Tom the Capybara
Children's Book Illustration
About the Project
Tom the Capybara is a heartwarming children’s picture book written and illustrated by me, Tanaya Lahrs. Originally created as a university assignment, the story quickly grew into something much bigger: My first published book!
The book follows Tom, a lonely capybara who sets out on an adventure and meets Mel, a little bird in need of help. Through their journey, they form an unlikely but lasting friendship. Aimed at children aged 2–5, the story highlights the importance of kindness, empathy, and connection while creating a playful and engaging reading experience.
My Process
The journey from idea to published book was extensive. It started with designing the characters and building the idea. I created a character story sheet with the plot outline, key events, colour palette, characters, setting, and typography style. I first developed Tom in a university project, where I sketched turnarounds, refined his look, and explored my initial story idea until it felt just right.
After refining the manuscript and character designs, I sketched the complete storyboard and page layouts to experiment with pacing, page composition, and how text and illustration would work together across spreads. Once I was happy, I illustrated the final pages in Procreate, layering colour, texture, and shading to bring warmth and vibrancy to the story. The layouts were completed in InDesign, where I balanced the text with illustrations for an easy and enjoyable read-aloud experience.
The final stage was production. As a self-published project, I researched options and chose IngramSpark to print both softcover and hardcover editions, making the book available locally and internationally. To fund the first print run, I launched a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $500 AUD. The campaign reached 306% of the target, with 34 backers pledging $1,530 AUD.
The Outcome
Tom the Capybara officially launched in August 2024. Holding the first printed copy in my hands was surreal, and a reminder of just how far the project had come from a university brief to a finished book available worldwide.
The final product features vibrant illustrations, expressive characters, and thoughtful layouts designed to immerse children in Tom’s journey while reinforcing the story’s gentle themes. Beyond the book itself, this project has also been an invaluable learning experience. I managed every step of the process, from writing and illustrating to publishing, marketing, and distribution, through my business Arttay Designs.
I’m proud to say Tom the Capybara has reached readers across Australia and beyond. It has been one of the most challenging but rewarding projects I have ever worked on, showing me what is possible when creativity is combined with persistence and community support.
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