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Summer Book Illustrator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Accountant (Provisional)

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$71K - $90K/yr

NO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT-SUMMER LIFEGUARDS: Due to the nationwide lifeguard shortage, residency is ... Examples of Work (Illustration Only) Performs general accounting work in the preparation and ...

Senior Accountant (Provisional)

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$71K - $90K/yr

NO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT-SUMMER LIFEGUARDS: Due to the nationwide lifeguard shortage, residency is ... Examples of Work (Illustration Only) Performs general accounting work in the preparation and ...

Summer employment will be reviewed annually. For the Library to be able to appropriately monitor ... Book rooms, vendors, and/or caterers as needed. Communicate and coordinate with visiting lecturers ...

Summer employment will be reviewed annually. For the Library to be able to appropriately monitor ... Book rooms, vendors, and/or caterers as needed. Communicate and coordinate with visiting lecturers ...

Summer employment will be reviewed annually. For the Library to be able to appropriately monitor ... Book rooms, vendors, and/or caterers as needed. Communicate and coordinate with visiting lecturers ...

Summer Book Illustrator information

See salary details

$32.5K

$59.3K

$96K

How much do summer book illustrator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for summer book illustrator in the United States is $59,345.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $68,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by summer book illustrators when collaborating with authors or publishers?

Summer Book Illustrators often work on tight deadlines, especially when projects are tied to seasonal releases. One common challenge is ensuring clear communication with authors or publishers to align artistic vision with the book’s tone and target audience. Balancing creative expression with client feedback and revisions is vital, as is managing multiple projects simultaneously during the busy summer publishing season. Building strong collaborative relationships helps ensure the final illustrations enhance the storytelling and meet project expectations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a summer book illustrator?

To thrive as a Summer Book Illustrator, you need strong drawing skills, a portfolio showcasing your illustration style, and ideally a background in fine arts, graphic design, or illustration. Familiarity with digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Procreate is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and visually communicate an author's ideas help illustrators stand out. These skills ensure the creation of compelling visuals that enhance storytelling and engage readers, especially in seasonal or children's books.

What is a summer book illustrator?

A Summer Book Illustrator is an artist hired, often on a seasonal or temporary basis, to create illustrations for books published or produced during the summer months. Their work involves collaborating with authors, editors, or publishers to visually interpret and enhance the book’s content through drawings, paintings, or digital art. Summer Book Illustrators may work on children’s books, educational materials, or special summer releases, and typically follow a project's creative direction and deadlines. This role requires artistic skill, creativity, and the ability to adapt to various illustration styles as needed. Many illustrators in this position are freelancers or work on contract for specific projects.

What is the difference between Summer Book Illustrator vs Children's Book Illustrator?

AspectSummer Book IllustratorChildren's Book Illustrator
CredentialsArt degree or portfolio, illustration skillsArt degree or portfolio, illustration skills
Work EnvironmentFreelance, seasonal projects, remote or studioPublishing houses, freelance, remote or studio
Industry UsageSpecific to summer-themed or seasonal projectsBroader, includes all children's books

Summer Book Illustrators focus on seasonal or summer-themed projects, often working freelance during specific periods. Children's Book Illustrators create illustrations for a wide range of children's literature year-round. Both roles require similar skills and credentials but differ mainly in project scope and timing.

More about Summer Book Illustrator jobs
What cities are hiring for Summer Book Illustrator jobs? Cities with the most Summer Book Illustrator job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Book Illustrator jobs? The most popular types of Book Illustrator jobs are:
What states have the most Summer Book Illustrator jobs? States with the most job openings for Summer Book Illustrator jobs include:
Infographic showing various Summer Book Illustrator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 30% Full Time, 59% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 8% Contract, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,345 per year, or $28.5 per hour.

Senior Designer, Children's

W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Manhattan, NY • On-site, Remote

$70K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New


Job description

W.W. Norton & Company has an opening for a Senior Designer in their award-winning Children's Art Department. Come join a growing and energized team where you can work on prizewinning books by industry leading authors and illustrators. The Senior Designer will work directly with the Art Director and Associate Creative Director and be responsible for design managing, and designing approximately 5-8 titles per season in our range of children's books. Looking for candidates who are talented, efficient, flexible and enthusiastic. Candidates must have an excellent portfolio which includes book covers and interiors as well as illustrated books (picture books and graphic novels) and have an understanding and passion for the book publishing process. Candidates must exhibit attention to detail, a critical eye for design, and have excellent communication and organization skills. We're looking to bring in a passionate team player who is aware of the children's book landscape, excited to help learn, grow, share knowledge, and enthusiastic about children's books for all ages. This position is a full-time remote position with a requirement to come into the New York office at least once per publishing season for a week of meetings and interdepartmental collaboration. This position reports directly to the Associate Creative Director of the Children's Department.

Essential Job Responsibilities Include:

  • With the guidance of manager, handle the full design process from acquisition to release to print for their own list of approximately 5-8 titles per list (15-24 per year) across the Norton Children's Division spanning picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, young adult fiction and non-fiction.
  • Pursue, nurture, develop, manage and hire freelance illustrators (and their agents) and design beautiful and thoughtful original book packages.
  • Meet weekly, seasonal and book production deadlines and manage across multiple stages of production while maintaining organized and accurate files and ensuring good practices with font and art clearances.
  • Liase with production department throughout all stages of production from concept and design through file set up and review, to mechanical release to printer and proofing stages.
  • Provide support and collaboration to design and art direction staff when needed or as designated by the Creative Director.
  • Maintain clear communication with editorial and production staff on a regular basis including complications and offer solutions for successful project completion.

Please note- this job description is not designed to cover all activities required of the employee.


Required Qualifications:

  • Employment eligibility to work with W.W. Norton & Company in the US is required.
  • Must have a strong portfolio that shows versatility of style and proficiency across multiple genres, topics, ages, and formats.
  • Exceptional typographic sensibility and understanding of age based design as well as respect for the reader, good grasp of visual storytelling and ability to take feedback.
  • Portfolio must exhibit original ideas and original design executions that feel unique and interesting while understanding the relevant markets.
  • At least 5-6 years of work experience required. Experience at a children's publisher or working with children's publishers in a freelance capacity for most of those years is preferred.
  • Must be comfortable, efficient, and an effective communicator while working in a remote environment.
  • Must have some knowledge of prepress, four color, 2 color, and specialty printing processes pertaining to all stages of children's book production from concepts to corrections, to proof review and release to print.
  • Employment eligibility to work with W.W. Norton & Company in the US is required.
  • Must be able towork full business hours on East Coast time.
  • Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits*

Currently available benefits include:

  • Competitive salary: $70,000: All salaries and salary ranges posted by Norton may vary depending on experience, skills, location, and like considerations.
  • Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and summer Friday afternoons beginning in July
  • Generous health benefits, including PPO, EPO, and High Deductible (with HSA) medical insurance options, vision insurance, dental insurance, flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care and commuter, gym membership reimbursement, and more. Coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children is available.
  • Profit-Sharing and 401(k) benefit plan with discretionary contribution matching by employer
  • Disability and life insurances
  • FMLA, parental and other leave
  • Employee Assistance Program (for mental health, financial planning, and other needs)
  • Company-provided laptop
  • Employee discounts on Norton books
  • Limited matching of employee donations to select non-profit organizations

*All policies and benefits described are subject to change at any time.