What does it take to create great illustrations for a childrens book?
Willems: I wish I knew; it would make my job easier! I look for two things: illustrations that live in partnership with the text, and a very personal vision. The great illustrators in the business today all have individual, quirky sensibilities. In my own work, I look for simplicity of line, partially to focus on the emotions of the book and partially because I want the main character of each book to be easily copied by a 5 year old. My books aren’t made simply to be read; I want them to be played. P&C: You’ve said that your children’s books are really comics. What do you mean? Willems: In my heart I’m a cartoonist. My books are really mini graphic novels, employing comic-book devices, such as word bubbles, action lines, and multiple panels. I love comic books’ dramatic use of the page turn. In a “regular” book, you turn the page when it runs out of words, but in a comic book, every page-turn is a moment of great drama. What will be different from page to page? Has time passed? Will so
