It takes two…

By Sharon Giltrow

…people to make a picture book. Especially if one of those people - me - can only draw stick figures. Luckily the publisher of our soon to be released book, GET READY, MAMA! matched my words to the amazing illustrative style of Arielle Li. Then they encouraged us to collaborate on the illustrations. Starting with the choice of initial characters, to the cover, and all the pages in between.

This successful collaboration created a story where the illustrations match the text beautifully, while at the same time adding some fantastic and surprising elements.

Get Ready, Mama!
Written by: Sharon Giltrow
Illustrated by: Arielle Li
Published by: EK Books, 6th April 2022
Available for pre-order
Even the most reluctant risers will find the fun in the morning routine with this lively role-reversal story about a mama who just doesn't want to get ready!

Getting Mama ready for the day can be a challenge... you'd better watch out that she doesn't sneak back into bed, try to distract you with cuddles, get breakfast all over her top, or... wait, is Mama watching TV?! Learn how to get Mama up and ready despite her mischievous delaying tactics with this essential guide to dealing with morning mayhem!

Now, let me share with you my favourite spreads from GET READY, MAMA! and show you an example of how Arielle added to the story to make it even better (and funnier).

S – For this spread the text is:
Scurry to the car.
Remember…
You can’t drive.
Swap seats.
Look at your mama,
‘Oh dear!’

When I pictured this scene, I saw the mama and child getting out of the car and swapping seats. Arielle made this spread so much better by having the mama and the child swap seats while still in the car - something unexpected and super funny. Arielle pushed the joke in the text as far as it would go.

Now, here is one of Arielle’s favourite spreads from GET READY, MAMA! and she shares with us why she loves it.

A- I love how the scene captures the little rituals parents and their children have when they part from each other... except now it's the mama who is the one who couldn't let her go (and quite literally too!). I also enjoyed painting mama's pouty face. He-he.

S – Arielle has again added humour to this scene by showing how reluctant mama is to say goodbye. The illustration where mama is lying on the ground clinging to the child’s legs is hilarious. It is also very relatable to parents and gives a nod to them and their daily struggles.

Words and pictures - you can’t have one without the other, especially when you’re creating a picture book. So, when you are writing your next story, be sure to leave room for the illustrator so they can add some surprises.
 
See you in March with another great Aussie book.
 
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GIVEAWAY
For a chance to win a copy of our book GET READY, MAMA!

1. Comment on this blog post
2. Share this blog post on social media
3. Follow Sharon and Arielle on twitter
4. The winner will be announced on twitter on Monday 7th March
   

BIOS:
Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. Sharon has taught for all of her career. Previously a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, she now teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her humorous debut PB, BEDTIME DADDY! released May 2020 through EK books. Sharon’s humorous follow up PB, GET READY, MAMA! Is due to be released through EK books in April, 2022. Her third PB, LET’S GO SHOPPING, GRANDMA! is due to be released through Dixi Books in 2022. SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILITY BELT, book one in Sharon’s early MG series – THE UTILITY BELT, will be released in 2022 through Clear Fork Publishing.  With book two TOBY KING AND THE UTILITY BELT to follow.

Arielle Li has been passionate about creating art from a young age, and has been pursuing illustration as a career since 2019. She enjoys long walks at the beach, chasing her cats around the house and practising Taekwondo. Her debut picture book GET READY, MAMA! releases in April 2022. Arielle is based in Adelaide.

CONNECT:
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Arielle
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