KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Children’s Illustrator, Shiho Pate

A playful illustration of a boy petting a large animal in golden and green hues. The text reads "Shiho Pate.com".
A photo of children's illustrator, Shiho Pate, smiling for the camera. She wears a mustard colored shirt, turquoise necklace, and has shoulder-length dark hair with highlights.

I’m so pleased to share this month’s KidLit Connection interview with children’s book illustrator, Shiho Pate! Shiho’s art has a playful and bold style that makes use of both traditional and digital mediums to convey a sense of warmth and fun. She is an illustrator who was born in Japan and now lives in Southern California. Shiho got her start in the gaming industry in New York City. While she has much gratitude for her years working as a game artist, she is so happy to be creating books for kids now.

Please join me in congratulating Shiho on not one but TWO book birthdays this month! Just this past week, THE RESCUES: BEST DAY EVER, written by Tommy Greenwald and Charlie Greenwald (Red Comet Press), was released! This is the second in the early reader book series THE RESCUES, both of which Shiho has illustrated. And earlier this month, BABY STEPS, an adorable picture book written by Kimberly Derting (Abrams Appleseed) also came out. We’ll talk more about these books in the interview, plus more about how Shiho got her start in illustration, what inspires her, and more about her illustration process. Welcome, Shiho!

An Interview with Children’s Book Illustrator, Shiho Pate

We’d love to hear more about you and your art! Can you tell us more about your work as an illustrator for kids?

Some of Shiho Pate's Books. Graphic novels, nonfiction books, picture books, chapter books.

Absolutely. And thank you for the opportunity! Hi I’m Shiho Pate. I love making all kinds of children’s books such as picture books, chapter books, graphic novels and science books! I tend to gravitate towards books that have great energy and lots of emotion. Yes, even science books have lots of emotion! When I’m done drawing my face tends to hurt because I (unknowingly) make the facial expressions that the characters make. I connect to the stories and characters by exploring beyond the words. If it’s not in the story, I think about settings, character personalities and histories, mood and so on. I also talk with my editor (who relays it to the author) about these things to make sure I’m aligned with their vision. My favorite part of the book making process is making the book as a team. 

How did you get your start as a children’s book illustrator and what lead you down this path?

I change (improve?) this answer all the time because I’m not sure when I actually started. The technical answer is when I talked to my agent. My illustrator mentor introduced me to my lovely agent Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency. It felt real when I started talking to Deborah. But, I think my earliest influence was watching my mom make children’s books when I was a kid. She took several children’s book making classes from our local library in Japan. She did it because it was fun. That stuck with me. That’s when I realized I could make my own stories and draw them too! MAGIC.

The path to working professionally took a while though. I went to art college and took children’s book classes. I thought I was going to be a children’s book illustrator right after graduating, but because I needed a working visa, I became a full time game artist for an indie game studio. This was the best decision I could have made. I learned a lot about digital art, character design, graphic design, time management, working as a team and communicating effectively. While working I also started making book dummies, visited museums and attended conferences. My game studio art director also critiqued my book dummies. All of that helped me a lot when I met Deborah.

Shiho Pate sitting in her studio at her desk with her daughter playing behind her. The room is filled with toys and fun art.
Part of Shiho's desk with sumi ink drawings, books, and toys.
A close-up of some of Shiho's semi ink drawing on her desk.
Take a look inside Shiho’s studio

Can you tell us more about how you work? What sort of tools and process do you use to create your illustrations?

I work in a studio filled with toys and loud music haha. I do have a spotify playlist if you’re interested in what I listen to while I work. Music is my favorite tool to get me excited to draw. My lines flow better. Oh and coffee helps. I use index cards to do thumbnail sketches. I feel like a detective because I lay out all of the spreads to the cork board. It helps when I see the flow of the book. Because the sketches are so small and quick, I try out different ideas. Then do the full sized sketches digitally. It’s the fastest for me especially when I get edits from my editor.

As for the actual art tools I use to create illustrations, I have two treatments. One is texture heavy treatment. I usually choose this treatment for picture books and chapter books. I use pencil, sumi ink and digitally color them. Sometimes I use watercolor. Sometimes I scan in textures. The second treatment has outlines and a simple color fill. I usually choose this treatment for graphic novels and science books. I love both treatments equally 🙂 

A stack of index cards in Shiho's hands showing how she uses them to draw thumbnail images.
Some of Shiho's different art styles in her books.

From Index Card Thumbnails to Final Art Styles

Your most recent book, THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER, written by Tommy Greenwald and Charlie Greenwald (Red Comet Press) just released this week! Congrats! This is the second in a series about animals who were previously unwanted, found a loving new home, and have become good friends. Can you tell us more about this book?

The book cover for THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER. Two dogs and a cat climb on a big orange armchair.

Thank you for asking! I love talking about THE RESCUES series because it’s an invitation for readers to tell me their rescue animal stories! I’ve been having so much fun illustrating Tommy and Charlie’s stories because it’s filled with energy, humor and love. The first book THE RESCUES FINDING HOME is about two rescue dogs Moose and Bear finding their forever home. But, there’s actually a third character. Tiger the cat joins at the end of the book (sorry for the spoiler!).

In the second book THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER you get to peek into their bright daily lives. They get to go on a trip (to the vet?!) argue about their space (MY favorite couch!) and tackle monsters (stormy weather) together. It’s really fun to read out loud. THE RESCUES is an easy-to-read chapter book so it’s perfect for reluctant readers or kids that are transitioning from picture books. Or, read to your pets!

When working on THE RESCUES series, what was one of your favorite parts of the project? And what was something you found challenging?

My favorite part was collaborating with my art director Mike. He welcomed anything and everything! He pushed me to draw beyond the obvious and literal representation of the story. I always have the best time on video calls with Mike because we talk and understand each other’s visions. For example, I did a sketch of the vet waiting room. I got so excited about drawing all kinds of animals and their owners. I think I even started thinking about why they had to visit the vet. I thought squeezing Moose and Bear at the back of the room helped to visualize the pressure of going into the vet. When Mike saw the sketch, he gently nudged me and suggested it was more about Moose and Bear’s emotion. How they were worried and scared to go into the vet. But doing their best to stay because they trust Tiger and Cathy. That switch helped me focus.

An interior illustration from THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER. Two dogs and a cat walk across a white page with some items from a vet office in the background.
An interior illustration from THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER. A dog and a cat are glaring at each other as they sit in a big orange armchair.
Interior scenes from THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER

The challenges… hmm. Not really a challenge but Mike and I did figure out a specific color palette per chapter. Because THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER starts at the beginning of the day, we went with light blue and greens for chapter one. Then in chapter two we went with warm yellows and oranges to represent the later afternoon cozy feel. For chapter three we chose dark blues, purples and bright pinks because the storm comes and the story gets so hyper. It was so fun! 

A outline sketch from THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER by Shiho Pate.
A peek at the process of creating a line drawing and colorizing it digitally.
The final color drawing from THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER.
Some of the process of drawing and coloring THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER

You have another book, BABY STEPS written by Kimberly Derting (Abrams Appleseed) that just came out earlier this month. We’d love to hear more about this book too.

Baby Steps book cover, written by Kimberly Derting and illustrated by Shiho Pate.

Yes! Kimberly’s story is so simple and beautiful! It was my first time illustrating a book where the character grows so much, literally. The story begins where the little sister comes home from the hospital, and the book is about how the boy becomes a big brother to the sister. So I had to draw the little sister from the baby phase to the toddler phase. It was challenging and so rewarding. I looked at a lot of my daughter’s photos, my sister’s daughter and sketched my friend’s kids. I’m the oldest sister in my family so I know what the big brother goes through. It’s not always ME FIRST or ME ONLY anymore, and it’s not always fun. BABY STEPS validates those feelings. When I read Kimberly’s story I felt like I got a warm hug. I hope the book invites conversations. 

Some pencil sketches for BABY STEPS, illustrated by Shiho Pate.
Some digital sketches for BABY STEPS, illustrated by Shiho Pate.
Some semi ink and pencil textures used for BABY STEPS illustrated by Shiho Pate.
A final color illustration from BABY STEPS, illustrated by Shiho Pate.
From Sketch to Finish, A Peek at Shiho’s Art Process and Style for BABY STEPS

Do you have anything else new you’re working on that you can tell us about?

