Bringing your stories to life

Children's book illustrator for indie authors

I'm Pei Jen. Since 2018 I've illustrated 24 published picture books for indie authors and small presses in the US, UK and Asia — character design, full-colour spreads, covers and interior layout, delivered as print-ready files set up for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.

Open for commission

Self-portrait of children's book illustrator Pei Jen drawing at her desk with her dog beside her
  • 24published picture books
  • 11authors
  • 7came back for another book
  • 2018illustrating books since

Selected spreads

A few pages from recent books. Every title, with covers and full sequences, is on the books page.

What the authors say

Scroll across to read more of them.

  • “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Pei Jen on three of my children’s books (Green With Envy, Kneading a Winning Idea, and Raccoon Reunion), and her adorable illustrations receive so many compliments from readers. She is truly a one-stop creative partner, handling not only the illustrations but also the text layout, graphic design, and cover design. Pei Jen listens carefully to my ideas, handles requested tweaks beautifully, and is equally wonderful at using her own creativity to bring a story to life. Throughout the process, she communicates clearly, meets deadlines, and keeps me updated. I would happily work with her again on a fourth book and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, reliable, and collaborative illustrator and designer.”

    Terri Sabol

  • “When I was looking for an illustrator, I came across Pei Jen while searching online. After looking through her Facebook and Instagram, I really liked what I saw, and her style matched the vision I had in mind for my books. When I first reached out, I really enjoyed our conversation. Pei Jen was professional, friendly and very responsive, which gave me confidence to go ahead with the project. I’m so pleased that I did. Pei Jen is incredibly easy to work with, adaptable, and genuinely wants you to be happy with the finished product. She takes the time to listen to your ideas and works with you to bring them to life. The detail added to the illustrations is thoughtful. Pei Jen has now illustrated three of my books, and I feel that I’ve gained not only a fantastic illustrator but also a friend. We can contact each other to check in, offer support, or talk about a new project. I’m incredibly grateful to have found Pei Jen and would happily recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, professional and caring illustrator.”

    Trudy Davidson

  • “Looking for an illustrator was a tough job in the process of self-publishing. I had to vet the person who I will be working with. Working with an illustrator is quite intimate in that communications and visions have to be clear and on-going. Never once did I doubt Pei. She was very professional, kind, and more importantly, an open communicator. I had the best experience working with her. She’s honest. After my first two published books, she helped me format my parent workbook ready to be uploaded. She’s really a godsend. I will be going to her for any work I need and she will soon gain two new little clients as my daughters are currently writing. ”

    Czarina Tran-Bernett

  • “I've worked with Jen on three books and it has always been a pleasure. She is very easy to work with. Sometimes I have a specific image in mind for the illustration, other times I just let her decide what the concept would be, and every time she delivers the exact emotions the characters are saying. I love that she also adds fun elements to each story which spark curiosity and laughter in children. My books were also based on my children and they loved seeing how she captured their images in the story. I highly recommend Jen as an illustrator! ”

    Teneil Brown

  • “Working with Pei Jen - Ooi on The Love Knot was such a wonderful experience. She brought my story to life with beautiful, heartfelt illustrations that captured its magic and emotion perfectly. She was incredibly receptive to feedback and always willing to collaborate to make sure the illustrations reflected my vision. Her creativity, talent, and attention to detail made the book even more special. I’m truly grateful for the beautiful world she created for my Ollie!”

    Vassi

  • “I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with Pei Jen on four of my published children’s books, and I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about her. Despite all of our communication being through writing, we developed this incredible, almost symbiotic creative relationship. She had such an extraordinary ability to capture exactly what I envisioned and bring it to life so beautifully. Her attention to detail, patience, and willingness to revise and refine until everything felt just right were remarkable. Beyond her incredible talent, Pei Jen is simply a very special human being, and somewhere along the way, we became friends. I also loved the cultural connection of working with someone in Malaysia, which made the entire experience even more meaningful. I absolutely adore Pei Jen and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for not only a gifted illustrator, but a truly special experience bringing their children’s books to life. ”

    Marcey Heschel M.A.,B.A.

How a book gets made

A picture book usually takes [3-4] months from first conversation to print-ready files. Here's the shape of it.

  1. 01

    Conversation and quote

    You send the manuscript. We talk about tone, age range, format and budget. Sign NDA. Made front payment.

    [1 week]
  2. 02

    Character design

    I design and draw your cast and setting.

    [2–3 weeks]
  3. 03

    Storyboard

    Every page thumbnailed, so you see the whole book before a single spread is painted. The storyboard will be on Google slide (we both discuss, make comment, and you are able to see the progress)

    [1–2 weeks]
  4. 04

    Illustration

    Sketches, then base colour, if confirmed then will move to final colour, in batches you review as we go.

    [8–12 weeks]
  5. 05

    Files and hand-off

    Print-ready files, cover, and whatever your printer needs.

    [1 week]

Have a manuscript?

Tell me about it — the story, the age it's for, and roughly when you'd like to publish.

I read every enquiry myself and reply within two working days (Malaysia, UTC+8).