Illustrated Book Covers

Junior Year Bites

Annie Lisenby

Designed by Driss C.

Available to hire

"This book is a YA story where the protagonist must adapt to her new vampire life. The quirky story and characters inspired a cover featuring the protagonist as a bridge between her vampire friends on the left and her human social circle on the right. A pink palette and bright yellow title signal it as YA at first glance. To incorporate elements the author requested, like a teacup, squirrel, and paintbrushes, I included them within the protagonist's outfit, foreshadowing events in the book."

Transference

Ian Patterson

Designed by Barış Ş.

Available to hire

"This cover captures the story’s layered narrative, blending illness and the human body with interdimensional travel. Symbolic elements—halls, doors, paths, and a watching eye—evoke the narrator’s presence and themes of surveillance. With a magical realist, maximalist aesthetic, the design reflects the story’s fusion of medical, spiritual, and speculative elements, setting it apart within the dystopian and cyberpunk genres."

Hank's Purpose: His Journey To Become A Therapy Dog

J. P. D.

Designed by Anastasiya H.

Available to hire

"The cover reflects the main theme. The child in the wheelchair and Hank’s gentle expression highlight care and connection, conveying therapy and friendship. I created a warm, friendly atmosphere with bright, soft colors popular in children’s books. The large, endearing image of Hank aligns with market preferences, while expressive character emotions evoke warmth and affection. A paw print replacing the letter “O” adds a playful, memorable touch that hints at the book’s theme."

The Curse of Mene

Madeline Hickey

Designed by Madli S.

Available to hire

A Court at Costantinople

Anthony Earth

Designed by Heather V.

Available to hire

Daughters of a Winter Night

Doug Belair

Designed by Elias P.

Available to hire

"The cover's main element is a silver tile crafted by the author's version of Elves or Guardians, protectors of the weave of Time, represented by an hourglass. We opted for a classic look over the typical illustrated characters of modern fantasy, blending elvish, nature-inspired imagery with hints of the story's characters. My work often combines illustration and hand-drawn typography. Here while the silver tile catches the eye, the hand-lettered title and author’s name capture the book's tone."

Even George

Carolyn Cockburn

Designed by Vaughan D.

Available to hire

Henry Button and The Haunted Matinée

Liam Auden Brant

Designed by Driss C.

Available to hire

"The main challenge with Haunted Matinée was evoking the feel of old black-and-white movies while keeping a colorful design for middle-grade readers. Bright red and yellow elements balance the main blue. Since Henry Button is a series, I designed the title as a standalone for continuity across volumes, adding familiarity and timelessness. The design includes many details and easter eggs, like the diamond-shaped illustration, which hints at the glamour of Old Hollywood."

Tumbleweed The Fairy Without Wings

Mary Natale

Designed by Julianna L.

Available to hire

From These Broken Pieces

Katie Hauck Ministries

Designed by Christian R.

Available to hire

"Broken Pieces is a collection of stories about healing from trauma through the power of Jesus. The central image of a reassembled stained glass heart conveys this theme. Aimed at those who have been incarcerated or are in rehab, we used a grittier font and bold colors to attract the audience, avoiding the typical Christian self-help look. The bold colors and illustrated elements set the book apart from others in the genre, while still accurately reflecting its message."

Much Too Vulgar

Viggy Par Hampton

Designed by Nuno M.

Available to hire

"This is the second cover I’ve designed for Viggy, following the style of her previous book, A Cold Night for Alligators. The rough, hand-drawn title contrasts with the deep red-orange background, adding urgency and rawness. The anatomical illustration beneath the text serves as a grotesque, eerie focal point, reinforcing the book's theme and complementing the distressed calligraphy. Together, these elements create a bold, eye-catching, and unsettling cover that mirrors the tone of the story."

The Courage of Slackers

Daniel Tiernan

Designed by Alexander N.

Available to hire

"The cover features a fictional but typical Minneapolis dive bar, grounding the story in a distinct aesthetic while hinting at key plot elements. The 'Art Deco' style, common to Minneapolis bars, influenced both the cover design and the font. It worked well for a modern minimalist design: it's readabile at small scales while remaining interesting up close. Details like the main character, a lurking figure, broken glass, and a cat stalking a pigeon on the roof add suspenseful hints to the story."

WORM$

khari gordon

Designed by Barış Ş.

Available to hire

"The cover is directly inspired by the plot, aiming to capture the intense sense of action and adventure. It embraces an underground vibe, signalling to the audience that they’re in for a wild, unpredictable ride filled with eccentric twists. The bold typography and edgy illustration style were carefully chosen to reflect the chaotic energy of the story, letting readers know they’re about to dive into something thrilling and out of the ordinary."

The Day I Left

Michelle Yu

Designed by Barış Ş.

Available to hire

"The cover explores themes of transformation and progression with a distinctly feminine and empathetic touch. The aim was to convey these ideas through a sense of calm and serenity, illustrating the process of healing, personal growth and renewal."

Knot by Knot

Davis Moore

Designed by Christian R.