Ooo, I can’t talk about my upcoming books yet but it’s happening! I’m so grateful! I’m also on submission with my first author-illustrator book.

What is one of your biggest wishes for your work as an illustrator of children’s books?

My biggest wish for my books is that kids will read the book over and over until the pages become wrinkly. And that those kids will read my books to their kids when they grow up. 

An illustration by Shiho Pate of children reading, writing, and painting outdoors under a tree with pumpkins and fall decorations all around.

What is something you would tell aspiring children’s book illustrators hoping to break into the field?

This is always a hard question, and my answer changes a lot, sorry. Draw things you’re passionate about. And, finish a book dummy. You will learn the most by making a book. You got this. 

A picture of Shiho smiling with her two newest books. The text reads, "Thank you for reading!"

See More from Shiho Pate!

An illustration of a smiling child with an orange with a face. It says, "SIHO PATE.com".

To learn more about Shiho Pate and see more of her art, visit her online at these links:

Shiho is represented for children’s books by Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency.

Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, the environment, social justice, or mindfulness? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Author-Illustrator, Angela Quezada Padron

A banner with white background featuring colorful illustrations of a girl with wings over the water, an older couple smiling, green hills, a blue house with fence, instruments, and palm trees. Text read: Angela Quezada Padron. Author/Illustrator. Children's Books. Fiction. Nonfiction. Educational.
A headshot of Angela Quezada Padron. She has long brown hair, brown eyes and is smiling while wearing a pink and purple floral blouse. There are palm trees and a city in the background.

Welcome to the latest KidLit Connection interview! I’m so pleased to introduce Angela Quezada Padron, an author and illustrator of children’s books, including picture books, board books, and novels. Her debut author-illustrated picture book, AS THE SEAS RISE: Nicole Hernández Hammer and the Fight for Climate Justice (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) just released this June! She’ll share more about this book in the interview.

Angela writes and illustrates both fiction and nonfiction stories. Her nonfiction work celebrates people in the Latino community who have made a difference in the world and within their community. Angela has worked as a freelance writer, illustrator, fine artist, and curriculum designer for educational publishers. She is a lover of nature, music, and sports. When she’s not writing, drawing, and painting, you can find Angela creating music, collecting seashells, and enjoying the natural world.

An Interview with Children’s Book Author and Illustrator, Angela Quezada Padron

First, we’d love to hear more about you as an illustrator and author. Can you tell us more about you and your work as a creator of books for kids?

Thank you so much for this opportunity to interview with you and share about myself. I write and illustrate fiction and nonfiction children’s books, mainly picture books but also board books and novels. In 2007, I started an illustration master’s program through the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and I graduated with my MFA in 2011. In 2012, I illustrated a few books for McGraw Hill, an educational publisher. Then in 2014 I was hired for two books—THE HERO IN YOU by Ellis Paul (Albert Whitman & Co.) and MY BODY BELONGS TO ME by Jill Starishevsky (Free Spirit Publishing). I was also a semi-finalist in the Tomie de Paola contest through SCBWI in 2014, and I was offered the chance to illustrate a story called FIREFIGHTER MOM in Cricket Magazine in 2016. I felt like I was on a roll! Then things died down and I didn’t have any luck until 2021 when Atheneum Books picked up my first author/illustrator book, AS THE SEAS RISE. Since then, I’ve had some other illustration projects with educational publishers, and sold three other books due out between 2025-2027.

An illustration of a kitchen scene. Two older women cook on a stove to the left. Two younger children cook at a countertop to the right. One of them looks concerned about what's inside the pot she's opening. Art by Angela Quezada Padron.

How did you start creating children’s books? Was there anything in particular that inspired you to pursue it?

A photo of Angela Quezada Padron as a little girl, smiling and holding up a picture she drew.

I’ve actually been creating books since I was little. My mom saved many of my “books” that I wrote and illustrated as early as four-years-old. Most of the books were about her when she was pregnant with my younger brother, me meeting Santa Claus, or Snoopy. I also saved my stories from my seventh-grade creative writing class. I didn’t realize, though, that this could be a legitimate path for me until I began teaching in my mid-20’s. Working in schools exposes you to more children’s books. As I read more books, I became more interested in studying about the authors and illustrators and how they got their books published. Some time in my early 30’s, I came up with a story idea but wasn’t sure how to format it or where to even get eyes on it to try and publish it. 

I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in 2004, and I’ve been on this path ever since. I joined a critique group, of which I am still a part of (shoutout to the Aventura Critique Group in Florida)! My writing friends and critique partners have helped me so much with telling me what works and what doesn’t in each of my stories. They’ve shown me how to strengthen my work and tighten my word choices. Without them, there is no doubt I would never have been published. 

A book cover for AS THE SEAS RISE: NICOLE HERNANDEZ HAMMER AND THE FIGHT FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE by Angela Quezada Pdron. An illustration of a woman with long dark hair, wearing glasses and a white button-down shirt. She is surrounded by different children working together to build a diorama. Behind them is the ocean.

Your most recent book, AS THE SEAS RISE: NICOLE HERNÁNDEZ HAMMER AND THE FIGHT FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) just came out in June—congrats! This is a powerful, lyrical biography about a Latina environmental scientist and climate activist who has worked for climate justice in vulnerable communities.  Can you tell us more about this story and what inspired you to write and illustrate it?

Thank you so much! It truly was an honor to create this book about Nicole. After attending a 2020 SCBWI online conference about nonfiction children’s books, I became interested in writing a children’s book biography about a Latina figure who was involved in science in some way. After doing some searching online, I came across an article about Nicole Hernández Hammer where it stated that she was invited by First Lady Michelle Obama to attend the State of the Union address in 2015. Nicole was recognized due to her work advocating for climate justice in communities of color and educating others about how climate change was affecting the health of people in Latino communities. That inspired me to learn even more about her, as well as about sea level rise and climate justice. I wouldn’t call myself an advocate for climate change or justice, however I am conscious about how I’m contributing to climate change and climate justice and always looking for ways to support, adjust my ways and beliefs if needed, and learning what actions I can take to make this world better. 

A spread from the book AS THE SEAS RISE by Angela Quezada Padron

When I was writing the book, I found her on LinkedIn and took a chance to message her and said: ‘Hi, I have this story. I would love to interview you.’ And she said, ‘Sure.’ So we set up a time on Zoom and we chatted. I wanted to verify things that I had read. She gave me other insight, too, that had not been in any articles. I told her I would share this story with her once I had finished writing it, which I did. Within two or three months I got an offer from Atheneum (Books for Young Readers). I kept Nicole in the loop the entire time. I paid her a consultation fee, to consult throughout the book. We stayed in contact throughout the entire creation of the book, which obviously lends more credibility to the book.

Angela painting for AS THE SEAS RISE

When working on AS THE SEAS RISE, what was one of your favorite parts of the project?

I really enjoyed my conversations with Nicole and learning about her life. Throughout the process, she sent me photos of her and her family to use as references for the illustrations. She also taught me a lot of the correct terminology to use when speaking about climate justice (for example, we shouldn’t say we want to “help” frontline communities but rather “partner with” frontline communities so they can get the services and support they need to stay resilient against climate change). 

What was one of your biggest challenges when working on AS THE SEAS RISE?

A nonfiction 48-page biography is probably one of the hardest books to make, especially as my author/illustrator debut. Most books are 32 pages, with fictional stories you can make up the characters and places, and you have more freedom to stylize the characters and backgrounds. With biographies, you have to be as accurate as possible with the facts and the depiction of the person. And, when the person is still alive and you’re communicating with them, you want to be EXTRA exact to do them proud. I had the pressure on myself to try to make it as perfect and accurate as possible.

In addition, my father was ailing and passed away in 2021, right in the middle of me working on the final text. Then I was dealing with some health issues in the spring of 2022 that affected me finishing the art. But I pushed through it and got it done!

From reference photo, to line drawing, to finished color page from the book AS THE SEAS RISE.

We’d love to hear more about how you work! What sort of process and tools do you use to create both your illustrations and writing?

