Make it stand out.
Little Feet, Big Feelings (2025)
Written by Emily Cabral | Illustrated by Lauren Seals
This heartfelt children’s book follows a young girl as she becomes a big sister while her siblings spend time in the NICU. Told with warmth and honesty, Little Feet, Big Feelings introduces children to medical experiences with compassion and clarity.
I worked closely with the author to bring this emotional story to life through expressive characters, cozy hospital scenes, and a tender visual narrative that helps children feel seen, safe, and supported.
Early Character Designs
These initial designs were created to help establish the overall look, feel, and personality of the characters. Exploring facial expressions, proportions, and details at this stage helped lay a strong foundation for the rest of the book’s visual storytelling.
Main Character: Jade
Parents: Amanda & Jordan
Twin Siblings: Skylar & Scottie
Thumbnail Phase
The thumbnail phase was essential for planning the book’s pacing, layout, and composition. These tiny sketches mapped out each page spread — helping both the author and me visualize how the story would unfold visually, even before the full illustrations began.
Thumbnails: Pages 1 - 12
Thumbnails: Pages 13 - 22
Early Sketches & Page Planning
Before moving into final color, each page was fully sketched and reviewed to lock in character placement, text flow, and key emotional moments. These rough drafts allowed for collaborative feedback and ensured the story’s tone came through clearly and consistently.
Book Cover Final Sketch
Jade and her grandmother are saying goodbye to her parents as they leave for the hospital.
Jade's grandmother explains to her what a "preemie" is.
Jade's Father brings Jade to the NICU and explains what NICU stands for and why the babies are there.
Thank you for exploring this special project.
Little Feet, Big Feelings has been such a meaningful collaboration, and I'm so proud to share the process behind it. If you're interested in working together on a children's book or storytelling project, I’d love to hear from you!
📬 Let’s connect: theartisticseal@gmail.com
🌐 See more work: View my full portfolio
📱 Follow along: @theartisticseal