I recently designed and illustrated a collection of six educational picture books for preschool audiences, written by Melanie Joy and Sarah Roney.
The series was developed as part of the THRIVE Positive Education Network, a community of practice established by Elisabeth Murdoch College, Langwarrin Primary School, Langwarrin Park Primary School, and Woodlands Primary School.
The THRIVE Network promotes wellbeing and achievement across school communities through an evidence-informed Positive Psychology framework. These books introduce key THRIVE concepts in an accessible and engaging way for children aged three to four.
The client had sourced a range of plush toys to accompany the books and requested that the illustrated characters be based on these products. A key part of the brief was translating the softness and charm of the toys into expressive, age-appropriate characters.
The series was produced within a defined budget, so I developed a simple vector-based illustration style to ensure efficiency while maintaining warmth and appeal. A consistent colour palette and illustration system were created to unify the six titles, allowing them to function as both individual stories and a cohesive set.
Client feedback:
“I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you! The work you have done on these books is just amazing and your artwork has given the books such a cute and consistent look. I think the children are going to LOVE them and I can’t wait to see them all printed. I will be forever grateful for the work you have done.”
Cassandre Collins 