With the Writer Spotlight Series, we create a positive image for young girls to refer to by having conversations with different writers and illustrators. This month we have been doing Q&As with many writers, to get to know more about them and their work. Here, we are showcasing all the questions we have asked Illustrator Joelle Avelino. We discuss her lovely new book, A Book of People like Me.
Welcome Joelle. Tell us about yourself.
Hi, I’m a London based illustrator–I have been an illustrator professionally for around 5 years now. I actually studied illustration with marketing at uni with no intention of actually becoming an illustrator and I worked in marketing for three years after I graduated. But it was after I had my daughter I created personal briefs and draw again and that’s when I knew this was something I wanted to pursue.
What was the inspiration behind A Book of People Like Me?
When the publisher approached me with the text, I knew straight away that this was a text that I would love to bring to life visually.
What themes did you aim to highlight in this book, and why do you think they are important for young readers to learn about?
The book's core message teaches us that we are more alike than different. So I really needed the illustrations to reflect children from all backgrounds. A book with characters that all children can relate to. I want children to also know that we are more alike than we are different.
Can you tell us about your artistic process for creating the richly coloured illustrations in the book?
I started off with developing my main character and once myself and the publisher where happy with him I went onto first creating two of the spreads, which I did for this book in particular which gave me an idea of the look and feel for the whole book.
How did you decide on the visual style and colour palette for the illustrations?
I am naturally drawn to vibrant colours so adding colour really comes naturally to me. It’s a process that I let happen intuitively.
What message do you hope young readers will take away from seeing a diverse range of characters in the book?
That we may look different, but we are more alike that we are different. But that, we should also celebrate our differences.
How does your own background and experiences shape your work as an author and illustrator?
My African heritage has a big influence on my artwork, even if it is not intentional. However, growing up and not seeing many people that look like me in stories, I can’t emphasis how important this is. It is so important for all children to see themselves, and that is what many of my stories are about.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors and illustrators who want to create inclusive and diverse children's books?
Don’t worry about finding a style that will come naturally. Your style will find you. Draw, draw and do some more drawing and, as cliché as it sounds most importantly, believe in yourself.
About the illustrator
Joelle Avelino is a Congolese and Angolan award-winning illustrator based in London. She illustrated 'Mama's Sleeping Scarf,' written by award-winning and best-selling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, published by HarperCollins Children's Books in the UK and Alfred A. Knopf in the US.
She has also worked on several other titles, including Hey You! Written by Dapo Adeola, a 2022 British Book Awards winner. An empowering celebration of growing up black and she worked on the 25th anniversary edition of Baroness Floella Benjamins' classic memoir Coming to England.