My first book illustration project was an incredibly special one because I was blessed to work alongside friends to create a story and illustrations for a specific target audience that does not receive much attention in today’s children’s book market — children in the foster care and adoption system.

As one could imagine, children who are being welcomed into a new home for the first time might feel especially isolated, confused, alone, and anxious. In this book, Winston the deer is being welcomed into the Pupperson family — a family of golden retrievers. Although this new family is loving and excited to see Winston thrive, he still feels a little bit anxious and struggles to fit in at first.

As the book progresses and seasons change, readers get to watch Winston come out of his shell, start to feel more comfortable with his new family, and slowly lose the butterflies in his tummy, one by one. We were hoping to help give children in the foster care system and children who might be going through the process of adoption a voice to describe their feelings and a darling character with whom they might be able to relate.

Parker Hale, my co-illustrator, and I decided that we wanted the illustrations to feel warm and comforting. We wanted to create a cozy environment, and we really enjoyed crafting the Pupperson’s little A-frame cabin in the woods, the physical representations of each character, and the slow and steady change of seasons from autumn to winter throughout the book.