April Hartmann was recently commissioned to illustrate a two-page spread for the October 2026 issue of Friend magazine, bringing the story of a young boy who is nonverbal to life through expressive gestures, poses, and body language.

In “Pedro's Testimony,” April faced the creative challenge of communicating Pedro's enthusiasm and emotions without relying on spoken words. Every gesture, facial expression, and pose became an opportunity to show his personality and connection with those around him. Hartmann's design also provided room within the design for the narrative text to tell his story.

It's a wonderful example of how illustration can communicate what words sometimes cannot, helping young readers understand a character's feelings through visual storytelling.

The story is available in both the print and online editions of Friend magazine.

Read “Pedro's Testimony” online