An inherited mansion full of curiosities. A talking marmot. Alternate history, magic, humor. These were some of the early descriptions I was given about A Peculiar Peril, author Jeff VanderMeer’s first young adult novel. As in Jeff’s adult books, he builds a world that is strange and fantastic, and I was so excited to have the opportunity to design the cover for this new adventure.

Along with a jacket brief and the manuscript, I was given a series of illustrations by Jeremy Zerfoss that would be included throughout the book. These were helpful in giving me an early sense of tone, as well as pushing me to create a cover that matched the energy and quirkiness of the interior art.

"I think children's books are special because they often communicate big, complicated ideas in the simplest way. The challenge in designing covers for these books is similar in that you want to create something relatable but also aspirational; something that is age-appropriate but also speaks to who readers want to be. I love being able to create covers for a range of ages and genres because I have the opportunity to work with many different artists and there is always room for experimentation."