Children’s book illustration does not have one correct approach.
Some books strip everything down while others build complex visual worlds. The difference is not just style but how the reader is guided through the story.
Minimalist illustration removes everything that is not essential. That means fewer background details, simpler shapes and more focus on expression and composition.
The result is that the reader’s attention is tightly controlled. You are not scanning the page. You are looking exactly where the illustrator wants you to look.
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen is a good example of this. The underwater environment barely changes from page to page. That repetition makes the small changes in the fish’s expression feel much more important.
A slight shift in eye direction or body angle carries a lot of meaning because there is nothing else competing for attention. The humor and tension come from those tiny visual cues.
Detailed illustration works differently. Books like Florette by Anna Walker build layered environments filled with textures and small background elements. The world feels more complete and immersive. You are not just following a character. You are exploring a setting.
Minimalist illustration controls exactly what you see. Detailed illustration allows you to discover more the longer you look. Both approaches are intentional. They just create completely different reading experiences.