Doodle Finds His Family, an illustrated children’s book

by Michele Jeffers, illustrated by Kayla Snyder

CLIENT STORY:

In 2023, we worked with author Michelle Jeffers to illustrate and design her children’s book—Doodle Finds His Family. This story was one she had written nearly two decades ago, so the completion of the book was a long-awaited dream! This heartwarming story beautifully conveys the message that family is not defined by genetics but by the genuine bonds formed through love, nurturing, and acceptance. It speaks directly to foster children and adoptees, highlighting this profound truth. It instills an appreciation for the diverse and inclusive nature of what it means to be loved. Doodle, a lovable bug, embarks on a journey to find his Mommy, and along the way, he discovers an important life lesson.

PROJECT SCOPE:

Michelle’s late husband drew the original character design for Doodle. Based on his sketch, Kayla Snyder created a digital update of Doodle using Adobe Photoshop and a Wacom Bamboo drawing tablet. Once Doodle’s character sheet was finalized, Kayla continued to flesh out the rest of the story’s setting—the Garden. This story features a colorful world, displayed on full-bleed, two-page spreads. The story’s text is incorporated into each composition.

• Adobe InDesign CC
• Adobe Photoshop CC
• Book Design and Layout