(C) Sleeping Bear Press
Animal artwork by Rahim from Tanzania
OH MY! Kidlit Agent: |  |
When Moira and John first spoke to you about their idea of writing LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS OH MY!, why were you excited about it?
I loved the idea of a picture book with art by children, and when I saw the art, I was blown away. The art is so beautiful and life-like and I just fell in love with it. I also love the fact that we would be helping those very kids who drew the animals!
I was blown away, too! When deciding who to submit the project to, why did you send it to Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press?
I sent it to Barb since she does very interesting books that are usually a little serious and a little out-of-the-box.
That makes sense! What was Barb's initial response after reading the manuscript and was the acquisition process an exciting one?
Barb loved it immediately. It’s always an exciting process when an editor loves and buys the book!
I loved the idea of a picture book with art by children, and when I saw the art, I was blown away. The art is so beautiful and life-like and I just fell in love with it. I also love the fact that we would be helping those very kids who drew the animals!
I was blown away, too! When deciding who to submit the project to, why did you send it to Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press?
I sent it to Barb since she does very interesting books that are usually a little serious and a little out-of-the-box.
That makes sense! What was Barb's initial response after reading the manuscript and was the acquisition process an exciting one?
Barb loved it immediately. It’s always an exciting process when an editor loves and buys the book!
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How do you feel about the manuscript being illustrated by children, even though this is not the industry norm?
I love the idea. You would never know that children illustrated this book since the art is so sophisticated. It’s almost like the animals are glowing, there’s so much life in them.
I agree! How do you feel about the final product, and why do you hope kids here in the U.S. will read it?
It’s a gorgeous book. I think kids in the US will see this art and realize that these children get to see these magnificent animals all the time, which is such a different experience than what we live here in the States. Whenever you can see how someone else lives, you are hopefully expanding your horizons and learning more than what you knew before you read the book.
I love the idea. You would never know that children illustrated this book since the art is so sophisticated. It’s almost like the animals are glowing, there’s so much life in them.
I agree! How do you feel about the final product, and why do you hope kids here in the U.S. will read it?
It’s a gorgeous book. I think kids in the US will see this art and realize that these children get to see these magnificent animals all the time, which is such a different experience than what we live here in the States. Whenever you can see how someone else lives, you are hopefully expanding your horizons and learning more than what you knew before you read the book.
Jennifer Unter of The Unter Agency has worked in many aspects of the publishing industry from editorial at Henry Holt, to a copyright lawyer at an entertainment firm. In addition to placing projects at domestic and foreign publishers, she also sells to audio, film and television. She is a member of Women’s Media Group. You will find her tweeting @JenniferUnter.
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Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. Written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist John Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2020).
A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
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Art used by permission of Sleeping Bear Press
