THE LOUD LIBRARIAN Q&A with Author & Illustrator
Note: Thank you to the publisher for providing THE LOUD LIBRARIAN to review. All opinions are my own.
Libraries are quiet places. But what happens when a little librarian with a larger-than-life voice upends that rule?
THE LOUD LIBRARIAN [Atheneum Books/Simon & Schuster] written by Jenna Beatrice and illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones, explores this premise in their debut picture book. The book releases on April 11, 2023 – just in time for National Librarian Day (4/16) and National Library Week (4/23-4/29)!
In THE LOUD LIBRARIAN, Penelope has the opportunity to be the student-librarian at school. She cherishes the role, but her voice is too loud for the library. Can this little librarian with a big voice find a place where she belongs?
Read on to learn about the process of creating THE LOUD LIBRARIAN in the Q&A below with the author and illustrator. Don’t forget to enter the Bicultural Mama giveaway at the end of this post for a chance to win a copy of your own!
Q&A with THE LOUD LIBRARIAN Author Jenna Beatrice
Jenna Beatrice: In THE LOUD LIBRARIAN, Penelope dreams of becoming a student-librarian but there’s just one snag. Penelope is…LOUD. Bookcases may topple and the ground may quake at the sound of her voice, but Penelope is determined to prove she’s perfect for the job and stay true to herself.
This story is my love letter to libraries and librarians. Librarians are dream-builders and connection-makers, and libraries are a place for everyone. Even someone who’s so loud you can hear her in space! I wrote this story to reflect the joy I feel whenever I’m inside a library, and I hope others will feel that same joy while reading!
Bicultural Mama: Is this your debut book?
Jenna Beatrice: Yes!
Bicultural Mama: What was the process like for you to get the book published?
Jenna Beatrice: I applied for a mentorship through #PBChat, founded by Justin Colón, and was incredibly lucky to be picked by the wonderful Lindsay Leslie. Lindsay donated her time and talent to mentor me and to help make The Loud Librarian submission ready. Lindsay taught me so much about storytelling and I am so grateful to her for believing in this story.
At the mentorship showcase, this story was requested by several editors and an offer was made by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster. It was an absolute dream come true! And I am wildly thankful to Lindsay and Justin for that incredible opportunity.
Bicultural Mama: What level of interaction did you and the illustrator have during the process?
Jenna Beatrice: None! It was so exciting to see Erika bring this character to life through her tender and beautiful art. Penelope feels like she’s bouncing off the page which is exactly how I imagined her!
Bicultural Mama: What was your initial reaction to the cover?
Jenna Beatrice: I squealed and squealed! I couldn’t believe how vibrant and joyful and charming it was – and seeing my name on the cover for the first time felt surreal. It was a very happy moment.
Bicultural Mama: Do you have other books or projects coming up?
Jenna Beatrice: Nothing to announce…yet!
Jenna Beatrice is a children’s author, lawyer, and mom. She began her legal career as a lawyer for children before becoming a litigator and a trustee of a children’s advocacy center. As an author, Jenna now shares the joy of reading with young children. Jenna lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and their young son. The Loud Librarian (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, April 2023) is her debut picture book. To learn more about Jenna, please visit her at jennabeatrice.com. Follow her on Instagram: @jennabeatricebooks and Twitter: @jbeatricebooks. Jenna is represented by Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary.
Q&A with THE LOUD LIBRARIAN Illustrator Erika Lynne Jones
Erika Lynne Jones: For me, it starts with reading the manuscript a few times. I make notes of what I see in my head in the margins. I then read it again and use sticky notes to do rough, stick-figure thumbnails. Once I have an idea for each spread I’m ready to start sketching.
But all of that happens after I say yes. I said yes to this story because it was humorous, and the main character was quirky which matched my vibe. However, initially, I hesitated because the story stretched my imagination beyond the types of scenes I had drawn before. I’m a recovering rule follower, and this story felt like it broke a lot of old rules I had in my head. I mean look at the title – that both scared me and excited me. I’m so glad I got over what I now see as imposter syndrome and took the leap and said, YES!
Ultimately I am honored that Jenna Beatrice, the author, and Kristie Choi, the editor, saw something in my work that caused them to see my art as the right choice for this story.
Bicultural Mama: Is this your debut book?
Erika Lynne Jones: Yes, this is my debut book!!! It is also author Jenna Beatrice’s and our editor Kristie Choi’s debut.
Bicultural Mama: Tell us about the process of illustrating the cover.
Erika Lynne Jones: There was a lot of back-and-forth collaboration between the book designer, Karyn Lee, and myself. The editorial and marketing teams weighed in heavily as well. I drafted five or so concepts. Karyn helped narrow those down and gave suggestions to make them pop more to better accentuate the loudness that makes this cover shine. Then she encouraged me to carry the fun over to the back cover. After doing the final art for the cover, we had a few more rounds before settling into the final version you see. It’s a collaboration, and I’m glad. I wouldn’t want to do a cover in a silo. Leaning into everyone’s expertise is what makes a cover great.
Bicultural Mama: How do you know when an illustration (such as the cover) is done?
Erika Lynne Jones: Well as I said before, I have the benefit of working with a book designer and an editorial team who also consults with the marketing team. When they say it’s done, it’s done.
Bicultural Mama: What do you love most about how the cover turned out?
Erika Lynne Jones: The happiness and joy it radiates. I also love that it foreshadows the story in many ways without giving it away. It is also intentionally LOUD. I hope that translates to lots of joyful sales.
Bicultural Mama: Do you have other books or projects coming up?
Erika Lynne Jones: Yes, I have illustrated BLACK GIRLS: A CELEBRATION OF YOU published by HarperCollins coming out September 26 of this year. My author/illustrator debut, ZARA IN THE MIDDLE will also be published by HarperCollins. The release date is to be determined so please follow and subscribe to stay tuned for that.
About Erika Lynne Jones
Erika enjoys creating quirky characters and stories that affirm and celebrate cultures. Her creative mission is to show every child they are worthy of good and deserve positive representations of themselves in literature. She loves working in mixed media and collage because it reminds her of time spent with her mom, who helped make sure all of her school projects had that special artistic shine. She grew up in St. Louis and now lives in the Dallas area with her husband and three daughters. To learn more about Erika, please visit her at www.erikalynnejones.com or @erikalynnejones on social media platforms.
Where to Purchase the Book
Find THE LOUD LIBRARIAN at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Books-a-Million, Target, Indiebound, and local bookstores.
Hardcover Kindle
Enter THE LOUD LIBRARIAN Book Giveaway [CLOSED]
One lucky reader will win a hardcover copy of THE LOUD LIBRARIAN. Please enter via the entry form below. Entrants must be ages 18+ years old with a U.S. mailing address (no P.O. Boxes). Good luck!
