Author Interview: Josh Funk

On By Only Picture BooksIn Behind the Books
Photo Credit: Carter Hasegawa

Dear OPB family, it’s with great pleasure that I’m able to bring you an all-​time OPB fave, Josh Funk. (Please note references in previous posts such as Jamie LB Deenihan’s interview, a review of one of Josh’s books, and this interview by literary agent Kaitlyn Sanchez, which reveal just a bit of the Funkalicious fan clubbing we’ve got going on here!).

With a writing career as big as Josh has (coupled with a full-​time day job!), getting this interview to work out took some finessing, but we did it thanks to his generosity and some fortuitous timing related to his new book, Short & Sweet, coming out. So, yay! And a syrupy hooray!

You probably know a lot about him already, but just in case not, he provides a Mad-​libs-​style bio on his website. Here’s the template:

Josh enjoys _​_​_​_​_​_​_​ during _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​ and has always loved _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​. He has played _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​ since age _​_​ and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a __________.

And here are what I can only assume are the totally-​true-​fact answers he fully expects everyone to come up with from this interactive bio.

Josh enjoys living one day at a time powered by the awesomeness of a freshly baked cookie during his weekly attempt to make the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, and has always loved putting the “elation” in writerly “public relations.” He has played the role of a passionate cherry limeade lover since the moment he reckoned to be a force to reckon with, and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a vampire porpoise that sometimes just wants to give it all up and become a handsome aquatic billionaire.

Just in case that’s not yet enough of a deep dive into All Things Josh, I’ll add these final even-​truer-​than-​those-​facts facts sleuthed up by our crack research team (consisting of a single penguin intern named Lefty who’s an especially gifted napper), with a little help from Josh himself.

Josh is:

  • a member of The Writer’s Loft in Sherborn, MA
  • a former fantasy football wunderkind
  • a long-​time vegan
  • a musician who created songs to pair with his picture books 
  • a candy corn aficionado
  • a fan of sewing
  • someone who still sleeps with the same stuffed animal he’s had since he was a kid (a Tropical Puffalump named Monkey Dude).
Josh and Monkey Dude. BFFs in action.

Alright, let’s get to it. Unleash the interview! (But if you want some Funky social media stuff, here are places to go, too.)

RVC: Welcome to the world of Only Picture Books, Josh!

JF: Thanks for all of the kind words, Ryan! It’s a pleasure to join you.

RVC: Once people knew you were visiting OPB, they all insisted I ask you about rhyme, so let’s start with that. While I realize you can talk for days on the topic, help us understand a specific way or two that we might move from amateur rhymes to elegant ones. 

JF: Great question! The most important thing you need to consider is that to be a successful book, loads of different people are going to be reading these words (agents, editors, reviewers, librarians, teachers, parents). However, not everyone pronounces words the same way you do. The English language, even just in the U.S., has many different accents and you want ALL of those accents to pronounce your words properly. So pay attention to each word and each syllable and each whatever-​is-​less-​than-​a-​syllable (I’m not a linguist)!

There are only ~549 words in a picture book–take the time to make sure each one is PERFECT.

RVC: What’s more important? Rhythm or rhyme?

JF: That’s a trick question. The most important aspect of a rhyming picture book is the STORY. If it’s not a good book without the rhyme, it won’t be good when you add the rhyme.

But between rhythm and rhyme, RHYTHM is more important. It’s harder to learn and more important to focus on. Any first grader can rhyme. Rhythm can be very tricky.

RVC: Which of your books gave you the most trouble in terms of getting rhymes to really sync up in the way you need them to? I’m going to guess Dear Dragon because of all those pen pal letters. But, you know, pastries! And fairy tale folk!

JF: I don’t really think of rhymes as tricky. Writing a rhyming picture book is more like a puzzle–and I enjoy solving puzzles. There’s always another way to say something. If I can’t get a word to rhyme properly, I’ll use a thesaurus and replace it with another that will work.

RVC: Volume four of the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series comes out this month—Short & Sweet. Congrats on that! Is it getting harder or easier to write sequels for your various series?

JF: In general, as long as I have a good story mapped out for characters I’ve written about previously, writing sequels gets easier. I have a sense of what the pacing will be, what the illustrator will be able to add, and a general sense of what I want to do to differentiate one book in each series with the next.

RVC: Just curious—are the publishers asking for sequels beyond those required in your contract, or are you pitching new ideas to extend any of your series beyond what anyone initially expected?

JF: It’s a combination of both. Usually my agent and I approach the publisher with ideas to see if they’re interested. And most of the time, the answer is based on two factors:

1) Did the previous book do well?
2) Is the new story one worth telling?

I’ve been very fortunate that several of my books have performed well enough that publishers considered the sequels.

RVC: What’s the elevator pitch for Short & Sweet?

JF: Each book in the series is a different genre, which I think keeps each of the stories fresh (pun intended). Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast is a race. The Case of the Stinky Stench is a mystery. Mission Defrostable is an action-​adventure/​spy-​thriller.

And Short & Sweet is a combination of a scifi-​comedy (think Honey, I Shrunk the Kids or The Absentminded Professor) mixed with a magical-​bodyswap (like Freaky Friday or Big). In this one, Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast begin to grow stale and visit Professor Biscotti who has a DE-​spoiling ray. Unfortunately, they shrink back into toddlers and run amuck through the fridge causing culinary chaos once again.

If I get to write more, maybe it’ll be an alien invasion or horror. Who knows?

RVC: If might suggest a genre, I’d say Western featuring their Old West ancestors in a breakfast saloon. “There’s not enough room on this here plate for the two of us…”

But let’s circle back to you. What was the biggest challenge you had in writing Short & Sweet?

JF: The ending. Not the plot part of the ending (Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast return to normal), and not the final page (of course there’s a party at the end and a gatefold), but the emotional wrap-​up. Figuring out how to show the character changes and saying it concisely–that spread took several emails back and forth to and from my editor–and she was right to keep pushing me, because it took a while to get right.

RVC: Got a favorite rhyme from Short & Sweet?

JF: Not yet. But maybe after I read it a few hundred times I’ll be able to pick one. Ask me again in a few years.

RVC: Will do. I’ve got you down for an interview part II thing in October 2022. Put it in your Google calendar, please!

JF: Actually, I’m washing my hair that month. Maybe November?

RVC: Deal.

Now, while every author is in some way every character they write, who has more Josh Funk DNA—Lady Pancake or Sir French Toast?

JF: Baron von Waffle.

