Let's Talk Illustrators #369: Zuzanna Celej

I was so lucky to grab illustrator Zuzanna Celej for a quick chat about her newly illustrated book The Vase with the Golden Cracks, written by Fran Nuño. This is a special book for so many reasons, and I'll let Zuzanna tell us more about the story and illustrations, but I would be hugely remiss if I didn't point out that one of the most special parts of this book literally has to be felt to be appreciated: The pages of the book are made from stone, not trees! This gives the book quite the unique tactile experience, and it's one of many excuses to run out and find it in person. Enjoy our interview about the illustration process for The Vase with the Golden Cracks!

Let's Talk Illustrators #324: Jenny Lucander

Today I'm talking to Jenny Lucander about Freya and the Snake, written by Fredrik Sonck. You can tell from the cover that this is a playful book with a lot of serious layers to it, and I'm excited to share our conversation here about the process behind making the illustrations for this unique book. Enjoy!

Let's Talk Illustrators #323: Catarina Sobral

I am pleased to share my interview with Catarina Sobral about Ashimpa: The Mysterious Word , translated by Julianna Barbassa, here today! This is a particularly exciting interview for me because I have owned the Portuguese edition for over a decade, and now that it's publishing in English I have a chance to show you the process behind making it! Enjoy taking a closer look at this gorgeous and whimsical book with me!

Let's Talk Illustrators #318: Anaïs Lambert

I feel so lucky to share here today my chat with Belgian author-illustrator Anaïs Lambert about her illustration and storyboard for Giant Steps. This was such a fun interview to conduct, I hope you enjoy taking a closer look at this quintessential spring book!

Let's Talk Illustrators #316: Manuel Marsol

Every so often a book comes along that speaks to a very specific part of me. Astro by Manuel Marsol, translated by Lizzie Davis, is one such book. I'd like to let Manuel do the talking, though, so check out our conversation to learn more about this unique exploration of grief and loneliness.

Let's Talk Illustrators #305: Sara Lundberg

Meow, meow [clears throat] today we're doing it the cat way with The Cat Way by Swedish author-illustrator Sara Lundberg and translated by B.J. Woodstein. My entire life has pretty much been done the cat way, so this interview felt quite natural to me! I hope you enjoy a peek at how this book and our main character came together.

Let's Talk Illustrators #304: Melissa Sweet

Today's interview is a little unconventional because normally I try to time interviews with book publication dates (give or take a few months). This time, though, we're turning back the clock to celebrate a book that turned ten this month. I'm talking to Melissa Sweet about the highly-praised, award-winning 2014 picture book The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, written by Jen Bryant, and it's such a blast from the past that I'll let Melissa take it from here!

Let's Talk Illustrators #273: Maxine Beneba Clarke

Today I'm sharing my interview with author-illustrator Maxine Beneba Clarke. Maxine has been an author and an author-illustrator, but Randa Abdel-Fattah's Eleven Words for Love: A Journey Through Arabic Expressions of Love marks Maxine's debut as illustrator only. Enjoy taking a peek behind the curtain at the collaborative process she had with Abdel-Fattah to illustrate this special bilingual book.

Favorite Pinocchio Picture Books

                

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Let's Talk Illustrators #235: Bryan Collier

I'm so happy I got a chance to catch up with legendary, award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier about his illustration process! Today we're talking specifically about We Are Here, written by the amazing Tami Charles, which serves as an ode to the Black and Brown people who have made notable societal contributions throughout history. Enjoy our inspirational chat!

SHU LIN'S GRANDPA

Shu Lin's Grandpa by Matt Goodfellow and Yu Rong sweetly demonstrates the power of art to transcend language and cultural barriers.

Let's Talk Illustrators #228: Gökçe İrten

Turkish author-illustrator Gökçe İrten recently gave me some insight into her process for her latest picture book All of Us, and I'm excited to share those pearls of wisdom here today! I hope you love taking a deeper look at this sweet and uniquely-illustrated book with me!

Let's Talk Illustrators #225: Isabel Roxas

I finally, finally got to talk to my friend Isabel Roxas! We talked about her newest illustration work on Sophia N Lee's picture book Holding On, as well as how her picture book work differs from her comic book work. It was a blast to talk to her, I hope you enjoy our chat!

Let's Talk Illustrators #222: Kristen Balouch

I am so excited to present my chat with Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award winner Kristen Balouch about her picture book Mystery Bottle. Kristen's book is sweet and evergreen in message: love has no borders! Enjoy our conversation.

Let's Talk Illustrators #218: Linda Bondestam

I feel super lucky that I got a chance to talk to Finnish author-illustrator Linda Bondestam about her illustration and story processes for My Life at the Bottom: The Story of a Lonesome Axolotl! I hope you enjoy our conversation about this special book, which highlights the critically endangered (but incredibly friendly) axolotl.

AMERICAN DESI

American Desi by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Supriya Kelkar takes readers on a journey to the intersection of identity, culture, and family.

IF YOU FIND A LEAF

If You Find a Leaf by Aimée Sicuro encourages readers to see common things in uncommon ways.

Let's Talk Illustrators #216: Mariana Alcántara

I got a chance recently to talk to Mariana Alcántara about her illustration process for Swimmers, written by María José Ferrada and translated by Kit Maude. Mariana uses heavy white space and a primary color palette to bring Ferrada's humorous and thoughtful words to life on the page. Enjoy our chat!

Let's Talk Illustrators #212: Amanda Jane Jones

I got a chance to talk to Amanda Jane Jones, co-author with LaTonya Yvette and illustrator of The Hair Book, which publishes simultaneously in board book and hardcover today. These books celebrate the infinite ways people can style their hair and find their own beauty and sense of self, and I'm thrilled to share my conversation with Amanda here! Enjoy!

WHIRL

Whirl by Deborah Kerbel and Josée Bisaillon wordlessly follows a maple seed, commonly known as a whirligig, as it moves throughout the city.