Available to hire

"The book explores how the good news of Jesus helps readers untangle the knots of sin and addiction. The hand, inspired by ancient Christian iconography, symbolizes God's hand, while the background texture comes from historic art archives. The colors and illustration are on-trend with Christian self-help books, but the ancient elements add uniqueness. I love incorporating Christian symbolism and artwork to connect modern readers to the rich history of the church and the timeless Gospel message."

18

Megdad Zaatreh

Designed by Jason A.

Available to hire

"The novel is a mystery about good and evil, focusing on symmetry. A mysterious woman and two six-spotted moths are significant to the plot, so they had to be on the cover. To portray these themes I went with a high contrast color scheme in a vector art style, to give it a modern feel. The woman's obscured face and cutaway title effect are meant to convey there's much more going on under the surface in this story."

You'll See

Dr. Janine A Wilson

Designed by Rodney H.

Available to hire

"The cover design symbolizes the strength of family bonds, with the girls stepping into the world surrounded by positivity, confidence, and grace. They are encouraged to embrace their talents and appearance to achieve their aspirations. What stands out is the texture of the illustration, the color palette, and the typography, bringing the characters to life. Their height, hair, style, and setting combine to inspire their unique story."

A Good Day For A Hike

Jen Congdon

Designed by Michele T.

Available to hire

"For this cover, I chose a classic serif font that remained easy to read without overpowering the playful artwork. This clean, readable typography complements the joyful illustrations, achieving a harmonious balance between visual charm and timeless design. The result is a cover that feels both fresh and classic, appealing to young readers while maintaining a sophisticated, enduring look."

The Art of Taking Second Chances

Varsha Chitnis

Designed by Zuchal R.

Available to hire

"The cover focuses on the main characters, Tara and Sameer, and their challenging journey, set against the backdrops of Baroda and Dallas. Initially inspired by a specific scene, the concept evolved through collaboration with Varsha to emphasize the settings. The faceless depiction of the characters invites readers to imagine them, while cloud graphics and a hand-drawn title add symbolic and artistic touches. The pink and purple palette enhances visual appeal and reinforces the book's theme."

Cult Crystal

Remi Bradley

Designed by Stephanie H.

Available to hire

"My main goal in designing the cover for this dark, mysterious, and sometimes humorous novel about female friendship in a cult called the Crystal Collective was to translate the title's essence into an illustration: two women worshipping a cracked crystal, hinting that not all is well in the cult. I balanced this with icons relevant to the plot to spark interest, ensuring the illustration and title remain clear and readable even at thumbnail size."

A Good Thing

Enid Jeff

Designed by Margarita C.

Available to hire

"In the plot, the moment when the characters meet is important—it's the trigger for the story, and it happens while they are waiting for the tram. I believe the key is to introduce the tram almost as a third character. Overlaying the title on its side adds dynamism and metaphorically reinforces the idea of how fleeting that moment of meeting is. Either you act, or it never happens, and the opportunity vanishes just as the tram does."

He Saw Her

Christy Moore Korthase

Designed by Steve K.

Available to hire

Burned Out and Bled Dry

Meredith Jacobowitz

Designed by Margarita C.

Available to hire

"My goal was to instantly convey the novel's genre—cozy mystery with a touch of humor. Inspired by Saul Bass, I created a shadow suggesting a murder scene, with the hurried protagonist walking over it, unaware of what's awaiting her at the car. The exaggerated, almost caricature-like shadow adds dark humor, softening the tension. The title treatment features an 'o' as an 'eye,' acting as a witness. The metaphor hints that the car holds a secret, with the shadow offering a clue to what's coming."

The Day I Had a Dinosaur

Ashley Wall

Designed by Vaughan D.

Available to hire

"The picture book captures children imagining themselves playing with large construction vehicles, like bulldozers. The cover features the main character enjoying a bulldozer, creating an exciting visual that hints at the fun story inside. With the trend of strong characters on covers, especially for small online thumbnails, I focused on using bold colors and a clean design. Strong illustrations and text design were emphasized to ensure the cover stands out and reflects the story."

Returning to Carthage

Ben Sharafski

Designed by Owen G.

Available to hire

"For this short story collection, I aimed to evoke a sense of place and atmosphere without focusing on a specific narrative. The fig tree and Lorikeet, featured in multiple stories, serve as a tonal and geographical anchor. While botanical and avian illustrations are popular, I chose a less patterned approach with a mix of delicate and saturated colors. Starting with a subdued palette, I added rich, vibrant hues to bring the cover to life and reflect the warmth of the stories."

Bodhi's Little Big Soul

Jessica Geltz

Designed by Taylor B.

Available to hire

Samah The Seed

Sarah Gowayed

Designed by Amanda L.

Available to hire

"In the cover for Samah the Seed, I wanted to create a richness of colour and the feeling of closeness that Samah has with her Baba. It was important to convey the underlying theme of spirituality without being too specific, so the glowing light coming from the top right was added to reference God in a way that all readers could relate to. The book title was hand drawn so that it could appear to be connected to the plant and further reiterate the growth for Samah throughout the book."

