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.
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.