I don’t always get to meet the illustrators of my picture books, so it’s really a treat when there is an opportunity to hang out.
I often get questions about the selection of the illustrator for picture books:
Do I get to choose the illustrator for my picture books?
Only I am working with an extremely small publisher, such as the case with Eifrig Publishing. For Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!, illustrated by Kai Gietzen, not only did I get to choose the illustrator, but I paid for his work as well.
For all my other picture books, the publisher chose an illustrator and asked for my opinion. Honestly, I am so lucky. All the illustrators were amazing! The publisher then hires the illustrator, and the editor/creative director works directly with the illustrator. Sometimes, I get looped in for feedback, but generally, I do not have direct contact with the illustrator until the picture book is complete.
What was it like working with Colleen Kong-Savage and Red Comet Press?
This was a dream team! First of all, Colleen is an extremely talented illustrator. I am totally in love with her collage art. Secondly, not only did she hit her deadlines, but I believe she was ahead of schedule. This is not always the case! The heavy lifting in a picture book falls to the illustrator to create their magic!
The fact-checking of a picture book can fall to both the author but also to the publisher, who sometimes will hire a fact checker. In the case of Fortune Cookies for Everyone, I have to say that Colleen was the best fact checker that I have ever experienced, and honestly, it’s not really her job to be fact-checking to that degree of accuracy! She is not only an amazing illustrator, but she is also extremely thorough when it comes to accuracy.
Because the Smithsonian collaborated with Red Comet Press, they hired their own fact checker (unbeknownst to me and Colleen). When we found that out, we asked how it went. Thankfully, we did a good job! Their fact checker didn’t find any errors, though like us, found discrepancies in the history that had to be puzzled out.
What was it like to meet Colleen Kong-Savage?
It was a blast! We got to spend time together for three days at ALA in Philly. We had so much fun doing our book signing together, which was our last together. By then, it felt like we were old friends. Take a look:
p.s. I have asked Colleen if I can interview her for my blog, so stay tuned! I’m excited to share more about her, especially her street murals!
p.p.s. Related posts:
FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection!
Cover Reveal of my latest picture book … FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!
Picture Book Announcement: Fortune Cookies for Everyone!
21 Wonderful Multicultural Picture Books About Food
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
The Traveling Taco:
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
It sounds like meeting Colleen Kong-Savage at ALA was an amazing experience, and her talent and dedication really shine through in Fortune Cookies for Everyone!