Claudia Rueda is the author of the new children's board book The Smushkins: ABC Zoinks. Her many other books include Meet the Smushkins. She is originally from Colombia, and she lives in New York City.
Q: What inspired you to create this alphabet book?
A: I created the Smushkins characters before thinking of a specific book for them, but I knew they would strongly appeal to children. Then I wrote a picture book that introduced The Smushkins and their world, and that’s how Meet the Smushkins came to be published.
I also wanted to create concept books for them, because I love that format and felt the characters were the perfect fit for fun informational books.
At first, I considered writing a book about games, but for some reason, the idea evolved into an alphabet book made up of sound words. I loved that direction because it felt original, playful, and different from all the alphabet books already on the market — and it didn’t sound pedagogical, which is something kids really enjoy.
Q: How did you choose the words to include for each letter?
A: I first came up with very obvious sound words like “Splash,” “Boing,” or “Plop,” and I made sketches for situations that might fit those sounds. I then created two or three ideas with character situations for each sound.
But some letters were not easy, like the K, the I, and the V, to give you a few. So I would research in dictionaries, on the internet, and in comic books, trying to find a sound for the letters I was missing. I didn’t want to make up words, but to use word sounds that are in the English language.
It took a while, but I was able to do it for both the English and the Spanish versions. The hardest was the X, but I believe it ended up working quite nicely.
Q: How did you create the illustrations for the book?
A: For all my illustrations, I begin with pencil sketches. Once I knew which images I was going to include in the book, I would scan those drawings and paint them with Procreate brushes. I wanted them to have a white background so there would be enough room for the handwritten sound word.
I decided to include only one, two, or three Smushkins in each scene and to place them in simple, funny, and kid-friendly situations. This also helped me get to know my characters better.
Q: What do you hope kids take away from this alphabet book?
A: I aim for my books to be more of an experience for a child than a lesson, even when working on a nonfiction book. Children memorize information, but what they really remember are the experiences.
In this book in particular, I would like them to be surprised by the sounds and situations. I would love them to laugh and get to know the Smushkin characters better.
Although there have been a few fantastic alphabet picture books, most are straightforward and built around nouns. Onomatopoeia is unexpected and lives outside academic books. So I hope they find the book intriguing, original, and fun.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m writing picture book stories for the Smushkins. I strongly believe in the power of storytelling, and now that I know my characters much better, I can put them in situations and give them problems to solve. I’m having lots of fun creating these stories, and I hope they reach the children’s audience soon.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Yes! This alphabet book is part of a series featuring a group of adorable creatures called the Smushkins. They live on their own, love to play, cook, spend time together, and go on adventures. I would like to invite you to check out more of their stories and get to meet them!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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