In the past, including for AS THE SEAS RISE, I would do most of the illustrations by hand using pencil. First, I do a lot of research and find photos that will inspire some or all parts of a drawing. Sometimes it’s the right background or object I needed, and sometimes it’s just a pose I needed. I often look at videos and then take screenshots while videos are playing because that allows you to capture a person in action rather than a posed shot. For the cover of SEAS, I saw a Twitter post about kids making models of their communities protected for climate change. Nicole and I thought that would be a good theme for the cover, and the editor agreed!

A series of thumbnail sketch line drawings by Angela Quezada Padron.
Thumbnail sketches from AS THE SEAS RISE

After I had my ideas, I would draw thumbnail sketches to get a sense of layout and how to paginate the text. Then I did more refined thumbnails. Once I had the layouts decided, each part of an illustration was drawn by hand on vellum using Prismacolor Col-erase pencils. I find vellum to be a beautifully smooth surface that doesn’t smear, and the col-erase pencils have a nice texture as well as don’t smear like regular pencils. I would scan them into my computer, clean them up and adjust as needed. Once the editor saw the sketches and gave feedback, I made necessary adjustments and then drew the final outlines.

Then I would print all of the parts – people, objects, backgrounds – onto several pieces of BFK Rives paper which is mainly used for printmaking. It’s thick, doesn’t really warp and can hold a lot of layers of paint and coloring. Plus it has a nice texture to it. I would tape the paper down onto wooden boards and then color in the drawings with gouache, watercolor, pastel and/or colored pencil. After that, I would scan all the painted papers back into Photoshop, put each part on its own layer (meaning, the people and objects would be placed on individual layers in Photoshop) and then add in my original sketches as overlays to make sure the lines were clean. I would then finish in Photoshop to clean up, resize, and change color of any part if need be. 

From AS THE SEAS RISE:
A scanned in drawing, background painting, and painted figures before they are assembled together digitally.

However, after doing a 48-page picture book like SEAS in this style, I realized that I need to work digitally more to save time and to save my aging hands from tiring out! So, now I tend to draw parts by hand still on vellum, scan them in and then redraw over them in Photoshop or Procreate. I do a combination of coloring digitally and scanning in painting or textured paper to fill in the illustrations like digital collage. Some of my work on my website was created with digital collage in this manner, and some were done by drawing and coloring by hand, then scanning in and putting them together digitally.

A peek into Angela Quezada Padron’s creative workspaces

You have three other books you’re currently working on which will be out in the future. Can you tell us more about them?

I would love to! FROM THE FIELDS TO THE FIGHT: HOW JESSICA GOVEA THORBOURNE ORGANIZED FOR JUSTICE comes out with Atheneum Books in 2026. Jessica worked with Cesar Chavez during the grape boycott to fight for equal rights for farm workers and labor unions. That is being illustrated by the talented Sol Salinas. The next book, AN ISLAND CALLED HOME (Eerdman’s Books, 2026) is a fictional story about a girl who visits her father’s home country for the first time and learns about her extended family and her bilingual and bicultural heritage. It’s based on my life with my father who is from the Dominican Republic, and I will be illustrating that one. Lastly, LUCIA’S GOALS (Lee & Low), which is being illustrated by Christina Barragan-Forshay, is about a girl who wants to play soccer but battles through sexism, racism, and inequality to make her dream come true. The publication date is not finalized yet but should be out in the next couple of years. 

Some people might wonder why an illustrator wouldn’t illustrate all their books. The truth is my style doesn’t always fit with the stories I write, and I don’t want to be limited to only pursuing books that I could best illustrate. 

What is your greatest wish for your work as an illustrator and author?

What a great question. I focus on the stories that have an emotional tie-in that will allow readers to connect to the story in some way. I think about how a particular story will inspire and impact kids and encourage them to read more. For example, I hope books like SEAS and FIELDS inspire kids to take action against injustice, while LUCIA can show what perseverance is, and ISLAND can show readers another culture or family situation they may never have known about. Some of my other stories I hope to publish will just make kids laugh or entertain them and others may warm their hearts. In the end, I create the stories because I love to and want to share my ideas and creations with the world. But to me, it’s most important that the kids enjoy reading them and connect with the stories. Otherwise, there’s no point in doing them at all. 

Is there something you would like to tell aspiring children’s book illustrators and authors who hope to be published someday?

Definitely look into organizations like SCBWI to learn about the industry and connect with others. Do your research before submitting to agents and editors to make sure your style and goals match with theirs. Write and illustrate what you love, not what the trends say you should do. Illustrate in the style and medium YOU want to, not in the style others tell you you should. BUT, always be open to feedback and suggestions. Find other creators to connect with so you get that honest feedback and encouragement. Most importantly, never give up. It can take years to get your first book deal or project and when you do, all the hard work will have been worth it!

I also want to acknowledge Giuseppe Castellano from The Illustration Department. A few years ago, I was feeling like my work wasn’t good enough and doubting myself. I signed up for a portfolio review and mentorship with Giuseppe, whose advice and encouragement were essential to help me rebuild my portfolio and come up with ideas for the compositions for AS THE SEAS RISE. Publishing really is a collaborative effort!

Learn More About Angela Quezada Padron

To learn more about Angela Quezada Padron and to see more of her work, follow her on social media and visit these links:

Angela is represented by Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary.

Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, the environment, social justice, or mindfulness? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Illustrator, Acamy Schleikorn

Two children play in a living room with a space ship made out of a cardboard box. A playful illustration by Acamy Schleikorn.
Illustration by Acamy Schleikorn
Illustrator and author, Acamy Schleikorn smiles in an outdoor garden backdrop. Academy is a Black woman with glasses, hair in locs, and in this photo wears a floral blouse.

The latest KidLit Connection interview is here! And I’m so excited to celebrate a very happy book birthday with illustrator, Acamy Schleikorn! This past week, Acamy celebrated the release of her debut book, NOT MY CAT, written by Stacy Patton, published by Simon & Schuster for Young Readers. Acamy is an illustrator and writer from Las Vegas who creates stories and art that celebrate diversity and joy in the Black community. Her illustrations have a focus on family, friendship, joy, and imagination with a unique and playful style, using digital tools with a textural, traditional feel.

In this interview, Acamy shares more about her process, what inspires her, and more about her new book and upcoming projects. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Acamy as a critique partner in the past and it’s been a joy to see her grow and bloom in her picture book career. I can’t wait for you to learn more and read her new book!

An Interview with Children’s Book Illustrator and Author, Acamy Schleikorn

Can you tell us more about yourself? What do you love about illustrating books and what inspires you and your art?

For those that don’t know, my name is pronounced uh-kay-me and I absolutely love my name! I’m a wife and mom. When I’m not illustrating, I’m spending time with my family, practicing piano, or baking anything sourdough. My favorite thing about illustrating picture books is that I get to include snippets of my own world into my art. I love expressing myself in that way. The very things that make me who I am can be seen sprinkled throughout a lot of my art. For example, I love laughing, so you’ll see a lot of joy and heartwarming scenes depicted in my art. I think it’s awesome because we can never have too much joy in our lives, right?! It’s truly my favorite thing to illustrate. Honestly, all kinds of things inspire me like nature, my family and other art. I like reminding myself that there is inspiration all around me if I take the time to notice it. 

How did you get your start illustrating picture books? We’d love to know more about the path you took to get here.

Before I was an illustrator, I was a hand lettering artist that focused on weddings. I’d hand letter wedding welcome signs, seating charts, table cards, and all kinds of other things. It was cool, but it became repetitive for me, and I just wasn’t fulfilled. Once I discovered the world of picture books, it was a wrap. I was hooked and in love. I have a heart for children, so this was a perfect way for me to do something that would impact them in a positive way. I posted a lot of my artwork on social media when I was just starting out. My agent actually found me using the #PortfolioDay hashtag on Twitter. It was truly a blessing, because I didn’t even realize I had that kind of potential at the time. My agent is awesome, because she is able to draw out the gold in me that I didn’t know was there. When my agent emailed me about an inquiry she received for me to illustrate NOT MY CAT for the first time, I was shocked! The amazing journey I was on became so much more real!

Your debut picture book, NOT MY CAT (written by Stacey Patton and published by Simon & Schuster), is a funny story about Staceypants who says she doesn’t want a cat, but somehow finds herself with a cat who chooses to adopt her. Can you tell us more about this book?

