SG Cares

Enhancing Literacy Through Childrens' Books

Scope
Illustration

Our project brought vibrant children's book illustrations to life for a social initiative aimed at children whose parents face literacy challenges. Volunteers read these storybooks to children, creating an enriching experience that encourages learning and imagination. Among the many stories we had the pleasure of illustrating were Randolph the Reindeer and Mantu’s Little Elephant.

These stories, filled with warmth, wonder, and heartfelt lessons, served as the perfect canvas for colorful, engaging illustrations designed to captivate young minds.

Why we love this

Illustrations spark joy and curiosity in children, making stories accessible through the power of visual storytelling.

Crafting Characters Children Love

We began with an in-depth understanding of the stories, ensuring we captured their essence. Our discussions with the organization made it clear that the illustrations should be vibrant, easy to follow, and full of character to engage children and complement the oral narration. Our first step was creating the central characters: Randolph the Reindeer and Mantu the Elephant.

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For Randolph the Reindeer, we designed a curious, expressive young reindeer with a lovable, friendly demeanor that children could instantly connect with. In Mantu’s Little Elephant, the elephant needed to be playful yet gentle, with a focus on conveying emotions through simple, exaggerated features—big eyes, a cheerful smile, and a welcoming posture.

Color, Emotion, and Imagination

Art direction leaned heavily on the use of bold, warm colors to keep the young audience engaged. We opted for a soft, rounded illustration style, which evokes a sense of safety and comfort. For Randolph the Reindeer, we used a wintery, cool-toned palette that gave way to bursts of warmth when Randolph achieved his goals in the story. For Mantu’s Little Elephant, tropical hues of green, orange, and yellow dominated the palette, reflecting the lush jungles and vibrant wildlife surrounding Mantu.

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By focusing on the emotional expressions of Randolph and Mantu, we helped children connect to the characters on a personal level, even if the stories were narrated aloud. Simple, relatable emotions like joy, curiosity, and sadness were communicated clearly through the characters' faces.

Expanding Access Through Digital Storytelling

The books were transformed into interactive e-books with animated illustrations, allowing children and parents to experience the stories together, even from a distance. Volunteers used video conferencing platforms to read the stories aloud, while the children followed along on their devices.

Alignment with Stakeholders

Storyboarding was an essential part of the process. We carefully planned each scene to align with the narration, allowing key moments of the story to be highlighted visually. The storyboards were laid out in a way that allowed seamless pacing with the narrator's reading, ensuring that the illustrations enhanced the listening experience rather than distracting from it.

Once the storyboards were approved, we moved into full-scale illustration. The artwork went through multiple iterations, with feedback from both the organization and volunteer narrators to ensure the images were aligned with the tone of the stories and optimized for comprehension by young children.

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Bringing Stories to Life

Illustrating Randolph the Reindeer, Mantu’s Little Elephant, Matt's Coffee Mornings, Curious Cottontails and more was a truly rewarding experience. By focusing on design for social good, we created not just pictures but a gateway for children to enter the world of stories, regardless of their family's literacy levels. Through vibrant characters, expressive art, and thoughtful storytelling, these books became tools for learning, imagination, and connection.

WHAT THEY SAID

"We wouldn’t have been able to engage with the 5- and 6-year-olds effectively without your illustration!"
- Dhivya, Executive, Corporate Partnership Centre AMKFSC Community Services, SG Cares

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Sanctuary Design is a studio where social impact meets artistry. We partner with nonprofits and compassionate brands, using design to create beauty and foster meaningful change in the world and the communities we cherish.
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