1. Your best possible work. Don’t include work just for quantity sake - make sure each piece you include is at your highest standard. Most people recommend you include 10-15 pieces.
2. A unique illustration style that draws you out from the crowd. There are SO many children’s illustrators out there that it’s important to have a unique style or approach that will help potential clients remember you. Differentiate yourself in a manner that is comfortable and natural.

3. Children with different expressions, moods, movements, interacting with other children.

4. Children in different settings. These settings can include children at school, on the playground, at home, at a pool party, and the list goes on!

5. Children of different ages along with parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.

6. Children of different ethnicities.

7. Animals.

8. Illustrations of different sizes and compositions. Be able to demonstrate your ability to work your illustrations into a book layout or a magazine article. Having examples of two page spreads or spot illustrations are important to emphasize your understanding of composition and design.

9. A series of illustrations with the same characters carried throughout. You may be able to draw an expressive, wonderfully charming character the first time, but being able to repeat this character many times is an important skill for picture books.

10. A business card and take-away samples of your work. Make sure both these items are reflective of your style as an illustrator in both design and format.

I’d love to know if you have more you’d add to the list!