Why are illustrations important in children’s books? - 8 Reasons

Creative Designs

minute read

You may have noted that kids stay glued to illustrated books than the regular ones as the latter appears boring and lifeless to them. For storybooks, obviously, the storyline is crucial than anything else. However, the readability is enhanced by the illustrated characters. Thus illustration for kids is doubtlessly vital.

importance of illustration in kids books

Let’s explore further into the details revealing the relevance of artwork.

  1. Motivates kids to read

    Motivates kids to read

    It is seen that parents provide colorful books to children to keep them busy. Younger kids may not comprehend what the purpose or storyline is. Still, they are turned on by colorful illustrations. This, in fact, becomes their very first motivational factor towards developing a reading habit. Thus illustration for children’s books is imperative.

  2. Strengthens visual thinking

    Strengthens visual thinking

    Books with picture help children connect with things they observe and how they reason as well as connecting concepts with text.

  3. Improves listening

    Improves listening

    Read aloud books help children to pay more attention towards reading as well as adding the fun element to it. This prepares them to become better listeners overall

  4. Builds self-confidence and control

    Builds self-confidence and control

    In the real world, there are too many do’s and don’ts for children, a picture book provides an opportunity for a child to be part of the story as well as control the actual pace of the story like pausing between pages, go back and forth, read slowly or fast etc..

  5. Serve as effective learning tools

    Serve as effective learning tools

    Being eye-catching, the scope of illustrated books for teaching kids are exploited by schools. These provide the children with ideas about things that were earlier completely unknown to them. They get introduced to fruits, vegetables, birds, and animals etc. Ultimately, they help children to learn new things.

    For a more elder group, interactive illustration design helps kids in understanding complex topics like scientific formulae and history lessons. To say, a solar system can be memorized by children much easier when the system is explained using an illustrated book. Dull pages without any interactivity or illustrations may repeal away kids.

    Even the graduation level students are taught various engineering and medical concepts using illustrations.

  6. Refines the skill of children

    Refines the skill of children

    A kid can comprehend the world around him only in a non-abstractive way. With illustrations, things are conceptualized and imaginations in them are triggered; analogical thinking is reinforced. They then start relating objects with images and the texts that accompany them. Authors of children’s books these days prefer illustration services from experts owing to the said benefits. This surely reflects the sales they win as well.

  7. Simplify things and in a safe manner

    Simplify things and in a safe manner

    Illustrated books nowadays discuss about various things including, elder abuse drug abuse, fire safety, and practices etc. Normally, teachers, as well as parents, fail to communicate these things properly. Such, illustrating children’s books can be very helpful as they explain things to children that their parents or teachers may find a bit hesitant to speak about.

  8. Builds vocabulary

    Builds vocabulary

    Kids start following illustrated books and they begin to understand things slowly in course of time. New words catch their line of sight too often and they connect them with the pictures given. Pictorial clues help them to understand even the most intricate concepts. Such books based on pictures are a fun to read for kids illustration and they even re-read them. This thus builds their vocabulary in an effective but painless and involuntarily manner.

To conclude, there are endless benefits to incorporating visually impactful illustrations in children’s books, which is the prime reason for the growing demand for digital illustrators now. With vivid illustrations that tell a visual story, a child can grow their cognitive abilities and develop creative skills.

Moreover, for young children, pictorial depictions hold their gaze and make them more attentive, as they instantly respond to the characters drawn on the pages. Vibrant colors, human shapes, and beautiful pictures are what encourage children to read.

Thus, to facilitate a seamless learning process and help the kid retain what is in the book, it is essential for illustrations to be a part of their books. Get in touch with a professional company providing children’s book illustration services to discuss and know more in detail.

Leon William


Working in MAPSystems as a Senior Business Strategist, Leon William has solid experience in strategizing business plans that are targeted to meet business objectives in every way possible. Leon is specifically interested in performing gap analysis and adopting special measures to take the brand to the next level by using the right communication channels. He can handle challenging situations while developing a hard-core strategy for the emerging markets and is passionate about taking the legacy forward.