Why An Illustrated Book Cover Is What You Need For Your Next Book?

In the distant past, a book cover served merely to protect its pages. Yet, even as just a protective layer, we already enjoyed decorating its surface with ornaments.  

Book cover from Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser published in London, 1897. Source: https://lib.msu.edu/exhibits/historyofbinding/zoom/faeriequeene

Today, the book cover is a marketing tool, designed to grab a reader’s attention within seconds. We judge books by their covers—the cover is THE element of seduction that compels a reader to open and purchase the book. When it comes to physical book sales, the cover becomes even more valuable! The reader is already interested in the story—imagine if they also love the cover? That’s a guaranteed sale.  

Fiona Carpenter, design director at Macmillan, stated in an interview with The Eye Magazine:  

"If a cover doesn’t at least make you pick up the book within 30 seconds of seeing it, it’s considered a failure."  

So, How Do I Make My Book Stand Out?

For a book to be attractive, its cover must: first grab attention and then make a strong first impression. That’s what turns a reader into a potential buyer. In this sense, illustration can be incredibly captivating.  

Illustration communicates a message. Its primary function is to interpret an idea, which means it needs context. And what could be a more complete context than a book?  

Authenticity Is Art

It’s universally recognized—when people see an illustrated cover, they know the artwork was created specifically for that book. Illustration brings authenticity and uniqueness because the illustrator applies their unique vision to craft a cover that makes the book stand out. Moreover, an illustrated cover can become a piece of art in its own right, merging the worlds of art and design to create something memorable and impactful.  

The Only Limit Is Imagination

With no restrictions on possibilities, it’s easy to create a cover featuring specific details from the story—characters, objects, or settings. Illustrated covers allow limitless exploration of ideas. An illustrator can create something minimalistic, intricate, fantastical, or realistic, seamlessly adapting to the book’s genre and audience.  

A Cover That Speaks (At Times, the Genre Almost Yells for an Illustrated Cover)

Perhaps your book belongs to a niche where illustrated covers are the norm, in this case, you’ll need a skilled illustrator to make it stand out. Or maybe your genre is filled with uninspiring, dull covers, making an illustration the perfect tool to grab attention. Either way, an illustrated cover deeply communicates the theme or atmosphere of the book, visually conveying emotions, metaphors, or key story elements.  

Romance Best Sellers on Pinguim Random House. Source: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/best-sellers-romance/?page=1

As mentioned earlier, first impressions happen in seconds. In those fleeting moments, readers can quickly determine whether a book belongs to a genre they enjoy. For example, we can all picture a typical romance book cover—covers within the same genre tend to follow recognizable patterns.  

A book cover designer’s job is to strike a delicate balance: making the art similar enough to other covers in the genre (so the target audience instantly recognizes it) while also ensuring it’s distinct enough to stand out.  

Today, illustrated covers appear across various genres because illustration is a beloved tool in the publishing market—and even more so among readers. So, if you want to increase the appeal of your book and make it stand out to your audience, both in physical and digital bookstores, illustration may be the key to enhancing your story and giving your literary work even more value.