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast were inspired by my kids–but deep down, I know that I’d sacrifice myself and have the last drop of syrup if it stops my kids from bickering.

RVC: What else are you working on these days? What books should we be looking for from you in the near-​ish future?

JF: I have two books coming out on October 27th, 2020. Where Is Our Library?: A Story of Patience & Fortitude, the sequel to Lost in the Library, in which the two lion statues that guard the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue venture into the children’s room one night, only to find that all of their books have gone missing. Together they search throughout all of Manhattan for their books, visiting literary statues (like Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Andersen) and other library branches before finding them … well, you’ll have to read the book to find out.

On that same day, the third book in the It’s Not a Fairy Tale series is being released: It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood. In this tale, our beleaguered narrator tries to tell the traditional story of Little Red Riding Hood, but Red rips her hood and borrows her sister’s blue one, the Wolf calls in sick and is replaced by Captain Hook, and pretty much nothing goes according to plan.

RVC: Sounds like a frolicking good time. I’ll be sure to check it out.

Now, you’re often noted as someone who handles book PR better than most. What are two specific things most authors don’t do (or don’t do right) when it’s time to get out there and plug new books?

JF: Well, it’s important to start building your network early. Like now. Before you have an agent or a book deal. Or at the latest, as SOON as you have a book deal–before it’s announced for sure. If you don’t build your network soon, you’ll run into problem number two, which is: don’t say “buy my book.” Ever.

You can share all the good news you have (“I sold a book!” or “I got a good review!” or “Here’s my cover reveal!”), but never say “buy my book.”

RVC: Book trailers. What kind of mileage are you getting out of them?

JF: It’s nearly impossible to tell. But I figure every little thing could possibly help get word of my books out there. And I enjoy making trailers. Some of the best marketing advice I ever received is to do what you like–and conversely, don’t do what you don’t like.

I like making musical book trailers. So I keep making them. I have no idea if they lead to many book sales. But, going back to the previous question, saying “check out my book trailer!” is not saying “buy my book”–yet it still gets my book out there … so why not make them?

RVC: One last question for this part of the interview. What’s the one question you’ve been waiting for someone to ask in an interview, but no one’s teed it up for you yet?

JF: What were Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast going to do with the syrup if they got it?

RVC: How can I NOT ask that question now, right? So, what’s the answer? What WOULD they do?

JF: I don’t know.

RVC: Alrighty, Josh. It’s time to shift gears from Standard Interview Mode to all that’s required of you to succeed in the Sudden-​Death-​Quadruple-​Overtime-​No-​Holds-​Barred Wrap Up. Are you READY?

JF: Maybe?

RVC: Favorite picture book villain?

JF: The monkeys in Caps for Sale.

RVC: What secret talent does Sir French Toast have that nobody would ever suspect?

JF: He’s a musical theater triple threat.

RVC: What does Baron von Waffle do for fun when he wants to get away from the world of books and breakfast?

JF: Plays NBA2K.

RVC: Rumor has it Lady Pancake’s secretly writing a tell-​all. Any idea what the title might be?

JF: Fresh Takes: From Flour to Fame

RVC: I’ve got a universal translator for catspeak on backorder at Indiegogo. If it ever arrives and I pop in the bio your cat wrote for you, what will it say?

JF: “Josh Funk cleans my poop and feeds me.”

RVC: Five things we’d see if we checked out your fave writing place.

JF: Coffee, Sharpies, coffee, laptop, and coffee.

RVC: A recent picture book where you absolutely loved the rhyming.

JF: Ogilvy by Deborah Underwood and T. L. McBeth.

RVC: Two lines that sum up your picture book aesthetic. (FYI—if this isn’t a rhyming couplet, the comment section below might explode like an overfilled jelly donut that got squooshed by a woolly mammoth!)

JF:

Goofy, silly, sometimes smart,

Funny with a little heart.

RVC: Thanks a zillion for swinging by today, Josh. Best of luck with the new books! And if you’d ever like to be part of a non-​Monday Bonus Goody for OPB, let me know. We’ll cook something up! I’ll bring the blog, you bring the pastries.

 

About Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast: SHORT & SWEET

Picture Book Review: The Blank Page by Alberto Blanco

On By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Reviews
Author: Alberto Blanco
Illustrator: Rob Moss Wilson
Parallax Press
22 September 2020
32 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (#1 Paper Fan at Only Picture Books) and OPB newcomer, freelance artist Sharon Holm.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

It’s fitting that a book like this is published by Parallax Press, a publisher founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and one that’s committed to producing books on mindfulness. Why? Because the book’s first line is very Zen.

“There is nothing here.”

And just as Zen can plunge one past the surface of life, so, too, does this picture book by acclaimed Mexican poet Alberto Blanco seek to send the reader into an unexpected journey into the profound interconnectedness of all things. To look at a single page of paper is to sense the tree it was made from, as well as the rain and sunlight that helped it grow, and so on.

Eventually, “we can see the trees, the rivers, the clouds, and the mountains…and we can see people, like you and me.” That’s a pretty deep concept for picture book readers. But if we’re fine with board books like Nietzsche 4 Babies or Metaphysics for Babies, why not this, right?

Still…is the idea that the book in your hands is something that connects you to the whole universe too big of idea for little ones to grasp? Is it too abstract? I’m not certain. It’s ambitious, to be sure. And there’s a clear sense of community and connection here, which I applaud.

The best line is the last one: “Where nothing happens, there is a miracle that we are not seeing.” A note on the copyright page attributes that to someone other than the author, though it certainly feels like a line that a poet as accomplished as Blanco might have created.

Ultimately, the book might be more about prompting discussions and thought than providing answers or entertaining readers. For the right adult companion reader, that might be a great fit for what they want to share with a child.

3.75 out of 5 pencils

 

–Sharon’s Review of the Illustrations–

The Blank Page has a clever introduction, especially for a children’s picture book–a blank page that says “There’s nothing on this page.”  But is there really nothing there? There’s the page, after all. And the book goes on to examine the process of making the paper that makes up that page, as Ryan noted above.

One might suggest that the story is rather simplistic. But is it really? Can a child see that this is more than just another life cycle of a tree book?  The words created a depth I wanted to read into.

Let’s see if the art helps readers explore those depths.

I found the design of the cover to be simple yet effective. I’m also pleased by how that design simplicity is carried throughout the interior spreads. The composition of the interior pages–with the use of sparse text and brightly colored vignettes–pop on a solid white background.

Overall, the illustration style of bold black outlines with bright digital color come across well.

