Children’s Book Author & Story Lead

Children’s Book Author & Story Lead — Talebrix

We’re looking for a specialist children’s author who knows how to captivate a young child through a book: an opening that makes them listen, characters they care about, language they enjoy hearing, page turns they anticipate and an ending that makes them ask for it again.

You must be a parent as well as a children’s book specialist, with first-hand experience of reading with your own child and understanding what holds their attention. You must also be able to show children’s books or stories you have written and explain the craft behind them.

Talebrix turns a child’s idea into a written, illustrated, printed and bound book. Your job is to make the stories worth reading and rereading, and build that judgement into a system that can produce thousands of different books. The child’s original idea must survive into the finished story.

What you’ll own

• Captivating stories for ages 1–8, with age-appropriate language, rhythm, humour, emotional stakes and satisfying endings.

• Picture-book craft: read-aloud flow, purposeful repetition, pacing, anticipation and page turns.

• Eight reading levels that each feel like a real book, rather than one story with shorter words.

• A clear quality standard, examples of excellent books, and practical editorial feedback the builders can act on.

• Judging how pictures support the story, character continuity and the child’s understanding, working with illustration expertise as needed.

• Checks that catch weak or unsuitable stories before printing, and ways to measure story quality at volume.

The experience we need

• Specialist experience writing children’s books, particularly picture books and stories for younger children.

• A portfolio showing your authorship and ability to hold children’s attention through words and storytelling.

• Experience as a parent reading books with your own child.

• The ability to explain precisely why a story works, where a child might lose interest, and how you would improve it.

Children’s book authorship is the core qualification. A graphics, motion design, animation or general illustration portfolio alone does not demonstrate the writing experience this role requires. Illustration judgement supports the storytelling; the focus is authorship and editorial craft.

The work ahead

First, define the standard and prove it through finished books at different ages. Through 2027, work directly with the builders to turn your story judgement into reading levels, writing rules and editorial checks. Then keep improving the books and develop new Story Worlds and Story Packs. You do not need to build the hardware or model plumbing.

Books must be appropriate for the child: nothing frightening, nothing that lands badly, and nothing that pretends to be their friend. Talebrix is not a companion.

Pay and appointment

Salary, equity and appointment terms to be agreed, subject to funding. Equity, vesting, IP assignment and appointment terms will be agreed individually before work starts. Paid work depends on funding; no start date is promised.

How to apply

Apply through LinkedIn and email Sign in to view email with examples of children’s stories or books you have written. Explain your contribution and one specific storytelling choice you made to keep a young child engaged.

Share a picture book you think is close to perfect and explain what its creator got right that almost nobody else does.

Review https://talebrix.com/books/the-spider-who-was-very-polite and explain one specific weakness, why it matters to a young reader, and how you would improve it.

Role background: https://talebrix.com/careers/story-and-illustration