The book cover for NOT MY CAT by Stacy Patton and illustrated by Aacamy Schleikorn. A Black woman with locs sits on a sidewalk with a grey cat leading up to a yellow house.

Absolutely! The thing I love about NOT MY CAT is that it is based on real events that happened between Stacey Patton (AKA Staceypants in the story) and the cat who “wasn’t hers”. This made me feel as though I was putting a new lens on reality with my illustrations as opposed to creating my own world. There’s definitely a greater level of care that goes into projects like this because you want to represent the things that happened both accurately and creatively. The publisher sent me several images of Stacey with her cat, so I took it upon myself to bring some of that to life. The cat yoga scene in the book is based off of a real photo! So fun!

What were your favorite parts about working on NOT MY CAT? Was there anything you found challenging with this project?

I actually enjoyed so much about working on this book! But if I had to narrow it down, I’d say I loved the fact that the main character had locs and crazy pants! I also have locs, so it was a connection point to the author for me. And drawing crazy pants… well, that’s just fun! I was really able to let my creativity shine and come up with different patterns and colors that I could only dream of having on my pants. 

The challenging thing about this project is that… believe it or not, I had never really illustrated a cat before this! It’s one thing drawing a cat, but it’s another thing drawing the same cat in different poses and making sure it’s consistent throughout. Sometimes the body would be too long or wouldn’t be hairy enough in some scenes. So it was basically trial and error for me to figure out what worked best. I actually love these types of challenges, though! You say yes and figure out the details along the way!

Two pages from NOT MY CAT. On the left a woman does yoga on a porch with her cat. On the right, the same woman lies on a blanket outside with her cat. Illustrated by Acamy Schleikorn.
A spread from the book NOT MY CAT, by Stacy Patton and illustrated by Acamy Schleikorn

You also have another book you illustrated coming out at the end of the year called I’M ALWAYS LOVING YOU (written by Kathy Wolff). Can you tell us more about illustrating this book?

Of course! This book is so personal to me. Once I read the manuscript, it was an immediate yes to illustrate this book. As a mother myself, I could relate to every single word (well almost, because there is a line about coffee in there, and I am definitely not a coffee person at all, haha). For the illustrations, I decided on following three different family units throughout the story. I wanted to be as inclusive as I could because all families are different. The first family is a family of four that consists of a mother, father, son, and daughter. The second family is a single father with his daughter, and the third family is a grandmother with her grandson. I cycle through each of these families throughout the pages to show how love expresses itself in different ways. Some of the scenes have a bit of humor that I believe many parents/caregivers can relate to while other scenes are very sweet. I poured my heart out onto those pages!

How would you compare illustrating your first book to your second book? How were the experiences different or similar?

I loved both experiences, but they were very different! For NOT MY CAT, since it was based on a true story about the author, there were certain qualities about the main character, the cat, and the surrounding environment that I needed to make sure I incorporated into the art. So I had a little bit of art direction with that one, but it wasn’t so much that it was overbearing. I was still able to pour myself into the art like I usually do. I really enjoyed it!

For I’M ALWAYS LOVING YOU, it was more of a free for all! I was able to simply read the manuscript and illustrate whatever I wanted to. That felt like a lot of freedom compared to my first book and allowed me to incorporate even more qualities from my life into the story. For example, one of the family units shown in the book… is a direct reflection of my own family! I was very intentional about every little detail and finding ways to tell a separate story from the manuscript itself.

A wooden desk with an iPad and MacBook on top with a black chair and some white filing drawers below.

We’d love to know more about how you work and make your art. Can you share more about your creative process and tools?

All of my illustrations are created digitally using an app on my iPad Pro called Procreate. It’s a powerhouse! My favorite thing about it is the ease of working anywhere. If I want to work at my desk, cool! If I want to work on the couch, also cool! It’s convenient because I don’t have to worry about cleaning up any art supplies; I can easily grab my iPad and go! I recently just built my own desk out of butcher block, and I absolutely love it. I’ve fallen asleep way too many times on my bed while “working” on my iPad, so this will be helpful. It’s way easier to focus at my desk!

What is your biggest hope for your work as a children’s book creator?

Honestly, my biggest hope for my work is that children will be able to see themselves in my art. I am a firm believer that representation in picture books is so important. I didn’t see enough of myself growing up and I want to ensure that children today have a bunch of options! And as a Black woman, I want to be able to connect to Black girls specifically. That’s also why I love drawing natural hairstyles! I want to remind them that however their hair grows out of their hair is perfect and beautiful! Another one of my dreams is to have my author-illustrator debut! I don’t yet have a polished story for my agent to start querying yet, but I’ve been trying to work toward that.

What is something you’d like to share with other illustrators wanting to break into this industry?

Be yourself! Your art should be a reflection of you and have a unique voice. If you are weird, show that in your art! If you love drawing food or astronauts, make sure those specific things can be found in your portfolio! And don’t include anything you aren’t 100% happy with or anything you don’t enjoy drawing. Always keep working on your craft and asking the right people for feedback! Be okay with making mistakes and creating art you aren’t proud of. It’s all a part of the process, and sometimes you have to crawl through the mud to find some gold.

Learn More About illustrator and author Acamy Schleikorn

An illustration of a young Black girl with vitiligo and her hair in bantu knots, wearing a red jumper. Art by Acamy Schleikorn.

To learn more about Acamy,  see more of her work, and follow her on social media, check out these links:

Acamy is represented for children’s books by Claire Morance at Painted Words.

Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, the environment, social justice, or mindfulness? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Illustrator Heather Brockman Lee

An illustration of different children of all shapes, sizes, and colors holding hands. One child at the front is reading a book. Art by Heather Brockman Lee.
Illustrator Heather Brockman Lee smiling for the camera in front of a bookcase.
Heather Brockman Lee

I’m delighted to bring you another KidLit Connection interview with an illustrator I adore. This month, I chatted with Heather Brockman Lee, a picture book illustrator (and soon-to-be author/illustrator) and licensing illustrator. Heather’s work is whimsical and soft, inspired by nature and magic. She has three books she’s illustrated that are on the shelves for you to enjoy now (check them out on her website), and two more on the way this coming year! Plus, more in the works. In the interview, we chatted more about those books.

Heather has been the winner of multiple awards, including the portfolio showcase award from SCBWI in 2021. She is also a mentor through the Michelle Begley Mentorship Program as part of the Rocky Mountain chapter of SCBWI. Heather lives in Colorado with her family and when she’s not painting in her studio enjoys spending time outdoors and keeping active. Not surprisingly, she is a lover of books and animals.

I’m so happy to share this interview, as Heather had some great insights and fun behind-the-scenes peaks at her work and process. I hope you enjoy hearing from Heather as much as I did!

An Interview with Children’s Book Illustrator, Heather Brockman Lee

A fairy sits inside a plant pot and flowers grow from their head. The flowers are yellow, orange, and green. The fairy wears a red jumpsuit and has grey/brown wings. The pot is a terracotta pot shown in a cut cross-section. Art by Heather Brockman Lee.


First, we’d love to hear more about you and your work as an illustrator. Can you tell us more about yourself as an artist of books for kids?

Yes! And thank you so much for having me. Books and art have always played a huge role in my life, and I feel so lucky to be building a career making books. When I am not working on a book that is under contract, I am usually painting and sketching for projects to send to my agent that will hopefully become future books. I also love to experiment and push myself with personal work, constantly trying to improve. I am very fortunate to know a lot of other illustrators and I love sharing work with them and talking art. My favorite pieces to make are ones that hold a little magic, and I try to include that feeling in realistic scenes also. 

How did you first start creating art for children’s books? What led you to this particular career? 

I graduated college with a BA in Fine Art, and I had some really cool jobs but they mostly centered around doing art for spaces that required wealth to create. This makes sense, because it is usually expensive to have custom textiles or stained glass made. But I wanted to make work that was more meaningful and accessible. I have always loved books and story so being an illustrator is a perfect fit, but it took me a long time to get started because I really didn’t know how a person got work in publishing. Finally about 7 years ago I literally just googled “how to illustrate children’s books” and that took me to the SCBWI website, which lead to me learning so much about the industry, and meeting my critique group, who have all been formative to my career. 