But I wanted more of a connection between the actual artwork and the words of the story. Instead, the heavy lines and flat digital color caused the illustrations to lack the same emotion and depth of the words. It seemed like a missed opportunity.

The art and text didn’t quite work as well as I hoped to support a picture book that isn’t nonfiction, but doesn’t have a main character or narrative throughline.

The book’s message seems to be that everything has a connection, and that we’re all working together in conjunction with our universe. And that we must ALL work together as one, with the universe, to succeed. That’s a great message for any child.

3.25 out of 5 crayons

Sharon Holm is an artist, mother, sister, daughter, wife, friend, black belt kick boxer, and animal rescuer.

She’s also a professional children’s book illustrator/​work-​in-​progress writer. She graduated with honors from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with a degree in Visual Communications, and was an award-​winning art director for various advertising agencies in South Florida before turning her attention to children’s illustrating.

Since then, she’s built an art career through illustrating trade books, fiction, nonfiction, activity books, educational products, and bath books, as well as greeting cards, puzzles, and calendars.

Picture Book List: 30 Books About Girl Power

On By Only Picture BooksIn Bonus Goodies

I’m always excited to see when there’s a fifth Monday in a month, because that means it’s time for a Bonus Goodie. The Picture Book Lists have been popular–or so you’re telling me!–so that’s what we’re going with again.

The theme this time?

Girl Power!

Here are some of the most empowering girl-​centric picture books I’ve found in my library or coming in via the many advance-​reader copies OPB gets each month.

See what you think! And please do what you can to get the young girls in your life to check out some of these titles. They’re well worth the re-read!

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts (Sept 2016)

From Goodreads: “Scientist Ada has a boundless imagination and has always been hopelessly curious. Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs growing inside your nose? When her house fills with a horrific, toe-​curling smell, Ada knows it’s up to her to find the source. What would you do with a problem like this? Not afraid of failure, Ada embarks on a fact-​finding mission and conducts scientific experiments, all in the name of discovery. But, this time, her experiments lead to even more stink and get her into trouble!”

AGES 5–7

 

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch (September 1991)

From Goodreads: “Grace loves stories, whether they’re from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. When her school decides to perform Peter Pan, Grace longs to play the lead, but her classmates point out that Peter was a boy. Besides, he wasn’t black.

With the support of her family, Grace learns that she can be anything she wants to be, and the results are amazing!

Remarkable watercolor illustrations give full expression to Grace’s high-​flying imagination.”

AGES 4–8

 

Amelia to Zora: Twenty-​Six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-​Lee, illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy (July 2008)

From Goodreads: “Twenty-​six amazing women; twenty-​six amazing stories. From Amelia Earhart, pilot and adventurer, to Zora Neale Hurston, writer and anthropologist, learn about the hardships and triumphs that inspired each woman to change the world around her. Detailed collages and illustrations draw from various events in the women’s lives.”

AGES 8–12

 

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (Jan 2011)

From Goodreads: “Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, the nationally bestselling and celebrated creator of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Owen, and Kitten’s First Full Moon, Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-​esteem, and acceptance to share all year round.

Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. “You’re named after a flower!” teases Victoria.
“Let’s smell her,” says Jo.

Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?

Supports the Common Core State Standards.”

AGES 4–8

 

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael López (March 2015)

From Goodreads: “Girls cannot be drummers. Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule—until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-​bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream.

Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-​African-​Cuban girl who broke Cuba’s traditional taboo against female drummers, Drum Dream Girl tells an inspiring true story for dreamers everywhere.”

AGES 4–7

 

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World by Kate Pankhurst (Sept 2016)

From Goodreads: “Kate Pankhurst, descendent of Emmeline Pankhurst, has created this wildly wonderful and accessible book about women who really changed the world. Discover fascinating facts about some of the most amazing women who changed the world we live in. Fly through the sky with the incredible explorer Amelia Earhart, and read all about the Wonderful Adventures of Mary Seacole with this fantastic full colour book. Bursting full of beautiful illustrations and astounding facts, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is the perfect introduction to just a few of the most incredible women who helped shaped the world we live in.

List of women featured: Jane Austen, Gertrude Ederle, Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie, Mary Anning, Mary Seacole, Amelia Earhart, Agent Fifi, Sacagawa, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks, Anne Frank.”

AGES 4–8

 

Fiesta Femenina: Celebrating Women in Mexican Folktale by Mary-​Joan Gerson, illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez (Sept 2018)

From Goodreads: “A collection of folktales from various cultures in Mexico, all focusing on the important roles of women, such as Rosha, a young girl who rescues the sun; the goddess Tangu Yuh; Kesne, a Zapotec princess; and the Virgin Mary.”

AGES 8–11

 

The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Anna Vojtech (June 1998)

From Goodreads: “From an award-​winning Native American storyteller comes this captivating re-​telling of a Cherokee legend, which explains how strawberries came to be. Long ago, the first man and woman quarreled. The woman left in anger, but the Sun sent tempting berries to Earth to slow the wife’s retreat. Luminous paintings perfectly complement the simple, lyrical text.”

AGES 3–5

 

Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (March 2012)

From Goodreads: “ ‘Where are the girls?’

When Grace’s teacher reveals that the United States has never had a female president, Grace decides she wants to be the nation’s first and immediately jumpstarts her political career by running in her school’s mock election! The race is tougher than she expected: her popular opponent declares that he’s the “best man for the job” and seems to have captured the votes of all of the class’s boys. But Grace is more determined than ever. Even if she can’t be the best man for the job, she can certainly try to be the best person!

This timely story not only gives readers a fun introduction to the American electoral system but also teaches the value of hard work, courage, independent thought–and offers an inspiring example of how to choose our leaders.”

AGES 4–8

 

I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow (March 2016)

From Goodreads: “High on energy and imagination, this ode to self-​esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves–inside and out. Messy hair? Beaver breath? So what! Here’s a little girl who knows what really matters.

At once silly and serious, Karen Beaumont’s joyous rhyming text and David Catrow’s wild illustrations unite in a book that is sassy, soulful–and straight from the heart.”

AGES 1–3

 

Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Meg Hunt (May 2015)

From Goodreads:
“Once upon a planetoid,
amid her tools and sprockets,
a girl named Cinderella dreamed
of fixing fancy rockets.

With a little help from her fairy godrobot, Cinderella is going to the ball–but when the prince’s ship has mechanical trouble, someone will have to zoom to the rescue! Readers will thank their lucky stars for this irrepressible fairy tale retelling, its independent heroine, and its stellar happy ending.”

