Illustrator Wanted – Contemporary NZ Children’s Alphabet Book

I’m looking for an exceptional illustrator to partner with on a contemporary New Zealand children’s alphabet book currently in development. This is not a generic ABC book. The project combines playful alliteration, distinctly Kiwi settings, visual humour and a warm contemporary illustration style aimed at parents and children reading together. Examples of scenes include: Jellyfish in jandals eating Jelly Tips on jetties Yetis yelling “yeah nah” while yanking yellow yoga-yams in snowy mountains Zebra zorbers zooming through Zelandia Pūkeko chaos beneath pōhutukawa trees Wellington waterfront wētā in wobbling wellies The tone is whimsical, energetic and very Aotearoa. Illustration Style I’m looking for an illustrator who can work in a bright, modern children’s-book style with: Soft rounded character design Thick clean outlines Expressive faces and body language Bright pastel colour palettes Slightly chaotic but highly readable compositions Warm contemporary feel Graphic clarity over painterly realism Think: Modern picture-book energy Stylised and playful Cohesive visual storytelling Contemporary rather than vintage Rich environments without overcrowding NOT looking for: Watercolour realism AI-looking semi-realism Flat vector corporate illustration Muted heritage palettes Generic Etsy-style kawaii Current Status The manuscript and scene direction are substantially developed and I already have several strong style-reference images and visual direction prepared. I’m looking for someone who can: Help refine and elevate the visual identity Create a consistent illustration system across the full alphabet Collaborate creatively rather than simply execute prompts Bring warmth, humour and personality to each spread Scope Initially: 2–3 paid test illustrations/spreads Then potentially: Full alphabet book Cover design Endpapers and supporting assets Please Include Portfolio links (children’s publishing work preferred) Examples most relevant to this style Your typical illustration process Whether you work digitally, traditionally, or hybrid Rough pricing expectations per spread/page Bonus if you: Understand New Zealand culture or visual references Have experience illustrating humour and expressive characters Have worked on children’s publishing projects before I care a lot about tone, pacing and visual cohesion, so strong communication and collaborative instinct matter as much as technical skill. Looking forward to seeing your work.