A fairy peers out from behind some plants, watching a woman pouring tea from a pink polk-a-dot tea pot in a garden. The woman stands at a block iron table and chair on a blue brick patio. There is a small house in the background. The art is whimsical and colorful in greens and blues. Illustration by Heather Brockman Lee.

Shop talk! Can you tell us more about how you work as an illustrator? What are the different ways you approach your pieces and various tools you use to create them?

This might be my favorite subject to talk about! I love working with traditional materials and doing a lot of experimentation combining different techniques and media to get the exact look I am going for. When I start working on a new book project, I think a lot about the medium I want to use to best express the mood of that book. The mediums I use the most are gouache, watercolor and colored pencil on a variety of papers meant for watercolor or mixed media. My current favorite is Arches 300 lb hot press- which is pricey but so worth it (and I can paint on both sides!) I also really love using textured papers and ephemera in my images. While the bulk of the work is done traditionally, I also use procreate on my iPad for sketching, and photoshop to edit or create digital collage from my scans. 

"When You Love a Book" book cover by Heather Brockman Lee. Book text by Kaz Windness. An illustration of a child opening a book with all kinds of objects popping out, including a train, a dog house, a boat, spaghetti, a mouse with a cookie, Little Red Riding Hood, birds, and a moon.
The new cover for “When You Love a Book”

I’m so excited for your next book that’s set to come out in May of 2024, WHEN YOU LOVE A BOOK, written by Kaz Windness (who I interviewed last year) and published by Penguin Random House! This is an extra special collaboration because you and Kaz are also critique partners. Can you tell us more about this book?

Yes we are so excited about this book! Obviously most people that go into publishing do it out of a love for books so it will be no surprise that books have meant so much to both of us throughout our lives. We have had conversations about books being friends to us when we really needed them, and when Kaz wrote the manuscript she asked if I would consider illustrating it. Of course Kaz herself is a very skilled and talented illustrator, but she felt that her style might lean a little too edgy for the project, and she also wanted the experience of being on the writing side only. I loved the manuscript and agreed immediately! We like to say it is a book about friends being books made by friends who make books.  The book itself is a beautiful tribute to classic stories that shaped so many of our childhoods, and that many of us continue to pass down to our own children and grandchildren. 

Since you personally know the author of WHEN YOU LOVE A BOOK, how was your experience illustrating this book different from other books? Was there a more direct collaboration than other projects? Or did you still work primarily with the art director without author feedback?

As you mentioned, Kaz and I are in a critique group together, so we are very used to giving and receiving feedback on projects. While we were getting the book ready for submission, we treated it as we do all book dummies in the critique group. She had great feedback on the sketches, as did our other critique partners, but was very careful to respond to my ideas as opposed to telling me how she would illustrate it. As a fellow illustrator, I really admire her restraint! I think a collaboration like this really needs to have a mutual trust and respect in the other’s skillset which fortunately we have. Once the book sold, the publisher treated us as they would any author and illustrator, with separate contracts, and my interaction was mostly with the Art Director Sophie Erb (who is wonderful to work with!) 

What were your favorite parts about illustrating WHEN YOU LOVE A BOOK? In contrast, what was something you found challenging about the project?

My favorite part was collecting and using old library cards signed by children and collaged throughout the book. I found most of them on Etsy or Ebay, and just loved feeling that connection to generations of readers. I didn’t want to cut up the actual cards, so I scanned and printed them on a rice paper meant for printmaking. This allowed me to use my favorite sections more than once, and the thinner paper was easier to work with for cutting and gluing. 

The most challenging part by far was trying to live up to my own expectations for the illustrations. I think most artists can never totally satisfy ourselves. I am really proud of this book though and I hope people will enjoy reading and looking at it as much as I did painting it.

The publishing announcement for the book City of Jasmine. Text reads: Luana Kay Horry at HarperCollins has bought world rights in a three-book preempt, The City of Jasmine by debut author Nadine Presley (1.), illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee. In this picture book, a Syrian girl holds on to the beauty of her hometown infused with the sweet scent of jasmine. While the world carves ruins into her memories, she stands up: Damascus is no pile of rubble. Publication is slated for winter 2025; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East West Agency represented the illustrator.
Publishing announcement for “City of Jasmine”

You also have some other projects in the works, including another book you’re illustrating and your debut book as an author and illustrator. Can you tell us more about them?

Yes! Right now I am working on art for City of Jasmine, by Nadine Presley. She is a debut author (with more books on the way) and has written a beautiful book honoring her beloved city of Damascus. I am working closely with her and our publishing team at Harper Collins to bring her vision to life. This is another example of a less than common setup, as this is such a personal story for Nadine we all want her to be very involved in the creation of the art. It is scheduled to release in winter of 2025.

I am also working on my debut as an author/illustrator, about a little girl and her umbrella that helps her feel safe and secure, which will come out the following year, also with Harper Collins. 

What is your biggest hope for your work as a children’s book creator?

My biggest hope is for longevity and to make a positive impact on the children who read the books. I love this job so much and never get tired of painting and stories. I want the books I work on to reach children and readers who will enjoy them, and hopefully some will even love them. I think stories are the foundation of our shared humanity and can bring people together in unique ways. 

A little boy holding an umbrella walks a tiny dog on a leash, A taller man with a white beard in a yellow suit holds many leashes with a menagerie of animals behind him. The animals include a horse, a cow, a dog, a pig, a turkey, and a goat. A watercolor illustration by Heather Brockman Lee.

If you could share something with aspiring picture book illustrators, what would you tell them?

I think this advice is given a lot, because it is still true. Don’t try to be like everyone else, don’t just copy the most successful or popular trends. Really dig deep and look inward to figure out what you want to say to the world, and how to say it. Most paths to becoming a picture book illustrator are long and challenging, so it’s really important to be making work that you love and is authentic to you—because you will need to make a lot of it. 

Check Out Heather Brockman Lee’s Books

Heather has three books out NOW for you and your family to enjoy! Plus, you can pre-order When You Love a Book to get it as soon as it hits shelves in 2024.

You can also ask your local library to order the books for you and your whole community to enjoy!

A Poem Grows Inside You. Story by Katey Howes. Pictures by Heather Brockman Lee.
Hattie Hates Hugs. Words by Sarah Hovorka. Illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee.
She is Mama. Words by Mackenzie Porter. Illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee.
Heather Brockman Lee’s current books available now.

See More From Heather Brockman Lee

A fairy looks over her shoulder as she wears a fancy red and green coat of flowers. The fairy's wings are translucent yellow with peach spots. Art by Heather Brockman Lee.


To learn more about Heather Brockman Lee, see more of her work, and stay up-to-date on the latest about her projects, visit her website and social media pages:

Heather is represented for children’s books by Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency.

Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, or the environment? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.

October Art and Illustration Prompt Events in 2023

Since social media became a regular part of our lives and especially in recent years since the pandemic kept many of us at home, it has become a trend among artists that October is a time to share art prompts. Inktober, created by illustrator Jake Parker in 2009 is one of the most well-known of these art prompt events. It was designed to give fellow artists subject matter to practice their ink drawing skills with. 

But, there are many other art prompt events as well, all of which have different themes and different artistic audiences they appeal to. For the purposes of this post, I’ll be sharing ones specifically of interest to illustrators. The question is… which prompt list(s) should you do? Let’s take a look at just a few of them to get an idea of the options.

Inktober

Inktober 2023 Official Prompt List. Click to go to the Inktober website.

Website: https://inktober.com/rules
Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/inktober/
Hashtag: #inktober2023

Inktober was started in 2009 by illustrator Jake Parker. He wanted to give himself motivation to practice working on his ink drawings and develop better drawing habits. Soon enough, others joined in and it became an annual event.

But, in 2020, some controversy arose as Jake decided to trademark the Inktober name, which caused some confusion with a lot of other artists who had been using the name on the pieces they had created. Jake himself explains his reasonings, which includes things like fighting racism and hate. In addition, there were accusations of plagiarism when he tried to publish a book about drawing with ink called Inktober All Year Long that was similar to a book by Alphonso Dunn, Pen & Ink Drawing: A Simple Guide. The publishing of Jake Parker’s book was put on hold. Between the two incidents, many people decided to stop doing Inktober and either started their own art prompt events or joined others.

