Childrens book – Of je kaas lust
Amsterdam, June 21 2017
January 2016 Erik Heinen, owner and founder of Eriks Delicatessen (eriksdelicatessen.nl), asked me if I wanted to work with him on a children’s book which he wanted to make to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his company in 2017.
A while before he asked, I made a sticker on the glass door of the shop so children wouldn’t walk against the door. It depicted two mice carrying a piece of cheese together. A lot of people, especially children and their parents, liked it a lot. That is why Erik came with the idea to ask me for the book.
Erik wanted the book to be about mice, living in his store at the Beukenplein in Amsterdam.
In February I started with the character designs and sketching some (really ugly) mice and thinking of a nice story. Then I stumbled upon an article that said that more than 60% of (British) youngsters didn’t know milk (and thus cheese) doesn’t come from a factory, but from cows, sheep and goats. I was baffled by this high percentage! I immediately knew what the story should be about.
I wrote a rough draft and continued drawing. The mice became way better, to my relief š During the process I often met with Erik and showed my work. He listened to my ideas and made suggestions. Like that he wished that every mouse would be in every image, so young kids could look for each of them on every page. He wanted all the mice to have something you could clearly recognize them by etc.
Now more then a year further in the process, the proof print is finished!
Alrik de Wild turned my draft into a lovely story, with a lot of funny details. The colors of my illustrations look very nice and the cover turned out great too! Thanks to the design of Firmato/Marlies Out and the printing of Bejo druk & print. I am happy!
Arti-Fleur 