Children't Book

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We are seeking a Puerto Rican or Latinx children’s book illustrator to collaborate on a 32-page picture book titled LeiLani of the Coquí Song. This culturally rich and emotionally powerful story celebrates Puerto Rican heritage through magical realism, ancestral wisdom, music, food, and family. It follows a young girl named LeiLani who, guided by the song of the coquí, journeys through dreamlike scenes where she meets four generations of women in her family—each offering a gift, a lesson, and a connection to her roots. We are looking for an illustrator who can bring this story to life with warmth, color, and cultural authenticity. The ideal candidate will have experience in children’s picture book illustration and an understanding of Caribbean or Latinx symbolism, especially from Puerto Rico. You should be able to design expressive, diverse characters across generations and create immersive scenes that blend the real with the magical. Deliverables will include 14–16 full-spread illustrations, a front and back cover, character design for five central women (LeiLani and four matriarchs), 4–6 spot illustrations of culturally significant items (like a coquí, hibiscus flower, spoon, book, seed), and simple decorative elements for the title or endpaper pages. We will provide the final manuscript, detailed character profiles and pictures. Final artwork should be delivered as high-resolution, print-ready files (PSD or PNG preferred), sized for 8.5x11" or square trim. Your style should speak to children ages 5–9, with a soft, expressive, and immersive feel that supports both the lyrical narration and the emotional tone. Bonus if you’re familiar with bomba music, Taino folklore, or Afro-Caribbean textures and color palettes. Familiarity with digital tools like Procreate or Adobe Photoshop is a must, and we welcome both emerging and experienced illustrators. This book is being developed for POSSIBLE submission to publishers and family shelf appeal since it is based on my family. Our creative process is collaborative, respectful, and rooted in story-first values. We will offer feedback promptly, and we’re always open to your ideas as an artist. You’ll work primarily through Upwork messages, with optional Zoom check-ins at major milestones. We’ll use Google Drive to keep artwork and references organized. Our goal is to begin development soon, with a flexible timeline aiming for Fall/Winter 2025 delivery. If you are passionate about telling stories that reflect the depth and beauty of Puerto Rican or Latinx culture, we would love to hear from you. Please submit a message introducing yourself and your background (especially any cultural connection to the story), links to relevant portfolio work, your pricing structure or rate estimates, availability, and any thoughts on how you'd approach illustrating this project. This is more than a job—it’s a chance to co-create something meaningful, magical, and lasting for an amazing little girl and 4 fantastic women. Thank you for considering this collaboration. We’re excited to find the right creative partner to help bring LeiLani’s story to life.

Keyword: Illustration

Price: $15.0

Illustration Book Cover Character Design Layout Design Storybook