Elizabeth Rose Stanton is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Cowie. Her other books include Henny and Peddles. She is based in Seattle.
Q:
How did you come up with the idea for Cowie, the donkey who yearns to be a cow?
A:
At first, Cowie was actually a little cow who was trying hard, with things not
coming out quite right. My editor loved the whole idea but suggested I consider
Cowie not being a cow.
I
was intrigued and tried out a couple of other farm animals (lamb, horse, etc.)
but decided it would be a lot of fun if Cowie were a donkey. Donkeys are
lovable and always a little downtrodden, and they do try so very hard...which is very much a part of who Cowie-the-donkey is.
Q:
Did you work on the illustrations first or the text first, or simultaneously?
A:
My stories almost always begin with a sketch or drawing of a character, and
from there the story builds. Then the work usually flows back and forth between
the words and the images, one informing the other, until the pieces fall into
place!
Q:
What do you hope kids take away from the book?
A:
Good question. I think it depends on the kid! My books, in general, can be read
simply as silly romps, but they also can be “interpreted” in a number of ways.
If
readers read Cowie carefully, they may notice that, as the story progresses,
the words and the characters actually begin to interact. It’s a bit meta, I suppose.
And there’s a lot of word play, as well as some teachable moments.
At
the very least, I hope kids can see the importance of friends, and of finding
one’s true “voice.”
Q:
Who are some of your favorite picture book author-illustrators?
A:
Jean Merrill and Ronnie Solbert, and Dorothy Kunhardt lead the pack. Kunhardt,
of course, is best known for Pat the Bunny; but the book of hers I love best is
Junket is Nice (1932). Writer Merrill and illustrator Solbert produced The
Elephant Who Liked to Smash Small Cars (1964).
Referring
to these books as quirky and eccentric is somewhat of an understatement and is precisely
why I love them. I doubt they would be published today.
Then
again, I am always inspired by Beatrix Potter (I even named my cat after her) because
of her expertise as both a classic storyteller and watercolorist, as well as a scientist.
I
have many, many more favorites...so many that it would probably take up an
entire other interview!
Q:
What are you working on now?
A:
I’ve been working on some writing for older children (middle grade fiction), as
well as re-tooling a couple of picture book stories. Stay tuned!
And,
since the virus is keeping us all inside, I’m working mightily on a studio clean
up and re-org.! Yikes!
Q:
Anything else we should know?
A:
Wear your masks, wash up, and stay safe. And thank you, Deborah, for inviting
me!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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