This Book Is Not Ready! invites children to become part of the creative process as a book gradually takes shape through imagination, experimentation, and plenty of ridiculous mistakes. What inspired you to create a children’s book about a character trying to create its own story?

I’ve always wanted to create a character that was a little more expressive and unpredictable, someone who could break the fourth wall, be stubborn, make mistakes, and still find something positive in those mistakes. I wanted the Narrator to feel human in that way, even though he’s just a little scribbled character trying to figure things out.

Having already created two children’s books, I wanted to try something different with This Book Is Not Ready! My goal was to create a story that anyone could enjoy, whether they’re a young child, a teenager, or even an adult. I’ve always loved seeing people smile and laugh while reading my books, but some of my favorite moments are when they don’t realize I’m watching. I’ll catch someone out of the corner of my eye turning the book upside down or shaking it simply because the Narrator told them to. Those moments are exactly what I hoped to create: a story that doesn’t just entertain readers but actually pulls them into the experience and lets them have a little fun along the way.

How did you develop the personality of your scribbly little main character, and what do you hope children recognize about themselves in a character who doesn’t always know what to do next?

I actually based a lot of the Narrator’s personality on myself. As a relatively new illustrator, I’ve experienced plenty of the frustrations and challenges that come with creating a book, and I wanted to incorporate some of those experiences into his character. He’s stubborn, impatient, and sometimes a little dramatic when things don’t go his way, but he also refuses to give up.

Throughout the story, the Narrator encounters many of the same kinds of problems that writers and illustrators face, only exaggerated in a humorous way. Even when everything seems to be going wrong, and he doesn’t have the help of his author or illustrator, he keeps trying different approaches until he finally manages to complete his book.

I hope children recognize that it’s okay to make mistakes, get frustrated, or not know exactly what they’re doing. Nobody has everything figured out, and sometimes the things that go wrong can lead to something even better than what we originally imagined. I wanted the Narrator to show that a little determination, creativity, and a sense of humor can go a long way.

What do you hope children learn about experimenting with ideas and trying different approaches?

I hope children learn that creativity doesn’t always have to follow a perfect plan, and that sometimes our mistakes can lead to our best ideas. I’m actually someone who tends to be very particular about my artwork. I spend a lot of time correcting little details and making sure everything looks exactly how I imagined it. But creating This Book Is Not Ready! was a completely different experience.

Even though I started with a storyboard, I constantly found myself changing things as I went. I’d be illustrating a scene and suddenly think of something funnier or a different way the Narrator might react to the situation. Instead of sticking strictly to my original plan, I let those ideas shape the story. In many ways, I was discovering what would happen next right alongside the Narrator.

The mistakes, messy illustrations, and unexpected situations became some of my favorite parts of the book. I hope children take away the idea that they don’t have to get everything right the first time. Sometimes it’s worth trying something different, being a little silly, and seeing where their imagination takes them.

What kinds of creative activities or conversations would you love to see children explore after reading This Book Is Not Ready!?

More than anything, I hope the book inspires children to pick up a pencil, create their own characters, and come up with stories of their own without worrying so much about getting every little detail right. I want them to understand that drawing and storytelling don’t have to be perfect to be fun.

My youngest daughter, Charlotte, is actually a big part of why I started creating children’s books and was a major inspiration behind This Book Is Not Ready! One of my favorite things is sitting down and drawing with her. We don’t just draw pictures; we come up with silly ideas, invent ridiculous characters, and laugh at the crazy things we create together. Sometimes the most entertaining ideas are the ones we never planned in the first place.

I’d love for other children and their parents to experience that same kind of creativity together. Whether it’s drawing a funny character, making up a ridiculous story, or just seeing how silly their imaginations can get, I hope the book encourages them to have fun creating something of their own. Sometimes all it takes is a pencil, a little imagination, and the willingness to make a mess.

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