I have been the Designer of the Netflix Original Animated Series Gabby’s Dollhouse licensed books at Scholastic since early 2021 and have worked on over 30 media tie-ins in a variety of formats, including but not limited to: 8×8 storybooks, 6×9 readers, 7×7 boardbooks, sticker activity books, headband books, and more.
It’s been so paw-some working with the brand over the years. Across the list of formats, I’ve been responsible for the design and production of covers, interiors, and novelty components such as stickers, cardstock activities, headbands, and most recently, a kitty necklace that I had the pleasure of modeling! (It’s always a good time when you get to utilize multiple tools from your toolbox 😉).
As the list has grown, I’ve also hired and art directed freelance designers to assist with interiors and/or novelty components. While they work, I focus my attention on the covers, presenting them to stakeholders and the licensor while reviewing interior design, providing feedback, and following the routing process until releasing files to the printer.
gabby’s dollhouse: the movie
Overall Design & Art Direction: Salena Mahina
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
I had the opportunity to work design and art direct these 3 books as part of Scholastic’s Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie publishing program. The Level 1 Reader (illustrated by Carissa Harris) and the Storybook (illustrated by Kaley McCabe) were produced and designed while the movie was in production. This presented a challenge, as we needed to make our print deadlines while making sure we remained consistent with movie elements. I am so proud of how these turned out and grateful to the team at Universal for giving us all the reference we needed to create the best books possible for young readers. Carissa and Kaley both made my job easier and even more enjoyable, they were both absolute dreams to work with.
Bonus? I designed and 3D modeled the Paw-some necklace that comes with the storybook! 🤓
Storybooks
Cover Design: Salena Mahina
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
boardbooks
Cover Design: Salena Mahina
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Level 1 Readers
Cover Design: Salena Mahina
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
novelty titles
Scholastic novelty formats always present fun and unique learning challenges that require creative solutions to get the book into the hands of kids everywhere.
Challenges can include figuring out where safety labels will go on cover wraps, how close a blistered component can sit to the edge of a book, and more. In some cases, you’ll also need to create 2 versions of the same cover with and without the add-on, as you see on the right.
Cover Design: Salena Mahina
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.