Ten Little Birds
Discover the joy of friendship, colors, and counting in “Ten Little Birds”!
Join one little tree as it discovers the delight in making new friends and the beauty of a world full of color! In this heartwarming story, one by one, colorful little birds fly in to join the quiet tree, bringing life, joy, and a rainbow of hues.
From the first vibrant red bird to a cheerful purple one, behold as each new feathered friend transforms the tree from solitary to full of splendor. With every new arrival, the tree experiences new growth, mirroring the blossoming friendships.
“Ten Little Birds” is a delightful journey that teaches counting from one to ten and introduces a palette of colors in an engaging, rhythmic story perfect for read-aloud fun. It’s a gentle reminder that even the smallest act of kindness can lead to wonderful new connections.
Perfect for preschoolers and early readers, this charming book will inspire giggles, foster a love for nature, and warm hearts with its message of friendship.
Written by Emily Reagan
Published by God Manifest Publishing
PROCESS
Character design
This book features ten colorful birds, each with its own unique hue and personality, gathered around a magical tree. One of the author’s main ideas was to show the tree transforming throughout the story — starting bare and leafless, then becoming fuller and more vibrant with every new page, thanks to the birds bringing new leaves. Each bird contributes to the tree’s growth, symbolizing harmony, diversity, and the beauty of nature coming to life.
Storyboard
This book tells its story in a variety of visual ways — through spot illustrations with small supporting details on full spreads, as well as full-page and double-page illustrations. Each page offers a different visual rhythm, combining dynamic compositions and gentle transitions that guide the reader through the tree’s transformation and the colorful world of the birds.
Cover Design
I created several cover concepts featuring the growing tree and the colorful birds. In the end, we decided to combine the strongest elements from different versions — keeping the warmth and brightness of the tree while highlighting the harmony between all ten birds — to create the final design.
From Rough Sketch to Rendered Illustration
Each spread required time, patience, and multiple revisions to bring the story of the growing tree and colorful birds to life. But every hour spent was absolutely worth it — this book was truly created with heart and care on every page