To make the books interesting and enticing enough for children to want to go through the whole series, the story revolves around a big adventure. The children in the story follow clues to find a treasure. Almost all the story characters are involved in this adventure at one point or another. Every book ends with some sort of a teaser that would take the reader to the next book.
The setting was carefully designed to be of cultural relevance. The story takes place in a town with a close- knit community, typical of the Arab world and – to a high extent, relatable to any town dweller.
The main character “Salim” – an Arabic term that means “a sound and hale person” has recently moved with his family to a simple house, with some extended family members living close by. The house is characterized by a big jasmine shrub standing at the entrance of a small yard, where a grandma almost always sits.
The neighborhood is cozy and friendly. You can find your typical small convenience store, a greengrocer, a few chairs in front of some shops where older people spend time, children playing, a cat here and there…
Some events occur in the simple house, in the neighborhood and in the town school. The town school also reflects the average school that any child can relate to, i.e., the typical classroom, the usual playground, and even the students: the book- worm, the funny kid, the bully…
Other events occur in neighboring areas. These include an old carpenter’s workshop, a beach, and a close by wood.
Characters in the story can be placed in five categories. Every character was carefully researched and comes with a purpose.
The main character is “Salim”: the child who went through hardships and, consequently, moved to a new town. The story does not specify what his exact trauma was, although slightly implied. The idea is to make Salim as relatable as possible to any child afflicted by PTSD or any non-specific psychological distress.
While some characters act as a “support system” to the main character, others play a crucial role in the adventure. And because the issue at hand is heavy, some characters are there to lighten the load with a sense of humor and a funny wit. Other characters you meet in the story are there to reflect the general mood and atmosphere.
Throughout the creative process, we actively sought to represent a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and perspectives to ensure that our narrative is inclusive and relatable to as many people as possible. We wanted to emphasize that diversity and inclusion were key considerations in our character designs and story setup.
We made it a priority to ensure that our content is culturally appropriate and encompasses family traditions that resonate with our target audience. Understanding the significance of cultural representation, we carefully selected and incorporated diverse traditions that reflect the population we aim to connect with, specifically children.
Through this conscious approach, we hope to create a more empathetic, inclusive, and harmonious fictional universe that resonates with people from all backgrounds, and speaks to children from our culture.
Nothing in AMAL series comes haphazardly. The Art therein is no exception!
The clinical journey is mirrored by the Artwork.
Our illustrations aim to vividly depict Salim’s internal struggle, showcasing the stark contrast between his outward appearance as an ordinary child and the inner turmoil of insecurities that he battles with. Through the skillful use of pencil coloring, we have the ability to employ texturing techniques that visually convey this complex duality, blending rough and refined textures to create a striking representation of Salim’s emotional journey.
The illustration comes as a reflection and a manifestation of the story, and the approach changes as the story progresses. The style is simple and easy on the eye, alleviating the weight of the subject matter while also representing it efficiently.
Within what can be called a normal façade, pencil strokes and pencil swirls in various thicknesses reflect the inner turmoil of the main character. These become less eminent as the story evolves.
In the last page of every book, a big cloud of pencil swirls -representing the struggle- becomes smaller and smaller by the “book” as the main character builds awareness, feels more at ease, and finds hope.
All illustrations are hand made using (colored) pencil coloring with minimal digital intervention.
In addition to our coloring technique, we made a deliberate choice to utilize colors, or the absence thereof, to mirror the emotional intensity or emotional support portrayed in each spread of our books. As Salim’s healing journey unfolds across the series, we begin with a grayscale color palette, symbolizing the initial stages of his journey.
In addition to our coloring technique, we made a deliberate choice to utilize colors, or the absence thereof, to mirror the emotional intensity or emotional support portrayed in each spread of our books. As Salim’s healing journey unfolds across the series, we begin with a grayscale color palette, symbolizing the initial stages of his journey.
The sad feel that the series begins with is eventually transformed to a warm, joyful, and hopeful feel.
When placed side by side in sequential order, the book covers reveal one big illustration. This illustration signifies the whole experience of healing, and within its details, a journey is crystal- clear.
