Children's Book Illustrations

We're looking for an illustrator to create simple illustrations for a children's book called "I Can Go to the Doctor." The book is a social story that helps young children, especially autistic children, know what to expect at the doctor's office. The script is complete and has undergone medical review.

Each illustration focuses on a single action or moment (for example: stepping on a scale, putting on a gown, lying down on the exam table). These are simple images that contain the key pieces of information without visual clutter.

Your illustrations are key to making "I Can Go to the Doctor" work. Images make the book approachable, help kids and adults picture what will happen, and turn abstract steps into something concrete. Without them, it's just words on a page.

Our mission is to help everyone understand their health, manage their health conditions, and advocate for the care they need. This includes helping children and families understand what's happening in medical settings.

This is especially important for autistic children and their families. The unfamiliar setting, sensations, and social situations can result in significant distress. One way to support autistic children is to let them know what to expect and things they can do in the situation, called a social story.

"I Can Go to the Doctor" does exactly that. It was created in collaboration with physicians at the University of Michigan to help support autistic children in getting the care they need.

The book will be available in a primary care clinic waiting room that serves a high percentage of autistic patients, as well as freely distributed as an ebook and shared on social media. It will also help us fundraise for future books through crowdfunding and grant applications.

The script is fully written and has undergone medical review. We have examples from a similar book ("I Can Get an Ultrasound") to share as a reference. Our founder will be the main point of contact and is available for regular check-ins and feedback.

The volunteer will start with sketches. These will be sent to our two physician collaborators (a pediatrician and psychiatrist) for review. We will gather all feedback before requesting any changes. We used this same process for our previous book, which required one round of revisions after sketches.

Once the sketches are approved, the illustrator will finalize and color the images. Our founder will be available to help with palette selection and ensuring accessibility.

Once the illustrations are complete, we will format the book. If the volunteer would like to contribute to the final layout for their portfolio, we welcome that, but it's not expected.

We'll work together to set a timeline that fits your schedule.