Have you seen illustrator Lala Watkins’ cheerful colorful work?

Lala Watkins is a happy author/illustrator/designer who lives in sunny Florida and is a self-proclaimed connoisseur of good vibes. She graduated with a BFA in graphic design and interactive communications from Ringling College of Art and Design. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Instagram or BlueSky.

GO BANANAS! is a picture book full of silly play that’s sure to be on repeat readings. It’s a chant all the way through that will have classrooms giggling. It’s also full of bananas in silly costumes that will have young readers devouring the illustrations for all sorts of fun disguises.

Welcome Lala!

Me: Can you share about your creative journey? When did you start creating art professionally? How did that bring you to being the illustrator of this book

Lala: My creative journey started as a kid, I was always drawing and was able to nurture that ability throughout childhood. I attended an arts middle school and high school, and then went to an art college; Ringling College of Art and Design. I graduated with a graphic design degree and worked at some pretty cool companies doing product development, design, and illustration. I kept posting my work on my Instagram and that was how my agent, Erica Rand Silverman found me through a client of hers, Mika Song. Mika played matchmaker and now I’m part of the wonderful Stimola Literary Studio. I started creating art professionally as a children’s book illustrator in 2021, six years ago and I’m so grateful that I get to do that. I had a few books I was working on and then in 2022, I was asked to work on this book.

Me: I love the way you illustrated this book (there’s so much to love here!). Can you tell us a little bit about your illustrations for the book? Did you work with traditional media or digital or both?

Lala: Thanks so much! I love the illustrations for the book too. It was so much fun to do and I really wanted to make the silliness ooze off the pages. I did use both traditional media and digital. I made the textures overlaid on some of the art, especially the bananas. I scanned textures of pencils, paints, and crayons, etc. I saved them in a folder and when I finished drawing the illustrations digitally, I would add the textures in photoshop and see what looked best. I looked at 60’s & 70’s retro bold art as references, which you can see throughout even in the lettering.

Me: I noticed that! You have illustrated multiple picture books at this point in your career and each one is like a ray of sunshine. Why share “a summer pool party” vibe with kids in a book like this?

Lala: I think it’s important to remind kids to be silly and that you’re not alone. If you’re having a hard day, shake it off with some friends.  A summer pool party is never alone–always with people who make it that much brighter. Who are the banana friends you can call on to make today sweeter?

Me: I love all the different types of bananas included here, as well as all the clever funny inclusions you have in every spread (band posters, skateboarding, lifting weights, etc.). What gave you the ideas for some of your illustration choices? How did you decide what details to include in every page of the book?

Lala: I really wanted to make a world like Richard Scarry but with bananas. I tried different ways to make the bananas at first, like people in banana suits but figured a simple banana with outfits and stick arms and hands would be best. My goal was to be quirky but still have heart. I added bananas I wanted to see, like a cat in a banana suit, a banana dressed in 70’s attire, grandma banana, etc. Reading the text and knowing it was a song, in my mind I wanted it to be a silly music video that told a story. If you notice in the beginning of the book the first few spreads are grey and then after the Bandana Band comes in–everything is in color.

Me: Ha! Yup. I love that. Do you have a favorite spread that you illustrated for this book?  If yes, which one?

Lala: I love the clown spread in the beginning of the book because it’s so funny and unexpected. A clown banana who’s frowning in the mirror? Why? Will he smile again? Haha, it makes you want to find out.

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

Lala: How much fun I was having with this! It really shows. I had so many ideas and am really proud of how it turned out. I was also surprised with the two spreads I made because they were challenging for me–the spread with all the bananas going to the party house and the last spread with all of the bananas together. Yet, it turned out great.

Me: Any advice for other new picture book writers and/or illustrators?

Lala: Keep going! Remember the why and follow the heart. Your voice is important. You never know who’s watching you. Don’t give up–it’s all happening for you.

That is great advice Lala. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.

Dear readers, this book publishes today. Yay! Happy book birthday Lala! It’s chock-a-block full of silliness, sunshine, and bananas, of course! Trust me when I say, you won’t want to miss it.