Create your dream book cover

Everyone knows that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover … but from that pile of unused journals (we see you – and yes, we know, they were just too pretty to pass up) to browsing your local bookstore, that’s exactly what we all do. Plus it’s one of the key things that an art director or publisher will look at when they look at your picture book illustration portfolio.

Some of the many thousands of books agented by Lilla Rogers Studio. Check out those amazing covers – and see how the lettering can really add to the overall impact.

A book cover needs to work hard to get you to pick the book up out of thousands of others on offer. It needs to look good even if viewed as a thumbnail online. It needs to tease a little bit of the story, or at least set the mood of the book.

That’s why former art agent Lilla and children’s book art director Zoë spend a full week on your picture book cover in their incredible Illustrating Children’s Books course, and why it’s one of the finished pieces you’ll have at the end of the course, along with character sheets and a full page spread.

Just some of the many gorgeous picture books art directed by Zoë – check out the lettering too. A Pinch of Love (left) was illustrated by Make Art That Sells student Tisha Lee after Zoë saw her art in class.

You’ll learn things like:

What must go on your cover
Top tips for designing a cover that sells
How to use lettering to rock your cover

… with tons of examples from art director Zoë of books she’s directed and other books she loves to help you understand how to create a cover that will land you that dream picture book illustration gig.

Take your picture book cover game to the next level with the Brilliant Kid Book Bundle and get a huge 20% off two amazing courses! We’ve created this bundle to help you nail your cover while saving you money on two career-changing courses.

Here’s what you get:

Illustrating Children’s Books, of course – our student favorite that’s back for its twelfth iteration! You’ll spend five intense weeks with Lilla and Zoë creating a gorgeous ready-to-send pitch presentation that includes everything that an art director or publisher needs to see to give you a picture book illustration gig (just like these students). You’ll get THREE exclusive texts to work from – meaning you can repeat the course after the live portion is finished, to help you build a really powerful illustration portfolio – plus weekly live reviews, and tons more.
Assignment Bootcamp: Lettering – back for the second year by popular demand! Being able to do lettering can give your illustration career a huge boost, and of course it’s fundamental to creating an eye-catching book cover. Over three months, you’ll get 15 stunning new fonts to play with and to inspire you, plus three assignments from illustrator and calligrapher Lilla to create beautiful art for portfolio.

Get them both now and save a massive 20%! Get this fantastic value bundle here.

Stunning book covers by Make Art That Sells students Korrie Schenkel (left), Maruga Koops (center) and Kay Wolfersperger (right) for Assignment Bootcamp: Lettering. Level up your book cover game with beautiful lettering like this!

Q. What if I’ve already signed up for Illustrating Children’s Books or Assignment Bootcamp: Lettering and want to get the bundle instead?

A. That’s absolutely fine – simply email Louise at [email protected] and she will upgrade your account.

Gorgeous lettering on book covers agented by Lilla Rogers Studio.

We look forward to seeing you in class!

Monday, July 7th: Illustrating Children’s Books starts TODAY! Join your teachers, former top art agent Lilla and brilliant children’s book art director Zoë, for five incredible weeks where you’ll learn a ton about the picture book industry and create a ready-to-send pitch that contains everything an art director needs to see to give you work! Sign up here.
Monday, July 7th: Join Lilla and Zoë for a FREE live Zoom event at 12 noon EST/5 pm BST to celebrate the start of Illustrating Children’s Books and you could win a FREE place in class! You’ll find the link to join the Zoom in our Instagram and Facebook Stories and on the front page of our website on the day.
Available NOW! Sign up for the Brilliant Kid Book Bundle and save a whopping 20% on art agent Lilla’s last two LIVE courses for the year, student-favorite Illustrating Children’s Books and the wonderful Assignment Bootcamp: Lettering. Find out more here.
Next newsletter: HOW many picture book deals?! Read brand new success stories from Illustrating Children’s Books alumni!