24 pages with an illustration on basically every page. Industry data shows that 12 and 24 pages are the most common lengths among bestsellers.

Planning rule: Expect art on every page or spread. A 24-page board book = roughly 12 illustrated spreads or 24 individual pages of art.

How Many Illustrations for Picture Books?

The classic 32-page format with one illustration per spread. Text is typically under 1,000 words (many publishers prefer under 600), which means illustrations carry much of the storytelling.

Planning rule: Plan for one major illustration per story spread. Most picture books end up with 12-15 interior story illustrations.

How Many Illustrations for Early Readers?

These "Level 1" reading books have more text than picture books but are still heavily illustrated. Pages might be 32-64, with images supporting kids as they decode words.

Planning rule: Plan an illustration every 2-4 pages. A 32-page early reader might have around 30 small illustrations. A 64-page early reader might have an image on every second page.

How Many Illustrations for Chapter Books?

Early chapter books shift toward more text and fewer pictures. Illustrations become occasional rather than constant.

Planning rule: One illustration per chapter is a solid default. An 80-page chapter book with 10 chapters might have 10-15 illustrations total, often in black and white to reduce printing costs.

How Many Illustrations for Middle Grade Books?

By this age, many books have no interior illustrations beyond the cover. Some include decorative chapter headers or a handful of images for special elements like maps.

Planning rule: Don't force illustrations. Your category norms matter more than any generic rule. Check comparable titles in your genre.

Why Do Younger Readers Need More Illustrations?

This isn't arbitrary. Young children literally read pictures while they're learning to read words.

Research on children's visual literacy shows that images play a major role in meaning-making and comprehension for early readers. The younger the child, the more the book leans on visuals to tell the story.

How to Plan Illustrations Before Creating Them

Knowing the general guidelines is useful. But how do you figure out the exact number for your specific book? The answer comes from careful planning.

How to Finalize Your Manuscript First

Make sure your story is written and edited (at least a solid draft). The length of your text and the age of your readers directly influence how many illustrations you need.

Quick reference: Most picture book manuscripts are 200-600 words. If yours is pushing 1,000 words, you might need extra pages, or you might need to trim.

How to Create a Book Dummy for Planning

This is the planning tool professionals use. A storyboard is basically a rough layout of your book, page by page. Mark where text will go and where illustrations will go. You don't need actual art at this point. Even stick figures or written descriptions ("Johnny runs to the ice cream truck") work fine.

According to Kindlepreneur's formatting guide, many authors create a rough dummy before hiring an illustrator so they know exactly which images are needed.

This process shows you how many distinct illustrated scenes you actually have. You might realize two consecutive pages could be one combined illustration, or that a single page of text doesn't need its own image.

How to Account for Special Pages

While storyboarding, note which pages are text-only or minimal. The title page might just need a small decorative element rather than a full scene. The copyright page rarely needs illustration at all.

Pro tip: The title page often reuses a simplified version of an interior illustration or the cover art, rather than commissioning brand new artwork.

How to Decide on Illustration Style Per Section

Some pages might be dramatic full spreads. Others might have spot illustrations beside text. You might use panel layouts for a fast-paced sequence. List out your plan and count how many distinct pieces of art that requires.

Don't forget the cover. It's one of the most important illustrations, often a separate piece showcasing your main character or theme. If you're unsure how to approach it, check out our guide on how to design a children's book cover that sells.

How to Maintain Character Consistency Across Illustrations

This doesn't change your illustration count, but it's critical for execution. The dog on page 5 needs to look the same on page 15. Kids notice inconsistency, and it breaks the immersion of your story.

This is actually one of the biggest challenges in children's book illustration. Whether you're drawing by hand, working with a freelancer, or using AI tools for children's book illustrations, maintaining consistent character design across 15+ illustrations takes intentional planning.

How to Count Illustrations in Your Competitor Books

If you want to be confident you're matching market expectations, try this approach:

Pick 5 successful books in your exact lane (same age, same format, similar vibe)

For each book, count:

Double-page spreads

Single-page full illustrations

Spots and vignettes

Endpapers (if illustrated)

Cover complexity

Average the counts

Decide if you want to match the market, go more premium (more illustrations), or stay budget-conscious (fewer pieces, more spots)

This beats any generic blog number because it uses the actual market you want to compete in.

Why You Shouldn't Overload Your Book with Illustrations

It's tempting to keep adding pages and pictures. But there are real reasons not to overdo it.

How Short Are Children's Attention Spans?

Picture books are meant to be read in one sitting, usually 5-10 minutes. If you push beyond the typical 500-700 words or 32 pages, you risk losing young readers.

