Inside the Making of a Riso Book: From Idea to Illustration

Creating a children’s book may seem simple from the outside—a story, some illustrations, and a finished product. But behind every Riso Book is a thoughtful, layered process that blends storytelling, historical research, artistic collaboration, and modern tools.

For us, it’s not just about telling a story. It’s about telling it authentically, especially when that story is rooted in Portuguese history and culture.

Here’s a look inside how one of our books—centered around Queen Saint Isabel and the Miracle of the Roses—came to life.

Where Every Story Begins: Research and First Draft

Every Riso Book starts with a deep dive into the story itself.

For historical and cultural stories like Queen Saint Isabel, the first step was extensive research. This included reading historical summaries, academic sources, and various interpretations of the legend to understand both the facts and the storytelling traditions that have been passed down over time.

From there, an initial draft was written—designed to be simple, engaging, and accessible for children, while still honoring the essence of the story.

At this stage, the goal is clarity and flow. The language needs to feel natural for young readers, while also leaving space for illustrations to carry part of the storytelling.

Refining the Story with Historical Expertise

Once the first draft was complete, it was important to ensure that the story was not only engaging—but also historically grounded.

That’s when I consulted with historian Monique Vallance, PhD in Portuguese Medieval History.

Monique reviewed the draft and provided valuable insights that helped refine the narrative. This included context about the time period, cultural details, and nuances that might not be obvious through general research alone.

Her expertise ensured that the story stayed true to the historical setting of Queen Isabel’s life, while still remaining appropriate and understandable for children.

This step is a key part of what makes Riso Books different—combining storytelling with academic-level insight to create something both beautiful and accurate.

Using AI to Shape the Visual Story

With the refined manuscript in place, the next step was to begin thinking visually.

This is where AI became a helpful creative tool—not to replace the artistic process, but to generate ideas and suggestions.

Using AI, we explored potential illustration concepts for each page:

• What scenes should be highlighted

• How the characters might be positioned

• What emotional tone each moment should convey

• How settings could reflect the historical period

These suggestions acted as a starting point—a way to map out the visual narrative before the illustration process began.

But they were never final.

Collaborating with Mariana Flores: From Concept to Vision

From there, illustrator Mariana Flores and I worked closely together to bring the story to life.

We had multiple Zoom sessions where we reviewed the AI-generated suggestions, discussed what worked, and refined each scene. Some ideas were kept, others were adjusted, and many were completely reimagined.

This collaborative process was essential.

It allowed us to align on tone, storytelling, and visual direction—ensuring that every illustration would support the narrative in a meaningful way.

Deep Historical Research for Authentic Illustrations

Once the concepts were finalized, Mariana began an in-depth research phase.

This is where the project moved from creative planning to historical precision.

She studied:

• Clothing styles from medieval Portugal

• Jewelry and accessories worn during Queen Isabel’s time

• Architectural details of the period

• Monuments, churches, and royal settings

• The design and structure of Queen Isabel’s tomb

This level of detail matters.

It ensures that when a child opens the book, they are not just seeing a generic illustration—they are seeing a world that reflects how life actually looked during that time.

Even small elements, like fabric patterns or building shapes, were carefully considered.

The Illustration Process

With the historical research complete, Mariana began creating the final artwork using hand-drawn digital illustrations.

Rather than aiming for photorealism, the illustrations were designed in a warm, friendly, animated style that feels familiar to children and families who enjoy picture books. This approach creates expressive characters, inviting scenes, and vibrant storytelling while still honoring the historical setting of the story.

Every illustration was thoughtfully crafted:

• Colors were chosen to reflect the mood and emotion of each scene.

• Characters were designed to be expressive, engaging, and relatable for young readers.

• Historical clothing, architecture, and cultural details were carefully incorporated into the artwork.

• Each composition was created to guide the reader's eye and support the story unfolding on the page.

The result is a visual experience that feels both timeless and approachable—bringing Portuguese history to life in a way that captivates children while remaining true to the spirit of the story.

A Book That Connects Past and Present

One of the most meaningful aspects of this process is how it connects history to the present.

The book doesn’t just reflect what life was like during Queen Isabel’s time—it also acknowledges what remains today. Elements like her tomb and historical monuments are represented in ways that are both accurate and recognizable.

This creates a bridge between past and present, helping children understand that these stories are part of a real, lasting history.

Why This Process Matters

Creating a children’s book is about more than just telling a story—it’s about how that story is told.

At Riso Books, every step of the process is intentional:

• Research to ensure accuracy

• Expert consultation to refine the narrative

• AI to spark creative direction

• Collaboration to shape the vision

• Deep historical study to ground the illustrations

• Hand-drawn artwork to bring it all to life

The result is a book that feels authentic, thoughtful, and meaningful—for both children and families.

From Idea to Keepsake

What begins as an idea becomes something much more: a story that can be shared, remembered, and passed down.

For families, these books are not just something to read—they become part of a tradition. A way to connect with culture, history, and each other.

And for us, that’s the goal.

To create books that don’t just tell stories—but preserve them.