Meet Kai Gietzen, illustrator of Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

Meet Kai Gietzen, the illustrator for my newest picture book Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

It comes out on May 26, 2024. Pre-order here.

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Kai Gietzen

Mom is counting on Dad to get Boxer Baby down for her nap, but Boxer Baby is the G.O.A.T. of sleep avoidance. This hilarious face-off mimics a three-round boxing match, as Boxer Baby is no lightweight when it comes to staying awake.

Dad has a few tricks up his sleeve, but will it be enough in this epic battle against nap time? [picture book, ages 3 and up]

Kai Gietzen Interview

1. You recently graduated from RISD in illustration. What did you learn there that prepared you to illustrate picture books?

At RISD I was able to grow and explore many different avenues of my creativity. I never took any of the offered children’s book illustration classes, but through other courses, I learned the essential skills of thinking and communicating through images. The most essential illustration skill I think I acquired at RISD was the ability to distill a text into a few emotions and themes that can be expressed powerfully and succinctly.

2. Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! is your first picture book. How was that experience? Do you plan on doing more picture books?

Illustrating a picture book is a marathon! I’m currently finishing up another little book project and I’m definitely ready to take a break and do some short-term projects. However, I’ll want to return to the medium eventually, maybe even write and illustrate one.

3. What is your favorite spread in the book and why?

I have a few favorites, but I’d have to pick the one with Boxer Baby on the rocking horse. I’m really happy with the composition and I loved creating the texture on the wooden horse but I also think it’s a great example of illustration and text working together to create a more exciting story.

4. What’s next for you?

I still work 4 days a week at a book bindery, which makes it difficult to get illustration work done. My goal this summer is to focus more on building my illustration as a business and hopefully find more time to work on the projects that I’m passionate about.

To learn about Kai Gietzen, follow him on Instagram. He also does illustrations on commission like this incredible house portrait that I am obsessed with!

p.s. Related posts:

First Reader Review for BOXER BABY BATTLES BEDTIME!

Reader Reviews of BOXER BABY BATTLES BEDTIME! and CHANGING THE GAME

More Reader Reviews for Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! PAGE REVEAL!

To examine any book more closely at Indiebound or Amazon, please click on image of book.

As an Amazon and IndieBound Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

My books:

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

Junior Library Guild Gold selection
Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
Starred review from School Library Journal
Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
Green Earth Book Award longlist
Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me