Brittany Cicchese is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Tiny Worlds. Her other work includes illustrating The Kitten Story, written by Emily Jenkins. She lives in Denver.
Q: What inspired you to create Tiny Worlds?
A: Tiny Worlds was inspired by a mix of my own childhood experiences and the ways I learned to navigate a world that sometimes felt too big, too loud, or too much.
As a kid, if I found myself overwhelmed by an unfamiliar or busy environment, I would often retreat into something small and manageable, like drawing, building, or creating intricate, imaginative worlds.
The story itself really started to take shape during the pandemic. Since I couldn't do much in the bigger world, I took the opportunity to explore closer spaces, especially a little stream by my home.
I had spent years walking across it to continue on a trail, but finally took the time to really look closely at all the life flourishing in that beautiful micro-ecosystem.
It reminded me that you don't have to go far to find something extraordinary; you just have to slow down enough to notice it.
Q: Did you work on the text first or the illustrations first—or both simultaneously?
A: It’s a bit of both for me, but the text usually comes first in a loose, exploratory way. I do a lot of my writing while I’m walking or running, so early drafts tend to live in my head for some time before they make it onto the page.
Once I have a general structure, the illustrations really start to guide the story. I’ll go back and forth between words and images, refining both as I see how they complement each other.
For Tiny Worlds, the visual pacing was especially important (i.e. when to zoom in or when to pull back), so it definitely became an integrated process.
Q: How would you describe the relationship between your protagonist and his grandmother?
A: At its core, it’s a relationship built on love, but also on the trust between two people who can learn from each other.
Grandma wants to share the world with her grandson, and she does that in a very active, well-intentioned way. She’s constantly planning outings and experiences, hoping to give her grandson as much as possible. But in her excitement to partake in those big activities with him, she misses something important about how he prefers to experience the world.
What I love about their relationship is that it evolves. When the grandson shares his perspective, Grandma listens. She’s willing to slow down, to shift, and to meet him where he is. That mutual understanding, being seen and then choosing to see someone else in return, is really central to the story.
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “In addition to celebrating introverts, this book is particularly welcome as an intergenerational story that proves that older adults can and should take the time to learn from younger people.” What do you think of that description?
A: I really love that interpretation, and I'm so glad readers see that message in the story!
When I was working on this book, I thought a lot about how we assume adults are the teachers and children are the students. But children have such a unique way of moving through the world, often noticing things we overlook, or making connections we never would have dreamed of. There’s so much we can learn if we take the time to really pay attention.
That idea of mutual learning felt especially important in an intergenerational relationship. Grandma isn’t just guiding her grandson, she’s also growing because of him. To me, that’s what makes their connection feel meaningful and real.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I'm currently working on the illustrations for two more picture books while also finishing up a few of my own picture book manuscripts. Apart from that, I work part-time at a public library, so I'm incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by so much inspiration!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I think more than anything, I hope Tiny Worlds feels like an invitation for both children and caregivers.
If a child invites you into their world, whether it’s imaginary or something they’ve discovered while exploring outside, that’s a really special moment. Slowing down, asking questions, and being present in that space can mean a lot more than we realize.
Thank you for these wonderful questions!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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