Shanie Cooper

Shanie Cooper – Designer

Designing children's picture books for self-publishing authors. Let's take the pain out of publishing and make your book beautiful!

Overview

I'm a graphic designer who specializes in children's picture book design. I design picture books for kids of all ages and have done both fiction and non-fiction picture books.


I work together with the author and the illustrator to create a final product that is professional, fun, easy to navigate, and cohesive. My goal is to create a synthesis between the pictures and the text, so that the final book feels like a unit, with the pictures and text interacting and visually supporting each other. To this end, I can be involved with the illustrator starting from the sketching stage, making sure that the areas left for text placement make sense, both visually and in terms of the story's flow. After the illustrations are complete, I will work to find a font that complements both the tone of the story and the style of the illustration. The next step is laying out the text, which varies widely depending on the story. Sometimes we'll have text that dances around the characters on the page, varying sizes and ignoring baselines, and sometimes text will be more traditional, allowing the illustrations to take center stage. The final step is preparing the file for print. I have worked with printers all over the world, and have experience in most of the different printing types.


I have over 20 years of experience in the graphic design industry and have been working in publishing for most of that time. I have worked with independent authors, editors, illustrators, and publishers including Flashlight Press (I Need My Monster, When a Dragon Moves In, Too Much Glue, and many more), Apples and Honey Press (Big Sam by Eric Kimmel, French Toast Sundays, Judah Maccabee Goes to the Doctor, and more), and Menucha Publishers (E is for Elisa, From Wheat to Challah, and many more), working on covers and typesetting for easy reader chapter books for kids ages 7-11.


I'm looking forward to working together!


Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Fiction
Middle Grade Picture Books Young Adult
Languages
English
Certifications
  • Associate's Degree

Work experience

Self-employed

Oct, 2001 — Present
I have been designing book covers and children's books since I started my company 20 years ago. I work with several publishers (Urim Publications, Devora Press, Menucha Publishing, Apples and Honey Press, Gefen Publications), producing covers and laying out children's books, and I also work with independent authors. For covers, I work with the authors to create a visual representation of the soul of their book. For children's books, I usually work together with the editor and/or author and illustrator from the beginning, providing insight into how the illustration relates to the story, ensuring the illustrator leaves room for text in places that make sense in the story, choosing fonts, and then laying out the book in a way that creates harmony between the pictures and the text. I also have done other graphic work, including web design, branding, and different types of printed materials, including brochures, ads, posters, catalogs, trade show booths, and more.

Menucha Publishers

Jun, 2017 — Present
I design covers for kids' picture books and novels and lay out picture books as well.

Flashlight Press

Oct, 2002 — Present
I have designed all of Flashlight's children's books - both cover and layout - as well as all their other marketing materials, including their website, bookmarks, posters, rollups, catalogs, and ads. I work together with the editor to produce beautiful picture books that stand out.

Portfolio

Made with Reedsy
Bear's View

Cosgrove, Danielle

Fancy Bear Press

Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
A Giraffe in the Forest: A Geoff and Banks Adventure

Fanning, Jillian

Jillian Fanning Books

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
A Bear in the Savanna: A Geoff and Banks Adventure

Fanning, Jillian

Jillian Fanning Books

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Flower Power

Robson, Rose

Rose Robson

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Sylvia Locke and the Three Bears (Tairy Fails Book 1)

Horn, David

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
ANYA'S ECHOES

Schachter, Esty

Lewis Court Press

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother (Tairy Fails Book 2)

Horn, David

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Do the Robot! (Eudora Space Kid Book 3)

Horn, David

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Lobster Tale (Eudora Space Kid Book 2)

Horn, David

Amazon Digital Services

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Winter Storm Eudora (Eudora Space Kid Book 5)

Horn, David

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Fancy Schmancy Lifeguard - A Tale of Bravery

Gilda Boram

Buddy really, REALLY wants to be a lifeguard. There’s only one problem … He’s just a teeny weeny, fluffy puffy toy poodle! Meet Buddy, an adorable pocket-sized puppy who will stop at nothing t... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
Made with Reedsy
Go Away, Shadow!

Halle C.

Tee-Joe and his sister Lilly are playing outside when he realizes: something is following him. He wants to make it go away but it won’t leave him alone. Frustrated and annoyed, he asks his Gra... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Old Mother West Wind Tales

MURRAY, Muz

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Charlotte Misunderstood

Flathouse, Kara

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Ripples: Ebb and Flow

Renn, Coe

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
#GrowYourCircle

Stork, Professor

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Evy Loe, What Do You Know?

