How a Picture Book Comes to Life: Behind the Scenes of Our First Title

The Making of Wandering Paris

You know the idea now. You’ve met Koda. But how does a picture book actually go from a scribbled idea in a phone note… to a finished story with page turns, illustrations, and a publishing plan?

The short answer: slowly, collaboratively, and with a surprising number of spreadsheets.

This is the behind-the-scenes look at how Wandering Paris, the very first title in the Wander Kid Books series, came to life. It involved voice notes, Marco Polo videos, sketch files, research rabbit holes (ohmygosh, the research), and eventually a talented illustrator and editor who helped turn our early ideas into a real book.

A Scribble, a Spark, and a Dog Named Koda

Like many modern collaborations, our creative process started in voice notes, late-night texts, and random bursts of inspiration.

We had a concept: combine real travel destinations with lyrical storytelling through the eyes of a curious pup.

But an idea alone isn’t a book... First, we needed a character.

So we created Koda.

Koda is a scruffy white-ish mixed pup with a playful spirit, a signature striped ballcap, and an insatiable sense of wander. Inspired by Dakota (Lizzy’s real-life sidekick), Koda quickly became the perfect guide to lead young readers through the streets, sights, and smells of Paris.

Writing in Rhyme (and Then Rewriting It 1,000 Times)

Writing a rhyming picture book is not for the faint of heart.

We wrote.
We rewrote.
We rearranged entire stanzas.
Then we rewrote again.

So many stanzas we felt very passionate about didn't make it in the final manuscript because of one tiny element. 

Rhyming isn’t just about pairing words like tower and flower. It’s about rhythm, pacing, and making sure the story feels musical when read aloud.

At the same time, we wanted each scene to capture real details of Paris: its landmarks, its culture, its tiny magical moments, while still feeling playful and accessible for kids.

Every line had to carry Koda’s personality through the story. If the rhythm didn’t wag like a tail when you read it aloud, it wasn’t ready yet.

Deep-Dive Research (Where We Fully Nerded Out)

Turns out writing the story was just the beginning.

We dove headfirst into:

• Market analysis
• Profit modeling
• International printing options
• Trademark applications
• Website platforms
• Tax compliance across countries
• Currency conversions
• Illustrator contracts
• Distribution logistics

It was less glamorous than rhyming about croissants… but just as important. 

And, admittedly, pretty satisfying for two founders who secretly enjoy a good spreadsheet.

Finding the Right Illustrator

Finding the right illustrator felt a bit like online dating.

There was a lot of scrolling through portfolios, sending messages, explaining our vision, and hoping someone out there would see the story the way we did.

Then we found Larissa Huber (@larissaclaire.art).

From her very first test piece, we knew we were onto something special. Her style felt dreamy but grounded, whimsical yet detailed enough to capture the real character of Paris.

More importantly, she understood Koda immediately.

Even our brutally honest focus group (also known as friends and family) approved.

Larissa describes her goal this way:

“ I love using colour to express the feelings experienced in a place so I hope that as families read this book, the dreams and memories of Paris will come to life.”

You can follow her on Instagram at @larissaclaire.art to see more of her gorgeous work.

Style Guide & Storyboarding

Once Larissa joined the project, the story moved from words to visuals.

We created a full style guide that defined everything from:

• Koda’s fluff level
• the exact tilt of the striped hat
• color palettes for different scenes
• how Parisian rooftops should feel at dusk

Then we storyboarded the entire book, essentially the visual skeleton of the story.

Every scene had to consider pacing, page turns, composition, and how a child’s eye would move across the page. Some scenes were surprisingly tricky (hello, Montmartre!).

Slowly, page by page, the world of Wandering Paris began to take shape.

Sketch Phase (Where the Magic Kicked In)

There is something surreal about seeing a character that once lived only in your imagination suddenly appear on the page.

Koda went from concept → sketch → full illustration.

Paris followed.

Bridges, cafés, gardens, rooftops, and hidden corners unfolded spread by spread, and the book started to feel real.

But even with finished illustrations, the story wasn’t quite done yet.

Here’s a sneak peek of Koda’s evolution:

The Editing Pass (Where Good Became Better)

Once the illustrations were complete, we handed the manuscript to our incredible editor at Storyhouse Works.

And then we let her go to town on it.

Even though we already loved the story, she approached it with fresh eyes and the precision that every great picture book needs. Lines were tightened, rhythms were refined, and a lot of passages were completely rewritten to strengthen the pacing and clarity of the story.

Picture books are deceptively short. Every single word has to earn its place.

Our editor pushed the manuscript further than we could have on our own. Some revisions surprised us at first, but with each round the story became sharper, smoother, and more musical when read aloud.

By the time we reached the final version, it felt like the story had truly landed exactly where it was meant to.

And now, as I write this, Wandering Paris is officially at the printer.

Seeing something that started as a scribble in a phone note move into production is both surreal and incredibly exciting.

What Comes Next

The presses are rolling, which means Wandering Paris will soon exist as an actual book you can hold in your hands.

After printing comes the next chapter: launch, pre-orders, and getting Koda out into the world.

But this is only the beginning.

Each book in the Wander Kid Books series will follow Koda to a new destination, exploring real cities through curious eyes and playful storytelling.

Come Wander With Us

We’re building something bigger than a book. We’re building a bridge between families, cities, and stories.

Follow us on Instagram @wanderkidbooks
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Missed the backstory? Read how Wander Kid Books was born →

Let’s raise curious kids and keep the world feeling a little more connected, one city, one pup, and one page at a time.