Children’s Book Illustration and Design: Against the Odds - The Rose’s Story

Against the Odds: The Rose’s Story is a beautifully illustrated children’s book written by the talented author Stephen and brought to life by illustrators Harry Longworth of Green Man Marketing and creative collaborator Becky Woan-Beckett. The story promotes themes of inner strength, resilience, and believing in yourself, inspiring young readers to recognise their own bravery and courage.

The Challenge

Stephen approached Green Man Marketing with a wonderful concept and manuscript for a children’s book that needed professional illustration and design to match the depth of its message. The goal was to create a book that parents and children alike would love to read together, something meaningful, uplifting, and visually engaging.

The 16-page square book needed to reflect the emotional journey of the story while remaining fun and interactive for children. It was also important that the layout encouraged creativity and participation, turning reading into an activity that children could enjoy and connect with.

Our Approach

Green Man Marketing provided full graphic design and illustration services, handling the project from concept to completion. Working closely with Stephen and Becky, we created a clear and collaborative workflow that allowed for continuous feedback and refinement throughout the design process.

Illustrations were crafted to capture the heart of the story, complementing the narrative with expressive characters and soft, engaging visuals that hold children’s attention from start to finish. Each page was carefully designed to balance storytelling with interactivity, ensuring the final layout felt warm, uplifting, and memorable.

A standout feature of the book is its interactive section, where children are invited to write about their own brave moment—remembering a time they were strong and courageous like the rose in the story. They can also draw their own rose, using the final pages to be as creative as they like. This addition makes the book not only a story to read, but also a keepsake to treasure.

Throughout the project, Stephen had full creative control with a fixed design fee, giving him complete flexibility to make changes and adjustments until everything was exactly right. The collaboration between the author, illustrator, and designer ensured every element of the book aligned perfectly with Stephen’s vision.

Results

The finished book has received outstanding feedback from parents and readers who love its heartfelt story and captivating illustrations. The interactive elements have been particularly popular, helping children to engage with the message of resilience in a hands-on way.

The digital edition of Against the Odds: The Rose’s Story is currently available on Amazon, with printed copies expected to follow soon. The project has become a brilliant example of how creative collaboration and thoughtful design can bring a powerful idea to life.

Stephen said:

"Working with Green Man Marketing, Harry, and Becky has been an absolute pleasure. They completely understood the message I wanted to share and turned it into something truly special. The illustrations are beautiful, the design is flawless, and I couldn’t be happier with how the book has turned out. I’m really looking forward to getting the printed copies out there soon so even more children can enjoy it."

Why It Worked

This project showcases Green Man Marketing’s expertise in illustration, graphic design, and creative storytelling. By working collaboratively and combining professional design with imagination, we helped transform a meaningful idea into a beautifully finished children’s book that inspires confidence and creativity in young readers.

It’s a perfect example of how our team brings stories to life, blending design precision, artistic talent, and emotional connection to deliver results that exceed expectations.

We would like to thank Stephen for choosing to work with Green Man Marketing. It has been a pleasure collaborating with you on this project.

Get in Touch

If you’ve written a story or have an idea for a children’s book and want to see how Green Man Marketing can help bring it to life, we’d love to hear from you. We offer expert illustration, graphic design, and publishing support from concept to completion.

Email: info@greenmanmarketing.co.uk

Phone: 01257 834 586