See the Sea
I was inspired by the repetitive "S" sound found in the words See and Sea to create a children's book. My goal for this book was to help children gain an understanding of the homophone pair, as well as be able to differentiate between the two. Another pressing goal was to help build language skills. The Center Of Language Development has classified the "S" sound as one of the most difficult. Determining that most children do not master this classification of sounds until 6 to 8 years of age. To increase their familiarity with the sound, repetition of the S syllable can be found throughout the story. Through reading out loud this helps give some extra practice where it may be needed.
When designing the book, I relied on a modular grid which strengthened my layout choices throughout. Although challenging at first, I found that just trusting the grid truly worked to create a unified design. I also gained illustrative practice through my hand rendered graphics displayed throughout. Overall, I am thrilled with the skill set and experience gained from both. I am excited to see what their inclusions produce in the future.
When tackling this project, I heavily relied on previous lessons in hierarchy. This helped me to balance the body copy with their corresponding illustrations. I found that through scaling, alignment and placement, I could create a unique relationship between the two as well. The result was imagery that helps guide the reader throughout the story without overpowering the text's readability.
For more information on what sounds are difficult, view this article here!