Nonetheless, Inktober is still going and many people still participate. It’s something to consider doing if you’re looking to improve your inking skills and gain some visibility through a very well-known event. I have friends who have done it and quite enjoyed the prompts and community.

This year’s hashtag is #inktober2023.

Peachtober

Peachtober 2023 Prompt List. Click to go to the Peachtober website.

Website: https://www.furrylittlepeach.com/peachtober
Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/peachtober/
Hashtag: #peachtober23

Peachtober was started by artist Sha’an d’Anthes (also known as furrylittlepeach). She wanted to create art prompts that sparked imagination but didn’t require any specific medium. Artists can choose whatever medium they like to create their pieces. Her main goal is that they have fun with it. And you’re invited to share your pieces on social media. I did this one in 2021 and it was a lot of fun! I did find it challenging to keep up with the every day prompts, being as busy as I am. But, I managed it and came out with some really cool portfolio pieces in the end. One of my favorites is Love is Love Birds from the prompt “Heart”.

This year, use the hashtag #peachtober23 to participate.

SCBWI Artober

SCBWI Artober Prompt List. Click to view the list on their website.

Website: https://www.scbwi.org/artober
Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/
Hashtag: #scbwiArtober2023

Many of you may know of SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. This is one of the largest organizations dedicated to the creation of books for kids. SCBWI hosts a monthly illustration prompt event called SCBWI Draw This (use the hashtag #scbwidrawthis) to help illustrators come up with new pieces and share them on social media. In recent years, SCBWI also started their own October art prompt event, SCBWI Artober. They provide a list of daily prompts that are autumn-themed for every day in October that you are invited to draw and share. If you’re a children’s book illustrator, I definitely recommend this one, as it will get eyes on your pieces specific to the KidLit industry. 

This year, you can use the hashtag #scbwiArtober2023.

Undying Tales

Undying Tales Art Prompts for October 2023. Click to view website of the prompts.

Website: https://www.undyingtales.com/
Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/undyingtales/
Hashtag: #undyingtalesproject

Undying Tales is one of my favorite prompt lists because of its focus on nature and endangered or rare species in the wild. This October art prompt event was founded by illustrator Stephanie Law, who I’ve been a fan of for many years. A nature-lover and advocate for preserving and protecting endangered wildlife and plants, Stephanie Law has a series of books containing her own art from the Undying Tales prompts. She always offers her original pieces for sale at the end of the event too. But, she invites other artists to join in too, and share their work on social media. She provides a name of a rare species to draw every-other day rather than daily. I participated last year with a couple of the prompts and really enjoyed it. My favorite piece that came out of it was the Sierra Nevada Red Fox. And I learned a lot about these rare species too!

You can share your work with the hashtag #undyingtalesproject.

Drawtober

Drawtober 2023 spooky prompt list. Sponsored by xencelabs. Click to view more.

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/drawtober/
Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/qSP8hgB7RC
Hashtag: #drawtober2023

Drawtober is an October art prompt event that specifically focuses on Halloween-themed prompts. These prompts are short phrases that are spooky-themed. Instead of daily prompts, they offer a couple of prompts each week to give artists more time, for a total of eight prompts. This is primarily an Instagram-focused event where everyone in the community is invited to share their own pieces and enjoy each other’s work. You can use any medium you wish, as long as you post it within the window for that prompt. They also pick daily winners and a grand prize winner at the end if you participate on their Discord server. 

This year, use the hashtag #drawtober2023.

There are many other October drawing prompt events all over Instagram, Deviantart, and social media in general. Just do a search and I’m sure you can find a plethora. Whichever you choose, it’s a fun way to improve your drawing skills and share with your community. You don’t have to dedicate yourself to the whole month either. Do what you can. Either way, you’ll get something out of it. 

What are your favorite drawing prompt events to do? Drop a link in the comments below!

10 Things to Consider at a Highlights Foundation Workshop

Stones on the ground that read, "the happy twist in spirit may open small inspiration" in the Word Garden at The Highlights Foundation. Poem and photo by Victoria K. Chapman.
A short poem created in the “Word Garden” at The Highlights Foundation

Earlier in July, I went away for almost a week to stay at The Highlights Foundation at The Barn at Boyds Mills in Pennsylvania. I attended the Summer Camp in Illustration intensive in order to grow my craft, learn from others, and make new connections in the children’s illustration field. Being there physically gave me the chance to really be immersed in the work and connect in a way I couldn’t if it was online from home. After two and a half years of everything online thanks to the pandemic, this was a welcomed change.

After my six days at The Highlights Foundation, I found myself struggling to succinctly and clearly describe my experience there. It was such a mind-opening and spirit-lifting time, it’s hard to put into words. Knowing that everyone’s experience is different, I’m speaking from my own perspective. And since my head is still buzzing with so many things I could say about my trip, I narrowed down to this list that I hope you find helpful.

Ten Things to Consider When Attending an In-Person Highlights Foundation Workshop:

  1. Be open to experience. Don’t arrive with a specific expectation. Arrive with your mind and spirit open to receive whatever it is that happens. I couldn’t predict how my week would go. And it was so much better than I might have guessed.

  2. Arrive hungry. Because they feed you three meals a day and snacks in between. And it’s not just any old food. It’s amazing, local, fresh, and different every day. If you have a special diet, don’t worry—they’ve got you covered. I’m a vegetarian and I had one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had in a while.

  3. Be social. I know not everyone has an easy time with being social among strangers. But, believe me—people at Highlights who attend a workshop with you will not be strangers for long. Connecting with other kidlit illustrators and author/illustrators was one of the best parts of my trip. It made the experience so much more worthwhile. I had the pleasure of getting to know not only my fellow participants, but also the teaching faculty, and the staff. They were all amazing people and I’m so glad I got to spend time with them.

  4. Give yourself time. Time to rest. Time to process. Time to be alone if you need it. I had the privilege of being able to add a personal retreat day to the beginning and end of my trip in order to let myself settle in and decompress. It was a great decision and if you have the ability to do so, I really recommend it. It allowed for some more quiet time, but also some more intimate time with the handful of others who stayed extra time. And if you can’t do that, make sure to give yourself time during the day or evening to take a break alone somewhere, especially if you’re an introvert like me. There are plenty of great places to do that.

  5. Take advantage of the outdoor spaces. The Barn at Boyds Mills is full of outdoor trails and places to sit. Be sure to visit the brook and sit down to enjoy the sound of the babbling water. Take a hike up one of the trails if you’re able to (but be sure to put on bug spray to avoid the ticks and flies). Or just enjoy time at one of the outdoor tables to quietly sketch or write. And if there’s a fire in the evening outside at the Barn, enjoy the time to sit by it and chat with others. Fireside times with fellow illustrators were some of my favorite moments.

  6. Document your time there. You’ll want to take notes, you’ll want to draw, you’ll want to write. There’s a lot of information to take in. Make sure you have your favorite ways to take down and process information with you. I brought both a writing notebook and several sketchbooks and I ended up with notes and sketches in both. I’m glad I have them to refer back to. I also took photos to remember some of the spaces and people I spent time with. Looking back at them makes me smile.

  7. Be present and in the moment. While you’re documenting your time there, also remember to be present and in-the-moment. It’s easy to jump ahead in your mind to what you’ll do when you get home. But, it’s also an experience you’ll really want to savor. It goes by quickly! Enjoy each moment while it’s happening.

  8. Unplug and disconnect. From your regular life that is. It’s okay to check in with the family, especially when you have kids. But, be mindful of how often you’re checking your phone, email, or social media. Fortunately, the cellular service at Boyds Mills is pretty spotty and the wifi can be touch and go depending on where you’re standing. That can be frustrating if you’re doing research online. But, for the most part, it wasn’t a huge issue for me, and it allowed me to remember to unplug for a while and focus on the workshop and the people.

  9. Be open to feedback. For many of these workshops, there is a critique or mentor component to it. One of the most helpful things you can do for yourself is to be open to the feedback you receive. It doesn’t mean you have to use all of the feedback if you don’t agree with it. But, at least listen. And thank the people who took the time to look at your work with you. They are there for the love of children’s books just like you are.

