Every so often, a pair of wonderfully creative people sync up to create magic. John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Ben and Jerry. And now… Joey Benun and Laura Watson. Together, the author and illustrator behind Pebbles and the Biggest Number created something truly special.
When author Joey Benun set out to find an illustrator for his book, he knew that it had to be someone special. In finding Laura, he hit the nail right on the head. Reviews for the book repeatedly mention the power and vibrancy of the images, and how they serve to enhance the story.
“The illustrations are playful and filled with color and feeling, expertly capturing the drama of a parrot swooping into the frame and the beauty of a nighttime flight over mountaintops.”
BlueInk Review
“The illustrations are vibrant, bold, and colorful… Expressive faces, wiggles to signify the vibrations of a trembling earthquake or a gust of wind, and the curls of ocean waves breathe life into the dynamic tale.”
Foreword Reviews
Today, we’re sitting down with both Joey and Laura to learn more about their experience working together and creating Pebbles’ story.
Joey: I really got lucky. I simply Googled “top children’s book illustrators” and one of the first links that I found was of a Reedsy blog listing their top 20 recommendations. They ranked Laura at #1. For me, it was love at first sight. I knew instantly that I wanted to work with her.
Laura: I’ve worked with several debut authors and there are tons of pluses. They have all been so passionate about the book they’ve written. But Joey impressed me with not only his enthusiasm but also how hard he worked to really educate himself on the process–everything from creative brainstorming to finessing his written words to the technical aspects of getting the book printed and shipped and out in the world.
Laura: I’ve been interested for some time in working on non-fiction books for kids. I love the challenge of presenting real information about math, science, and how the world works in a fun and appealing way. Joey’s concept of learning about BIG numbers was pretty irresistible. I’ve never seen a book on that topic. And of course, Joey’s story and enthusiasm were infectious!
Joey: I was looking for a whimsical feel similar to The Very Hungry Caterpillar. A fun and light vibrancy that draws you in and makes you happy. It was extremely important that I find an illustrator that could convey the right tone. As much as I fine-tune the text, the book would be amateur at best with poor illustrations. The pictures do half the talking, if not more, and Laura’s illustrations really embodied the feeling that I wanted in the story.
Laura: I wanted the illustrations to be warm and friendly, with a lot of variety in the different environments that Pebbles explores. It was also important to add a lot of little details so that the reader might notice something different every time they read it, making it a book that both kids and adults want to revisit again and again.
Laura: As I recall, Joey had envisioned Pebbles as a monarch butterfly, so that made it pretty simple. We did try a few different versions. For instance, at one point Pebbles had glasses! After a few rounds of early sketches, the character just sort of emerged as an adventurous, curious little butterfly. The hope is that children can see themselves in Pebbles.
Joey: I loved working with Laura. The chemistry between an author and an illustrator is crucial. I am a divergent thinker, and sometimes spontaneous ideas shoot out at me that go against the script. Laura is flexible and was able to accommodate my unpredictable nature. Pebbles counting the flowers in his garden in the beginning and counting the meteors with Ms. Butterfly at the end of the book were completely new interventions, but Laura was willing to work with me.
Laura: Joey was amazing to work with from the start. He’s had so many creative and innovative marketing ideas as well. Joey met with a few challenges in the printing and shipping process and met them all with determination to get past them and a great sense of humor all the while! He’s been so much fun to work with.
Joey: Laura’s passion and professionalism shine through in every image, down to the smallest details. As one reviewer eloquently stated: “The expressive faces of the animals add an extra layer of emotion and make it easy for young readers to connect with the story on a deeper level.” It really is everything I could have hoped for. It’s easy to feel self-conscious when you’re doing something new and creative. But this book is something that I’m always proud to share with others.
Laura: I feel really proud of the entire project. It was truly a collaboration with Joey–and with the editor and designer as well. Children’s books are almost always a real balance between words and pictures. The pictures need to show what the words might leave out, and vice versa. I think we did a good job in this book of keeping that balance. My favorite part is to hear from all the little readers that they are loving the book!
To experience the lively story for yourself, head on over to our online shop.
