With less than a month away to the longest day of the year (long because of nonstop daylight), today’s picture book is perfectly timed!

Kelsey E. Gross grew up in Wisconsin and lived in New Mexico and California before returning to the Midwest. She now lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with her partner, son, and silly, snow-loving pup. When she’s not writing, she looks for owls and other forest friends while hiking and skiing in the woods. Kelsey aims to write books that inspire readers of all ages to take care of one another and the natural world. She’s the author of the Solstice series picture books Winter and Summer. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Twitter or on Instagram.

SUMMER: A SOLSTICE STORY is a sequel to the picture book WINTER: A SOLSTICE STORY.  Both picture books work well together with the same characters in different seasons.  Here, the forrest friends (Owl, Deer, Squirrel, Rabbit, Bear, Sparrow, Woodpecker, and Raccoon) all gather together to celebrate the summer solstice, and the light and life it brings.  The lovely lyrical text weaves throughout the story as the forrest comes alive and the friends come together with such joy.  The text works hand in hand with the lovely illustrations by Renata Liwska.  It’s hard to separate where the text begins and the illustrations end.  As such, I wanted to interview both creators to talk about this series.

Welcome Kelsey!

Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey? How long have you been writing?  What brought you to picture books?

Kelsey: I loved to write stories and poems as a child, but as time went on, I drifted away from creative writing and focused on academic and professional writing like research papers, grant proposals, and newsletters.

After having my son and making a career change to study early childhood education, I fell back in love with picture books. The alchemy between the text and pictures makes them uniquely powerful and emotionally resonant. And when kids read picture books with their caregivers, those interactions are so important for their development.

I took a course on writing picture books in 2019 and was immediately hooked. I’ve been immersing myself in the field ever since. It feels so satisfying to finally return to the kind of writing I love most!

Me: Your story is so wonderfully written.  The summer solstice marks the lightest day of the year.  I have never thought of it as a woodland ceremony.  What gave you the idea for this story?

Kelsey: Thank you, Jena! I grew up in the Midwest and have always enjoyed observing the change of seasons. I came up with the idea for my first book, Winter: A Solstice Story, while skiing in the woods in the moonlight. It was fun to imagine how woodland animals might celebrate the shortest night, and what kind of wishes they might offer one another at such a dark time.

For Summer: A Solstice Story, I wanted to return to the same characters and setting and capture the warmth and joy of summer. Plants are in full bloom and crops are growing, so it seemed right that animals would have a celebration to share the bounty of the season. At the same time, I thought about the fact that many animals send off their young in the summertime. I wondered, what hopes might they have for their little ones?

Me: Were there animals you envisioned for this book that didn’t get included for some reason?  What made you choose the animals that you did?  Why an owl for the main character (especially when they’re thought of as nocturnal)?

Kelsey: Great questions. Although it’s a work of fiction, I only wanted to include woodland animals who might actually send off their young in early/mid-summer, around the solstice. When I did my research, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, bears, sparrows, woodpeckers, and deer were in that group, and were likely to be in the same habitat together. I kept many of the same characters from Winter, but did mix it up a little!

Owl played a major role in Winter, so I wanted him to be part of this book, too. At first, I wondered whether I should keep him awake during the day, but I concluded that it captures a relatable experience for readers. Many kids can probably relate to staying up past their bedtimes in the summer, whether it’s to roast marshmallows around a campfire, watch fireworks, or because they simply can’t fall asleep when the sun’s still shining late at night. Add in the excitement of a celebration, and it suddenly made sense why Owl, as I say in the book, “can’t sleep on this special day!”

Me: What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?

Kelsey: I was surprised by how much emotional depth was in the final product (at least for me personally). The text became like a love letter to kids everywhere and shares my hope that all kids know they are loved and have a special light to share. I also hope they all have at least one grown-up in their life who will always be there for them, no matter what. Further, some of my critique partners said they could see this as a graduation or Mother’s Day gift, which was delightful feedback.

Me: This is the second book about a solstice that you have written.  Was it sold as a series together?  Are you considering the spring and fall equinoxes for a follow up?

Kelsey: I sold Winter first, and then came up with the idea for Summer a few months later. My agent pitched the manuscript to my editor, and thankfully she loved the idea!

Yes – I am dabbling in some other genres and subjects but am always thinking about ideas for seasonal picture books! I do have a third picture book under contract that has not yet been announced, so stay tuned.

Me: The illustrations by Renata Liwska are absolutely adorable.  She is perfect for a story centered around woodland creatures!  Were there any illustration surprises for you? 

Kelsey: I am so grateful to be paired with Renata Liwska. I’ve long been a fan of her art, so creating two books with her has been a dream. She has created such warm, fuzzy, and endearing characters, and settings that bring the magic of each season to life. The summer color palette is lush and vivid and adds so much depth to the story.

In a few places, Renata placed some of the animals at a picnic table, enjoying food together. It makes me smile every time! The text for this book is lyrical and heartfelt, so I love how she added some playfulness to counterbalance that.

Me: Any advice for other picture book writers?

