Illustrating the covers for all the 2018 Chinook Books with Michael Buchino was a great gig. Our client wanted something that would both jump off the newsstand at the grocery store checkout, and look good on a kitchen table. 

 

We went with a modular approach so we could combine unique region-specific elements with consistent images which appeared on each cover. For each region, we illustrated a state bird and flower, along with a landmark feature. I loved putting a goldfinch on my city’s Space Needle. We learned that loons can’t walk, and made a lot of jokes about how dumb we felt not knowing that. Sorry, Midwest! 

 

It was so fun seeing these out in the world. My kids thought I was famous when we spied a giant stack of them at our local Costco next to the underwear.