In which we talk about how Gordon started off as an illustrator for Hallmark, how he found his way to picture books, his approach to illustrating stories, trying chalk pastels for the first time, the power of routine in preventing creative blocks and his first love, fine art.
To learn more about me and my work, go to my website. You can follow me on Instagram and Bluesky
To learn more about Gordon go to Gordon C James andfollow him on InstagramBooks mentioned:
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes
Go Tell it: How James Baldwin Became A Writer
Just Like Jesse Owens written by Paula Young Shelton
Let ‘Er Buck by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Campy by David Adler
Chapter book series Scraps of Time by Patricia McKissack
Also mentioned:
Clearwater Arts Center
African American Children's Book Fair
In which we dive into Stan’s first picture book, There are Zombies in the Basement and, and why although the main character was based on his son, he drew him as a white ginger-haired kid and how he found his way to writing his first MG graphic novel, The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang, which just came out this past Sept. Serendipity is a word that crops up a lot in our conversation, a reminder of how creative paths can suddenly appear in ways that we didn't plan or envision!
To learn more about Stan and his work, go to Stan’s website
To learn more about me and my work, go to my website. You can follow me on Instagram and Bluesky
Books mentioned:
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Dark Night by Paul Dini and Eduardo Risso
Resources:
Kids Comic Unite– social media networking group for kidlit and YA graphic novel creators
Mascot Books – the company Stan used to publish his first picture book
Louise Campbell The Booking Tree - Stan's booking agent
In which we talk with the Creative Director of Neal Porter Books about what kidlit publishing was like back in the 80s (typesetting without computers!), the importance of marrying text and art so it’s seamless, how she defines a successful picture book, the value of art history, the impact of book bans on publishing, and so much more.
To learn more about me and my work, go to my website.You can follow me on Instagram and Bluesky
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Walk the Mouse Girls Took by Carla Kuskin
Watercress by Andrea Wang and Jason Shin
I Don’t Care by Julie Fogliano, Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott and Sydny Smith
I Will Eat You in the End by David Duff and Marianna Coppo (Fall 2026)
I Know How to Draw an Owl by Hilary Horder Hippely and Matt James
In which we talk about how Art Directors can comefrom designer backgrounds, the parallels between different creative fields, the value of play, howto create book covers that pull readers in, the importance of typography and lettering in book design, “weirdness” in picture book design, what is the most important thing illustrators need to know when working with an art director
To learn more about me and my work, go to my website.You can follow me on Instagram and Bluesky
To learn more about Brian go to Brian LaRossa and follow him on Bluesky
Podcasts mentioned:
Literaticast- a podcast by Jennifer Laughren
You May Contribute a Verse a podcast by Brenna Jeanneret and Josh Monken
an organization that “supports marginalized creators, publishes inclusive stories and provides readers with books that reflect our world.”
Books mentioned:
Forests by Nell Cross Beckerman and Kalen Chock
Braided Roots by Pasha Westbrook and Madelyn Goodnight
Over in the Mangroves by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Dikshaa Pawaskar
In which we talk about Svabhu's belief in the power of visual storytelling to change minds and hearts, their deep love for the environment and our responsibility as humans to care for it, the growth opportunities in taking on sometimes overwhelming projects, and of course how they began illustrating children’s picture books.
To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.com and follow me on Instagram
To learn more about Svabhu and their work, follow them on Instagram.
Svabhu’s books:
Tales of India: Folk Tales from Bengal, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu with Viplov Singh
The Incredible Whale and Other Poems written by Helen Dineen
Desert Queen written by Jyoti Rajan Gopal
When You See Us:The Mysterious World of Aquatic Insects by Katherine Hocker (Candlewick, March 2026))
Amche Mollem – A citizen group to protect the Western Ghats
In which we talk about Lynnor's roundabout route to making her dream of becoming a children’s book illustrator come true. She shares how social media has been a force for good in her career, the value of a supportive creative network, her experiences in traditional and self-publishing, the importance of research in her work and more.
To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.com
To learn more about Lynnor and her work, visit lynnorbontigao.com
Recently released:
The Lucky Day (Seashell Key #3) by Lourdes Heuer (Abrams)
Lynnor’s upcoming books:
Miles Ahead by Minh Le (Knopf, 2026)
Gifts and Talents by Jean Reidy(Penguin, 2027)
What helped her on her journey:
@puddlejumpcollective on Insta
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (scbwi.org)
Children’s Book Illustrators Group is a NYC based groupof illustrators and author-illustrators who create work for children’s publishing and media (cbig-nyc.blogspot.com)
In which we discuss Dow's career switch from pediatrician to illustrator, the impact her elementary school teacher had on her, the power of Youtube tutorials, the role of research in illustrating and fakingout AI.
To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.com
Dow's website: artbydow.blogspot.com
Quiet is Strength written by Mary Ann Hess illustrated byDow (released Feb 11, 2025)
Books coming soon:
The Beasts Beneath the Wind, a middle grade anthology edited by Hanna Alkaf (Abrams, released Spring 2025)
Happy Songkran Day (Viking, 2026)
Dow’s latest toy: Tourboxtech.com
Apps that Dow uses to protect her art from AI scraping: Glaze and Nightshade
In which Nabi talks us through choosing projects, his artistic process, including the role of the art director, and what he wishes he had known before he began working in the picture book world and lots more. We talk about our book together LOVE IS HERE WITH YOU and the beautiful illustrations he created within its spreads.
To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.com
To visit Nabi's portfolio, go to nabihaiderali.myportfolio.com
Follow Nabi on Insta @nabihaiderali
Books mentioned in our conversation and illustrated by Nabi:
Laxmi's Mooch by Shelly Anand
All The Way to the Top by Annette Bay Pimentel
Beautifully Me by Nabeela Noor
We Move the World by Kari Lavelle
Mango Memories by Sita Singh
A Rakhi for Rakesh by Nadia Salomon
Mustafa's Mithai by Sana Rafi
Book Fairs mentioned:
Bologna Book Fair
London Book Fair