Stork, Professor

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
The Spider of Lights - La Araña de Luces: Illustrated Idioms in Spanish and English - Modismos ilustrados en español e inglés

Dundes, Lauren

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Vinny and Chip

Saga, Tomi

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Marsupials

Saga, Tomi

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Saving Nature (Adventures with Buku)

Carbo-Guha, Alicia

Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Whoosh! There They Go!: A Slide-tacular Adventure

Salimarkles, The

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
SKIT (A Marlie Starr and Tommy Bell Investigation)

Dot, France

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Leon's Day - A Summer Christmas Story

Natale, Nicole

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Elfie the Selfie

Natale, Nicole

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Zahara

Summers, Ginger

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Made with Reedsy
Tree House Dragons

Summers, Ginger

Cover Design Book Interior Design
How Oma Says I Love You

Cooper, Shanie

Cover Design Book Interior Design Production Management
The Little Blue Rocket Ship: A Story About Postpartum Depression

Abel, Jessica Wendi

Cover Design Book Interior Design
Sarah Builds a school

ANN D. KOFFSKY

Sarah Schenirer lived in Kraków, Poland. When she was growing up, there were no Jewish schools for girls. Sarah had a dream. She wanted to start her very own school. But the girls weren't inte... read more
Cover Design
Elisa in the Middle

Johanna Hurwitz

Elisa Michaels is just trying to help... Elisa has a new house, she's starting a new year in school, and she has a new baby brother. She's in the middle of her family now, and, just like in a ... read more
Cover Design
From Wheat to Challah

Meish Goldish

Where does challah come from? Follow its amazing journey from a kernel of wheat to the delicious bread we eat on Shabbos.
Cover Design Book Interior Design
How It's Made: Hanukkah Menorah

Allison Ofanansky

How is a menorah made? Why does it have nine branches? What is Hanukkah, anyway? Meet the people who make different menorahs, and find out how an ancient Jewish tradition is celebrated. What a... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design
QUEEN OF JIHAD

A.C. Schneider

He's coming to save her, but she might try to kill him.When the teenage daughter of a U.S. Congresswoman falls under the influence of an online recruiter from a radical new terror organization... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design
The Free and the Brave

Tovah S. Yavin

"Those British are coming this way. Eight thousand troops." "Eight thousand?" Jacob whispered. Jeremiah nodded. "They're pouring into Washington from all directions." "At least we have our Fen... read more
Cover Design
From Olives to Olive Oil

Meish Goldish

How is olive oil made? Follow its amazing journey from an olive growing on a tree to the oil we use to light our menorahs.
Cover Design Book Interior Design
Wave Mandate

A.C. Schneider

This is undoubtedly the biggest:…day of Kelerin's life: A warrior/scholar from the prestigious all-boys Academy on Osmos, he’ll be facing off against his arch rival in what many are already ca... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design
French Toast Sundays

Gloria Spielman

When Mina s beloved Grandma dies, nothing feels right anymore.People come to visit. Mina just hides up in the big old oak tree. But the stories she hears about Grandma bring her slowly back do... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design
Big Sam: A Rosh Hashanah Tall Tale

Eric A. Kimmel

How does Big Sam make a GIANT-sized challah for Rosh Hashanah?He digs an enormous hole in the ground to use as a mixing bowl. (It's still there today we call it the Grand Canyon.)He adds mount... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design
When a Dragon Moves In

Jodi Moore

This book is specially designed in Amazon's fixed-layout KF8 format with region magnification. Double-tap on an area of text to zoom and read. On a beautiful day at the beach, a young boy brin... read more
Book Interior Design
Too Much Glue

Jason Lefebvre

Although Matty’s art teacher has warned him that too much glue never dries, Matty loves glue. After all, he and his dad make oodles of glue projects at home. One day during art class, Matty fi... read more
Cover Design Book Interior Design
I Need My Monster

Amanda Noll

This book is specially designed in Amazon's fixed-layout KF8 format with region magnification. Double-tap on an area of text to zoom and read. A unique monster-under-the-bed story with the per... read more
Book Interior Design

Shanie has 40 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Tomi S.

Tomi S.

Apr, 2025

Shanie is so good at book designing. Once I found her, I haven't looked for anyone else. She's designed my fourth children's picture book just recently. Ms. Cooper is intuitive and understands what I'm looking for. She adds nice touches to the text and illustrations ( things I would not have thou...
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john D.

john D.

Jan, 2025

I've worked with Shanie three times now. She is excellent! She's quick to respond and has finished each of the projects she did for me early. She's made self-publishing a breeze!! Highly recommended!!
Rose R.

Rose R.

Nov, 2024

Shanie was absolutely amazing to work with. Kind, thoughtful and did incredibly beautiful work, always giving options to choose from. Highly recommend!
David H.

David H.

Oct, 2024

Shanie helped design a beautiful looking young adult novel for me - interiors and cover design. It looks fantastic and also very appropriate for the specific genre in the YA area I'm trying to target, so it wasn't a cookie cutter project and there was a lot of thought put in. She listened and t...
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David H.

David H.

Jul, 2024

Shanie did an amazing job on children's chapter book! She created the most amazing logo, adds little fine details throughout the book interior to make it very original and fun! Her design choices are always top notch and genre appropriate. Will work with again!

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