Working on a cover design!

I need some input/help and would be grateful for your feedback on the designs below.
Let me start with some caveats:

• I am not a graphic designer, I just play one on the internet
• These designs are quick concepts, not final, I will fix the way the rope hits the letters etc etc
• I don't expect a consensus (smart people rarely agree) and would welcome feedback of all types
• I don't even love all of these concepts
• The covers that are white background aren't translating well to a jpg. But they are book shaped, I promise.

And a few points I'm trying to keep in mind

• This book will primarily be sold online so a thumbnail is all folks will really see. Which is the best thumbnail?
• We are trying to differentiate Super Toys from other books about sensory processing because it is primarily a pattern book helping you make things to support sensory processing. The language about the sensory systems supports the patterns, not the other way around. It would be nice if that was somehow communicated on the cover...
• The subtitle (DIY Projects to Support Sensory Processing) is arguably more important than the main title (Super Toys)

Finally, how you can help

• Any feedback is helpful
• Especially something like: "I like #3 except for the font" or "I like the idea of using the chalkboard but not exactly how you have it. How about....." or "don't use the chalkboard, it's confusing to look at" or "here's a completely new and awesome idea you should use"
• If you are an online sort of person, share a link to this post and maybe others will hop over and give their feedback too.

Ok, onward to the concepts!
COVER #1


COVER #2


COVER #3


COVER #4


COVER #5

COVER #6


COVER #7

 So....what's working here?

PS if you just can't get enough about cover design and want to see how the pros do it, check out this post by Emily Henderson.

Sound Snake and looking for folks to blurb the book

We got the last chapter back from our editor this week and I'm putting the text and photos into the layout. We are SO close it's getting exciting again. The content actually looks like a book.

All the projects are done and photographed. This "Sound Snake" was the last one through the door. One of our Kickstarter backers asked for a project for the auditory system and this is what Kristin developed. It's sort of hard to photograph something designed to make sound. (almost as hard as photographing the olfactory projects!)

As we wrap up the book design, I'm starting to focus more on marketing. I'm hoping to solicit a few folks to "blurb" the book (provide a quote for the back cover and for Amazon). If you, or someone you know, would be interested let me know! I'm particularly interested in folks who are parents or occupational therapists who could review a review copy and provide a quote. My dream blurber would probably be Carol Kranowitz author of The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun. So, I'm just putting that out there.


Ok, back to work, but I wanted to pop in with an update.