The Get Around

Along with the two chapter books I completed for Brightwater was a chapter book. This required a slightly different treatment, as of course it was in full-colour and for a younger audience. We chose a semi-realistic style so that the expressions of the characters could be nuanced and easily understood.

As before, the text was written by clinical psychologist Robyn Bett and associate professor Jeneva Ohan, in collaboration with Fremantle Press.

The story follows Taylor, who loves going adventuring with her Dad. When her dad survives a car crash, she thinks everything will go back to normal… but it doesn’t. They have to learn to compromise so they can continue to do what they love together.

This is the initial sketch I sent through as a character test. As you can see, it made it into the final book almost unchanged… although of course, I prefer the original sketch (isn’t that always the way?). I do like the secondary vignette though!

As this was for a younger audience, we had to be careful not to be too confronting. An initial sketch featuring Taylor’s dad in a neck brace with drips and other medical paraphernalia was toned down:

Here are some of my favourite illustrations:

This book also featured Brightwater itself in several illustrations. The brain injury residential campus is actually very close to where I live, and I pass it often - this was a coincidence, they didn’t realise I was from the area when I was hired!