“Schnüffeln, bellen, Pipi machen, lauter tolle Hundesachen”, published by Penguin Junior on November 6, 2024, is a German-language children’s book written by Regina Schwarz which—being all about dogs—I was absolutely thrilled to illustrate! It was hard work, with so many different breeds to bring to life, but I thoroughly enjoyed the process and picked up new skills along the way.
Schnüffeln, bellen, Pipi machen, lauter tolle Hundesachen, Spread 2-3
The biggest challenge was space. Working from my tiny London living room meant I couldn’t step back far enough to capture a wide perspective with my camera. In the end, I had to stitch together photos in photoshop for the double-page spreads—an unexpected lesson in problem-solving. That’s London living for you!
Schnüffeln, bellen, Pipi machen, lauter tolle Hundesachen, Page 5
Schnüffeln, bellen, Pipi machen, lauter tolle Hundesachen, Page 12
I also had to get inventive with the scenery, building houses from cardboard, laying down faux fur fabric for grass, and adding touches of papier-mâché here and there. The mix of textures, carefully crafted details, and the soft glow of specialty lights created visuals that feel playful and unique.
Schnüffeln, bellen, Pipi machen, lauter tolle Hundesachen, Page 13
Want to join the adventures of these playful pups? You can order your copy of Schnüffeln, bellen, Pipi machen, lauter tolle Hundesachen from Penguin Junior here.