In 2023, I partnered with City of Canada Bay Libraries to illustrate and design a full visual campaign for their 1000 Books Before School program — an early literacy initiative that encourages families to read 1,000 books with their children before they start school.
The program is simple but powerful: every book counts, whether it’s read at home, at childcare, or during a library storytime. Families track their reading progress using the Beanstack app and earn milestone rewards: different stickers they can collect from their local library and add to their reading passport. Upon completion, children receive a ribbon and a certificate.
My role was to create a suite of custom illustrations that could be used across all aspects of the campaign. This included a central hero image, themed design elements, and artwork applied to banners, booklets, signage, the library website, event displays, reading rewards, and even a celebratory cake topper for the launch event in 2024.
The result was a cohesive, engaging visual identity that helped make the program both memorable and magical for families.
The characters were designed as versatile elements to be used across multiple campaign touchpoints — including banners, program brochures, song booklets, diplomas, posters, and signage —creating a consistent visual identity throughout.
“Partnering with Dani on our 1,000 Books Before School project was an exceptional experience that far exceeded our expectations. From the very beginning, Dani fully immersed herself in the project, taking the time to deeply understand our goals and desired outcomes. She was a pleasure to work with, always responsive and communicative. Her versatility and unwavering commitment were truly appreciated throughout the process.
Dani’s creativity and artistic talents are extraordinary, and her ability to bring our vision to life with a stunning collection of magical artworks was nothing short of amazing! 1,000 Books Before School owes much of its success to her invaluable work and priceless contributions. Dani is a true asset, and I wholeheartedly recommend her without hesitation.”
Liz Khater, Project Manager, 1000 Books Before School Early Learning Program
CITY OF CANADA BAY LIBRARIES
