A studio service
Nonfiction books children want to read.
Nonfiction for children has to be accurate and inviting at the same time. We illustrate science, nature, history and how-it-works books with clear diagrams, labelled scenes and a guide character when it helps.
N° 01Accuracy first
Accuracy first
You or your expert check every sketch before it is finished.
Labels and callouts are set as editable text, so corrections never mean redrawing.
Reference material you send is kept with the project files.
N° 02Typical books we illustrate
Typical books we illustrate
Animal and nature books, the human body, space, how machines work, history for young readers and early maths concepts.
N° 03Which package fits
Which package fits
Short concept books fit the Picture Book package. Books with many diagrams usually need the Big Book package.
N° 04How it is made
How a book like this comes together.
01
One idea per spread
Each spread answers one question. The picture carries the main fact and the text adds to it.
02
A page plan comes first
We agree a list of spreads and the fact each one shows before sketching. A 32-page book has limited room once the title page and end pages are counted, so the plan decides what earns a full spread.
03
Scene or diagram, decided per spread
A scene shows where something lives or happens. A diagram shows how it works. Choosing one job for each picture keeps it clear.
04
Size shown by comparison
A subject is drawn beside something the reader already knows, and the scale stays the same within a spread.
05
End pages planned early
A glossary, timeline, index or source list is laid out as designed text pages. They are counted in the page plan from the start.
N° 05What goes wrong
Common mistakes, and how to avoid them.
01
Labels that crowd the picture
Space for labels is left in the sketch, and pointer lines are kept short and uncrossed. The picture is composed around them, not the other way round.
02
Small details drawn wrong
The wrong number of legs or the wrong leaf shape is noticed by readers who know the subject. Every visible detail is drawn from the reference you send, and we ask where it is unclear.
03
The guide character takes over
A guide is there to point at the subject. It is kept small and to the side, so the fact stays the largest thing on the page.
04
Too many facts on one spread
A spread with five facts teaches none of them well. The page plan moves extra facts to their own spread or to the end pages.
N° 06Your brief
What to send us to get started.
You do not need all of it. Send what you have and we will ask in writing for anything missing.
• The text, split by spread if possible
• Reference images or sources for every subject to be drawn
• A list of the diagrams, cutaways and step sequences you need
• The exact wording of each label
• The name of the person who will check sketches for accuracy
• Trim size and the age of the reader
N° 07Peek inside
Pages like these.
Sample artwork made by Kompanie to show the kind of pages we make. Not client work.
N° 08Investment
Three packages, fixed prices.
Little Book
From $1,125
Board books, first-words books and short picture books. 4–5 weeks.
- Up to 2 characters, with a character sheet
- Up to 12 pages and 8 illustrations
- Cover illustration and title lettering
- One revision round on sketches
- Print-ready PDF and ebook cover
Picture Book
From $2,175
A full 32-page picture book. 6–8 weeks.
- Up to 3 characters, with character sheets
- 15 illustrations plus cover
- Two revision rounds per illustration
- Endpapers and title page
- Print-ready PDF and fixed-layout ebook
Big Book
From $3,675
Longer books, nonfiction, cookbooks and books for older readers. 8–12 weeks.
- Up to 4 characters plus settings
- Up to 30 illustrations
- Diagrams, maps or step-by-step art where needed
- Two revision rounds per illustration
- Print-ready PDF, EPUB and fixed-layout ebook
Before you choose
What you get
- A fixed price for the scope listed
- Sketches or a first draft to approve before anything is final
- Print-ready and editable files, yours to keep
What we don’t do
- Writing or editing the story
- Printing and shipping
- ISBN, publishing account setup or marketing
- Translation
Extra pages, slides or revision rounds are quoted before we start them.
N° 09Questions
The answers we give most often.
- Do you check the facts?
- No. The facts are the author's responsibility; we draw what is approved and flag anything that looks inconsistent between pages.
- Can you draw diagrams as well as scenes?
- Yes. Diagrams, cutaways and step-by-step sequences are included in the Big Book package.
- Does a diagram count as an illustration?
- Yes. Each diagram, cutaway or scene counts toward the illustration count of the package. How a step-by-step sequence is counted is confirmed in the quote.
- Can the book have a glossary or an index?
- Yes, as designed text pages. You supply the wording; writing and editing are not included.
- I only have photos from other sources as reference. Is that a problem?
- No. We use reference to understand the subject and then paint an original picture. We do not copy a photograph.
Start your book
Ready to make your book?
Tell us what you're making. You'll get a fixed price and a schedule within two business days.