A little bit of research...

The Little Boy and the Beast go here (click on the top link, it's in German but you get the gist)

I think the background is brilliant. White space but with the right elements to make it seam like it exists. This really fits in with the style I had in my head.

(Really need to make more line ups, something I endevour to do this time)

Monster research

(John Kenn)

The Little Boy

(Shirley Hughes)

(This has nothing to do with anything, Its just really beautiful and way darker than the film)