Children's Book Illustration

Bringing the heart and science of play to the page

Brother & Co was approached by Play Matters Australia to illustrate and design two children’s books. 

I Can’t Wait to Play is aimed at 3-to-5-year-olds and highlights the importance of everyday play and education.

Let’s Play is targeted at younger children and toddlers, focusing on simple, repeatable actions to enhance fine and gross motor skills as well as cooperation.

Given the different age groups, we decided to create two distinct illustration styles. Let’s Play features bright colours and simplified, block-print-style illustrations designed to engage toddlers, while I Can’t Wait to Play uses a more detailed yet still colourful and simplified style, offering enough visual richness to support its traditional narrative structure.

In addition to illustration and design, Brother & Co collaborated with a panel of stakeholders and sensitivity experts to ensure both books met high standards for inclusion and accessibility, while also being developmentally appropriate for the targeted age groups.

Both books have been well received by parents and children in the Playmatters community, with Let’s Play winning the 2024 Speech Pathology Book of the Year award.