Shape Your Story
Children’s book feedback through the eyes of both a storyteller and an artist.
Children’s Book Manuscript & Illustration Reviews
Whether you need help polishing the words, imagining the pictures, or bringing the two together, choose the review that best fits where your book is right now. Get feedback on your children’s book through the eyes of both a storyteller and an artist.
For children’s books up to 1,000 words.
You’ve written the story, reread it approximately 147 times, changed a sentence, changed it back again and now you’re wondering whether any of it makes sense anymore.
This is where a fresh pair of eyes can help.
I’ll carefully read through your manuscript and give you thoughtful, constructive feedback on anything I notice that could strengthen the story. I’m not interested in holding useful observations back because they belong in a different “editing tier”. If I see something that could help, I’ll tell you.
Your review may explore:
Spelling, grammar and punctuation
Wording and sentence clarity
Readability and flow
Story pacing
Repetition and unnecessary wording
Character and dialogue
Age-appropriateness
Consistency throughout the manuscript
Areas that feel confusing or could be strengthened
What’s already working beautifully
Practical suggestions for your next revision
You’ll receive your manuscript with my comments and suggestions, along with an overall summary of my feedback.
For authors who have the words but aren't quite sure what the pictures could become.
Your manuscript is finished, but every time you imagine the illustrations there are too many possibilities or none at all.
As an artist and children’s book creator, I’ll read through your manuscript specifically through a visual storytelling lens and brainstorm ideas for how your words could begin to live on the page.
This isn't an illustration service and doesn't include finished artwork. Instead, think of it as a creative brainstorming session on paper, giving you possibilities and direction before you begin illustrating or approach an illustrator.
Your review may explore:
Illustration ideas for individual pages or scenes
What could be shown rather than explained in the words
Visual storytelling opportunities
Character ideas and personality
Settings, environments and atmosphere
Colour, mood and general artistic direction
Interesting perspectives and compositions to consider
Page-turn opportunities
Visual humour and storytelling details
Recurring elements or little hidden details children could discover
Ways the pictures could add something more to the story rather than simply repeating the text
The goal isn't to decide exactly what every illustration must look like. It's to open up possibilities and help you see the visual world your story could become.
Includes up to 15 illustrative ideas
Words + pictures + one very thorough second pair of eyes.
If you'd like help with both your manuscript and the visual direction of your book, this is the complete review.
I'll look at your story from two perspectives: how it reads and how it could live visually on the page.
You'll receive everything included in The Manuscript Review, plus the creative brainstorming and visual storytelling feedback included in The Illustration Ideas Review.
We'll look at the your book holistically so it achieves a cohesive flow.
Your review may explore:
Full manuscript review and feedback
Spelling, grammar and punctuation
Flow, pacing and readability
Character, dialogue and age-appropriateness
Suggestions for strengthening the story
Illustration ideas and visual direction
Opportunities for visual storytelling
Character and setting ideas
Mood, colour and artistic direction
Page-turn and composition ideas
Suggestions for where illustrations could carry part of the storytelling
Creative ideas for adding humour, emotion and visual discoveries
Up to 1,000 words
“I love your feedback and felt it was missing something. I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Thank you. I’ve had feedback on it before saying it was like a text book and I didn’t understand what he meant. You explained it to me so much better. I have the concept but I’m not always great at articulating how I want it to play out as such. Your feedback is really helpful and refreshing.”
Helen Williams | Author & Illustrator
My reviews are designed to provide constructive feedback, creative ideas and suggestions to help you develop your children’s book. All feedback is provided as guidance, and you are free to use as much or as little of it as feels right for your story.
As publishing and book sales are influenced by many factors beyond the review process, I cannot guarantee publication, acceptance by an agent or publisher, commercial success or book sales. A completed review also does not constitute certification that a manuscript is “publication-ready”.
You remain the author and creative decision-maker, and all final decisions regarding your manuscript and illustrations remain entirely yours.