John Sengdalaphet - This Friend is Mine Children's Book Illustration

Client: Elliott J. Mondry, author
Role: Illustrator · Character Designer · Cover Designer
Scope: Character design, interior illustrations, cover, Kickstarter & social graphics, stickers
Format: 40-page hardcover, 11" × 8.5"
Year: 2025
Tools: Procreate, Photoshop, InDesign

Overview

This Friend Is Mine is a picture book for ages 4–7 about Momo and Otto, two friends of very different backgrounds, shapes and sizes who find their way to friendship despite their differences. Author Elliott J. Mondry brought me on to create the characters and illustrate the story.

The Challenge

The entire story takes place in one location. Without changing scenery to hold readers’ attention, the characters had to carry every page through emotion and body language alone.

My Approach

Emotion drives the story. I designed Momo and Otto to be expressive from head to toe, using posture, faces and color together to land each key moment.

A palette from spring. I researched spring colors, the season when plants bloom and animals wake from hibernation, to give the book a warm, hopeful feel that matches its theme of new friendship.

Room to breathe. Open white space keeps young readers focused on the characters and their antics.

Character AND STORYBOARD Development

I studied monkey and otter characters in other children’s media, then worked through several rounds with the author to land the final designs.

• Otto began tall and thin, which felt too old for the audience. I redrew him rounder, smaller and friendlier.

• Momo’s finger count kept changing between pages. I settled on four fingers and held to it throughout.

• Keeping Otto consistent was the biggest challenge. His body naturally stretches and squashes with the action, so I had to keep him recognizable from page to page.

Concept of Momo

Concept of Otto

Social Media Promotion AND KICKSTARTER GRAPHICS

I created graphics to draw backers to the book’s Kickstarter campaign, then adapted them for Instagram and print promotion.

Instagram Promo

Instagram Story

Square Social Post

BONUS Products

Finalization of the product including stickers for those who backed up the Kickstarter project.

Cover Design

Interior Pages

THE RESULT

This Friend Is Mine was successfully funded on Kickstarter and published as a 40-page hardcover. The author approved every stage, from first sketches to the final book.

I've had the pleasure of working with John to illustrate my first children's book. He worked diligently for months to make my vision come to life and was able to work within the deadline that we agreed on. Everything from character design, thumbnails, book layout, formatting, promotional work, revisions, and making sure everything looks the way it should- he did it all. Would highly recommend John to anyone for their illustration needs, regardless of the project.

- Elliott Mondry, Author