  10. Exchange information with colleagues. You’re going to meet people there and you’re probably going to want to stay in touch. Be sure to ask others for their information, such as social media handles and email addresses. To make it easy to share your information, you could bring business cards or postcards with the info you want to share. I was so glad I brought my business cards with me so people could find me later.

And the biggest piece of advice I can give for a Highlights Foundation workshop trip is that the experience will be what you make it. People I know who have gone before have told me there’s a magic to the space that they haven’t found in other places. I found that to be true myself. But, being open to experience and present in the moment made the trip even more pleasant and remarkable. I hope you’ll find the same is true for you.

One of the amazing breakfasts I had at Highlights.
A quiet place to sit by the brook.
Appetizers by the brook with friends. Selfie by Mallory Grigg.
Isabel Roxas presenting at the Illustration Intensive
The front of The Barn where much of the action takes place.
I enjoyed sketching in the morning with a cup of tea outdoors.

You can learn more about The Highlights Foundation and their work at https://www.highlightsfoundation.org

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Author-Illustrator, Kari Percival

An illustrated page spread of Kari Percival's book, HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM. Four children dig in the dirt and pour water in a community garden bed.
A spread from Kari Percival’s picture book HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORK: A FIRST GUIDE TO OUTSIDE

In the second of the KidLit Connection blog series, I interviewed illustrator, writer, and environmental educator, Kari Percival. Kari has studied art, environmental science, and teaching. Her education combined with her work as a science teacher, running a local preschool gardening program, and experience as a parent has helped shape her unique perspective when creating books for children. 

Author/Illustrator and environmental educator Kari Percival works with young children in the community gardens during her Early Birds Garden Club program.

Kari creates colorful woodcut prints that show dynamic relationships between kids and nature. Her storytelling inspires small children and their grownups to make a positive difference in the world through connecting with nature. Her picture book HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM: A FIRST GUIDE TO OUTSIDE (published by Rise x Penguin Workshop) is a perfect guide for preschoolers who love to get their hands dirty, play in nature, and learn all about how plants grow. 

In this post, Kari tells us about the experiences that have shaped her work as an illustrator and storyteller and what inspires her to create books for children. I really loved hearing about all the interesting pieces of Kari’s life that have made her the book creator she is today.

Kari’s Interview

First, let’s talk a bit about you as an author and illustrator. Could you tell us more about what inspires you and what you love about being a creator of books for kids? 

As my extended family is cleaning out old storage boxes, they send me these little picture books I wrote when I was a child, that they’d tucked away, that I hadn’t seen for 40 years. Little stories about nature, local wildlife, or my pets. When I was in grade school, I guess our teachers had us make books a lot, bound and covered in wallpaper samples. I could write and draw whatever I wanted in them, and I gave them as gifts to family members a lot. I guess when I write and illustrate picture books, its like I am still making and giving gifts out, except now its to the children of the world. 

As an environmental educator AND picture book author/illustrator, how does each type of work relate to and inform the other?

Children and parents working in the community gardens at the Early Bird Garden Club run by Kari Percival.
Children and parents working in the community gardens at the Early Bird Garden Club run by Kari Percival.

Teaching informs my writing, but also, my writing is motivated by my love of learning and my love of ecology, of a deep wonder and love for all the beautiful, vulnerable, magical and amazing life on Earth. I am an artist, but I went to graduate school to learn to be a science teacher. Although I love art, and it comes easily to me, I don’t think everyone should be forced to make art if they would rather play basketball or whatever thay love to do. But I do think its imperative that every young person learns about ecology, and biology, and environmental science, because every young person will grow up to be a voter and decision maker, and they need to know how we are all members of the web of life, and how our decisions affect all life on Earth. I worked as a science teacher in public schools for 10 years, and I hope to maybe go back someday, but I took a break when I had children, and that is when I started thinking of books I wanted to write.

How did you first get into creating children’s books? What made you want to pursue this type of art? 

When I had my own children, I really enjoyed re-entering the world of children’s picture books as a parent. There are so many wonderful books, classics and new. There were also gaps: so many books I thought were missing from the shelf. I thought maybe I could apply my art and storytelling skills to making books to fill where I thought some gaps were. It seemed like a long shot, but maybe worth a try. 

Let’s talk about the most recently published book you wrote and illustrated, HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM: A FIRST GUIDE TO OUTSIDE. Can you tell us a little more about the book and what inspired you to write it? 

I’m an environmental educator and so inviting kids outdoors and learning to grow food – even just to learn where food comes from – and see how we are made of food that is made of sunshine and how we share the world with other living beings, inviting and empowering very young children to become immersed in hands-on outdoor learning, edible education – that is my goal with this book.

When my kids were small, I started Early Birds Garden Club, a meet-up for toddler and parents that wanted to learn to grow food at our local community garden. Though leading the group, I learned what questions toddlers had about learning to garden, what questions they had about nature, and what gardening activities they enjoyed doing. My cracker jack agent, Teresa Kietlinski of Bookmark Literary, suggested I should write a book on how to garden for toddlers.  She knew that I would know just where to start, because I knew just what types of questions curious kids that age had. So then I wrote HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM. They say “write what you know” and that was true for me with this book.

A spread from Kari Percival's Book, HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM. Children dig in a garden and pick up worms. The text reads, "How do you say hello to a worm? Gently, very gently. Hello, Worm!"
A spread from Kari Percival’s book HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM: A FIRST GUIDE TO OUTSIDE
Kari’s sketch of the above spread prior to creating the final artwork.

What was your favorite part about creating HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM? And what was a challenge you had to overcome while working on it, if any? 

Botanicals: I loved drawing portraits of plants! And I loved the “casting call” – creating and getting to know all the characters of the little children who garden in the book. I also loved thinking of writing the book from the perspective of what questions the youngest garden explorers would wonder about. A challenge was cutting images that I wanted to include. Cutting is the hardest! Originally, I wanted more of the pictures to contain lots of kids doing lots of gardening activities, but the design team focused each composition on a certain interaction with fewer children and more space for the words. And that was actually probably good anyway when it came time to produce the final art on a tight timeline!

You also have a new book coming out soon called SAFE CROSSING, which will be published by Chronicle Books. What is that book about and what can kids and their grown-ups learn from it? 

SAFE CROSSING is an informational fiction story about a family of community scientists who volunteer with an amphibian migration team in springtime.  They help salamanders and frogs cross the street to avoid getting crushed by cars. When they realize that more needs to be done to protect these small creatures, they rally their community to build a wildlife tunnel so even more amphibians can cross safely. The story models grown-ups listening to kids ideas around protecting animals from harm.

What is your greatest hope for your work as a creator of books for kids? 

As a parent and a teacher, I know how – after a long challenging day when you have given your all, are running on fumes and you have no more ideas of what to say to your child or your students, – what a relief it can be to hunker down and read a picture book togther. I am so thankful to all the picture book creators who help caregivers and teachers explore interesting, wonderful or difficult topics with their children, with beauty and sensitivity and humor and honesty. My hope is for my work to give caregivers and children more ways to find joy and meaning together, and to honor their impulses to share wonder and love of our beautiful world and life on earth.

What is something you’d like to tell aspiring picture book authors/illustrators? 

Work or volunteer regularly with children in the age range of your target audience, doing something you love. Read books currently being published in the genre (within the last 5 years.) Find a community of writers or illutrators in the genre you aspire to publish in. Connect with them and ask them questions. Join critique groups in organizations like SCBWI, 12×12 or take classes where you can share work in a supportive environments where you can exchange feedback with others.  Use your best manners, experiment a lot, share your experiments, note what work you do that people respond most to, and do more of that.  Read you book outloud to yourself in the mirror and to young test audiences, notice where eyes glaze over and then edit those spots. Enter contests, be humble, and learn, learn, learn. Develop effective time habits, and organizational habits so that when opportunity knocks, you are ready with bells on. Ask someone knowledgable to look at a contract for red flags before you sign it.

A page from Kari Percival's book HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM. Two children play under a play hut made from pea plants and have a tea party. The text reads: "But when will there be peas? See how the play hut is shady? See the flowers? See the bees? You'll see pea pods next."
This page from HOW TO SAY HELLO TO A WORM explains to young children when peas will start growing in the vegetable garden.

