One in the Wilderness

For Ripple Foundation's 2023 Kids Write 4 Kids Contest, I had the exciting opportunity to work with Founder and Publisher Ivy Wong to design the cover for the two finalists: Roy Oborne and Taym Saffar. Kids Write 4 Kids (KW4K) hosts a Canada-wide creative writing contest for students in grade 4-8. The winning stories are published, and all proceeds are donated to the winner's charity of choice. The charity selected by the 2023 contest winners is the Canadian Cancer Society.

The book is available on Amazon Kindle / Paperback, Apple iBookstore, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble

For more information about "One in the Wilderness", visit www.kidswrite4kids.ripplefoundation.ca

Image of a young boy holding an axe, walking through the forest with a fearful expression

Image of cover with title design

Image of the two winners

CBC Kids News Article: "Roy Oborne, left, from Yukon, and Taym Saffar, from New Brunswick, are this year’s winners of a national writing contest called the Kids Write 4 Kids. (Images submitted by Christine Oborne, Farah Saffar)" www.cbc.ca/kidsnews

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Sketch Process

Greyscale version of final design

This concept focuses on the feeling of being alone, the ‘one’ in the wilderness. The character looks behind him in concern, alert to his surroundings. At the bottom left corner there is a scratch on the tree, indicating danger but not distinctly revealing that it is a bear. Tracks can be added to the ground as well.

A sketchy coloured process image of the final design

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Concept Sketches

A Bear with glowing eyes standing on the other side of a stream, looking at the viewer

This scene is the imagined final meeting with the Guardian of the Land. The scene is ‘the calm before the storm’ before the final showdown. I wanted the bear to feel ethereal and protective, referencing the repeated action of the bear watching the character.

An arrangement of tools, at the top a boy and a bear face eachother, framed by curving branches

This sketch loosely plots out important items to the story. Framed by tree branches and foliage, the main character and the bear face off, divided by the elk antler hilted knife. Below them a faded map, where the title text would cover. My main concern was whether or not the design would comfortably fit the title text—which I would rework and play with a similar contrast design to make room for the text. The remaining supplies like the fish hook are also included. On the back is the boat, the makeshift fishing line, the fish the character ate and a flying grouse from the story.

A boy walks up a steep incline

This concept shows the main character determined, walking uphill and toward the viewer. The long winding river behind him and the trees express the distance the character has physically travelled. He holds the makeshift spear and the duffel bag of supplies.