Kokoro, Daisy & The Growl Inside
In a vast, grey city, Kokoro feels invisible. Surrounded by people yet deeply alone, she longs for a place where she truly belongs.
One day, a soft, mysterious light flickers from a lantern, drawing her beyond the city and into a magical forest alive with enchanting creatures.
But the forest holds a secret. The animals speak in hushed voices of a low, ominous growl in the depths of the woods - something no one dares to face.
As Kokoro ventures deeper, she must find the courage to confront the unknown… and discover what lies behind the fear.
The StoryJoin Kokoro on a heartfelt journey of friendship, trust and belonging.
A heartwarming, atmospheric story about the bravery it takes to open your heart, even when it feels safest to stay closed and how, in doing so, we make space for healing and true connection.
A DOG? It's just a small dog, nibbling on little daisies. In its cloudy, tired eyes, Kokoro sees a loneliness she knows all too well.
When she steps out at the end of the tunnel, she finds herself in the middle of an enchanted forest, drifted out of a dream and taken root before her. All the animals of the forest gather around her, trembling with fear. ‘Don’t go any further, little girl!’ they cry in quivering voices. ‘Deep, deep in the forest lives a dreadful Growl!’
HUH? WAIT, WHAT'S THAT? Something moves in the darkness, and sniffs into the light. SNAP! A shadow snatches a daisy growing by the cave and vanishes back into the dark. Kokoro holds her breath. Is that the terrible growl everyone fears? What kind of monster eats little daisies?
Development
Behind the StoryThis story was born from my rescue dog, Daisy, whose personality shaped the character of the growling creature in the story. When Daisy feels scared or needs to guard herself, she lets out a growl. But in moments of pure joy, when she lets her guard down and softens her hard shell, that same growl transforms into sounds that feel like her own little song.
I see myself deeply in Kokoro and the relationship she shares with Daisy, and I wanted this book to be a magical portal to a whimsical, enchanted world where kids can discover that being vulnerable is brave, that it helps us connect with others, and that true healing comes when we show our hearts. The story is a tribute to Daisy’s story and the wonderful magic that blooms when we embrace our true selves and share our songs with the world.
Kokoro’s Discovery
I began with a loose sketch focused on Kokoro’s point of view: she is peeking through the leaves, and through that gap we see the dog on the right. The foliage frames the discovery, so the viewer experiences the moment as if looking through the leaves with her. Her expression is curious rather than afraid.
Next, I built the base in gouache, painting the forest in warmer greens and soft yellows to create a sunnier, friendlier atmosphere. With this spread, the forest gets more dynamic and starts to flourish. Light gently highlights Kokoro’s face and the small dog.
Finally, I added colored pencils to create soft details and emotion. The dog has a shaggy look through layered strokes for the fur and hiding the eyes with its bushy eyebrows.
This process, from sketch to gouache to colored pencil, guides the viewer into Kokoro’s perspective, through the leaves, into the moment where fear turns into curiosity and the myth of the terrible Growl changes.
Storyboard
The Magical Forest
This is the first time, Kokoro sees the magical forest, a landscape she has never seen before. A place where trees twist and twirl towards golden, glowing light.
I made the sketch focused on the introduction to the enchanted surrounding and introducing Kokoro to the fearful woodland animals and their big fear that overshadows the magic of the forest. She goes into the forest in awe but also gets afraid on the right side, when she learns of the scary Growl.
I made the scene in gouache, painting the forest in a glowing golden light, creating a mystical atmosphere, then adding coloured pencils to highlight the trees’ swirling trunks and branches, while also adding soft outlines to create more definition and texture into the scene.
