ABOUT

The Brief
• Create a read-aloud-friendly picture book that blends adventure + faith-based reflection in a light, accessible way.
• Use the bus journey as a metaphor for patience, discernment, and guidance—showing the consequences of chasing “faster” options.
• Build a distinctive visual hook (the stained-glass-window view) to make each spread feel magical and memorable.
• Illustrate animals and scenery in a way that supports wonder, learning, and spiritual resonance.

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My Approach & Process
• Metaphor-driven narrative design: I structured the story around a simple decision arc—contentment → temptation → detour → return → affirmation—so the moral emerges from events rather than exposition.
• A signature visual device: The stained-glass windows became the book’s defining motif. I treated them as a storytelling lens—turning ordinary scenery into luminous, “storybook” moments that mirror Erica’s growing gratitude.
• Worldbuilding with purpose: Animals and environments weren’t included just for decoration; each sighting supports a remembered biblical lesson, layering meaning into the journey while keeping it breezy for children.
• Contrast in pacing and tone: The brief detour was designed to feel less satisfying—visually and emotionally—so returning to Gus’s Bus feels like relief, safety, and wisdom.
• Consistency and warmth: Final illustration passes focused on keeping Erica’s expressions readable, the bus design recognisable across spreads, and the overall mood uplifting—so the ending reunion lands with real joy.