AGES 3–5

 

I Want to Be a Cowgirl by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross (April 2002)

From Goodreads: “Meet a city girl with a big Wild West dream.

“I don’t want to be a good girl-
Good girls have no fun.
I can’t play quiet games indoors,
I love the rain and sun.
I don’t want to be a girly girl
Who likes to sit and chat.
I just want to be a cowgirl, Daddy,
What’s so wrong with that?”

From the window of a high-​rise city apartment, a little girl imagines a very different view and dreams of a very different life, but does it have to be just a dream?

The big city meets the wild Wild West in Jeanne Willis’s lyrical text, accompanied by hilarious illustrations from Tony Ross.

AGES 4–8

 

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/​Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown, illustrated Sara Palacios (Sept 2011)

From Goodreads: “ ‘My name is Marisol McDonald, and I don’t match. At least, that’s what everyone tells me.’

Marisol McDonald has flaming red hair and nut-​brown skin. Polka dots and stripes are her favorite combination. She prefers peanut butter and jelly burritos in her lunch box. And don’t even think of asking her to choose one or the other activity at recess–she’ll just be a soccer playing pirate princess, thank you very much. To Marisol McDonald, these seemingly mismatched things make perfect sense together.

Unfortunately, they don’t always make sense to everyone else. Other people wrinkle their nose in confusion at Marisol–can’t she just be one or the other? Try as she might, in a world where everyone tries to put this biracial, Peruvian-​Scottish-​American girl into a box, Marisol McDonald doesn’t match. And that’s just fine with her.

A mestiza Peruvian American of European, Jewish, and Amerindian heritage, renowned author Monica Brown wrote this lively story to bring her own experience of being mismatched to life. Her buoyant prose is perfectly matched by Sara Palacios’ engaging acrylic illustrations.”

AGES 4–8

 

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell (April 2011)

From Goodreads: “Patrick McDonnell-​beloved, bestselling author-​artist and creator of the Mutts syndicated comic strip–shares the inspiring story of young Jane Goodall, the legendary and inspiring conservationist featured in the hit documentary film Jane.

In his characteristic heartwarming style, Patrick McDonnell tells the story of the young Jane Goodall and her special childhood toy chimpanzee named Jubilee. As the young Jane observes the natural world around her with wonder, she dreams of “a life living with and helping all animals,” until one day she finds that her dream has come true. With anecdotes taken directly from Jane Goodall’s autobiography, McDonnell makes this very true story accessible for the very young–and young at heart.

One of the world’s most inspiring women, Dr. Jane Goodall is a renowned humanitarian, conservationist, animal activist, environmentalist, and United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 1977 she founded the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), a global nonprofit organization that empowers people to make a difference for all living things.”

AGES 1–8

 

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney (Nov 1985)

From Goodreads: “Barbara Cooney’s story of Alice Rumphius, who longed to travel the world, live in a house by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful, has a timeless quality that resonates with each new generation. The countless lupines that bloom along the coast of Maine are the legacy of the real Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady, who scattered lupine seeds everywhere she went. Miss Rumphius received the American Book Award in the year of publication.

To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of two-​time Caldecott winner Barbara Cooney’s best-​loved book, the illustrations have been reoriginated, going back to the original art to ensure state-​of-​the-​art reproduction of Cooney’s exquisite artwork. The art for Miss Rumphius has a permanent home in the Bowdoin College Museum of Art.”

AGES 5–8

 

Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple (June 2010)

From Goodreads: “Not all princesses dress in pink. Some play in bright red socks that stink, blue team jerseys that don’t quite fit, accessorized with a baseball mitt, and a sparkly crown!

Princesses come in all kinds. Exuberant text from Jane Yolen and her daughter Heidi Yolen Stemple paired with charming illustrations prove that girls can jump in mud puddles and climb trees, play sports and make messes—all while wearing their tiaras! Not every girl has a passion for pink, but all young ladies will love this empowering affirmation of their importance and unlimited potential.”

AGES 3–8

 

Pepper Zhang, Artist Extraordinary! by Jerry Zhang, illustrated by Trisha Hautéa (Jan 2017)

From Goodreads: “This is an extraordinary story about an ordinary little girl who discovers an interest in art and transforms into an Artist Extraordinaire! Through her journey into fame and stardom, Pepper learns an important life lesson about humility. This book was made into reality through a Kickstarter Campaign that received more than $30,000 in pledges! Pepper has been featured on Huffpost, Mashable, Bustle, Upworthy, Now This, Babble and more!”

AGES 3–8

 

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier (Dec 2007)

From Goodreads: “She had not sought this moment but she was ready for it. When the policeman bent down to ask “Auntie, are you going to move?” all the strength of all the people through all those many years joined in her. She said, “No.”

A picture book account of Rosa Park’s historic choice.”

AGES 4–8

 

She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger (May 2017)

From Goodreads: “A is for Activist is an ABC board book for the next generation of progressives: Families that want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and so on.”

AGES 4–8

 

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, illustrated by David Catrow (Aug 2001)

From Goodreads: “Be yourself like Molly Lou Melon no matter what a bully may do.

Molly Lou Melon is short and clumsy, has buck teeth, and has a voice that sounds like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor. She doesn’t mind. Her grandmother has always told her to walk proud, smile big, and sing loud, and she takes that advice to heart.

But then Molly Lou has to start in a new school. A horrible bully picks on her on the very first day, but Molly Lou Melon knows just what to do about that.”

AGES 4–8

 

Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning of Lyme Regis by Laurence Anholt, illustrated by Sheila Moxley (Dec 2006)

From Goodreads: “A brief biography of the English girl whose discovery of an Ichthyosaurus skeleton in 1811 when she was twelve led to a life-​long interest in fossils and other important discoveries.”

AGES 5–8

 

Suki’s Kimono by Chieri Uegaki, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch (Sept 2005)

From Goodreads: “Suki’s favorite possession is her blue cotton kimono. A gift from her obachan, it holds special memories of her grandmother’s visit last summer. And Suki is going to wear it on her first day back to school — no matter what anyone says.

When it’s Suki’s turn to share with her classmates what she did during the summer, she tells them about the street festival she attended with her obachan and the circle dance that they took part in. In fact, she gets so carried away reminiscing that she’s soon humming the music and dancing away, much to the delight of her entire class!

Filled with gentle enthusiasm and a touch of whimsy, Suki’s Kimono is the joyful story of a little girl whose spirit leads her to march — and dance — to her own drumbeat.”

