What three words would you use to describe Funcles? Author, Yashika: Warm, funny and joyful! Illustrator, Adriena: Community, family and vibrancy! The story feels like a real celebration of what family can mean to different people through the lens of innocence and sparks of humour. That ‘family' doesn’t just mean blood relations but rather what it stands for - emotional support, personal growth and connections to culture or a sense of belonging. I feel that the idea of family

1. What inspired you to create Mama’s Wedding? There was a time when I didn't have the words for this story. It lived in quieter places: a home changing shape, a child sitting on a wedding dress’ train, a mother putting on that dress for the second time. Six years ago in Hong Kong, I sat with my sketchbook in the months before my own wedding. My first note to myself was simple: how a mama overcomes her fear of remarriage. The early drawings were heavy with adult uncertainty,

For this edition of our ‘Meet the Creator’ series, we spoke to Chitra and Poonam about their favourite moments in the book, their creative processes, and their advice for aspiring writers and illustrators.

In this interview, Oboh shares the creative process behind creating Freedom Braids, gives us a tour of his workspace, and reflects on his growth as an illustrator. Finally, Oboh leaves with us a poignant final message about what history and representation mean to Black creatives and Black children.

In this interview, Clara Dackenberg, illustrator of the Carnegies-shortlisted The Playdate, gives us a glimpse into her creative process behind the scenes—creating characters, a favourite moment, her workspace essentials, and a message to young readers.