Peter H. Reynolds and Paul A. Reynolds are the creators of the new children's picture book Our Treasures Within. The book was a collaboration with the late Pope Francis.
Q: What inspired you to create Our Treasures Within,
and what role did Pope Francis play in the creation of the book?
A: We’ve been long-time collaborators with Loyola Press, and when they reached
out to us with the idea of helping bring Pope Francis’ messages to children in
a fresh, accessible way - our hearts both skipped a beat.
We both deeply admire Pope Francis and the work he did to
invite all on a journey of faith, love and service - in a way that seemed to
transcend all faith traditions.
Then came the enormous gravity of how to do that. There was one particular
metaphor that Pope Francis used when speaking with children that really lit the
spark in both of us. He would talk about the “treasure box” we each carry
inside us - and how we’re all called to discover those gifts within, and then
share them.
Pope Francis’ exact words are in the book, but they then also formed the foundation for our creative adaptation in both word and illustration.
In an ideal world, we would have loved to have been in the same room with Pope Francis while we were creating the book, but distance, and then his medical situation, prevented our physical meeting. But we truly feel that we were called to bring this book to the world - no matter what the obstacles we were presented with.
Q: How did the two of you collaborate on the book, and what was your writing/illustrating process like?
A: As twins, Peter and I work very closely together. While I shape the narrative framework, Peter provides feedback for enhancements, all while he is sketching images to capture the essence of each line of text.
We would meet - usually over cups of tea - and be inspired by each other’s work - exploring the synergy between the unfolding verse and Peter’s gentle illustrations.
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: The title grew from Pope Francis’ use of the metaphor, which invited children to look inward and discover the “treasures” already within them: compassion, curiosity, courage, imagination.
We were both mentored by Jesuits, and I’ve been teaching at Boston College for over 30 years, so Our Treasures Within was a poetic way to convey the very heart of Ignatian spirituality and formative education. In just three words - it reminds us that our job as humans (both kids and the grown-ups reading with them) is to discover one’s gifts, talents and strengths, and then use them in positive, purposeful ways to move the world to a better place.
Q: What do you see as Pope Francis’s legacy today?
A: Pope Francis reshaped global conversations around empathy, inclusion and care for our shared planet. His leadership has encouraged people of all backgrounds — not only Catholics — to value dialogue over division, to lift those on society’s margins and to remember that dignity isn’t negotiable.
His legacy, in our view, is a call to a kinder, more courageous humanity. If we truly use our “treasures within,” we will help bring that legacy and mission forward.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Peter and I continue creating stories and media that nurture creativity, compassion and community.
We’re expanding our work at our nonprofit Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning & Creativity, supporting educators and young creators - including support for our International Dot Day festival celebrating creativity, confidence, and community, which has now attracted over 35 million participants in over 190 countries.
There are also new books in the pipeline, new digital tools being developed, and a steady stream of projects that keep us busy.
Paul is working on a sequel to the brothers’ award-winning picture book Going Places. Peter’s next picture book is called When You Dream Big, published by Scholastic, which is about a little girl who is not sure about her life’s direction, but who learns to keep moving forward, no matter what.
Peter has another collaboration with Yusuf Cat Stevens in the works - bringing the song, “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out” to life as a picture book, which follows the New York Times #1 bestselling Peace Train collaboration a few years back.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: This project dovetails perfectly into the work we set out to do when we launched our own educational media and interactive company 30 years ago.
FableVision Studios opened its doors with a goal to “create and share positive storytelling, media and technology” - with an enduring tagline: “Stories That Matter, Stories That Move.”
From the get go, the stories FableVision produced moved through the power of digital animation, but more importantly, they were designed to help people think and act differently - in ways that would make this world a better place.
After three decades of work, we’re proud to say we never wavered on that mission. Our Treasures Within is a very important picture book in that work. And this “moving book” may soon be moving with animation!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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