AGES 4–8

 

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko (May 1980)

From Goodreads: “The Princess Elizabeth is slated to marry Prince Ronald when a dragon attacks the castle and kidnaps Ronald. In resourceful and humorous fashion, Elizabeth finds the dragon, outsmarts him, and rescues Ronald–who is less than pleased at her un-​princess-​like appearance. Full color.”

AGES 4–7

 

The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke, illustrated by Kerstin Meyer (March 2014)

From Goodreads: “Violetta is a princess. But she wants to be a knight. At night, she practises at becoming the best knight in the land. When her father, the king, stages a tournament for Violetta’s hand in marriage, she knows she must win the greatest battle yet, for the most important prize of all–herself.”

AGES 3–6

 

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Frank Morrison (Feb 2016)

From Goodreads: “It’s the day before the big parade. Alta can only think about one thing: Wilma Rudolph, three-​time Olympic gold medalist. She’ll be riding on a float tomorrow. See, Alta is the quickest kid in Clarksville, Tennessee, just like Wilma once was. It doesn’t matter that Alta’s shoes have holes because Wilma came from hard times, too. But what happens when a new girl with shiny new shoes comes along and challenges Alta to a race? Will she still be the quickest kid? The Quickest Kid in Clarksville is a timeless story of dreams, determination, and the power of friendship.”

AGES 5–8

 

The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires (Mar 2017)

From Goodreads: “Lou and her friends are BRAVE adventurers. They run FASTER than airplanes. They build MIGHTY fortresses. They rescue WILD animals. But one day, when they re looking for a ship to play pirates in, Lou s friend has an idea: Up there! The tree can be our ship! Ummm … says Lou. This is something new. Lou has never climbed a tree before, and she s sure she can t do it. So she tries to convince her friends to play a not-​up-​a-​tree game. When that doesn t work, she comes up with reasons for not joining them her arm is sore, her cat needs a walk, you shouldn t climb so soon after eating. Finally, she tells herself she doesn t want to climb the tree. But is that true, or is this brave adventurer just too afraid to try?

This delightful picture book from Ashley Spires, bestselling author of The Most Magnificent Thing, perfectly depicts what children go through when confronted with something difficult. With humor and endearing artwork, Spires sensitively portrays Lou procrastinating, making excuses, imagining alternatives and denying she cares. Ultimately, Lou faces her fear, and although she fails, the effort empowers her, encouraging a growth mindset. All the while, Lou s friends model compassionate friendship by offering to teach her how to climb and then moving the game. This book makes a perfect choice for a character education discussion about courage or resilience, or a life-​skills lesson on facing challenges. The story also promotes the joy of imaginative play in the outdoors.”

AGES 3–7

 

This Is It by Daria Peoples-​Riley (Feb 2018)

From Goodreads: “Daria Peoples-Riley’s debut picture book is a celebration of individuality, self-​expression, and dance. Fans of Misty Copeland’s Firebird and Matt de la Peña’s Last Stop on Market Street will want to read it over and over again.

When a young dancer is nervous about her upcoming auditions, her shadow springs to life and leads her on a joyous exploration of their city. Soon enough, the young girl finds confidence in her skills, her body, and her ability to shine.

With an energetic, rhythmic text that begs to be read aloud and striking, exuberant artwork, This Is It is a love story to originality and the simple joy of movement.

The future is in your footsteps.
Freedom is in your feet.
Put one foot in front of the other,
and greet your destiny.”

AGES 4–8

 

Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen (Sept 2016)

From Goodreads: “By the time she’s two years old, Violet Van Winkle can fix nearly any appliance in the house. And by eight she’s building elaborate flying machines from scratch, mind-​boggling contraptions such as the Tubbubbler, the Bicycopter, and the Wing-​a-​ma-​jig. The kids at school tease her, but they have no idea what she’s capable of. Maybe she could earn their respect by winning the blue ribbon in the upcoming Air Show. Or maybe something even better will happen, something involving her best ever invention, a Boy Scout troop in peril, and even the mayor himself! A classic underdog story full of humor and sweetness and retro pizzazz, Violet the Pilot is both endearing and adorable. It’ll fly right into your heart.”

AGES 4–8

 

The Water Princess by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Sept 2016)

From Goodreads: “Based on supermodel Georgie Badiel’s childhood, a young girl dreams of bringing clean drinking water to her African village.

With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-​clear water of its own.”

AGES 5–8

 

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by David Díaz (Feb 2000)

From Goodreads: “Before Wilma Rudolph was five years old, polio had paralyzed her left leg. Everyone said she would never walk again. But Wilma refused to believe it. Not only would she walk again, she vowed, she’d run. And she did run–all the way to the Olympics, where she became the first American woman to earn three gold medals in a single olympiad. This dramatic and inspiring true story is illustrated in bold watercolor and acrylic paintings by Caldecott Medal-​winning artist David Diaz.”

AGES 4–7

Editor Interview: Sarah Rockett (Sleeping Bear Press)

On By Only Picture BooksIn Industry Insider1 Comment

The September 2020 Insider Interview is with…Sarah Rockett!

She’s an Editor for Sleeping Bear Press as well as for Cherry Lake Publishing and 45th Parallel school and library imprints. OPB knows all about her work because we’ve recently covered books she edited: Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery, Nature’s Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story, and The Boy Who Grew a Forest. (Yep—we enjoy Sleeping Bear books here at OPB!)

She’s a Michigan person through and through, and these days, she lives outside Ann Arbor with a husband, a son, and a cocker spaniel. And a whole bunch of books, one imagines!

Let’s get to the interview to learn a bit more about all Sarah does!

RVC: You earned a degree in journalism from Boston University. What turned you from a life of newspaper/​magazine writing toward the editorial side of things?

SR: News and magazine writing ultimately felt too fast paced for me. I found that I enjoyed spending more time on the text I was working with—to really be careful with language and more creative. I didn’t love the pressure of a news cycle.

RVC: What was your favorite piece of journalism you ever wrote?

SR: I did the Semester at Sea study abroad program in college and ended up writing a handful of pieces for my hometown newspaper while I was traveling. They were writer-​at-​large type stories—and rightfully buried in the paper—but they were a lot of fun to research and write.

RVC: Sounds like a nautically cool time! I wish I’d investigated such interesting off-​campus experiences like that as an undergrad.

Now, working in NY publishing is the dream for many. What were some of the unexpected benefits/​joys of being part of it?

