'An Adventure to Discover the Magic Stone' illustration book

This children illustration book "An Adventure to Discover the Magic Stone" engages a diverse design team and BGCA planning group, aligning with BGCA's mission of "Nurturing the New Generation, Creating the Future Together." The story addresses misconceptions about children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and emphasizes the significance of social inclusion for the growth of children with special needs, promoting SDGs (4 Quality Education; 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; 17 Partnerships for the Goals).



It stands out from other children's illustration books. The illustrator catered to children with ASD and special education needs (S.E.N.), ensuring clear depictions of eyes, expressions, and body movements. Vibrant characters were created with hand-drawn techniques and colors were added using airbrush. The Tactile Illustration technique was employed by the paper artist and photographer to produce visually captivating and three-dimensional illustrations in the book.The protagonist, along with his parents, embody hand palms, symbolising BGCA's focus on supporting children with special needs and highlighting family support through BGCA's services, while other characters represent alphabets, emphasizing education.



The design team aimed to foster a positive and inclusive environment for children and parents reading the picture book together. They incorporated a heart-shaped puzzle on the inside back cover. Readers can use the attached reusable environmental stickers to create puzzles and engage with characters, fostering creativity and playfulness. This aligns with BGCA's belief in collective ideas, efforts, and benefits, promoting inclusivity. Through collaboration under the theme of "inclusion," it aims to raise awareness of autism and promote social acceptance.



Alongside book design, there were press conferences, seminars, reading sessions, workshops, and exhibitions, attracting nearly 100 guests from diverse industries to support the events. It aims to engage children with ASD through co-reading techniques (Reading to Engage Children with Autism in Language and Learning) designed by speech therapists and educational psychologists.



The three-day exhibition had over 110,000 attendees! It attracted public members, parents, and children who engaged in interactive experiences. The exhibition features 3D model photo checkpoints, a giant 1.3M tall illustration book that offers guided reading activities and parent-child storytelling workshops.