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MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN'S AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR DAN SANTAT

MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN'S AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR DAN SANTAT

Dan Santat is a very talented author and illustrator of over 60 books. He lives in southern California with his wife, two sons and a variety of pets. In 2015 he won the Caldecott Medal for his book Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. This prestigious medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Dan is the illustrator of our feature book this month, Drawn Together.  

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): In order to convey the language barrier that the boy and his grandfather had in Drawn Together, there was very little text. Your illustrations were so important to the story. How much direction did you get from author Minh Le and/or your editor? And while we’re at it, how did it work for Dude!? This hilarious high concept book (illustrated by you) only has one word by Aaron Reynolds, expressed in many different ways.

MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR TEAM, TERRY AND ERIC FAN (THE FAN BROTHERS)

MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR TEAM, TERRY AND ERIC FAN (THE FAN BROTHERS)

Terry and Eric Fan are the creators of the recently published, Ocean Meets Sky. This amazingly detailed and enchanting book is the second for the Fan Brothers as both authors and illustrators. In 2017 their first book The Night Gardener, won the prestigious Ruth Swartz Children’s Book Award and a Blue Spruce Award. They also illustrated the gorgeous The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater and The Darkest Night by astronaut Chris Hadfield. These incredibly talented brothers are from Toronto, Ontario.

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB): Terry, I assume you are the oldest?  You were born in Illinois and then you moved to Hawaii where Eric was born? Which island did you live on and can you tell us a bit about your life in paradise?

MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR SOPHIE BLACKALL

MY INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR SOPHIE BLACKALL

Sophie Blackall has illustrated over 30 books and won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 2016 for Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear. Her latest book, Hello Lighthouse is very special and I predict will win many awards. The story of a lighthouse keeper and his family, this book (also written by Sophie) is almost a search and find that I’m sure children will find something new every time they open the book. 

MARMALADE BOOKS (MB):  What was it like growing up in Australia?