SR: The big budgets were great. Knowing you had some frontlist “season makers” like a new Llama Llama book by Anna Dewdney or the latest John Green YA, as well as a really strong backlist with a good number of classics, meant we could take some additional risk with other projects. The publishing community in NYC was also really wonderful. I was always running into people from other companies—and it was really nice to talk with them about issues facing the industry and trends.

RVC: What was the biggest issue facing the industry at that time?

SR: When I was with Penguin, ebooks were just really taking off and it was so interesting to see how the industry was feeling out the best way to work with the technology. For adult books, the link to ebook is easy/​obvious. But for children’s books, there are so many more issues around the benefits of books vs ebooks. Many ebook developers wanted to include a lot of interactive features and animations–which can be great, but when does it become a game or cartoon and no longer a book? I don’t think the industry (or consumers) have figured it out yet, but it was really interesting to be in the hub of publishing when the initial ebook frenzy started.

RVC: If you had to summarize the most important thing you’ve learned about editing books for children, what would it be?

SR: I think brevity and specificity are the two most important elements to creating wonderful picture books. There’s something magical about leaving space in the text for a child’s imagination. And if you’re keeping text really tight, you have to be sure each word is working really hard for you—it has to mean exactly what you want it to mean.

RVC: About seven years ago, you left NY publishing and worked as a freelance writer/​project manager for ProQuest  for a year. 

SR: When I moved back to Michigan, there weren’t a lot of children’s publishing companies to work with. In fact, there’s exactly one in about a 500-​mile radius—Sleeping Bear Press. Working freelance let me keep my skills fresh while I nudged the owner of Sleeping Bear about an informational interview and waited for a position to open.

RVC: In 2013, you landed that coveted job. What were some of the differences between working at Sleeping Bear versus a large outfit like Puffin/​Penguin Young Readers?

SR: I love working with a smaller company. The doors to the owner and publisher are always open for questions and advice. And I love that there aren’t a ton of steps to project approval. If I’m passionate about a title or project, I can generally make my case to the owner or acquisition group and then move forward. There aren’t a lot of corporate hoops to jump through—which I think allows the editors (and everyone) to be more creative.

RVC: Let’s talk submissions. I know you like timely hooks (which right now probably means diversity, social justice, environmentalism, etc.), but it strikes me that Sleeping Bear leans toward picture books well-​suited to solid educational backmatter. Would you rather see a great-​for-​the-​classroom book, or one that’s a total laugh-​out-​loud good time?

SR: I don’t think I can choose! I really love working on books that have something important to say—whether that’s a biography of someone previously overlooked in history or a story that encourages kids to reduce their plastic waste, etc.—but books that are just pure fun are a delight! Truly funny, laugh-​out-​loud books are so hard to write, so they can be few and far between.

RVC: How many submissions do you see in a month?

SR: Probably 50–100.

RVC: What percentage of those is agented?

SR: I would guess about 20 percent of those are agented or submitted directly from an author I have a relationship with—the rest come in via email submissions per the guidelines on our website.

RVC: Help us understand what Sleeping Bear is really all about. What three picture books really capture the representative spirit of your press’ aesthetic and creative philosophy?

SR: The Legend of Sleeping Bear for its regional hook and unparalleled art. Memoirs of a Goldfish, which is funny and heartfelt. Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery, which is a great classroom title with really strong trade crossover—and the illustrations are just so lovely.

And I have to add A Boy Like You—a story with a really important social emotional message.

RVC: It’s interesting that you mention Memoirs of a Goldfish, because that’s how I learned about your press. I was at Book Expo America in NYC back in 2010 or so, and that book was a giveaway from your press. My kids enjoyed it so much that we eventually picked up the sequels–witness the photographic evidence (minus the Elf and Parrot ones, which my kids have hidden somewhere special, and they won’t share where)!

SR: Oh gosh! I love coincidences like that!

RVC: In many ways the publishing world is a small one, and kids really latch onto their favorites.

Back to the regularly scheduled interview…I’ve heard that you appreciate when an author sells themselves in a pitch letter. But there’s the flip side, which is when a not-​yet-​debut author might say, “Hey, I’m going to be the next Jane Yolen, only faster!” What are some examples of how to manage the middle ground between self-​promotion (the good version) versus SELF-​PROMOTION (the icky version)?

SR: It’s important for editors to have the facts on our authors. So writing groups you’re involved with, social media platforms, relevant professional experience, existing school or conference presentations, etc. But authors should stay away from subjective and/​or grandiose claims. If you/​your story is as good as you think it is (i.e. “the next Where the Wild Things Are”), we’ll see it—don’t force it on editors.

RVC: Great advice. And speaking of advice, what do you say about art notes?

SR: In general, I strongly advise against them. A submitting author’s goal is to have the acquiring editor feel personally and passionately about their story. It’s hard to feel an attachment to a story if every other line the author is telling you what you’re seeing. The beauty of publishing a picture book is that everyone involved brings something to the project (author, editor, illustrator, and designer) that makes it stronger. Let editors have that moment to really be engaged in the story.

RVC: One final question for this part of the interview. Rumor has it that you’re a mega-​fan of Gwen Frostic. Actual news or fake news?

SR: Yes! Love her. I grew up with her art and going to her studio in Northern Michigan—I even met her a couple time before she passed and I have a tattoo of one of her pieces!

When I received the submission for Nature’s Friend, I was SO floored!

RVC: Alrighty, it’s time for the Lightning Round! And that means the questions are zippy, the answers are zappy, and the fun is totally electrified. Are you ready?

SR: Let’s do it!

RVC: Which picture book character would you love to be for a day?

SR: Hannah, from Hannah’s Tall Order. She’s got an appetite and knows what she wants.

RVC: Best place in Northern Michigan to get a cherry pie?

SR: King Orchards on US-​31.

RVC: Pick a theme song for where your life is at right now.

SR: “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor.

RVC: What’s your dream project?

SR: Something lyrical and important.

RVC: Favorite non-​Sleeping-​Bear picture book of 2020 (so far)?

SR: Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-​Bigelow.

RVC: Three words that sum up what picture books mean to you?

SR: Growing little minds.

RVC: Thanks so much, Sarah! Next time I’m up in Ann Arbor, the Vernors ginger ale is on me!

Educational Activities: Saving Eli’s Library by Ruth Horowitz

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Saving Eli’s Library
Author: Ruth Horowitz
Illustrator: Brittany Jackson
1 October 2020
Albert Whitman & Company
32 pages

As with most writers, I’m a book fan. In fact, some of the stacks of books in my office have now grown taller than me. I suspect Eli would appreciate that fact.

