How to Illustrate Your Children’s Book Using AI When You Have No Budget or Design Skills
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Let’s be honest. Illustration is one of the most magical parts of a children’s book. It turns words into a world. It gives your characters faces, emotions and movement. But it is also one of the most expensive steps in publishing, and that is where so many brilliant stories get stuck.
The good news is that you do not need to give up just because you cannot afford a professional illustrator right now. You can still create beautiful, consistent illustrations using AI and simple design tools.
Before we start though, let’s make one thing clear. These tools are exactly that, tools. They do not replace the talent and artistry of professional illustrators. Skilled illustrators bring a unique touch, style and emotion that only human experience can provide. You might choose to collaborate with one in the future when you have more budget or when your story deserves an extra layer of individuality.
But for now, if your goal is to bring your book to life quickly, creatively and affordably, AI illustration tools are an incredible way to start. I know this because I have done it myself.
Our book The Unicorn Who Lost Her Horn was originally self-published before AI existed. It was written by Sophie and filled with love and imagination, but every page took months to produce. Now, as we develop new stories in the same series, we use a mix of AI and design tools to help us visualise ideas faster, explore creative options and maintain consistency across each book.
AI has not replaced creativity in our process. It has become a playful assistant that helps us bring imagination to life more efficiently.
So let’s look at how you can do the same.
1. Understand what AI illustration tools do
AI illustration tools create images from text prompts. You describe what you want to see, and within seconds, the tool generates a picture that matches your idea. You can adjust colours, angles, styles and even the expressions on characters’ faces.
It might sound futuristic, but it is actually easy once you start experimenting. And it is far cheaper than hiring an illustrator, especially when you are creating your first book.
2. Meet the key tools
There are several amazing platforms you can use.
Midjourney is one of the most well-known for beautiful, painterly images. It works through Discord, which can feel a little confusing at first, but once you get used to it, the quality is stunning.
Leonardo AI is another great choice that runs straight in your browser. It is intuitive, easy to use and perfect for people who do not want to learn complicated software.
Canva is not technically AI art but an essential companion for any self-publishing author. It lets you design pages, add text and adjust illustrations easily. You can even create full layouts for your book.
And now, one of the most exciting tools available is Gemini Banana.
Gemini stands out because it makes it possible to keep characters consistent across multiple illustrations, something that used to be very difficult with AI. You can tell Gemini, “Draw my main character again,” and it will remember the look and feel of that character almost perfectly.
This is huge for children’s authors because consistency is everything. When a child falls in love with a character, they expect that same face, outfit and smile on every page.
Gemini also gives you more creative control. You can fine-tune poses, backgrounds and styles while maintaining your story’s personality.
3. Start small and experiment
When you are new to AI art, the best thing to do is play. Start with a single character. For example, if your story is about a curious fox who loves adventure, type something like:
“Friendly cartoon fox with a red scarf sitting in a forest clearing, gentle colours, soft lighting, children’s picture book style.”
You will get several variations instantly. Choose the one that feels right, save it, and use that as your main reference.
From there, create new scenes by adjusting your prompt slightly. Mention the same fox, same scarf, but different actions or backgrounds. Gemini in particular will help keep the look consistent from page to page.
4. Choose your art style
Different stories suit different illustration styles.
A bedtime story might work beautifully with watercolour textures and soft lighting. A funny rhyming book might pop more with bold, bright cartoon art.
Experiment with styles until you find one that fits your tone. Most AI tools let you specify a style in your prompt. Try phrases like “watercolour style,” “digital painting,” or “storybook illustration.”
The key is to stay consistent once you find a look you love. Children notice when characters or colours suddenly change from one page to the next.
5. Keep your visuals child-friendly
AI tools can produce realistic images, but realism is not always what you want in a picture book. Soft shapes, round faces and gentle expressions work best for young readers.
Always check that your images feel warm, expressive and age-appropriate. Avoid harsh lighting or overly detailed backgrounds that distract from the story.
Gemini makes this easy because you can refine the same image repeatedly until it feels right.
6. Use Canva for page design
Once you have your illustrations, upload them to Canva. This is where your story really starts to take shape.
You can add your text, adjust the position of each image, and design double-page spreads that look professional. Canva also allows you to export in the right size for self-publishing platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing or IngramSpark.
Think of Canva as your layout studio. It is the bridge between your story and the finished book.
7. Pay attention to text placement
Children’s books often rely on the perfect balance between text and image. You do not want your words covering a character’s face or blocking the action.
Use plenty of white space and short, clear sentences. Try to keep text away from the edges of the page, especially if you plan to print your book later.
In Canva, you can test different fonts and sizes to see what feels right. Play around until the story flows naturally when you turn the pages.
8. Always check quality before printing
When you export your images or final pages, make sure everything is high resolution. For print, 300 DPI is the minimum you need to keep pictures sharp.
Most AI platforms let you upscale images for free or at a small cost. It is worth doing this step carefully because low-quality images will look blurry in print.
9. Add a touch of you
AI is powerful, but your imagination is the real magic. Do not be afraid to mix digital art with your own drawings, hand-written titles or unique textures. Those personal touches make your book feel authentic.
Even if AI helps you create the base illustrations, your creative direction still drives the result. Every choice you make — from colours to character names — adds your personal signature.
10. Trust your creativity
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to use these tools. Some authors generate entire books through AI. Others use it to experiment with style or create rough storyboards for a human illustrator later.
What matters is that you are creating something that feels true to you and your story.
If you have always wanted to see your story come to life but thought illustration was out of reach, now is your chance. AI and digital design tools have opened the door wider than ever.
So start small, have fun, and see where your imagination leads you. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself with how much you can create with a few well-written prompts and a big heart full of stories.