[header] How to illustrate a children's book [title] Obtain and study the writer's brief. [step] If you are contracted to illustrate a book, oftentimes writers will provide you with a brief--a list of notes suggesting the main actions in each spread of the book. Study this carefully, and try to remain faithful to the author's intentions. 
If you are illustrating your own book, you have unlimited creative license! [title] Tailor images based on reading level. [step] Different age ranges of readers require different kinds of illustrations.