Illustrating and writing for children’s magazines can be profitable. The children’s magazine market provides a multitude of freelance opportunities for illustrators and writers, whether new to the field or well established. Children’s magazine work generally involves short-term, smaller projects that can be handled on short notice, followed by fairly prompt payment of anywhere from fifty to several hundred dollars. It provides a great way for some illustrators and writers to supplement their incomes and raise their professional profiles. For others, it becomes a primary source of income.

Regardless of the reasons for submitting work to children’s magazines, writers and illustrators are cautioned against treating these seemingly small assignments too lightly. Even the smallest assignments from the smallest magazines require illustrators and writers to sign contracts. Illustrators and writers should familiarize themselves with magazine contract terms so they know what rights they are selling and can maximize their profits when they commit to a sale of their work.