Cookie Moon x Phaidon
Cookie Moon‘s illustration often takes inspiration from the natural world and we were delighted when Phaidon got in touch to commission her to create her first ever fully illustrated children’s book ‘A Family of Trees: My First Book of Forests’. The book takes an in depth look at the ecosystem of trees in temperate forests over one long fold out spread and examines some of the many different types of forest on the reverse. Cookie had to flex her design mind to devise the compositions whilst researching the forests, trees and climates to create this stunning set of illustrations.
The book was a huge undertaking and we were thrilled to receive the first printed editions. We caught up with Cookie and asked her a bit more about the project:
Your first illustrated book is a big endeavour! How did you find creating the book from start to finish?
It was an amazing project to work on!
I am used to working on smaller-scaled projects that consist of a couple illustrations and go by very quickly. This project was such a different experience! Over six months of research, sketches, ideas and many versions came about to make this book. It threw me back to when I was in art school, I studied film and the projects I worked on while at school were more similar to the process of illustrating this book: a story was told through a number of visual frames that completed one big picture in a linear way. The storyline changes with highs, lows, and through symbolism and colours a distinct atmosphere was achieved. I love working on small projects as well, but having a real-life physical book to hold hits a new sense of accomplishment.
What was the process?
The book consists of two parts, front and back. The front is a linear story about trees and focuses on the Temperate forest, which is the most common type of forest worldwide. The back part is a series of unusual, fantastic and exciting forests in more exotic locations. The first thing I had to do was learn about these forests. I researched all the different types of forests, trees, locations. What they looked like, which animals lived where and how the weather affected the trees. Once I was more in the know, I started off with very rough sketches in black pencil to determine the scenes and compositions. As the whole front side of the book (10 spreads) opens up in an accordion fold to one very long illustration, I had to figure out a way to create seamless connections between the illustrations to have them all make sense as the one larger landscape. The first thing I did was print out the layout for the book, on blank pages, and laid the pages down on my living room floor. Then I was able to plan out the story and see the bigger picture.
‘A Family of Trees’ is a factual book for children about forests, what was the most interesting thing you discovered while illustrating the book?
In spread no. 3 we learn that some trees look exactly alike because they share the same root system. This is so interesting to me, because it shows that humans and trees are very much alike. I think it’s similar to having the same root system with your siblings, and how that affects what we look like or how we act.
What is your favourite spread?
My favourite spread is “forest friends” which shows a deer and a squirrel eating off the ground while birds and butterflies are flying in the background. I love this idea that animals are friends with the trees and the ground, that feeds them and helps them stay nourished and alive. Something about this spread has a sense of harmony. The sun lights the scene in a happy and positive yellow tone. I imagine these animals can also be friends with each other, and maybe out of the illustration the squirrel will ride the deer’s back and they will play in the grass together.
What would be your dream book/topic to illustrate?
Anything to do with swimming, pools, beaches, and islands. I’m a swimmer and spend lots of my time at the pool, I love the sight and sound of water anywhere around me and sitting in the sun after a long workout. I also travel to the Greek Islands a lot and swim in the Aegean Sea, so a project about Greek Islands and culture would be right up my alley.
A Family of Trees is available to buy now at Phaidon and other book stores. Huge thanks to author Peggy Thomas and the Phaidon team for their support and direction throughout this incredible project.
Take a look at Cookie’s portfolio for more wonderful work.