Kelsey: I’ll repeat advice from Julie Hedlund (picture book author and leader of the 12×12 writing challenge): picture book writers must be prolific! For every story that goes on submission, I have many, many more that will never see the light of day. I’ve come to appreciate that this is a necessary part of the process. Every time I put a draft away, I try to view it as an essential step that must happen before another truly special idea comes my way. I can sometimes reuse elements in future stories, too, so writing time is never a waste of time.

While it can be helpful to stay up to date on publishing trends, I try to keep writing fun and meaningful by pursuing ideas that excite and interest me. That keeps me engaged though all the ups and downs of this industry. 

That is great advice Kelsey.  Thank you for stopping by my blog today.

But wait, dear readers!  There’s more.  As promised, I also interviewed the illustrator.

Renata Liwska grew up in Warsaw, Poland, and now lives in Calgary, Canada. She is the illustrator of The Quiet Book and The Loud Book!, both New York Times bestsellers written by Deborah Underwood, as well as Solstice series picture books Winter and Summer by Kelsey E. Gross. For The Quiet Book, Renata Liwska was awarded the 2010 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal and named a 2010 Governor General’s Award finalist.  You can learn more about her at her website, or follow her on Instagram or on Twitter.

Welcome Renata!

Me: I can’t imagine that there is a picture book fan that isn’t familiar with your work.  But just in case, would you mind sharing about your artistic journey? When did you start creating art?  How did that lead you to illustrating this book?

Renata: At first drawing was a pastime, just something I did for fun – and to entertain myself. But it was so much fun, and I drew so much, that over time I got good at it. So when I grew up I figured out that it would be fun to share my drawings with others. I sent copies of my illustrations to publishers hoping to illustrate books. It wasn’t a straight forward journey, and at times the path meandered and I considered walking away. But with help from friends, editors, and writers I was able to find my artistic path – although sometimes I still meander!

And now that path has led me to SUMMER: A SOLSTICE STORY, The second book by Kelsey that I get to illustrate. As with the first book, it is a beautiful script that I connected with on an emotional level. Immediately when I read the script pictures started to unravel in my imagination, fun stories that entertained me and I was excited to share with others.

Me: I have always loved your critters!  Can you tell us a little bit about your process for the book?  Did you work with traditional media or digital or both?

Renata: I love my critters too! For me, drawing, inventing, and looking beyond the surface is what is the most enjoyable. Whether using a pencil on paper or on glass, the image depends on the connection between what I imagine in my head and how I feel about them in my heart.

I love the sketching phase, working out how a book will unravel at a glance with tiny thumbnail sketches. After that, quick value studies let me see if a spread, a full page, or a spot illustration will work best to tell the story my heart wants to tell. For the solstice stories, spreads were what I had my heart set on, and the editors agreed.

Both books were mostly drawn on an iPad in Procreate and finished in Photoshop on a Wacom Cintiq tablet that I have had forever – and which is getting pretty stubborn in what inputs it will accept. I enjoy drawing with pencil on paper and some of those traditional drawings are included in this book. Yet even when I draw digitally, I try to draw the same as I do on paper.

Me: I love your textures and your color palette.  It’s so soft!  What made you decide to go for a gate fold in each book?

Renata: Yes, my artistic sensibilities are quiet and soft! Yet, I remember as a child what an impression out of the ordinary things in books had on me. I wanted to bring this feeling to the reader. For WINTER, I imagined how spectacular a decorated winter tree would be at such a grand scale! Every time a child looked at the book, they could see a different decoration to bring them joy.

In SUMMER, I wanted to give the critters a vast open space full of beautiful wild flowers, tall grasses, and many fun places to hide. And for the reader, more places to find them!

Me: Do you have a favorite spread that you illustrated for this book?  If yes, which one?

Renata: I have many, each has it’s own magic for me. With each spread I can imagine myself right in the scene. Feeling the sun on my skin, the gentle touch of the forest breeze, and the love and sharing of all of my animal friends. Early Morning, Raising Sun, Bear and Moss, Dancing, Saying Goodbyes, Waving Goodbye are some favorites – to name just a few!

Me: What is one thing that surprised you in illustrating this story?

Renata: How much I enjoyed imagining the back stories of the characters. And imagining readers finding their own narratives of who the characters are. Big and small, they all come together to celebrate this beautiful marker of a changing season, sharing food and stories – and friendship.

Me: Any advice for other new picture book illustrators?

Renata: Keep playing, and don’t believe everything you see! Incremental progress is better than none. Your work doesn’t have to be perfect, it has to be finished.

Me: Do you have any future book projects that we can look forward to?

Renata: I am always looking forward to my next creative journey  – and adventure! But I’m not sure about talking about something I am still working on – it is too early. So we will just have to wait and see – But I will try my best to make it fun!

Good luck and thank you for stopping by my blog today Renata.

Dear readers, if you haven’t yet had a chance to read this book or its companion, I highly recommend both of them.  They are delightful reads that can be used to celebrate the solstices.  SUMMER is also about loving our young and releasing them into the world with hope, so it’s appropriate that Kelsey was told it could be a Mother’s Day or Graduation gift.  It really could!