As one experienced author put it on a writing forum: "A hundred page story is likely overwhelming and confusing for your audience."

How Much Do Extra Illustrations Cost to Print?

Every extra page in a full-color children's book costs more to produce. More pages means higher manufacturing costs, which means either a more expensive book for customers or thinner profit margins for you.

If comparable books are 32 pages and sell for 20 price tag** to make the same profit. That's a tough sell.

Why Quality Beats Quantity for Children's Books

A child will remember 15 beautiful, meaningful illustrations far better than 50 rushed or repetitive ones. Focus on making each illustration earn its place rather than hitting a high number.

What Print-on-Demand Requirements Affect Page Count?

If you're self-publishing through Amazon KDP or IngramSpark, there are some technical details that can change your usable page count.

What Are KDP Paperback Page Requirements?

According to Amazon KDP's paperback submission guidelines, the minimum page count is 24 pages, and KDP may round up to the next even page count if needed. Plan for clean numbers (24, 32, 40, 48) so you control where blank pages land.

Also worth noting: KDP places the barcode on the back cover, not inside the book. Your interior can end cleanly without reserving space for it.

If you're planning to sell on KDP, you might be curious about the earning potential from selling children's books on Amazon.

What Are KDP Color Printing Options?

KDP has two color printing modes: Premium Color and Standard Color. Standard is cheaper but requires a minimum of 72 pages, which is far above typical picture book length. Most self-published picture books under 72 pages use Premium Color by default, which has a higher cost per book.

What Happens to the Last Page on IngramSpark?

One that catches people off guard. According to IngramSpark's user guide, the last page may be reserved for manufacturing information, including an EAN barcode and tracking details.

Translation: If you're printing through IngramSpark, treat the last page as not yours. Don't put critical story content or your final illustration there.

How AI Tools Change Children's Book Illustration

Now that you know how many illustrations you need, the next question is: how do you create them?

Traditionally, you'd either draw them yourself (which takes months if you're doing 15+ quality illustrations) or hire a professional illustrator.

How Much Do Professional Children's Book Illustrators Cost?

Professional children's book illustrators typically charge per illustration or as a package for the whole book. Based on marketplace data, self-published authors can spend 4,400 on a bundle of editing, illustrations, cover design, and formatting.

Just the illustrations alone often run 1,500-$7,500 just for art.

How Long Does Professional Illustration Take?

A human illustrator might take weeks or months to complete 20+ illustrations, including drafts and revisions. If you're on a tight timeline, this can be a blocker.

What Problem Do AI Generators Have with Children's Books?

AI image generators can create illustrations quickly and affordably. But there's a catch most creators discover the hard way:

Generic AI tools can't maintain character consistency.

This is exactly the problem Neolemon was built to solve.

You describe your character, generate an image, love it. Then you generate the next scene, and your character looks completely different. Different hairstyle. Different proportions. Sometimes even different outfit colors. After 15 generations, it looks like 15 different artists showed up.

For children's books, this is a dealbreaker. Kids notice when the main character changes appearance. It breaks the story.

How to Create Consistent AI Illustrations for Children's Books

This is exactly the problem Neolemon was built to solve.

Neolemon is a platform specifically designed for creators who need the same character to look identical across multiple illustrations. It's used by over 20,000 creators, with children's book authors being the primary audience.

How Does Neolemon Work?

Instead of generating images one at a time and hoping for the best, Neolemon lets you:

Lock your character's identity once. Create your main character in a stable, full-body view. The platform captures what makes them them: face shape, hair, outfit, proportions, art style.

Generate variations while preserving identity. For each new scene, you change the action, expression, and background, but the character stays recognizable.

Work fast. Seconds per image, not minutes. That's one of the biggest differences from using ChatGPT for image generation. ChatGPT is often slow, times out, and loses consistency when you return to a conversation later. Neolemon delivers that immediate "wow moment" every time.

What Features Help Book Creators?

Character Turbo creates your main character from a text description with structured input fields for appearance, action, background, and style. Try it with the AI cartoon generator.

Action Editor generates new poses while keeping everything else identical. Upload your base character, describe the action ("walking and waving" or "sitting and reading"), and get images where the face, outfit, and style stay constant.

Expression Editor gives you fine-grained control over facial expressions. Adjust head tilt, eye direction, eyebrows, and mouth shape. Perfect for emotional beats in your story.

Free Upscaling takes your images to print-ready resolution, which is essential if you're publishing actual books rather than just posting online.

What Results Can Authors Achieve?

