Chester and Mittens Visit New York City

Project Overview

Chester and Mittens Visit New York City by Michelle Campbell is the opening book in a travel adventure series, introducing two curious companions whose enthusiasm for exploration is perfectly matched by the scale and energy of New York City. From the Empire State Building to Times Square, Chester and Mittens experience the Big Apple’s most iconic landmarks with wide-eyed wonder, giving young readers a vivid, child-friendly introduction to one of the world’s most famous cities. Michelle Campbell writes with the excitement of a first visit, making even the most familiar landmarks feel fresh through Chester and Mittens’ eyes.

The illustration challenge was capturing New York City’s visual density and energy in a way that felt exciting rather than overwhelming — the skyline, the crowds, the lights all needed to feel inviting and alive, drawing young readers into the city’s famous atmosphere rather than making it feel too big to belong in.

Role

Full book illustration covered New York City landmark and streetscape illustration, and urban atmosphere and energy design accessible to young readers, along with print-ready file preparation.

The core challenge was capturing New York City’s visual density and energy in a way that felt exciting rather than overwhelming, so the skyline, the crowds, and the lights all read as inviting and alive, drawing young readers into the city’s famous atmosphere rather than making it feel too big to belong in.

Process

Every project follows this same structured path, so you always know where we are and what comes next. You review and approve at the sketch stage and the line art stage — nothing moves to color until you’re happy. By the time the final spread is rendered, there are no surprises.