Illustration in Books for Adults: Elevating Reading Across Genres

Beyond childhood: illustrations appeal to readers of all ages.

Do you have a favourite childhood book? What stands out most in your memory when you think about this book? Chances are it’s the illustrations that first come to mind. One of my favourite childhood books was called “House by Mouse”, written by George Mendoza and illustrated by Doris Smith. It was about a mouse called Henrietta, an architect who designs different houses for all her animal friends. I would spend hours studying the intricately illustrated cross-sections of the different homes, peering into the private lives of each animal. This book brought much joy to my young creative brain.

Illustrations in children's books are what bring the stories to life, and these visuals etch themselves into our memories, leaving a lasting impact. But when we think of books for people who are long past these early reading stages of life, we often overlook how illustrations can enrich the reading experience for adults as well.

Most of us will have seen novels and non-fiction titles with creative and captivating illustrated covers, but illustrations within the pages of books for adults are often not a consideration. With the illustrations from childhood books having such a lasting impact on our memories, emotions, and imagination, it shouldn't be presumed that only young brains can benefit from the addition of illustrations to the written word.

In a world dominated by digital media, there is still something magical about books – and when a book has illustrations, its charm and appeal can be heightened. In this article I am going to delve into some of the ways that illustrations can work across a range of book genres for adults, both fiction and non-fiction, and show how they can help bring a book to life, enhance the reading experience, and spark the imaginations of readers of all ages.

Drawing the line between picture books and illustrated books.

First things first, we probably need to differentiate between picture books and illustrated books – these each cater to different audiences and storytelling approaches:

• Picture books are primarily aimed at children, using illustrations as the main vehicle for storytelling, often with the text playing a supportive role in conveying the narrative. As an adult I still love looking at picture books, they are often highly entertaining works of art. Most of us loved picture books once, and this appreciation for visual storytelling doesn't diminish with age, it evolves – hence why graphic novels are so popular with adults, but they are their own genre (which I’ll explore a little further later on).
• Illustrated books on the other hand, cover all book genres and a much broader age range – they use illustrations for a variety of reasons – to enhance the reader's understanding, provide supplementary information, or add aesthetic value. The illustrations in an illustrated book will play a secondary role to the text, and their role can vary – from spot illustrations to highlight chapter breaks, to full-page illustrations, maps, and diagrams, that tell a larger part of the narrative. Illustrated books is what this article is about.

Adding character – how illustration can enhance a book.

As readers, through the magic of illustrations we can peek into the mind of the author, and as authors, you can weave a deeper connection with your readers. Illustrations can convey things that words cannot. They can add an important layer to the reading experience, making it more immersive. There are a wide range of reasons to use illustrations, here are a few key things that they can do for a book:

• Attract potential book buyer’s attention.
• Enhance the book reader’s engagement.
• Visually evoke an emotional response.
• Help the reader understand more complex information via infographics.
• Reduce text while more succinctly explaining a key point or message.
• Help to bridge the gap in language barriers.
• Break up dense text into more reader-friendly sections.
• Visually convey key ideas for individual chapter openers.

Illustrations can enrich books in countless ways, from the visual allure of decorative endpapers to scene-setting double-page spreads. Here are several ways that illustrations can be weaved into the pages of a book:

• Endpapers: can be simple or elaborate patterns, or thematic illustrations that relate to the text. They add elegance and interest, and provide an immediate visual impact when the book is opened. Often found in hardcovers, decorative endpapers can also be printed in softcovers as well.
• Illustrative vignettes: small, decorative designs or illustrations that can appear between sections of text, at the end of chapters, or in the margins. Their purpose is to enhance the overall look and feel of the book and add visual interest without necessarily relating to the content.
• Illustrated section or chapter headings: can add visual interest to each new section or chapter. They can reflect themes or events that will be covered in the upcoming text, giving readers a preview of what is to come.
• Spot illustrations: small illustrations often without a background or border that are used to embellish or accompany text. Typically used to highlight a particular point, add visual interest, or break up large sections of text. Unlike full-page illustrations, spot illustrations are more focused and direct, used to illustrate a specific idea or moment from the text.
• Inline illustrations: similar to spot illustrations but more integrated within the text, inline illustrations are often small and appear alongside or wrapped within the text, enriching the narrative without entirely breaking the text flow.
• Full-page illustrations: often used in fantasy and some fiction to immerse the reader in the story's world. Full-page illustrations can provide detailed visual narratives, setting the tone and enhancing the story.
• Information graphics: often used in non-fiction (educational, technical, instructional, and scientific books) infographics such as graphs, charts and diagrams help clarify complex information and make concepts easier to understand. They can help engage when dense amounts of text are involved.
• Maps: synonymise with historical books and travel guides, illustrated maps are also used in other non-fiction and fiction titles to depict an area in which the text is based, helping readers to visualise geographical settings and understand relationships between different locations within the narrative.
• Comic panels: in certain non-fiction genres, comic panels or sequences are used to tell real-life stories or explain concepts in an engaging, narrative-driven format, blending the line between graphic novels and non-fiction.

