Hello,
I am the best candidate for this project for the following reasons; I am a native English speaker, I have experience in the education and publishing industry and of course I am an experienced Illustrator!
My method of working is much as you described - I always show the client concept sketches before proceeding to colour, as I feel it's very important not to waste your time, or your budget. I always want to make sure we are "on the same page" - I keep my clients in the loop, as communication is vital to a good working relationship! I want you to get the best results out of your project.
I would use Illustrator and/or Photoshop to colour the images, please contact me if you think I would be the right candidate for you and you want to see more of my work.
I hope you find my bid and work suitable for your project!
Kind regards,
Caroline Meathrel-Mack
Melbourne, Australia