The Asia Foundation’s Let’s Read Initiative

The Editor will be responsible for providing technical support during a book creation workshop from November 21 to December 6, 2024. During the workshop, each participant will be paired with an author to bring to life an imaginative, engaging, early-grade children’s storybook, overseen by an art director and children’s book experts.

Participants will receive guidance in children’s book illustrations and publishing, facilitated by professional editors, and designers. Facilitators will oversee the book creation process as well, providing participants with the opportunity to interact with and learn from experienced professionals.

Each participant will be responsible for creating original illustrations based on the provided manuscript that resonates with young readers and reflects the theme of cultural preservation, religious freedom and tolerance in the Pacific Islands.

The Asia Foundation’s Let’s Read platform offers over 10,000 culturally rich and diverse children’s story books in over 60 languages. The program has developed 36 books from the Pacific Islands, showcasing a unique library that reflects local traditions, values, and languages.

Objective

• To produce high-quality illustrations that bring the Let’s Read stories to life, ensuring that visuals are culturally relevant and engaging for young readers.

Scope

• Create illustrations for children’s books that align with the themes and cultural contexts provided.
• Collaborate closely with the Art Director and Writer/Author to ensure cohesion between text and illustrations.
• Provide initial sketches and final artwork, incorporating feedback from The Asia Foundation.
• Ensure that all illustrations meet the required technical specifications for print and digital publishing.

Expected Deliverables 

• Participate in the book creation workshop.
• Provide drafts and collaborate with the author, art director and members of the book’s development team to produce illustrations for a given manuscript.
• Final, high-resolution illustrations ready for upload to the Let’s Read platform.
• The final number of illustrations is expected to complete a 12–16-page story. The final number of single page, spread, or vignette illustrations will be mutually agreed upon between the illustrator and the team.
• Revisions based on feedback.

Selection Criteria 

• Experience in creating digital illustrations with attention to perspective, character development and the environment of a subject.
• Experience in working with culturally diverse themes, especially in the Pacific Islands context.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating the ability to produce culturally relevant and engaging illustrations.
• Experience working with regional artists is an advantage.

Application Requirements

• The bio must include a clear headshot photograph that is cropped to a 1:1 square ratio.
• A short biography written in English (bios will not be translated), 200-300 words max
• Should be written in third person (i.e. “Ms. ABC is a self-employed scriptwriter, director, editor, and videographer. She is very passionate…”)
• One to three sentences about your background, such as your schooling, work experience, where you grew up, that is relevant to your creative pursuits.
• One to two sentences about your current projects or work, that is relevant to your creative pursuits
• One to two sentences about your aspirations as a creative, if you would like to make a full-time living out of doing this (if you’re not already), if you’d like to continue illustrating, if you’d like to teach, etc.
• Provide one to two sentence responses to the follow:
• What inspired you to become an author, illustrator, or editor?
• What was your favorite children’s storybook growing up or what is your favorite children’s storybook now, and why?
• Why do you think reading and books are important?
• What do you hope children will take away from the book that you helped create?

For more information, visit The Asia Foundation.