This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Raven Howell will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
During childhood, I fell in love with Shel Silverstein’s books. Even at a young age, I was conscious of how appealing his book covers were. Most of them taunted the reader’s curiosity with stark, playful black and white artwork involving kooky, wiggly drawn children and other magical meanderings. Even the font styles had a consistency throughout his book catalog.
As an adult and full-time writer, I understand how these imageries on the Silverstein book covers set expectations for what was inside. His covers displayed consistent author branding designed in intriguing, creative ways. And if font styles communicate tone, his suggested a mix of zany and comedic.
You may know that book covers are key to snagging a potential book buyer’s attention. Up to 75% of consumers decide on purchasing a book based on its cover design. And we’re talking the artwork has a mere 4-5 seconds to garner attention, so you can imagine how important it is if you’re a book creator.
Professional illustrations on the outside usually indicate high-quality on the inside, but the opposite is true also. Amateur artwork can deter a book buyer. The psychological impact of several elements makes a profound difference. Things like the typography, colors used, the imagery, and even the hierarchy (like the areas your eye is directed to first) all determine whether the book will sell or not.
As a children’s author, I enjoy watching and following along the trends in current book cover art for the kids’ communities. My recent picture book, WORD UP! was illustrated by Joe Rocco. Joe’s a professional American illustrator and designer with 25 years of experience in editorial publishing, animation, and work centered on children’s publications. His experience and sophisticated sense of using high-impact vibrancy birthed an eye-catching and fun electric blue/neon yellow, quirky book cover for us.
Children’s book covers in general used to have a much more cluttered feel and look. Today the trends in books with children in the story line are toward authenticity – depicting diverse ethnicities and abilities, and a wider variety of emotions.
Books with environmental themes lean toward expansive landscape (or seascape) imagery. Many have a hand-drawn effect, artwork with a tone of warmth.
For humorous books and early readers, the trend is toward standout characters paired with character expression, and abstract images. And I love the kids’ books with interactive fonts – they’re integrated into the artwork itself.
Designers are using more white space to aid in visual clarity. Neon-pastel shades are taking over the traditional primary colors, and many book covers are created for phone scanning, allowing characters or story sequences to animate.
We’ve come a long way from when Shel Silverstein was writing and illustrating books, but regardless of technical advances, and creative evolution, if a book touches your heart, whether that’s because the cover invited you into the story or not – I hope you revel in the inspiration!
Words are the windows through which children view the world. Familiar, uncommon, short and sweet, long and quirky; words make all the difference.
In Word Up, discover how a word packs a punch and possesses the power to heal, hurt, help, and humble. Watch children learn how to choose words wisely, and to recognize that sometimes, the simplicity of kindness itself is expressed in gentle silence.
Enjoy an Excerpt
Words are mighty!
Words are strong!
We write them,
Speak them,
Sing our song.
I hope you learn new words today,
And think about the ones you say.
About the Author: 
Raven Howell is the author of over 25 picture books for children. She’s a writer for several children’s magazines. Raven contributes The Book Bug column for Story Monsters Ink magazine, is the Arts & Crafts Director of Kids Corner, and Publishing & Creative Director with Red Clover Reader. She is a contributing author for Reading is Fundamental SoCal and I Am a Promise Books, and a story book writer for world-wide educational programs.
Speak Your Mind