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An Interview with Cartoonist and Nope! Author Drew Sheneman
While he is new to the world of picture books, you may recognize Drew Sheneman’s work as a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist from the pages of your local newspaper. His wonderful debut picture book, NOPE!, tells the story of a baby bird who is afraid to leave the nest, something any young child (and parent!) can certainly relate to. Sheneman proves you don’t need a lot of words for a story to pack a big punch. In the interview below, The B&N Kids’ Blog got to learn more about this multi-talented author’s creative process, inspirations, as well as his childhood dream of becoming…Spider-Man!
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This is such a lovely and funny book! Where did the idea for NOPE! come from? Did it start from a story concept or an image?
Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked it. The idea for NOPE! came from the same place I get all my ideas, my sketchbook. I collect little snippets of ideas on scraps of paper or on my phone so when I sit down with my sketchbook to brainstorm (actually I usually lie on the floor) I have a kernel of an idea. From there I usually start sketching out the characters. Even though it’s likely to change a lot during the process of making a book, it’s easier for me to write the story when I have a good idea of what the main characters look like.
Have you always wanted to be an illustrator? Did you draw a lot as a child?
Aside from a brief stint where I wanted to be Spider-Man, yes, I have always wanted to draw for a living. I drew all the time as a kid. I started by copying Don Martin and Jack Davis cartoons from Mad Magazine when I was eight years old and had no idea what the jokes meant. I knew I loved to draw but I wasn’t sure what kind of job I might do with that. I was, and still am, a big comic book collector so I thought maybe I would do that. I love animation—Chuck Jones is a big influence—and toyed with the idea of being an animator for a while. But when I found editorial cartooning, it felt like the right fit and I’ve been doing it since college.
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How does creating a children’s book differ or compare to your work as an editorial cartoonist?
Besides the fact that picture books and editorial cartoons are both comprised of words and pictures, there’s very little similarity between the two. Editorial cartoons are very reactive. You’re responding to what’s happening right then and there. It’s a visceral art form that can be simultaneously funny, thought provoking, or downright mean on occasion. They also have a short shelf life, which is the complete opposite of picture books. There’s a timeless quality to great picture books that you don’t get with editorial cartoons. And, most notably, picture books require you to come up with your own characters. The world of news and politics comes complete with its own cast of characters, for better or worse…usually the latter.
Were there any surprises in the creative process along the way?
The biggest surprise about the creative process was how hard it was. Starting out I figured I could whip up a story and some fancy drawings and BOOM! Instant picture book! Man, was I wrong. It takes draft after draft and revision after revision to get something you can be proud of. Luckily, I had wonderful guidance and sage advice from my editor Joanna Cárdenas and art director Denise Cronin at Viking. It’s a comforting feeling when you realize they want your book to be as good as you do. The only other surprise was how long it takes to make a book. It’s been more than a year and for a guy who’s used to drawing a cartoon one day and seeing it in the newspaper the next it’s been an exercise in patience.
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Do any other illustrators or picture books inspire you, perhaps from your own childhood?
I’m constantly inspired by other illustrators. When I was a child I loved Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss. As I grew up and started studying illustration I always came back to picture books. I started collecting them back in school long before I had a daughter to read them to. I sought out books from artists like Chris Van Allsburg, James Gurney, David Shannon and Steven Gammell. When I finally decided to pursue writing and drawing my own picture books, I got a lot of inspiration from artist/illustrators like David Catrow (a fellow editorial cartoonist), Adam Rex (A fellow Dungeons and Dragons artist), and Peter Brown (just a fine fellow). Since getting into the business I’ve fallen in love with the work of artists like Raina Telgemeier and the profoundly funny Kate Beaton. There’s so much good work out there.
Do you see any more picture books in your future? (We hope!)
Absolutely! I’m just starting work on my second book for Viking called Don’t Eat That! It’s about a bear who wakes up from hibernation and forgets how—and what—to eat. That’s tentatively scheduled for next year. After that I have about five or six other books percolating away. I’m enjoying the world of picture books more than I thought possible. Hopefully they’ll let me stick around.
NOPE! is on B&N bookshelves now!