About Snappy Scrollybooks

The authors

Snappy Squirrel Scrollybooks is a financial literacy platform that makes learning about money fun and engaging for kids of all ages. Our interactive stories are designed to help children develop a healthy relationship with money and learn important financial concepts in a simple and entertaining way.

Jerry and Jen

Written as a series of stories by Jerry Looper, who built his career at McDonnell Douglas aircraft and put four children through college on a manager’s salary, these books are a collaboration between a father and daughter. Jen Looper is a web developer and artist who understands the power that interactive media can have to tell stories.

The art

The illustrations in this book are a mixed-media project by Jen. First, she used a gelli plate to create mimeograph-style monoprints using acrylic paint and - when it works - image transfer from various recycled magazines and books. Then, she cuts up the paper to create the collage animals. Photographed in pieces and reassembled in Procreate on an iPad, extras like facial expressions can be added digitally. Below are some photos of the process. Rubber stampd and nature prints, all using repurposed materials, also add to the layers.

the workspace

The workspace where the magic happens!

the pieces of the animal collage

Starting pieces of the fox character

the legs of the fox collage

Digitally removing the background of each piece for importing into Procreate

the final fox collage

Mr. Fox, ready for skulking into the books!