Featured by Painter
Painter’s artist interview covers Toby’s book-illustration practice, creative process, and work with self-publishing authors.
Read the Painter interview →
Children’s book illustration for self-publishing authors
Your story, illustrated and finished. $200, including revisions.
Bring final, proofread text. Work directly with illustrator Toby Mikle from custom cover and coordinated interior through approved revisions, publish-ready files, and practical Amazon KDP support.
Complete standard package: up to 32 designed interior pages, one trim size, one paperback edition, and one approved visual direction. Visuals may be AI-generated under KDP’s definition; the workflow is human-directed and disclosed accurately.
20+years in illustration and book production
$200complete book package, revisions included
1experienced person from manuscript to files
External credits
Experience you can verify beyond this website.
Independent interviews, publisher pages, and bookseller listings provide a public record of Toby’s long-running children’s-book work.
Tiny Makes a Friend
Archway Publishing’s book page identifies Toby as a professional children’s-book illustrator and credits more than 200 illustrated books.
View the publisher page →The Incredible Little Happy
Barnes & Noble lists Toby on this published children’s title, one of the book credits readers can verify online.
View the bookseller listing →See a complete book
Make a book that flows consistently from cover to cover.
Ducky and the Thumb turns one warm manuscript into a coordinated square picture book: recurring characters, page rhythm, custom typography, a revised cover, and a consistent interior.
Explore the complete case study →
26 designed pages
1 coordinated visual direction
3 controlled cover stages
1 finished shareable book
Smooth, consistent revisions
Changes are fast and easy!
The cover direction stayed recognizable while the wardrobe, shoes, color, and finishing details moved toward the approved version.
- 01Establish the coverComposition, character, Ducky, title, and setting.
- 02Revise the wardrobePink dress, teal trim, and Crocs while preserving the design.
- 03Approve the finishTie straps, final character treatment, and production polish.
The complete standard package
A real person finishes the book with you.
Toby personally directs the visual system, page pacing, revisions, cover, interior, final files, and correctable KDP production issues from start to finish.
Included in the standard package
- Custom front cover and final paperback cover file
- Complete interior layout
- Artist-directed AI visuals
- Up to 32 interior pages
- Revisions through final approval*
- Print-ready paperback files
- Ebook file when appropriate
- KDP listing and correction support*
*Within the approved concept and agreed scope. Amazon controls content, metadata, rights, accounts, policy decisions, distribution, and continued availability.
Read the complete scope and guarantee →Explore illustration styles
Meet Pip in four different looks.
Pip demonstrates how a recognizable character can move through several illustration treatments. Each book chooses one approved direction and carries it consistently.
Cut paper + gouache
Tactile storybook adventure.
Watercolor + pencil
Soft, lyrical garden detail.
Screen print + gouache
Graphic, bold, and kinetic.
Felt + miniature set
Warm, dimensional, and immersive.
Pip and these scenes are fictional, artist-directed AI concept studies created to demonstrate range and character continuity; they are not presented as client books.
A practical four-step process
Clear decisions guide smooth production.
- 01
Request a sample
Share your idea, audience, and visual references. I reply with a sample direction.
- 02
Approve direction
You approve the character and visual rules before the complete book is built.
- 03
Review the book
You receive the complete project and request changes inside the agreed concept and scope.
- 04
Finish and list
I deliver the publishing files and help correct production-file issues through listing.
Client experience
Support matters.
“He listened, understood my needs, and delivered beautiful results within my budget.”
— Catherine Williams, Author
“He stood behind his work even after the sale. We’re already on our second book together.”
— Timothy Carter, Author
“Fast, fair, and unique. After 30 years of searching, I finally found the right illustrator.”
— Ed Franklin, Education Professional
Free help for indie authors
Plan the book before you spend.
Use these practical guides to choose a format, prepare the manuscript, and ask an illustrator the right questions.
How to hire a book illustrator
Compare art-only quotes with complete-book production and define the files, revisions, rights, and publishing help you need.
Read the hiring guide →Prepare your picture-book manuscript
Get the audience, final text, page plan, art notes, references, and publishing choices ready before illustration starts.
Use the manuscript checklist →Format a children’s book for KDP
Check trim, bleed, margins, image resolution, fonts, interior PDF, full cover, preview, and proof before publishing.
Use the formatting guide →Free Samples
Send your thoughts and I will send you a sample direction.
See a possible visual approach before deciding whether to move forward.