Free children’s book manuscript review
Written a children's story but not sure what happens next?
Many of the authors I work with are first-time writers. They have a great story but aren't sure how illustration, page layouts, and publishing actually work.
That's where I can help.
Send me your manuscript and I’ll review it and give you friendly, honest advice on how it could work as a children's book.
No pressure. No obligation. Just helpful guidance.
What I'll help you with
When I review your manuscript, I’ll suggest things like:
The ideal age range for your book
How many illustrations it may need
How the pages could be structured
Ideas for characters and visual style
Rough illustration costs and options
Advice on self-publishing or next steps
The aim is to help you understand how your story could become a finished book.
Perfect for first-time authors
If you've never worked with an illustrator before, that's completely normal.
Many of the authors I collaborate with are creating their very first book, so part of my job is helping guide them through the process.
You don’t need to have everything figured out yet — that’s what this stage is for.
About me
I’m Nathan Shelton, a professional children's book illustrator based in the UK.
Over the years I’ve helped authors turn their manuscripts into fully illustrated books - developing characters, planning page layouts, and creating artwork that brings stories to life.
You can see examples of my illustration work on my portfolio page and also my expert illustrator page.
What happens next?
If your manuscript feels like a good fit, the usual process looks like this:
Character design and visual development
Planning how the illustrations work across the pages
Creating the final full-colour artwork
Preparing the book files ready for publishing
But for now, the goal is simply to look at your story together and explore the possibilities.
Send me your manuscript
If you’d like some guidance on how your story could work as a children's book, I'd love to take a look.
You can either send your manuscript as a document or simply tell me about your idea. I’ll reply with some friendly advice and suggestions.
Manuscript Confidentiality - Any manuscript you send will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of reviewing your project and discussing illustration options. You retain full copyright of your work at all times. Your manuscript will never be shared with third parties without your permission.