A very short insight into graphic novels.

As touched on earlier, in recent years graphic novels have gained immense popularity. They showcase an extensive variety of unique, diverse, and sometimes very personal stories, spanning both fiction and non-fiction genres. Sometimes the writer and artist are the same person, other times it is a creative collaboration between writer and artist. The appeal of graphic novels, amongst readers of all kinds is a testament to the power of illustrations and their universal appeal across all age groups. If you’ve not read one yet, then I highly recommend you seek one out – it’ll draw you in to a whole new world (pun intended).

The added flavour of illustration in cookbooks.

Cookbooks have a tradition of embracing the art of illustration. Long after the advent of photography and color printing, cookbooks continue to feature illustrations that enhance their appeal. Illustrations not only add a personal touch to a cookbook, but they also help convey the culinary style and elevate the visual aesthetics. My particular fondness for old cookbooks, particularly those from the 1970s, has led me to collect numerous second-hand publications over the years – not just for the humour of some of the recipes and the corresponding "artful" food photography, but also because they are often embellished with delightfully whimsical illustrations, like the example below.

Plot lines and pen strokes – different illustration styles.

The illustration styles found in illustrated books vary widely, from black and white to colour, realistic to abstract, and traditional to digital techniques. Each style has its unique charm, and choosing a style depends on a range of factors, including the genre, target audience, and overall tone of the book. For example, whimsical watercolour illustrations may not be the right choice for a book titled “Business Finance for Beginners”. The choice of illustrative style is pivotal in establishing a book's visual identity, and therefore the illustrations should be created to complement and work in context with the book.

Matching words with pictures – finding the right illustrator.

In traditional publishing, the publisher will source the illustrator they think is right for the book project. But if you are an author who plans to self-publish, then as a graphic designer and illustrator who has experience in the publishing industry, I have put together some tips in another article, which I will be publishing soon.

From page sniffing to pixel gazing – navigating e-books.

Many people appreciate the tactile experience of holding a physical book, turning its pages, feeling its weight, and sniffing its pages.* This sensory experience is unique to printed books and is valued by book lovers the world over. But e-book platforms continue to rise in popularity, their convenience has been embraced by many old-school page-turning, book lovers. This combined with evolving digital illustration technology, means that illustrators find themselves with new ways to experiment and push the boundaries of their creative work. E-books can give illustrations more life with the addition of animation and interactive features, which in turn can create a more exciting and engaging reading experience.

*Fun fact: the act of smelling books is called “bibliosmia”.

Drawing readers in – why books need illustrations more than ever.

In today's image-obsessed culture, where digital media reigns supreme, our appetite for visual stimulation has significantly increased, making illustrations in all genres of books a great way to capture and hold a reader's attention.

Illustrations are not merely decorative, they are the ideal tool for enhancing all kinds of storytelling and information delivery – they can make books more accessible, more enjoyable, and give them visual impact.

In an era where visual communication is essential in making a connection with an audience, illustration can be the binding element that draws the reader into an author's words. In a myriad of ways, illustrations have the unique ability to transform a book into an immersive experience. Illustrations can help us as readers to better understand and feel connected to the content, and remember it long after the book is closed.

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Written by Alyssa Coombs. Australian-based freelance designer and illustrator (and somewhat of a book nerd): www.alyssacoombs.com.au

For a novel way to engage with your audience, have you considered illustrations for your book? If you’d like to discuss your book project, feel free to connect with me here on LinkedIn or via my website here.