Kate Greenaway shortlist 2020: Q&A with Poonam Mistry

March 19th 2020

Q: Congratulations on your shortlisting for the Kate Greenaway Medal for You’re Snug With Me. What does it mean to you to be shortlisted?

Thank you so much. It is such an honour and privilege to be shortlisted. I was lucky enough to be on the shortlist last year so I’m overjoyed the next book in the series is on this year’s list. It’s amazing to have You’re Snug With Me among the other nominated titles. The illustrators and authors on the list are so talented. I’m so pleased to have our book next to theirs.

Q: Why do you think children’s book awards are so important, and particularly awards for illustration?

There is a lot of focus on adult book awards and writing. Sometimes we forget the power of pictures. Children’s books aren’t just for children. I buy them myself and I’m in my 30’s. It’s essential that we recognise the hard work and skill that goes into illustrating as well as writing. Pictures are just as important and significant as words. Sometimes the illustration process can take more months than the actual writing. Pictures can illustrate additional information that the text doesn’t.

Q: You’re Snug With Me tells the story of two polar bear cubs whose mother looks after them through the Arctic winter while they wait for Spring, and there’s also some subtle allusion to climate change. Is there a message you’d like readers to take away from the story?

I think for me the message I want readers to take is how much we should value and protect the beauty around us and the world we live in. We take a lot of things for granted. We need to protect and look after our planet. It is our responsibility and duty to do so.

Q: You’re Snug With Me follows on from You’re Safe With Me, which was chosen by EmpathyLabUK for their Read for Empathy collection in 2018. In what ways do you think illustrated books can help develop children’s empathy?  

In so many ways. There is a wide range of topics and themes explored in books.

The amazing thing about pictures is they can convey messages that sometimes the text doesn’t. A character’s facial expression and body language can tell you so much about how they feel that words may not. It’s vital that children have access to books to learn about empathy. Stories can help us understand each other better and highlight empathy’s power in our divided world. It can show us how our lives differ from one another and the struggles we can face.

Q: Your artwork evokes warmth and feelings of love between the mother bear and her two cubs. Can you tell us a bit more about your creative process, and how you worked with Chitra to develop the book?

Chitra and myself didn’t speak at all during the process of the book. In fact, we only spoke on the phone after I had finished illustrating the second book – publishing is a funny world! I received the manuscript and had a chat with the Editor (Alice Curry- she is amazing!) about what direction we wanted to take the second book of the series in. For You’re Snug With Me we wanted to highlight the bond and closeness between the cubs and mama bear as well as the beauty of the Arctic. Once I completed roughs of the spreads, I researched patterns I could use for the details. For this book, I took inspiration from Inuit textiles, clothing and art as well as patterns found in knitwear and jumpers. I drew up the neat versions in ink and pen and then used PhotoShop to add colour and adjust the composition. I did one spread at a time just so that I could build a clear visual image of what the book would look like.

Q: Who are your favourite illustrators, and are there others who have influenced your work?

My main inspirations come from William Morris wallpaper designs, Aboriginal art, African textiles and Indian folk art.

Even though I don’t look at illustrators for inspiration I adore the work of Sanjay Patel, Seng Soun Ratanavanh, Klaus Haapaniemi and Dinara Mirtalipova. They all have very distinct styles and use colour in beautiful ways.

Q: How would you describe your own style?

I would describe it as a celebration of pattern from around the world. Although I take most of my inspiration from traditional Indian Art there are motifs and patterns that are similar across different parts of the world. I like to think of my work as a tapestry- all the threads of patterns and colours, lines and shapes weave together to create a piece of art that tells us a story.

You're Snug with Me is available to order now.