Authors using Neolemon have generated 15 consistent storybook illustrations in under 10 minutes. That's the kind of output that used to take weeks.

One user, a former educator, made over $1,000 in the first week by creating storybook images for clients. Another author with 200+ manuscripts that sat unillustrated for years managed to publish 20 books in 4 months once the illustration bottleneck was removed.

How to Create Your Picture Book Illustrations Step by Step

Here's how the math and the tools come together:

How to Write Your Scene List

Based on the 32-page breakdown above, plan your story as approximately 12-14 spread beats. One spread equals one major scene. Write these out before you generate any images.

How to Lock Your Main Character Design

Use Character Turbo to create your protagonist in a full-body front view. This becomes your reference point for everything else.

If you want to base a character on a real person (like your child or a specific reference photo), the Photo to Cartoon feature converts photos into cartoon style that you can then use across scenes.

For more options on turning photos into illustrations, see our guide on the best photo to cartoon AI generators.

How to Generate Story Illustrations

For each scene on your list, change:

Action (what the character is doing)

Expression (emotional state)

Background (where the scene happens)

But keep constant:

Identity (face, hair, body)

Style (art style stays cohesive)

Proportions

Outfit (unless your story requires a change)

When to Create Cover and Endpapers

Covers often need a different composition mindset (title placement, focal point, thumbnail readability). Do these after your interior is solid. For tips on creating covers that attract buyers, read our guide on designing a children's book cover that sells.

How to Review and Refine Your Illustrations

Flip through your assembled images. Check that character consistency holds. Make adjustments using the Expression Editor or Action Editor as needed.

What Video Tutorials Can Help You Get Started?

If you'd like to see this workflow in action, check out these step-by-step guides:

AI Cartoon Generation with Consistent Character AI: Step by Step Guide

AI Illustrates Diverse Children's Book Character Illustration Style (in 5 min)

Create AI Cartoon Illustrations for KDP Children's Books with Character Consistency

How to Publish a Children's Book on KDP using AI (Idea to Animation)

And for the complete walkthrough of every feature, bookmark our Step-by-Step Guide on Notion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every page need an illustration?

In board books and picture books, yes, most pages or spreads have some kind of art because visuals carry the meaning for young readers. In chapter books and middle grade, no. Illustrations become accents rather than requirements.

How many illustrations for a 24-page children's book?

24 pages = 12 spreads. Subtract front and back matter and you're looking at roughly 9-11 story spreads. For self-publishers using KDP, 24 pages is the minimum for paperbacks.

How many illustrations for a 40-page picture book?

40 pages = 20 spreads. After front/back matter, you might have 16-18 story spreads. Only go longer than 32 pages if your story pacing truly needs it. Otherwise, the book can feel bloated.

Do I need endpapers?

You don't need them. Endpapers are a premium touch that can set mood, foreshadow the story, or add bonus details. If you have the budget or time, they're nice. If not, skip them and keep your story spreads strong.

Does KDP put a barcode inside my book?

No. According to KDP's documentation, the barcode is placed on the back cover, not inside. Your interior pages can end cleanly.

Why did my printed book get extra blank pages?

Printers sometimes add pages to meet production requirements. KDP may round to an even page count. IngramSpark reserves the last page for manufacturing info. Plan for clean numbers from the start.

What about copyright for AI-generated illustrations?

This is an important consideration for any author using AI tools. The legal landscape is evolving, but there are steps you can take to protect your work. Read our comprehensive guide on AI children's book copyright for the latest information.

The Bottom Line

If you're making the most common product (a 32-page picture book):

Plan your story as 12-14 scene spreads

Expect 12-15 interior story illustrations

Add cover (always count it)

Add optional endpapers and title/back-matter spots

That puts most creators in the zone of 13-17 total illustration deliverables for a standard picture book.

And now you understand why that number exists, not just what it is.

The younger your audience, the more illustrations you need. The older your audience, the more text can carry the story. Board books need art everywhere. Middle grade novels might have none at all.

Whatever your number ends up being, plan before you create. Storyboard your pages. Count your scenes. Define what "an illustration" means for your project. Then, whether you're drawing by hand, hiring a professional, or using AI, you'll know exactly what you're working toward.

Ready to Start Your Illustrations?

If the thought of creating 15+ consistent illustrations felt daunting before, hopefully it feels manageable now.

Neolemon can help you generate those illustrations in hours instead of months, with character consistency that makes your book feel professionally cohesive.

Creators have illustrated entire children's books in days using this platform. Thousands of authors have already made the switch. Your story is written. Your illustrations are waiting.

Time to bring them to life.