Children’s picture books
Ranging from spooky and dark to cute and wholesome, Nadia can bring anyone’s imagination to life on a page!
From human flies to mysterious visitors Scaredy-Cat Tales Volume 1 is a picture book composed of 10 terrifying short horror stories. Each spooky tale features an interactive element that furthers the book’s immersive storytelling and offers a truly unique reading experience for kids!
In the United States, picture books are usually lighthearted, vibrantly colored, and always have a happy ending; however, this book provides a safety net for children to experience thrill, fear, and suspense when confronted with more mature and darker subject matter.
scaredy-cat Tales
the cover
Cover Layout
Details
Planning and layout
Before I started drawing, I planned out each chapter by writing down my vision for each page. These started out with brief ideas, but soon developed into full short stories. I then created the first sketches just to get the basic idea down, but in order to play up the energy of each story, I always went back in and further pushed the illustrations. After I reached a solid sketch/pencil, I inked, focusing on texture and motion. Finally I colored the illustrations and used pops of red to guide the reader’s eyes across each page.
In the end, there are 10 stories in total and 26 pages (not including fold-outs). The arrangement of the stories was crucial due to the interactivity of each one! No same interaction I placed next to one another. There is a pattern in regards to story length as well, which is: two short stories, two longer stories, repeat.
First Draft Layout
Second Draft Layout (No Fold-Outs)
Final Layout (No Fold-Outs)
Process Examples
Here are some examples of my creative process behind some spots and spreads within Scaredy-Cat Tales Volume 1! Each illustration within this project went through many stages of sketching and revising.
First Sketch of the Spots for “Buzzing”
Second Sketch of the Spots for “Buzzing”
Final of the Spots for “Buzzing”
First Sketch of the Spread “Beauty”
Second Sketch of the Spread “Beauty”
Final of the Spread “Beauty”
The STory
With 10 spooky stories, 26 pages, 10 hidden illustrations, and terrifying interactive elements, here is a look at Scaredy-Cat Tales Volume 1!
Front Cover
End Pages
Dedication & Title Page, Pg 1-2
Ch 1: Depths, Pg 3-4
Interaction via Folding Page
Ch 1: Depths, Folding Page
Interaction via Hinged Flap on Eyelids
Ch 2: Staring, Pg 5-6
Ch 3: Buzzing, Pg 7-8
Interacton via Pulley on Top
Ch 3: Buzzing & Ch 4: Flashlight, Pg 9-10
Interaction via Cut-out
Ch 4: Flashlight, Pg 11-12
Ch 5: Visitor, Pg 13-14
Interaction via Folding Page
Ch 5: Visitor, Folding page
Interaction via Hinged Flap on Door
Ch 6: Cat, Pg 15-16
Ch 7: Hiding, Pg 17-18
Ch 7: Hiding & Ch 8: Apples, Pg 19-20
Ch 8: Apples, Pg 21-22
Ch 9: Balloon, Pg 23-24
Interaction via Hinged Cloud Flap
Ch 10: Beauty, Pg 25-26
Interaction via Pull Tab on Side
End Pages
Back of Cover
Here is something cool!
“Visitor” was selected to be part of the Society of Illustrators (SOI) 2024 Annual Student Competition!
Not only was this piece featured within SOI’s in-person gallery show located at their headquarters in New York, but “Visitor” is also part of their 2024 annual student competition book as well as their online gallery.
To see the gallery for yourself, click the button below
BFa installation
Scaredy-Cat Tales was the fall semester of my BFA (Creepy Cuties being the second semester). Here is the final display of both of my projects for my senior year thesis!
Scaredy-Cat Tales BFA Install Close-Up
Scaredy-Cat Tales and Creepy Cuties BFA Install
Ducky’s Sub Story
What’s all that grumbling and rumbling? Oh, just Ducky’s tummy, of course! Come along with Ducky, our head chef, as he ventures out to the grocery store in search of only the best ingredients in order to make one of the world’s yummiest meals. With an illustrated step by step cooking process, you, too, can join Ducky and all of his little friends as they share a fun and delicious time together.
Serving as a positive representation of a healthy relationship, Ducky and his buddies offer a safe space for kids struggling with their relationship with food. Subtle reminders of and exposure to media depicting lovable characters not feeling ashamed or embarrassed while sharing a meal with others can truly go a long way.
Dust Cover and Under Cover
* Dust cover has a die-cut on the very front cover, showing Ducky illustrated on the front of the under cover
Dust Cover with End Flaps
Under Cover
Mock-Ups
-
![]()
Dust Cover spread
-
![]()
Under Cover spread
-
![]()
Dust and under cover Die-cut
-
![]()
dust cover with Under Cover
-
![]()
Under Cover Front
-
![]()
Under Cover Back
-
![]()
Dust Cover Inside With End Flaps
Planning and Layout
After my first layout, I decided to simplify the pages and create a pattern (spots, full, spots, full, etc.) Here, you can see just how much each page changed.
*Ducky’s Sub Story is planned to be a board book
Initial Thumbnails
Revised Thumbnails and Color
Final Layout
The story
With fully illustrated end pages and 10 rendered pages, here is a look at what is inside Ducky’s Sub Story!
Dust Cover Front
Under Cover Front
End Pages
Dedication and Introduction, Pg 1-2
Pg 3-4
Pg 5-6
Pg 7-8
Pg 9-10
Pg 11-12
Pg 13-14
Pg 15-16
Pg 17-18
Pg 19-20
Pg 21-22
Pg 23-24
Pg 25-26
End Pages
Under Cover Back
Dust Cover Back