The Magic of Reading
Visualizing a bilingual story for beginner readers
Book Design | Illustration | Education
The Client: Dr. Victoria Rodrigo, Spanish professor + director of Serie Leamos
What I Did: Storyboarding, Character Design, Graphic Design, Typesetting, and Illustration
What I Used: Indesign and Procreate
I designed and illustrated “The Magic of Reading/La magia de la lectura,” a story written by Janelle Brown. It features Izzy, a Puerto Rican student who loves to read and learn about other cultures despite what others say about her. I completed the illustrations in both English and Spanish. The final product is showcased as an eBook, and knowing this, I executed my illustrations in a way that takes advantage of the whole spread, encouraging movement and more intriguing compositions.
The Magic of Reading Cover
La magia de la lectura portada del libro
English Cover
English Cover + Spreads
English Spreads
English Character/Vocab Spread
My Process
Meet Izzy!
Izzy is a young, spirited Puerto Rican student with a deep love for books and reading. I crafted her character with a blend of rounded and soft features, incorporating some rectangular elements to reflect her pleasant personality and steadfast values. Utilizing primary colors, I aimed to capture her expansive curiosity and boundless joy for learning. The design of her hair plays a crucial role, symbolizing the societal pressure she faces to conform and distance herself from her love for books, portrayed through her cornrows. Despite these challenges, she authentically expresses herself, embracing her true nature with a radiant, curly puff.
Moodboard
Turnaround Sketches
Expression Sheet Sketches
Full Storyboard:
Upon receiving the initial story, I structured it and assigned specific copy placements for the storyboard. The red scribbles shown served as text placeholders, aiding in visualizing the ideal amount of text for each spread. The plan included full-spread illustrations until Izzy's imaginary world bubble burst, prompting individual drawings for each page thereafter to depict the interruption of her vibrant, free-flowing nature.
