Thank you so much for your time and consideration. This story means so much to me. I will continue to update this page as I complete the illustrations. Please view the slideshow below to take a look at what I have so far. I am looking forward to your feedback.
Thank you ❤️
Comic book style font for Title.
All superheroes featured... TJ possibly flying overhead.
Brown skinned Black boy w/ Heterochromia. Little Black boys never see themselves as the hero in mainstream stories. Children with Heterochromia don't see themselves at all. I want kids who are rarely highlighted, or told they are special in kid's literature, to see themselves in these characters.
Character illustration. Sierra is the oldest.
Protective & Kind.
The other kids look up to her.
Working illustration: Happy boy with rhino friend. Hand gently placed on horn.
Working illustration:
Young, cool Polynesian boy.
Will be walking through the city at night in the rain using his superpower as his umbrella.
Little boy in a wheelchair. He may not be able to walk, but he can fly.
Whenever True thinks about something she wants, her freckles light up and then, one by one, they connect, like constellations. Once the image is formed, whatever was imagined appears before her.
Works for her favorite book or giant milkshakes, but in this story, she conjures up her favorite animal.
True, excitedly hugging new bear friend.
Old bear friend very confused in the corner. Mom & Dad yelling from the other room.
Our narrator ALWAYS wears his hoodie up and now we know why. Here his hoodie is down and his powers are revealed.
Important to feature not just kids with "real superpowers" but also kids who have powers that any child can have. Steph's power is that she can build anything. I envision her wearing glasses and carrying blueprints with cardboard/lego/clay "buildings" all over her room.
White/ Short hair/ Sweet smile.
Future architect!
"Who says that girls can't code?"
Jade is a Little dark skinned Black girl.
LOVES tech! Future tech giant.
Working Illustration:
Little boy with autism, completing the world's most difficult puzzle.
Plan to include words on far right of the image possibly saying,
"How come he never talks to anyone" or "His headphones aren't even plugged in."
"Don't give those villains power" Working illustration:
Imagining "Villains" as monsters in the closet, and our confident, strong Aja being totally unafraid and unaffected; blowing Raspberries at them!
{This illustration is especially important because my 2 youngest children, Cane & Aja, actually drew these monsters ❤️}
Character Development:
Aja (modeled after my youngest) is a very girly girl. LOVES tea parties and dresses. Has chameleon skin and can change it (and anything touching it, i.e, clothes) to blend in anywhere, making her practically invisible.
Character Development: Sierra.
Natural hair, white long-sleeved tee. Cargo pants. Usually wears fingerless gloves.
Fetu is a traditional strong Polynesian boy's name. Pacific Islanders are largely non existent as mainstream children's book characters and I really want this story to normalize all types of children being featured.
Character Development.
True and her bear.
Age- 6
Favorite Food- Spaghetti
Likes- Bears
Dislikes- Cleaning her room
Ability- Whatever she imagines
she can make appear.
Character inspiration
I make a point to compliment little kids everywhere I go. Many years ago I saw 2 sisters at the pool. The older sister was lean, tall, blonde and very pretty. The little sister was, short, chubby, with dark hair and freckles. I could tell by her posture that she was shy and lacked confidence, so I told her she was "so pretty." Instead of accepting that she was, she looked at the ground and said, "Not my freckles." My heart sank... and that moment stuck with me.This character is for all the little boys and girls who hate their freckles and need to know that they are wonderful and unique and beautiful, not something to dislike. True's freckles ARE her superpower! You can't get more special than that.