Get warm, professional children's book illustrations in Melbourne from a team that understands what makes young readers fall in love with a story.
You have a story. Maybe it is sitting in a notebook, or maybe it is still mostly in your head. Either way, you know it needs pictures to really come alive. That is where we come in.
We usually reply within one business day.
- what it is
At Purple Giraffe Press, we work with parents, grandparents, teachers, and first-time authors across Melbourne who want to turn their words into a real illustrated book in Melbourne that feels finished and professional. The words might be lovely, but if the pictures do not match the tone and feel of the story, the whole thing falls flat. That is why so many local writers search for children's book illustrations in Melbourne before they even start looking for a printer or a publisher. The pictures come first, because they are what a young reader notices before a single word is read to them.
We have spent years working only in this space. We are not a general design studio that also does book covers on the side. Children's books are what we do every day.
- what we offer
Our illustration services cover every stage of bringing a picture book to life. Here is how we break it down.
Before a single scene is drawn, we sit down and work out who your characters actually are. What do they look like? How do they move? What makes them feel real to a five-year-old reader? We sketch a few options, get your feedback, and lock in a final look before moving further.
This is the heart of the job. Each page of your story gets its own custom illustration, matched to the mood, pacing, and age group of your book. We think about where the eye should land first, how the colours support the story, and how each page flows into the next.
Not every page needs a full scene. Sometimes a small illustration in the corner, or a simple image next to a paragraph, is exactly what a page needs. We offer this as a lighter option for books that mix text-heavy pages with visual ones.
Your cover is the first thing anyone sees. We treat it as its own project, separate from the inside pages, so it grabs attention on a shelf or a screen and gives a true sense of what is inside.
If you already have a style in mind, tell us, and we will work towards it. If you are not sure yet, we can show you a few different approaches, from soft watercolour looks to bold, flat colour styles, so you can pick what suits your story best.
- who we help
We work with a wide range of people who all share one thing. They want their story told properly.
No matter where you are starting from, we meet you there.
- what to look for
Not every illustrator suits every story. Before you commit to anyone, it helps to know what to look for.
Taking a bit of time on this step now saves a lot of frustration later. A rushed choice often leads to a book that does not look or feel the way you pictured it.
- why it matters
A children's book is often a young reader’s first real experience with story and art together. That is a big responsibility, and it changes how illustration should be approached.
Getting all of this right takes real skill and experience. It is not something you want to leave to guesswork.
We have seen manuscripts where the writing was strong, but the early illustration drafts did not match the story’s age group at all. A book written for four-year-olds needs simpler shapes and clearer expressions than one aimed at eight-year-olds. Part of our job is spotting this early, before pages are finalised, so the whole book feels right for the reader it is written for.
- how it works
We keep our process simple, so you always know where things stand.
Send through your story, even in draft form. We just need enough to understand the tone, the characters, and the age group you are writing for.
We look at your manuscript and give you a clear quote based on page count, style, and how detailed the illustrations need to be. No hidden extras.
We share early sketches of your main characters and a sample page or two, so you can see the direction before we go further.
Once you are happy with the direction, we move through the full book, page by page, keeping you updated along the way. We usually share batches of pages as we go, rather than disappearing until the whole book is done, so you are never left wondering what is happening with your story.
You get a full review round to ask for changes, then we deliver final, print-ready files once everything is approved.
- our catalog
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Working with someone who focuses only on children's books, rather than a general designer, gives you real advantages.
- why choose us
There are a lot of options out there for illustrators and studios in Melbourne. Here is why authors choose us.
The Purple Giraffe Press TeamAustralian Children’s Publisher Children's books are our only focus, not a side project.
You will know your costs before any work starts, with no surprise fees later.
You can talk to a real person in your own time zone, without language or time delays.
Whether it is your first book or your fifth, we take the work seriously.
No confusing jargon, just clear updates at every step.
- author love
- your book, your way
One thing we hear a lot is that people want to design their own picture book in Melbourne without losing control over their own story. We understand that. This is your book, not ours. We are here to bring your vision to life, not replace it with our own ideas. Every sketch and every page we send you is a chance to give feedback, ask for changes, or steer things in a new direction.
Some of our clients come to us with a full manuscript and a clear idea of what they want. Others come with just a rough idea and a wish to make their own children’s book in Melbourne for a birthday, a school project, or simply because they have always wanted to write one. Both starting points are completely fine. We adjust how much guidance we give based on where you are.
If you are not sure where to start with the visual side, that is exactly the gap we fill. You bring the story and the ideas; we bring the skills to turn it into finished art. There is no such thing as a silly question at this stage. We would rather you ask than stay unsure about how the process works.
- pricing
Pricing for illustrated children’s books in Melbourne depends on a few things. Page count is the biggest factor, since a 12-page book takes less work than a 32-page one. Style also plays a part, since highly detailed illustrations take longer than simpler, flatter styles. The number of full-page illustrations versus spot illustrations changes the cost too.
Rather than guess at numbers that might not suit your project, we prefer to look at your manuscript first and give you a proper quote. That way you know exactly what you are paying for, with no guesswork on either side.
We also try to explain what drives the cost up or down, so you can make choices that suit your budget. For example, a simpler style with fewer full-page scenes will usually cost less than a highly detailed book with a full illustration on every single page. There is no wrong choice here. It is about finding a balance that fits your story and your budget.
- explore more
We sharpen your pacing and clarity while keeping your unique voice at the centre of the story
Learn more about EditingWe create front, back, and spine layouts that grab a reader’s attention. Unlike many publishing companies for children’s books, we show you enuinely different options rather than just colour swaps
Learn more about Book Cover DesignHonest, affordable promotion that gets your children’s book seen and loved on Amazon, Kindle, and beyond
Learn more about Book PromotionWe take care of the logistics, ISBNs, and platform registrations so you don’t have to learn the technicalities from scratch
Learn more about Book Publishing ManagementIf you have a great idea but need help with the words, we can draft the story with you in a voice that remains authentically yours
Learn more about GhostwritingWe build clean, functional sites that help readers and event organisers find you easily
Learn more about Author Websites- get in touch
Share your idea or manuscript and we will come back within one business day with a friendly, no-pressure plan and a free estimate.
We usually reply within one business day.
- ready when you are
If you have been sitting on a story and wondering how to find the right illustrations for children's books in Melbourne, we would love to hear from you. Send us your manuscript, tell us a bit about your vision, and we will take it from there. Purple Giraffe Press is ready when you are.
- good to know
Honest answers to the questions Melbourne authors ask us most. If yours is not here, a quick consultation will cover it.
Book a Free Consultation →No. A draft is fine. If you are based in Melbourne, we just need enough of your story to understand the characters, tone, and age group before guiding you on the next step.
It depends on the length and detail of your book. Once we see your manuscript, we can give you a realistic timeframe for your Melbourne children’s book illustration project.
Yes. Our Melbourne children’s book illustration process includes review stages where you can ask for changes before the artwork is finalised.
We do both. For Melbourne authors, we can create the inside illustrations as well as the front cover artwork, with the cover treated as its own important part of the project.
That is completely fine. We can show you different illustration style options and help you choose a look that suits your Melbourne children’s book and its target readers.
Yes, often. Many Melbourne authors we work with are creating their first children’s book, and we are happy to guide them through the illustration process step by step.
Pricing is custom for each Melbourne children’s book illustration project. It depends on page count, art style, and the mix of full-page and spot illustrations. We always give a clear quote before starting.
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