About the Author: Jennifer Ward has teamed up numerous times with illustrator Steve Gray in her children’s books based off of the classic nursery rhyme: “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.” With her playful words and fascinating characters, and his vivid graphics, the two continue to produce children’s books that are both memorable and entertaining. They have collaborated on children’s books such as “There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea”, “There Was an Old Monkey Who Swallowed a Frog” and “There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish.”
Find Jennifer Ward on the following platforms:
We like to thank Jennifer Ward for taking the time to talk about her writing career as well as her partnership with illustrators!
Jennifer Ward: I can’t think of anything more inspiring or interesting than nature and science. Think about it! Nature? Mysterious, ever-changing and awesome. Science? It’s stranger than fiction!
Being a naturalist, a bonafide bird stalker and a tree hugger helps my writing process, too — nature and science are my muse, they never fail me. I also feel it’s important, however – now more so than ever – to get nature into the minds of children, to spark inquiry and wonder. There is a growing disconnect between young children and nature today, and if books featuring nature/science can spark imagination, wonder, curiosity, and a willingness to ask questions and explore, then I’m all for that, and like to believe my books contribute to this in some small way.
JW: That’s a tricky question! That’s not unlike asking a parent to choose a favorite child.
I love all of my books. The publishing process is a long one – years for each book to come to fruition. That said, I can look back at the books I’ve created and each provides a wonderful snapshot of a time in my life and my life’s journey.
Way Out in the Desert was my first published book (1998), and I was teaching in Tucson then and having a love affair with children’s books and the desert. How amazing is it that those passions resulted in my first published book?
I adore Mama Built a Little Nest, illustrated by Caldecott medalist Steve Jenkins (Beach Lane Books), which features the amazing capabilities of birds and the variety of nest architecture they create. When I’m not writing, I’m birding. This book is so much fun to share with readers! (Its forthcoming companion book is, Mama Dug a Little Den, featuring animals who burrow, by the way… to debut in 2018 or 19?)
I also adore my books with illustrator Susie Ghahremani: What Will Grow? about seeds, and, What Will Hatch?, featuring oviparous animals. Susie’s artwork…wow.
And my series with Steve Gray? There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea, There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish, etc. – they are the cat’s meow of FUN. (Of the books in this particular series, I would have to say There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea is my favorite, but don’t tell the other books!) And there are so many books I’m currently writing and books that I haven’t written yet, so I can’t say I have just one particular favorite…
JW: Living among and knowing the Sonoran Desert was the motivation to recycle the traditional song, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.
The first in my parody-series of this song was, There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea. It is just So. Much. Fun. (I really love reading this book aloud to children and adults!) It then made sense to adapt the traditional song to other biomes and settings: a rainforest, a pirate ship, a Halloween theme, a fairytale setting, outer-space with a Martian… I’m currently working on a version set on a Hawaiian island.
By the way, There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea has been integrated into a Buckeye Public Library branch (the Coyote Branch), as the primary interior architecture. It houses all of the children’s books!
JW: I was given very little influence in the beginning of my career – I was sent sketches to review for comment. Now, 20 years later, I have established trusted relationships with my editors and several of my illustrators, so we chat and share and it’s a lovely and fun process to collaborate.
The majority of the “vision” for each book comes from the illustrator and the publisher’s art director. I may offer a note here or there that might be scientifically accurate or an element of fun. For example, in, There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider, I suggested that the trick-or-treaters approaching the haunted house at the end of the story be dressed as characters from the companion titles in our series: the Martian, the Princess, the Pirate, the Frog, the Coyote… and Steve Gray integrated that perfectly.
Publishing houses select the illustrator for my books – although my editor(s) and I may chat for months discussing potential illustrator choices. Ultimately, it’s the publisher’s selection, and they then approach an illustrator with my manuscript and negotiate with the illustrator or illustrator’s agent, if he/she decides to illustrate the book. During a book’s production, the illustrator works with an art director at the publishing house; the author works with an editor at the publishing house. Everyone communicates and shares details as the book is being created. Obviously, my text is complete prior to the illustrator jumping on board.
JW: I suggest one should network and connect with the publishing industry – there are so many means to do this:
Thank you for taking the time to interview me and for your thoughtful questions. Best of luck with your education and teaching – may your classroom be filled with many wonderful books!
About the Illustrator: “I have worked with many amazing clients in my career! American Express, TransAmerica, Warner Brothers, Disney, IHOP, Pizza Hut, Carl’s Jr, Sea World, Knott’s Berry Farm, McDonald’s, Kawasaki, Hawaii Express, TV Guide, CBS News, General Mills, Crazy Shirts Hawaii.
My art business has been designated as a “Trusted Art Seller” with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.” (Bio Taken from Illustrator’s Website)
Find Steve Gray on the following platforms:
We also like to thank Steve Gray for taking the time to talk with us about his career as an illustrator, especially in children’s literature!
Steve Gray: I have always loved children’s books and I love the creative process. Making fun images for kids to enjoy is entertaining.
SG: I spend upwards of 800 hours or about 10 months to create the art for each picture book.
SG: I’ve always been a fan of Dr. Seuss. I love the strange worlds he created, and I try to do the same thing with my books.
SG: Most authors and illustrators never meet. I met Jennifer 2 years after our coyote book was published. We were flown to Wyoming for an event called Wyoming Reads and we had a connection at the Salt Lake City airport. It was the first time we met but have since become good friends and I love collaborating with her on our books.
SG: I start with thumbnail sketches and work up a little bigger after that. There are many changes in the process, so I don’t like to work very big until things are approved. Most changes are made in the pencil stages, but sometimes final art is changed as well. The Publishing house makes a lot of edits during the creation of the art.
SG: I used to work in watercolor, but now do all my work in Photoshop. It makes changes so much easier.
SG: I like all of the books I have done with Jennifer Ward. The stories are really wacky and it gives me freedom to really stretch myself and figure out ways to tickle the children with subtle actions by the characters.
SG: Always do your best work. The books will hopefully be around for a long time and you want to always be proud of what you have created.
PRR Writer, Veronica Jauregui