I remember the day the request for this project reached me. In the spring of 2023, I was asked if I had the capacity to illustrate a children’s book about sustainability tips for kids. I was excited right away, but once I heard the story behind how the book was developed, I was truly captivated.
The story was created in collaboration with students from Stein am Rhein. The children participated in workshops focused on sustainability as well as storytelling. Through the careful and passionate work of Veronika Sallenbach, their ideas and results were woven into a beautiful narrative. I then had the privilege of bringing that story to life through my illustrations.
From an illustrator’s perspective, developing a children’s book involves so much more than just drawing a single picture. Characters and figures must be designed, layouts planned, page spreads organized, and color concepts established. Then there is the research, gathering references for the specific locations where the story takes place. And only then does the actual drawing begin.
On February 21st, we celebrated the book’s release at Wundernas in Stein am Rhein. Two years after the project started, we finally held the finished book in our hands. It gives me such joy to see how beautifully the colors turned out in print, and to hear the children already talking about Steini, the protagonist, as if he were an old friend.
If you would like to learn more about the book or order a copy, you can find more information here:
I hope this book brings many wonderful evenings of reading and that children (and adults) feel empowered knowing that environmental and climate protection starts with small steps. Our everyday habits are where the real difference begins.