Mariajo Ilustrajo is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Oh, Carrots!. Her other books include Flooded. She is originally from Spain, and she lives in the UK.
Q: What inspired you to create Oh, Carrots!?
A: This story has been on my mind for a long time! I think it was in the summer of 2008 or ‘09 when I did a short course for creating picture books. There I came up with a story of "carrot girl."
Initially the main character was a mole, who planted some magic seeds and this girl came from the ground for the surprise of the mole. I never finished the story, so it was parked in my brain until now when I was able to come up with the story.
I did a sketch of the girl during the course and even though I wasn't able to give her a story at the time, I ended up selling a lot of merchandise, such as t-shirts, tote bags, and mugs in illustrator's fairs. See the picture attached! :)
Q: Did you work on the text first or the illustrations first--or both simultaneously?
A: Both at the same time, always! I don't consider myself a writer. In fact I have a bit of impostor syndrome calling myself one. However, I've been an illustrator for a long time. Basically I love sketching, playing with colour, creating characters, etc. Often these characters have something to say, so I write notes next to them.
Then this usually inspires some concepts, ideas, sometimes I just get excited by using a new material, so it's that by experimenting with colours, characters, maybe something that happens to me and the comments of this characters that give me an idea, and then I just need to put this ideas together and fill up the gaps with words to make sense of a full story.
Q: How would you describe the relationship between Mr. Rabbit and Carrot?
A: Sweet? Fun? Real? We all need that friend who gets us out of our comfort zone or that friend that we can relax with. I think Mr. Rabbit needs Carrots as much as Carrots needs Mr. Rabbit.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?
A: I usually find it quite difficult to answer these kinds of questions, as I don't write a story with a specific purpose in mind. But I love to read what others take from the story.
I guess this is a book about friendship, being patient and kind. But also that getting out of your comfort zone might be uncomfortable at first, but it might bring you to something magical.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I recently handed in my next book, Unexpected Guests, a story about mice and humans (coming next March 2026), and it's currently with the printers! I am really excited about this one, so please keep an eye for it!!
Meanwhile I am illustrating a Michelle Robinson text with Postwave and a book for the Little People Big Dreams series, and also I am working on my next book for 2027, a story about foxes. I can't tell you more because I am still figuring out the story!)
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I absolutely LOVE my work! I have wanted to be an artist since I remember, but I don't think I could ever imagine I would fulfill my dream and that so many children around the world would be reading and enjoying my books. It's so rewarding and exciting!
Please keep an eye out for the next publications!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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