Chapter book illustration and design: Cat’s Luck

Project details

Audience

Young readers

Deliverables

Cover design, chapter illustrations, book layout and print preparation

Share project

Cat’s Luck by Kate Hughes: front and back covers in deep green with flowers and a black cat, above an open book with a hedgehog chapter illustration

Front cover of Cat’s Luck: a black cat among dark leaves and pale yellow flowers on deep green, with the title in gold

Back cover of Cat’s Luck with the story’s background text framed by leaves, flowers, a bird, a snail and a frog

The printed hardback of Cat’s Luck with embossed gold foil lettering on the green cover

Open copy of Cat’s Luck at a chapter opening with an ink illustration above the chapter title

Open copy of Cat’s Luck at a chapter opening with an ink drawing of a frog wearing a crown

Open copy of Cat’s Luck at the contents page

Ink drawings for the chapter openings of Cat’s Luck, among them a cat, a tortoise and a Don’t Worry sweet

The brief

Cat’s Luck is a chapter book for young readers. The project involved creating a visual identity for the book, with a cover and chapter illustrations that would give it a distinctive character and draw readers into the story.

The approach

I worked across the book, from the cover design and chapter illustrations through to the interior layout. The illustrations were developed to sit alongside the writing, adding another dimension to the story while giving the book a consistent visual style.

I also worked with the printer to prepare the finished artwork and bring the design together as a physical book. The cover features embossed gold foil lettering.

The result

The finished book brings together the illustrations, typography and layout as a complete design. The embossed gold foil gives the cover an additional tactile quality, making it feel like a considered object as well as a book to read.

Need a book cover?

I illustrate and design book covers, with the lettering as part of the design.

Get in touch More about book covers