Book description from Goodreads: “Eli loves going to the library for Story Circle, but, one stormy day, the nearby river threatens to flood it. Eli and his dad must brave the storm to help save the books, and, when the storm is over, the whole town must come together to rebuild the library. Inspired by the residents of Lincoln, Vermont, who rebuilt their library on three separate occasions, Saving Eli’s Library showcases one community’s bigheartedness, and the power of water and nature.”

Need some reviews of Saving Eli’s Library?

Educational Activities inspired by Ruth Horowitz’s Saving Eli’s Library:

  • Before Reading–From looking at the front and back cover: 
    • What do you think of when you think of libraries?
    • Where and when does this story seem to take place?
    • What’s going on outside the window?
    • Where did Eli just come from?
    • If you could ask the author any one question before you read the book, what would it be?
  • After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
    • What kind of person is Eli?
    • Why did the library need saving?
    • Can you think of another way the library might have been saved?
    • Could this situation really happen?
    • If you marched with Eli in the book parade, would you wear a special costume?
    • Is there something you don’t understand about the story?
    • What other story does Saving Eli’s Library remind you of?
  • Writing–Now that Eli has saved his library, what happens next for him?  Imagine whatever you want, and then write down what you think of in as much detail as you choose. 
    • What new challenge does Eli–or the library–face?
      • Perhaps the library needs a fundraiser to buy new books? Or there’s a book-​eating alien that arrives? Or…
    • How does Eli overcome the challenge?
    • What does Eli see/​smell/​taste/​touch? Details help make a story come to life!
    • Feel free to draw pictures to accompany your continuation of Eli’s story.
    • Perhaps share your results with a friend or adult?
  • Activities–Try some of the following book-​themed crafts. Get a library-​loving adult to help: 
    • The Cat in the Hat Printable Hat–Yep. It’s wearable. Feel free to draw on the stripes versus use strips of craft paper.
    • Class Pancake Book–This requires a few other youngsters to make it work, so invite friends, family, or classmates to help out!
    • Funny Face Flipbook–This will stop the “I’m bored!” complaints. So much fun!
    • Paper Plate Caterpillar–For fans of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This one’s really easy to make, folks!
  • Further Reading–Which of these other picture books about libraries have you read? (Click on the book cover for more information on any of these titles!)

 

Author Interview: Laurie Keller

On By Only Picture BooksIn Behind the Books1 Comment

I’ve been posting weekly at OPB for more than two years now, and throughout that time, my kids have been kind of “whatEVER!” about the whole thing. But when they heard that “The Arnie the Doughnut Lady” was swinging by? Wow, they got interested. Over the year, we ruined two copies of Arnie the Doughnut with all our rereading, book-​snuggling, etc., so for them, this is the best OPB offering of the century.

I admit it—my dad stock has inched a bit higher as a result of this one. I’ll take it!

It helps that I’ve already shared the advance reading copy of Hello, Arnie! with my kids–it’s book five in the series, and it’s a fun fourth-​wall breaker. The Kirkus review for it says: “Donut expect this to pass young audiences without causing a sprinkle of giggles.”

If you’d like to know a bit more pre-​interview info about author-​illustrator Laurie Keller (a.k.a. “The Arnie the Doughnut Lady”), I offer these seven facts:

  • has a degree from Kendall College of Art and Design
  • lives along the shores of Lake Michigan
  • LOVES the movie Waiting for Guffman
  • prefers acrylic paint (“It dries fast and covers up mistakes!”)
  • perfect day includes roasting vegetarian hot dogs over a campfire on the beach
  • searches store bargain bins for ideas (“Well, just because!”)
  • trying hard to learn how to play the banjo

Now that we have a clearer sense of how much fun Laurie is, let’s get to the interview and see it all firsthand!

Want to e‑find Laurie? Here are some terrific options:

RVC: As much as my kids want me to ask Arnie-​only questions, let’s go back to the start of your career for a bit. You weren’t planning to be a writer or an artist, right? Weren’t you studying dance first?

LK: I was in a repertory dance tour company with the local community college and though I considered dance as a major for a while, it was mostly just for fun. I didn’t study ballet (the foundation of most styles of dance) as a kid so I didn’t think I really stood a chance at making it as a professional dancer so, as much as I loved it, I decided not to pursue it.

RVC: You also come from an educator background. Why didn’t you go that route?

LK: I almost did! After my first two years at Kendall College of Art and Design, I left and enrolled at a college that had a great education program, planning on becoming an elementary teacher. I think I would’ve loved that but I was really missing art school and a professor from Kendall talked me into coming back and giving an illustration career a shot.

Since making books involves doing lots of school visits, I feel like I get the best of both worlds.

RVC: That desire to have a career in illustration led you to a job at Hallmark. What did your seven years as a greeting card artist teach you about character and story that would later prove useful in the kidlit world?

LK: I know that a lot of people have the idea that Hallmark artists only paint cute bunnies and flowers—and don’t get me wrong, I love cute bunnies and flowers—but the talent and skills of the creative staff there was through the roof. I learned so much from them—it really was like going to graduate school. When I started making cards for kids a year after I started there, my characters were pretty crude looking but I learned a lot about refining them and making them more appealing.

Then, during my sixth year there, I was in a 4‑month creative workshop where I got to write and illustrate all my own cards. I LOVED being able to create cards from wacky ideas that popped into my head or things that crossed my path (they encouraged us to be as zany as we wanted). It really brought out my sense of humor and it definitely gave me more confidence as far as “putting myself out there” with my writing.

RVC: What was the turning point that got you “putting yourself out there” in terms of picture books? 

LK: When I got interested in making cards for kids, I started spending lunch hours at a nearby children’s bookstore (The Reading Reptile) looking for inspiration. I was only interested in the illustrations at first but became so enchanted with the stories I read that I started collecting kid’s books and knew that one day I’d love to try writing my own. I was especially inspired by Lane Smith and Jon Scieszka, Maira Kalman, William Steig and Petra Mathers. They all had very different styles of writing—some more dry and irreverent, others more sweet and charming—but they were all funny and engaging in their own right. It helped me to see that there was room for pretty much any style of writing and humor in the children’s book world.

It was years later, when I finished that creative workshop and had to go back to illustrating cards but not writing them, that I got very frustrated and bored, and I’m sure that’s what lead to me writing my first story, The Scrambled States of America.

RVC: Publisher’s Weekly loved that book–your first picture book!–as did many critics and reader (including me). How did the idea for that come about?

