Do you know the perfect subject for talking about personal space? Cats!

Johan Leynaud is a French artist, illustrator, and author who studied at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille and spends most of his time drawing. He hopes Arthur’s Cat, his English-language debut, will help children respect animals as living beings who sometimes need their space. One day Johan watched his niece play with her cat―and Arthur’s Cat began to grow in his mind. You can follow him on Instagram.

ARTHUR’S CAT is an adorable picture book all about a little boy named Arthur who deeply, madly, truly loves his cat Zeffo. He wants to hold him, and read him stories, and play with him. However, Zeffo may not want those same things. And when Arthur hugs Zeffo a little too tight one day … well, I think you can figure out what happens. There is division between these two best friends and Arthur must learn to respect Zeffo’s boundaries. 

Man oh man did this book speak to me. We adopted two pound kitties who were deeply traumatized somehow. It took forever before they would even be in the same room with us and be visible (not in some new hiding spot). I began to despair that they would ever come to love us, but it just took time. As an adult, I knew this would be true and it was deucedly hard to wait. Multiply that by 100 and you’ve got your average 5-year-old. Absolutely a must read for any kiddo hoping to have a pet. Or a friend. Or just about anyone who wants to know how to respect personal space for that matter!

Welcome Johan!

Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your creative journey? When did you start creating art and/or writing picture books? How did that lead to where you are now as the author-illustrator of this book?

Johan: I have always been in the creative field. I studied fine arts, I worked as a video graphic designer for years, and I created and directed some animation projects.

I started to write and illustrate children’s books after a disappointment.

One of my animated series projects was stopped in the early development stage. I was very sad and asked myself: “What kind of project could I do on my own, without any team?” This is how I started to write and illustrate children’s books.

My first project did not get published. But I persevered and continued writing and illustrating, because I loved doing this. And I eventually managed to have my first book published by a beautiful publishing house.

And today, I feel very lucky and happy to have this book, Arthur’s Cat, published by a publishing house that I love and being translated into English.

Me: Yes! Congratulations! I have rescued two kitties that are incredibly shy around people, so I recognized Zeffo! What gave you the idea to write a book about respecting animals like this?

Johan: It’s thanks to my young niece. The idea of this book was inspired by watching her difficult relationship with the cat she loves sooooo much.

By the way, Arthur’s Cat is dedicated to her.

Me: Ha! I love that. And I love the illustrations you did for this book. Can you talk about your illustration process a little bit? What media did you use to create the illustrations in this book? Are you mainly a traditional or digital illustrator (or a blend of both)?

Johan: I try to find the right balance between traditional and digital media. I do my sketches and research on paper, because I love tracing drawings on paper so much. And, with my traditional drawing tools that I have carefully digitized, I create my final illustrations digitally. I like the extremely fine digital color control.

This is the way I work today. But this process is still a work in progress. 

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

Johan: I have a special attachment for the spread with the bookcase, because it is the first illustration that I made. Even before having the proper idea of creating this book.

This illustration is the beginning of the emotion in the book. 

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

Johan: This is quite a difficult question, because when I design a book, the illustrations usually come first. If one thing surprised me in Arthur’s Cat, I think it’s that it came more from the words.

Sometimes some sentences popped up, like a gift. And I was surprised to see how the word “Zeffo,” this made-up first name, made this character “real” for me.

Me: Why is telling this particular story important to you? Why share it with young readers?

Johan: This book is not only about the relationship between Arthur and Zeffo. When I saw my niece with her cat, I saw two beings having trouble getting the space they need to get along and be happy. I saw two beings having trouble meeting each other’s needs. I hope my book will help children learn to let people and the beings they love live free. Be free to be happy.

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

Johan: First: do. Draw and write as much as you can, as much as you love it.

Second: be precise about what you do, be precise about what you feel.

Third is not really advice but a wish for you: I wish you can find someone (an editor, a publishing house…) that you like and who likes you to share your work. Do not hesitate to look for it. 

I love that. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today Johan.

Dear readers, this book published earlier this month. This French author-illustrator has managed to make complicated relationships look so simple and sweet, but we all know that patience in creating is every bit as needed as patience with loved ones. Trust me when I say that this is a book you won’t want to miss! It’s delightfully good.