Project Summary
It's no secret that the English language is filled with complex grammatical rules and inconsistencies. Based on a poem of the same name by Alan Balter, and inspired by my childhood ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, this picture book concept imagines an interactive bedtime story that keeps both parents and children on their Spelling A-game.
Details
16 page Picture Book
created in Adobe Photoshop
Fall 2020
Design Features
A glimpse into the specific stylistic features of the book.
Crumpled Paper Background
suggests the book is one giant returned spelling test
Muted Colors
faded versions of classic crayon box colors for a subtle vintage feel
Sanchez pt. 40
rounded, serif typeface promotes legibility
Hand-drawn "Red Pen" Edits
contrasts with slab serif—Plus nothing says "error" like a red pen
Thick Marker Shading
evokes the unique just-outside-of-the-lines work of children
The Process
Treatment
I prepared for the project by cutting the source material and collecting sample images on font, color palette, and illustration style. This research was compiled on to a single document (an inspiration board of sorts) for the project pitch.
Layout
I created my own picture book template in Photoshop and sketched out rough spreads based on the text.
(Left)
The original plan for the project included 30 pages of original illustrations. Several pages were cut or consolidated for clarity and/or because of time constraints.
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(Above)
A close-up of an initial spread that made it into the final. View the final illustration on pages 5 and 6!
Drafts
In addition to my initial layout sketches, I developed several drafts of illustrations before moving forward with final spreads. This progression is perhaps best seen in the development of the "ewe" character.
Draft 1
Draft 2
Final Draft
Mockup
Although I could not actually print the book, I used Photoshop to create mockup images of a 6" x 6" hardcover book.
Final
The final version of my project was presented using flipsnack, an online magazine service.