See More from Kari Percival

You can learn more about Kari and see more of her work online. Check out the links and be sure to follow her on social media!

Are you a published or soon-to-be published children’s illustrator or author/illustrator who’s interested in being interviewed as part of the KidLit Connection series? If your work has a focus on nature, the environment, animals, or mindfulness, I’d love to chat with you! You can get in touch with me using the contact form on my site.

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Illustrator, Catarina Oliveira

An illustration of foxes playing in the snow, illustrated by Catarina Oliveira

Welcome to the first in a series of interviews with fellow kidlit illustrators and author/illustrators! Catarina Oliveira, a children’s book illustrator living in Vancouver graciously volunteered to be the first artist in this series. I so appreciate her sharing her time and expertise with us.

A black and white headshot portrait of illustrator, Catarina Oliveira.

Catarina is an illustrator who was born and raised in Portugal, but moved to Canada in 2016. She started her career in graphic design and worked for ten years before switching to her true passion—sharing visual stories with children and their grown-ups through illustration. Her playful style is colorful and brings joy to the stories she illustrates. She has created illustrations for multiple books and children’s magazines. 

The latest book Catarina illustrated is a non-fiction picture book called Small but Mighty: Why Earth’s Tiny Creatures Matter, written by Kendra Brown and published by OwlKids Books. This beautifully illustrated book shows kids how even small creatures can make a huge impact on the environment and earth’s ecosystems. Catarina even created some free-to-download activity pages that go with the book!

Aside from art for kids, Catarina is also passionate about helping animals and being outdoors. When she’s not drawing, she loves cooking and going for hikes in the woods.

Catarina’s Interview

First, let’s talk a bit about you as an artist. Could you tell us more about what inspires you and what you love about being an illustrator?

This will sound like a cliche, but I get inspired by the little things that happen throughout the day and life that have nothing to do with illustration. For example, a walk at the park or a visit to a museum are things that inspire me. 

Being an illustrator is to tell stories with images; I love the infinite possibilities.

How would you describe your illustrations and the type of work you do?

Most of my work is directed at kids, and it’s mostly about exploration through the kids’ eyes, so I would describe it as humorous and playful.

How did you first get into children’s book illustration? What made you want to pursue this type of art?

I loved reading them as an adult and admired the art so much that I wanted to create books equally beautiful. However, I slowly realized that the beauty in picture books lies in the fact that they help children and can change their lives. 

Let’s talk about the latest book you illustrated, SMALL BUT MIGHTY, written by Kendra Brown. This book talks a lot about real-life animals and their habitats. How much research went into illustrating this book and what was that experience like?

A lot of research went into this book. Fortunately, my editor sent me some of the author’s research links and images to add to my research, which helped me make sure I was researching the right animal. I looked at a lot of photos and videos; some were gross! The experience is very much attached to the fact that it was the start of the pandemic, and I was going through a lot personally, so it felt bitter-sweet.  

The illustrated book cover for Small But Mighty. A small ant holds up the book text and is surrounded by large leaves.
Free download activity pages from Catarina Oliveira for the book Small But Mighty.
Illustration process photos by Catarina Oliveira for the book Small But Mighty. Various sketches of an ant carrying a leaf, and the final color version in greens and browns.
Illustrated Cover, Activity Pages, and Illustration Process Images from Small But Mighty

How is illustrating a nonfiction picture book different from illustrating a fiction picture book? Tell us a bit about how your processes vary from book-to-book. 

There were two main differences. First, I had to be as accurate as possible because it’s nonfiction. In this particular case, I had one page per animal where I had the freedom to portray it in a funny cartoony way, with different colours even. Second, I had to tell an entire story on that page with just one page, instead of a fiction picture book where the narrative develops through the spreads.

My process itself doesn’t change much from book to book. I start with organizing my schedule and reading the manuscript, then I draw a very basic storyboard, do research and sketching, thumbnails, drawings and colour.

What was your favorite part about illustrating SMALL BUT MIGHTY?

Yes I love drawing animals but I enjoyed creating backgrounds in this book, I took some photos during some walks in the woods for inspiration and had fun adding some details to the simple compositions in this book.  

You obviously enjoy drawing animals. But, what is your favorite animal to draw and why?

I don’t know! Insects are fun, dogs are fun… I need to think about this question.

What is something you’d like to tell aspiring picture book illustrators?

Draw things you like and draw a lot! Reading is essential, as well as participating in the kid-lit community.

See More from Catarina Oliveira

You can check out more of Catarina’s work online on her website and on social media. Check out the links below and be sure to follow her to keep up-to-date with the latest work!

Are you a published or soon-to-be published children’s illustrator or author/illustrator who’s interested in being interviewed as part of the KidLit Connection series? If your work has a focus on nature, the environment, animals, or mindfulness, I’d love to chat with you! You can get in touch with me using the contact form on my site.

Nurturing the Artist’s Soul with Nature

All of us as creative beings need something to nurture our creative souls. Every human has the potential and capacity for creativity, even those who think they have lost it. As I’ve talked about before, being creative is like breathing. In order to breath out, you must breath in. In order to create something new, you must also take inspiration in. For me, one of my favorite ways to breath in inspiration is by spending time out in nature.

I’ve mentioned the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron in the past—a 12 week program to nurture your inner “artist child”. I keep bringing it up because it’s a program that has helped me through some of my artistic ruts and given new life to my creative spirit. One of the weekly assignments when doing The Artist’s Way is an “Artist’s Date”. It doesn’t really matter what you do on your artist’s date, but the criteria are as follows:

  • You must go on your artist’s date alone
  • Your artist’s date is something that you want to do for you
  • Your artist’s date will help inspire your artist child

Some examples of dates I’ve taken myself on include:

  • Going to the local botanic garden
  • Going to an art museum
  • Watching a new movie I’ve been wanting to see (by myself)
  • Buying a cheap bubble set and blowing bubbles in my front yard
  • Going for a long hike on a new trail I’ve never been to before
  • Taking photos at a local park or garden
  • Browsing the plants at a local garden center

Connecting With Nature

The possibilities for artist’s dates are endless. But, of all those possibilities, my favorite ones are the dates where I really get to connect with nature. Take the time to observe. Here are examples of things I’ve noticed while out in nature:

  • Feeling my feet on the trail and how the pine needles give it a soft springiness.
  • Stumbling upon a huge grove of ferns under a forest canopy. 
  • Discovering the variety of bees attracted to mountain mint flowers.
  • Feeling the warmth of sunshine on my face when I close my eyes and breath in fresh air.
  • Stopping to notice the number of species of oak trees in a particular area.
  • Being surprised and charmed by wildlife scurrying by while sitting quietly on a boulder.
  • Greeting a green frog in a pond while watching the red-winged black birds across the way.
On the left, a photo from the ground of a woman standing on a forest trail. On the right, a drawing inspired by the photo by artist Victoria K. Chapman.
At the top, a photo of a green frog in a mossy pond. On the bottom, a drawing inspired by the frog photo by artist Victoria K. Chapman.
On the left, a photo of a leaf from a red oak tree. On the right, a drawing of a red oak leaf by artist Victoria K. Chapman.

Similar experiences can be had for yourself when embarking on a solo trip into nature. It doesn’t even have to be a long adventure. Is there a local trail nearby? Go explore it for half an hour. Is there a lake or pond within walking or driving distance? Go there, sit, and observe. Bring a sketchbook or notebook to jot down ideas that might come up. Bring a camera if you wish to capture something that way. But mostly, focus on the moment of being present with nature, however that happens for you.

The important piece of going on your nature date is finding some way to connect with nature, be it big or small. And the most important part is just doing it. Don’t let limitations and excuses get in your way. Even exploring your own back yard can be a date. Put out some bird seed or a hummingbird feeder and see what happens. What’s under the rock over there? What does the lichen growing over on that tree really look like up close? Be curious. Be open. Be willing to take in whatever comes to you. And most of all, let your artist child explore the wonders and joy of nature. Nurture your artist’s soul.

A sketchbook with pen drawings of wood ferns held above a patch of actual wood ferns. By artist Victoria K. Chapman.
On the left, a photo of a feather from a red-bellied woodpecker. On the right, a pen drawing of the feather inspired by the photo by artist Victoria K. Chapman.