Here are my first rough sketches for an end-of-summer, back-to-school cover. I was thinking about how the end of summer is also beginning of fall. Summer adventures and activities are over for another year, which is a little sad. But going back to school means the start of new adventures and activities. Catching up with your friends, meeting new friends. Very exciting. Endings, beginnings and change. Pangs, hopes, wishes.

I liked the hillside composition of this one, and the creatures. We
always had lots of animals around when I was a kid. Dogs that followed
us blackberry-picking, cats that climbed trees and explored haylofts
with us, chickens that escaped their coop no matter how many holes we
patched. We also had ducks, geese, horses, ponies, goats and geese, but
I decided against a full menagerie. I didn't want to crowd up the space.

I wasn't entirely happy with the girl's  gesture of the first sketch, it looks like she's running a race. So for the second one I went for more of a leaping, springing movement. I gave her a dandelion puff, just for fun. And wishes. 
The chicken has a lunch box, at first I was thinking the chicken was chasing after the girl, because she forgot her lunch.

Then I thought: maybe the chicken doesn't want to be left behind! She wants to go, too. So I did another sketch playing with that idea... what if all the pets decided to go to school, too! They don't want to be left behind. I also working in a few details at the bottom of the hill, some friends waiting at the bus stop. A school bus.

Now, her backpack is bigger (and over-stuffed, with bits and books popping out) The animals are from the first sketches, but less anthropomorphic. That's a ball in the grass, at the dog's feet. I added in a hazy hint of neighborhoods in the background. I want something there, but I also want it to stay well back...
After talking it over with the art director, we decided it looked a
little too young for Cricket readers, so here we have the pets being
left behind again. They look a little sad... but that sorta fits with
the original idea. Sniff, sniff.

Then I did a version with all the type and bits and blurbs on, to make sure the composition still worked.