Q&A with Sylvia Rouss and Rick Penn-Kraus

   

 

Sylvia Rouss

  

 

Sylvia Rouss is the author and Rick Penn-Kraus is the illustrator of the new children's picture book The Little Acorn's Big Adventure. Rouss's other books include the Sammy Spider series. Penn-Kraus's other books include Steve McQueen: The Last Interview.

 

Q: What inspired you to create The Little Acorn’s Big Adventure?

 

SR: As a teacher, I always enjoyed taking my students on “nature walks” and observing the world through their eyes. Children are often captivated by the grandeur of trees, noticing details that adults may overlook.

 

Equipped with magnifying glasses, they would closely examine the rough bark, marvel at its cracks and crevices, and get excited when they spotted insects crawling along the trunk. They collected fallen leaves, acorns, and pinecones, fascinated by the colors and patterns of leaves and the textures of acorns and pinecones.

 

Their curiosity led us to research trees, where we discovered that trees can live for hundreds or even thousands of years. Additionally, trees are essential to ecosystems, providing food and shelter for both animals and humans.

 

Through our research, we also found that trees hold significant meaning in many cultures and religions. One memorable discovery was a Talmudic quote: “There is no plant without an angel in heaven tending it and telling it, ‘Grow!’”

 

Inspired by these experiences and findings, a story began to form in my mind. The resulting book uses minimal text and poetic rhythm to capture nature’s subtleties, and it was only recently that I decided to submit it for publication.

 

Q: What do you think Rick Penn-Kraus’s illustrations add to the story?

 

SR: Rick’s illustrations truly bring the story to life. I am deeply appreciative of his remarkable talent. The artwork on each page beautifully captures the intricacies and wonders of nature, and his illustrations alone can tell the story.

 

I find myself drawn into his art, making me feel part of the depicted scenes. Rick’s ability to capture the magic of nature allows readers to experience it firsthand, and I am extremely pleased with the result.

 

Rick Penn-Kraus

Q: How did you create the illustrations for the book?

 

RPK: I usually create pencil sketches to start each children’s book I illustrate, but this one was different. This book’s visuals are almost impressionistic, in a thick painterly way. I found that sketching in pencil first did not help me bring out that quality.

 

I almost had to go backwards in my process, starting with the completed painted piece, then reworking it to fit the story. That way I got the full color and texture impact from the beginning, and that inspired me.

 

My original sample submission pieces to the publisher almost looked like fingerprinting—and they loved it.

 

All the illustrations were created using Adobe Photoshop and a Wacom Intuos tablet. I have every media imaginable at my disposal this way, as well as brush and pen tips. That includes digital oils, pastels, inks, textures, and so much more.

 

I wanted the digital pieces to look like I created them with actual paint. With Photoshop I can also paint on separate layers, which gives me incredible control. Often I have separate layers for the animal’s eyes, body, legs, and multiple layers for background trees, foliage, and other environmental elements.

 

I can recolor them, resize them, and continue to rework the pieces without have to start over or mess around with what I already painted.

 

Sylvia’s text left me lots of room to interpret the scenes and action, which I love. Sometimes I came in close with the illustration, other times much further away.

 

I always want the reader to be surprised and intrigued when they turn the page, but feel the illustration makes perfect sense. If they are eager to turn the page to see what’s next, I’ve done my job.

 

Q: The educator Mark Vicker-Willis called the book a “beautifully written and illustrated tale of renewal, hope and possibility.” What do you think of that description?

 

SR: I value Mark’s perspective. At its core, the story is about the challenges an acorn faces as it tries to take root and grow into a sapling. Mark, as an educator, recognizes the deeper theme that translates into a lesson for life.

 

Throughout life, we all encounter obstacles that encourage us to reflect on past challenges and learn from them. We are sustained by the belief that each new day brings opportunities and the chance for personal growth.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

SR: I have written a story about the imaginary village of Chelm inhabited by extremely foolish people who consider themselves to be very wise. The idea was inspired by historical tales found in Jewish, German, and English literature. These humorous stories focus on how the villagers devise the most absurd solutions to any problem.

 

Through my research, I found these stories to be both funny and charming. Although they were originally intended for adults, I chose to create a version that would be entertaining for young children. I am currently seeking a publisher for this manuscript.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

SR: Rick and I are pleased that another story I wrote and he illustrated, You’re Not Invited, is currently under consideration for publication in Hebrew. Additionally, another book I wrote, In My Preschool, There is a Time for Everything, has just been published in Spanish.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Sylvia Rouss.