We Need Diverse Books

 

What seems to be the next push in publishing is more diversity in picture books.

 

 

 A couple of years ago it was "Pink it Up!” followed by "More Boy Books" and one of my favorite "No more Vampire stories”.

 

When I attend an SCBWI Winter Conferences the majority of people who attend seem to be white. I see few other ethnic groups except for Canadians they seem to be in abundance.

 

 

 So my question is: Is there a lack of ethnic writers?

Or is there a lack of good ethnic writers? I don't know the answer.

 What I see from the conferences and what I read on line most publishers don’t seem to give a …. about what color your skin is just need to tell a great story.

 

 

As illustrators we have the ability to diversify characters. Depending on the text it could be done. Or just make them cute mice, bunnies; once again depending on the subject bullying, shyness, first crush, afraid of lighting… and so on.

   Back in 2009 I started sketching a picture book called “Why Am I Me?”

 written by Wayne Harris- Wyrick.

I could not seem to get a picture in my head of one child asking such a big question;

 then it struck me while riding the subway it does not need to be one voice I can have a diverse group of kids every time “Why Am I Me?” is said it’s a different kid. Using the many shades of humans who ride the subway as my pallet I went to work not easy creating so many different boys and girls but it was fun and I hope I accomplished something positive.

 

    

Creating layouts

Last week I was sent three images from “Why Am I Me?” with text by the art director. I believe the author Wayne Harris-Wyrick wants to create a video to help promote the book and I guess she felt I should be in the loop.

This gives me an opportunity to do a quick break down on how I created layouts for this publisher.

One:
I am sent the script/text for the story I know that for their picture books it will be 8.75 X 9 inches or if a two page spread 17.5 X 9 the size includes bleed, also I have twenty five pages to tell the balk of the story out of the thirty two pages for the picture book.
Two:
 After many times reading the story I find the breaks or what I fondly call the breaths and start scribbling the page number next to what text will go on what page. This can and usually changes when I start creating a storyboard; the storyboard helps me see the flow.

Three:
Then I layout the pages how I see the images and text put together, I know they like full color illustrations so I give them it not hard and I have adopted for them keeping the background soft and out of focus. You can see with the amount of text per page it is easier to place the written word without overlapping the artwork. If I design it to overlap the foreground artwork I remove my ink line to soften the artwork, trying to make it easier to read the words on that page.

page 12 with text

All the pages in this book except for two pages were two page spreads a lot more fun to work with, I am guessing that the art director did not want to give too much of the story away by sending the full two page spread since there is text on both pages so I had already had a couple up for the last year without text and I have added it to this post.

Picturebookdad Unofficial review

You will not find this review on Picturebookdad but Ken was nice enough to allow me to print what he had to say about Why Am I Me?

Stephen,
I appreciate you interest in Picturebookdad.com.
I enjoyed Why Am I Me? I found it to be thoughtfully written and nicely drawn.
However, I feel it doesn't have quite enough dad-appeal to reach my target audience of reluctant-reader dads.
I hope you understand.
Best wishes,
Ken

I do/did understand I took shot, this book is the closest that I illustrated to what he looks for in picture books for his audience. But if you don't try you will never know.
It is a great site and I would suggest to go visit it often.

25 copies SOLD!!!

“Why Am I me?” has picked up some momentum and is selling at independent book stores in Oklahoma one is called “Best of Books in Edmond” so far has sold over twenty five copies, this was after a news article came out about Wayne Harris-Wyrick who wrote “Why Am I Me?” I posted it here.

I have also been told that Full Circle Books in Oklahoma City has ordered the book, how many copies I do not know they purchased them through Ingram and that information does not become available till the following month. The store at the Science Museum in Oklahoma has ordered fifteen copies.

All very promising, at the scbwi winter conference I can’t remember if it was Dan Santat or Dan Yaccarino who spoke of doing a grassroots movement to get the book in the public eye but it looks like Wayne as done just that; if you have not guessed he lives in Oklahoma and is also the director of the Kirkpatrick Planetarium of Science Museum of Oklahoma, it is nice to see the museum take care of their people.
Oklahoma is also the home of 4RV Publishing and he has attended some of the conferences held in or around the city signing copies of the book.

Wayne Harris- Wyrick

Wayne Harris- Wyrick

Side note/ disclaimer:
When I illustrate a book I do not do a web search on who wrote the story I don’t want to be influenced by their web pages or blog, Facebook status whatever is floating out there on the World Wide Web. So the front cover had nothing to do with Wayne love for the universe it is something I picked up by illustrating this picture book.
I only knew one writer before I illustrated her book; it did not hurt my interpretations but her love for the outdoors did influence me in a certain direction. (Hi Rena)

Wayne Harris-Wyrick's "Why Am I Me?" in OKC newspaper

Wayne Harris-Wyrick's "Why Am I Me?" in OKC newspaper posted
Originally posted by Vivian Zabel in 4RV Reading, Writing, & Art News
   In today's Oklahoman, the main paper in the Oklahoma City area, is a short review of
 "Why Am I Me?" by 4RV author and editor Wayne Harris-Wyrick.
I've copied and pasted the article below.  (And I Stephen Macquignon has recopied the article)
Congratulations, Wayne.

YOUR LIFE Family, friends stand out

Charlotte Lankard CLankard@opubco.com  

  Being an only child, I never had a brother or sister looking out for me and cheering me on, so I particularly like it when readers give me a glimpse of what that is like . A few weeks ago I wrote about three Oklahomans who authored books published in Oklahoma and sold at one of our Oklahoma independent bookstores. The next day I received an email from Randy Wyrick of Leander, Texas, who asked me why I didn’t mention his brother’s book. So I went right out and bought a copy.

His brother is Wayne Harris-Wyrick, director of the Kirkpatrick Planetarium and author of a children’s book, “Why Am I Me?” Dedicated to his son Ethan, Harris-Wyrick’s book explains the importance of things like dogs and cats, mountains and water, sunrises and sunsets, butterflies and flowers, rabbits and even skunks. About trees he writes, “Trees make fruit to eat and oxygen to breathe, give shade on a hot summer day and a place to climb and study the world from up high, with the birds.” Then he answers the child’s question, “What is special about me?” It is a good book for any adult to share with a child. Since Harris-Wyrick, who writes a column for The Oklahoman, is an Oklahoman and easy to find at the planetarium, have him sign a book for that special child in your life.

And to purchase the book, try another one of Oklahoma’s independent bookstores — Best of Books in Edmond’s Kickingbird Square. Julie Hovis will take good care of you.

While I don’t have a brother like Randy Wyrick, I do have great friends, and because of this column I have met people all across the state. One of those folks is Jacquelyn Duncan, a retired Custer County associate district judge.

  Jackie has invited me to her part of the state and we have visited here when she is in town. After reading the column I wrote about my friend Arlene Johnson and her love of animals, I received the following email from Jackie and her own animal companions: “Booray the Bichon Frise dog, Sookie the Maltese mix dog, Diva the calico cat and Red Beard the tiger stripe cat all join me in wishing you a 2012 filled with love, peace, health and happiness.” I wish the same for each of you.

Charlotte Lankard is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice.
 Contact her at clankard@opubco.com.

SM: It was a fun book to illustrate and I am happy it has received some attention from the outside world. Wayne seems to be an interesting person from what I have read on line maybe one day I'll meet him.

     Amazon
 is nuts!

 Nevertheless, take advantage of this great price only

$5.79

 this is truly one of my favorite books I have ever done and it shows in the 30 odd illustrations I did.

I do not know how long the deal will last