Red Key Book

October 27, 2026

Title:

Illustrated Book Cover for Middle Grade Fantasy Novel (Paperback, Hardcover and Ebook)

Description:

I’m looking for an experienced children’s book illustrator to create the cover for my middle grade portal fantasy novel, The Kingdom of Pubertatem: The Red Key (ages 8 to 12, about 54,000 words).

On her eleventh birthday, Amina receives a red key pendent for her birthday. Her birthday wish and her two best friends wake up in the Kingdom of Pubertatem, a magical land in trouble. The story is brave, warm, funny and girl-forward: three best friends on an adventure through enchanted forests, red waterfalls and a royal castle.

The style should look like it belongs next to traditionally published middle grade fantasy: rich, glowing and magical, never scary.

Deliverables:

Full wrap cover (front, spine, back) for paperback, on KDP and IngramSpark templates, 5.5 × 8.5 in, cream paper

Full wrap for hardcover (case laminate), on KDP and IngramSpark templates

Ebook cover, 1600 × 2560 px

Front cover alone in high resolution, for marketing

Layered source files

Print files at 300 dpi, CMYK, with 0.125 in bleed

Requirements:

Original, hand-made art. No AI-generated images.

Full rights to the final artwork transferred to my company in writing on payment

A process of rough sketches, final sketch approval, then full color

I’ll provide a detailed cover brief, character descriptions, the key reference image and the kingdom map.

To apply, please include:

Links to 2 or 3 book covers you’ve illustrated, ideally middle grade or children’s

Your price for the full package (paperback wrap, hardcover wrap and ebook cover)

Your timeline from sketches to final files

How many revisions are included at each stage

Screening questions:

Please share links to book covers you’ve illustrated for middle grade or children’s books.

Have you created full-wrap covers for KDP and IngramSpark before?

Do you use AI tools at any stage of your illustration process?

What is your total price and timeline for this package?

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