My Mom's Got No Qualms

Blake Carey

Designed by Mariana O.

Available to hire

"For this cover, I aimed to convey joy, playfulness, and the special times we share with our families, especially moms. I chose a bright, cheerful color palette to reflect these emotions. The illustrations, inspired by the animals the author’s children love, capture young readers' emotions with big eyes and smiles. The typography enhances the playful tone with bright, contrasting colors, and textures add to the overall feel. It's a fun, engaging cover for both kids and grown-ups."

It Ate One Hundred

Bill Sugrue

Designed by Barış Ş.

Available to hire

"The cover illustration plays with the book's title, inviting the audience to initially think the story revolves around a "big cat who ate one hundred." However, the true essence lies deeper: the artwork symbolizes the harsh realities of survival in the wilderness, where unseen dangers lurk in every shadow. The aim was to evoke a sense of displacement, drawing the audience into the experience of being far from home and confronted with the vast unknown."

Eternal Seas (The Relic Hunters)

Lexi Rees

Designed by Florian G.

Available to hire

"We aimed to convey adventure, danger, and establish a fantasy world with young heroes. Middle-grade stories often use detailed, figurative illustrations, but I suggested a more graphic style inspired by cut paper. The colors are strikingly powerful and they are rarely used in this book category. The logo stands out beautifully, even as a thumbnail. Despite the amount of information depicted, the image remains very easy to read."

What to Eat During the Apocalypse

Vladimir Stefan

Designed by Christian S.

Available to hire

"This design highlights the quirky, funny title—dystopian recipes!—while presenting the dark backdrop in an engaging way. We chose a gas-mask-wearing chef to capture the book's strange spirit. Borrowing market trends like simple, solid colors and an illustrative style appealing on social media, we created a timeless look. The distressed sans serif typography is readable and suggests breakdown. We aimed for a design that lets the clever title shine."

A Slayer's Reckoning

Ariel Cross

Designed by Joshua G.

Available to hire

"This story gave me a clear vision from the very start about what I needed to show: a badass Terra wielding her khopesh in a graveyard. To make it happen I built the prop weapon and sourced the outfit myself for a reference photoshoot I did with local model, Ella. When the final painting is paired with the title the reader knows exactly what to expect. The vibes? Revenge. The Fantasy? Urban. With licks of blood dripping from the 'teeth' of the typography as an allusion to the vampire sub-genre."

To Catch a Falling Star

L. M. Ramirez

Designed by Madli S.

Available to hire

"The author requested a fully illustrated cover featuring a portrait of the main character. After discussing the storyline, it became clear that stars and the universe play a key role in the story. The final concept shows the main character gazing up at the stars, reflecting on her identity and origins. We aimed for a dreamy, mysterious mood to captivate YA fantasy readers and evoke the sense of wonder central to the narrative."

Eve Archer

A P Coiteux

Designed by Candice B.

Available to hire

"The novel is an urban fantasy with outer space elements. The protagonist's clothing conveys the urban vibe, while nebula clouds represent space. I included a dragon and fireball in the background to highlight the fantasy aspect.To break away from typical YA covers, I chose a cropped side view to convey action and suspense, rather than a glamorous front portrait. Graphic elements like concentric circles and stars blend symbolism with realism for a unique and sophisticated design."

The Big Shot Trader

Mitesh Desai

Designed by Driss C.

Available to hire

"The Big Shot Trader is all about evolving in a highly competitive, stressful industry. The idea was to use a slightly over-the-top composition to emphasize the 'clog in the machine' feeling of the main character. Balancing an overwhelming corporate blue with vibrant yellow details helped the cover stand out without losing the familiarity of current market trends. Incorporating the title into the decor is often a great way to make a design truly unique."

Henry Knows Best

Emily Learing

Designed by Denise T.

Available to hire

"Henry is self-centered and needs to change if he wants friends. To convey this, I designed a cover showing him holding the ball to himself in a team game. Moreover, all elements of the illustration and fonts are centered around Henry, emphasizing that it's 'all about him.' To make the cover stand out, I focused on the color palette, legibility, clear communication, and delivering a strong message."

Model Village

Leo A. Murphy

Designed by Nejc P.

Available to hire

"The book is a dystopian novel about a shadowy authoritarian figure terrorizing a small Cotswold village. The cover needed to balance the village's cozy atmosphere with the looming fear of change. Inspired by Olly Moss and vintage Penguin covers of 1984, I used distinct color, shapes, and composition to convey the dystopian themes. A subtle visual easter egg is hidden in the design: the eye color on the cover matches that of the main character, adding a personal touch to the artwork."

Luna's Walk During April Showers

Leslie Salazar

Designed by Aline B.

Available to hire

The cover portrays Luna joyfully exploring nature on a rainy day, capturing the book’s theme of finding beauty in rain-soaked surroundings. My signature whimsy and cuteness are evident in the detailed, nature-focused backgrounds, appealing to both young readers and their parents. The umbrella with the book's title adds a charming touch, symbolizing protection and enjoyment during a rainy day’s adventure while making the title stand out in a cute way.