LittleTaleGuide
A storybook starring your dog or cat
A pet is easier to draw from a photo than a person, and harder to get exactly right. Here is how to make the book look like your animal and no other.
From a sample book we made. The person in it is invented, not a customer.
What makes a pet book look like your pet
You recognize your own animal by details strangers miss: one ear that folds, a white patch on one paw, the exact gray of a muzzle. The drawing can only keep what the photo shows clearly, so the photo is everything.
- Take it at the animal’s eye level, not from above.
- Get the whole animal in the frame, standing or sitting.
- Use daylight, and turn the markings toward the light.
- Photograph one pet at a time.
Which stories suit a pet
Some stories were practically written for animals:
- The Great Snack Heist: the good snacks are on the highest shelf, and there is a plan.
- Knight of the Golden Hall: a very small knight and a door left slightly open.
- The Accidental King: one knocked-over cup, and then a crown.
- The Floor Is Actually Lava: the kitchen tiles start to glow.
As a gift, or to remember a pet
Most pet books are gifts for the person who loves the animal. Some people also make one to remember a pet that has died. The stories are adventures rather than goodbyes, which many people find is exactly what they wanted: the animal as it was on its best day.
Can the book star my dog and me?
Each book stars one character drawn from one photo, so the dog is the main character. Many people make a second book for the person.
Does it work for cats as well as dogs?
Yes. Cats, dogs and other pets with a clear face all work, as long as the photo shows the animal clearly.