LK: It sounds so silly but one night, while falling asleep, some little states with arms and legs and faces popped into my head. The next morning I remembered that and thought “Hey, maybe I could make a book using states as characters to help kids learn about U.S. geography in a fun way.” I didn’t know if I’d seen that in a book somewhere so I asked some of my fellow book collector friends if they’d seen that and none had so I dove into writing it. I would work at Hallmark all day then come home and write into the wee hours every night until I finished it—I was obsessed!

RVC: How much input did you have when Gamewright made a game of your scrambled states book (which is an odd but very cool thing to happen to a picture book)?

LK: Gamewright contacted Henry Holt expressing interest in turning Scrambled States into a game and wondered if I had any ideas for how it could work. I didn’t AT ALL and was so surprised that they even saw potential for a game. They came up with the entire idea and it’s so much fun to play, very fast-​paced and educational. They ended up making a puzzle version of it, too.

RVC: The Scrambled States of America was purchased by Christy Ottaviano (here’s her 2020 interview with us), and I see that her imprint’s doing Hello, Arnie!, the new Arnie book which comes out in a few weeks (September 2020). What do you like most about working with Christy and her team?

LK: Besides Christy’s minty-​fresh breath, do you mean?

RVC: Yep. That’s a total given!

LK: Well, from day one, she was so warm and friendly and we became fast friends. I thank my lucky stars all the time for being able to work with Christy. And as smart and business-​savvy as she is, she’s also very creative and understands how everyone’s writing process is completely different. She doesn’t get annoyed as I constantly make changes to my stories until the last possible second. And to top it all off, she’s got a goofy sense of humor and is just a whole lot of fun!

RVC: From the interview I did with her here, I totally agree. So much fun!

And speaking of fun, your books feature a lot of wordplay. What’s your process for creating and honing that level of pun fun?

LK: Sometimes I have a few ideas for jokes and silly asides when I start writing. Some of it comes as the story develops and I get to know the characters’ personalities better. But when I get to the illustration part, that’s when most of the jokes pop into my head (especially when it’s late and I’m tired and punchy).

I used to think those ideas were completely random, though I now think my brain is working things out unconsciously and shoots them on over when they’re ready. I’m sure it’s a nightmare for Christy and her team because, like I said, I’m constantly rewriting and making changes until they finally take it away from me. As far as the puns, I’m a punster by nature, probably to the annoying point if you asked my remaining friends–the ones who haven’t left because they’re sick of my dumb puns, that is!

RVC: You illustrate books for others (such as the Marty Frye, Private Eye books and Pluto Gets the Call). How different is the process of working with another’s text versus handling all story aspects on your own?

LK: It takes me longer to loosen up when I’m illustrating someone else’s book; I get so nervous because I want the author to like what I do and I don’t want to blow it! The illustrating process (once I get over my nervousness) is more streamlined because I’m not going back and forth editing my story while I illustrate like I do with my own. Most times, the publisher and author have asked me to add little jokes and asides like I do in my books, and as strange as it feels at first to add words to someone’s story, I always have fun doing that.

RVC: You’re ranged far and wide with your topics. Manners. Doughnuts. Smiling. Geography. Teeth. Numbers. What’s next for you?

LK: I illustrated a book for Joan Holub called I Am the Shark. It’s about sharks. I’ll soon start illustrating a companion book called I Am the Bear. Oddly enough, it’s also about sharks. No wait, it’s about bears.

RVC: I’m sure the marketing folks at the press are super-​happy that’s the case!

LK: I’m also in the idea-​generating process for whatever it is I’ll be writing next. I have picture books in mind, of course, but I’m considering writing books for other age groups as well.

RVC: We loved having you with us, Laurie, but we’ve never had the chance to feature a doughnut here before. Are you open to letting us wrap up this interview with a Q&A from your pastry-bestie?

LK: Thanks for chatting, Ryan! And thank you for asking to interview Arnie–he’s been interrupting me the entire time wanting to get in on it!

RVC: Arnie, it’s time for THE LIGHTNING CHALLENGE! Sprinkle-​sweet questions and sugary-​good answers, please! Are you ready?

Arnie: I was MADE ready, Ryan!

RVC: Top three items on your bucket doughnut-​box list?

Arnie:

1) to set a Guinness World Record for ROLLING around the world
2) to audition for Cirque du Soleil’s show, “O” (I haven’t seen it yet but since it has a doughnut for the title, I figure I’m a shoo-​in. And I’m very bendy.)
3) to win “BEST IN DOUGH” at the Westminster Dog Show (I’m a doughnut-​dog now, you know)

RVC: A secret talent you have that no one would expect?

Arnie: Charming the ladies.

Arnie: I’m also great at hot do-​ga. Your probably know it as hot “yoga.”

RVC: If you weren’t a full-​time picture book star, you’d be…

Arnie: I’m a song and dance doughnut, Ryan. I’d love to be the star in a big show with lots of sprinkles! I’ll tell you what I WON’T be doing and that’s being a picture frame, pincushion, or air freshener like Mr. Bing suggested!

RVC: Favorite non-​doughnut picture book of 2019?

Arnie: Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea and Zachariah OHora. I laughed so hard my sprinkles were popping off! (I read Laurie Keller’s copy—don’t tell her, she gets all, “Stop getting frosting and sprinkles on the pages, Arnie!”)

RVC: True or false: you have the same number of sprinkles in every book.

Arnie: TRUE! 135 of them to be exact! Laurie Keller counts them to make sure she does it right. The only time she doesn’t count them is if I’m really small on a page or if only part of me is showing or on the RARE OCCASION that I flip my lid and my sprinkles start flying around. Poor Laurie gets tired of painting sprinkles though and I heard her say once that she wishes she’d made me a plain doughnut.

A PLAIN DOUGHNUT, RYAN! Can you imagine?

I get nauseous just thinking about it.

RVC: How did you first meet Laurie?

Arnie: I was visiting a friend in NYC who lived next door to her and we met on the elevator. She gave me her card and asked if she could make a book about me. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone approached me about it.

RVC: Why is Laurie the best person to help you tell your story?

Arnie: She really gets all of us “inanimate objects,” I guess. She knows that we have feelings, hopes, and dreams just like anyone else does. Plus she likes my corny jokes. I’m a pun-​bun at heart.

RVC: Your favorite line from any of your books?

Arnie: That’s a dough-​brainer, Ryan…it’s my signature song, ”DOUGHNUT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE”.

RVC: Thanks so much, Arnie (and Laurie, too)! I had a great delicious time!

Arnie: Thanks for having us, Ryan!