This project involved writing and illustrating a book about insects and arachnids called Be Nice to Bugs. My intention was to provide a lesson on empathy to children by helping them understand creatures that are often misunderstood and disrespected. Additionally, I provided education about bug species native to Virginia and the ways in which they benefit the environment. Here is the illustration I created using Procreate that was eventually made into the front cover.
I then went about choosing the fonts I would like to use for this book. For the body copy, I chose the font Macha, and for the title I chose the font Chaloops. I wanted to focus on fonts that were easily readable, yet also fit the youthful whimsy that I wanted the book to evoke.
Once the front cover was made, I was able to go about creating the entire book jacket. I studied children’s books from my local library in order to make it feel as real as possible. I used my personal branding as the publishing company logo for the time being, though I hope to finish this book and produce it through a genuine publishing company one day.
I also created a title page, which will be the first page readers will see when opening the book. The design is relatively simple, a few text elements along with one of the illustrative elements from the cover.
Finally, I created a full spread that will be included in the final book. This section is about bees, their environmental impact, and the things that can be done to protect them. I chose to make the text of the book rhyme, as a way to keep kids engaged with the information being presented.
