Behold a summer escape in a picture book!
Releasing on August 1st from Flashlight Press, GIANT ISLAND reveals an astonishing secret as a grandfather and his two grandchildren embark upon a common, everyday fishing trip…or so they think…
Jane, this blog emphasizes the importance of brainstorming story ideas often to get to the book-worthy ones. Where did you get the idea for GIANT ISLAND?
Not in the usual way.
I was contacted by an editor I didn’t know, Shari Dash Greenspan, at a publishing company I hadn’t yet worked with, to help rewrite/edit the text of a book by an amazing illustrator, Doug Keith. Doug had the idea for a book about an island that is actually a giant, and what happens when a family visits it. The publisher already had the book dummy and about half of the paintings were done, but there wasn’t a working text because the story was all told visually by the illustrator. The pictures were fantastic, but they needed some assist with an actual story.
In other words, they needed a writer. And that’s where I came in.
I studied the pictures until I knew them by heart. I knew I had to give the book a text/story that matched its lyrical and yet humorous visual telling. The characters were a given—a grandfather, a grandson and granddaughter, a dog…and a giant… I couldn’t change them, I had to make them live.
I wrote, rewrote, invented, re-invented. Editor Shari edited and illustrator Doug occasionally re-drew, and the book became what you see now. So, NOT your usual way of creating a picture book.
Shari has become a dear friend and I am still trying to sell her something else!!! Or maybe I can convince her to do a RETURN TO GIANT ISLAND where the kids help save the island from becoming someone’s home. Doug could have a grand time with that.
Aha! It was the illustrator’s idea! There are many wordless PBs, though. Why did Shari want to add words?
The book had been meant to be a wordless book, but while the pictures were beautiful, the story’s subtleties were not clear enough without words. And the marvelous Doug was more artist than wordsmith. So we each brought our A games to make the book—artist, editor/art director, and author in that order. Not the usual order, but this time it worked. Whew!!!
What were your concerns as you were writing and wanting to stay true to Doug’s story? Did you communicate with him during the process?
I tried to stay close to what Doug had already done, at least as close as possible. I had my fierce (and funny) editor to keep me on track. We all wanted it to seem seamless. And I think (hope) that is true.
Was it harder than just writing the piece from the start and letting an illustrator go at it?
A bit.
But isn’t that just a reversal of roles? Because that is what artists do all the time—take the words and turn them into pictures!
Also, I have done this before, once with a picture book retelling of Sleeping Beauty with artist Ruth Sanderson. And in about twelve books of poetry in which I wrote poems to go with my son Jason’s photographs of animals on sea, land, and in the sky.
What do you hope readers will take away after reading GIANT ISLAND?
GIANT ISLAND is a book about magic and imagination that spans a family’s generations and ages, from children to grandfather. And it is also about storytelling, though that is subtext. And for me, it had another meaning because I got to meet and befriend both editor Shari and illustrator Doug.
What is it about magic and secrets that children love so much?
I am not sure. I know that from childhood, magic stories sustained me.
But I also remember a young Scottish boy, son of a friend, to whom I gave a witch book I had written, and he handed it back solemnly saying, “Boys like books about real things.” (Of course I know a computer scientist who creates fantasy board games. Go figure!)
This story involves a grandfather and his grandchildren—do you have any secret family stories?
As a grandmother, I often tell the story of MY grandmother and grandfather their eight children living in “the old country” (Ukraine). When the Russian Cossacks came to raid Jewish villages and set houses on fire, my five-foot-nothing, red-headed grandmother would gather her children and her neighbors’ children, put them into a large horse-drawn cart, and cover them with hey and grains. She would drive them out of the village and into the safety of the forest, waving at the Cossacks who thought, with her red hair, that she was probably Polish (and not Jewish). So they left her alone.
I hope I have inherited some of her tough magic, her courage. The family left their big house in the early 1900s and migrated to America. Last month the Russians bombed the house, but we lucky Yolens are safe here. It’s a story that my children and their children will be able to tell forever.
What a beautiful story, Jane! Or I should say, two beautiful stories!
GIANT ISLAND is a gorgeous book, and Jane brings GIANT ISLAND to life with subtlety, to let the majestic illustrations by Doug Keith speak with their wonder. Jane tells the reader only what they need to know—and the rest can be left up to the imagination. Who is this giant? How did he get here? What other adventures await the children?
GIANT ISLAND releases next week from Flashlight Press!
Blog readers, I am giving away a copy of GIANT ISLAND.
Just leave one comment below.
A random winner will be selected in two weeks.
Good luck!
104 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 28, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Lenora Biemans (@BiemansLenora)
This looks like a fascinating book. Congratulations, Jane & Doug!
July 28, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Andi Chitty
Wow, what a fun and unique way to bring a story to life! I can’t wait to read it someday, thank you all for such a fascinating interview!!
July 28, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Jana Eschner
I love everything Jane Yolen has written! I’m excited to read this one. I’m sure it’ll be super popular in classrooms at the beginning of a new school year!
July 28, 2022 at 12:45 pm
Sara Matson
I love that family story. Thank you for sharing, and I’m looking forward to reading the book!
July 28, 2022 at 12:49 pm
clairebobrow
You had me at magic, giant, and island! What a fascinating tale of book creation, somewhat in reverse. I really look forward to reading this one!
July 28, 2022 at 12:50 pm
tammyrenzi
Oh my goodness, Jane Yolen! Yaaaaaay! Thank you for this fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at her creative process for this book.
July 28, 2022 at 12:51 pm
Beth Schneider
Looks like a beautiful book!
July 28, 2022 at 12:51 pm
triciahinely
I am eager to hold this book in my hands. Not only are the pictures delightful and the story intriguing, but the behind the scenes peek is a story by itself. Thank you so much for sharing.
July 28, 2022 at 12:54 pm
Jojo Kasala
I look forward to reading this. The illustrations are beautiful.
July 28, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Laura Barens
Sounds like a fascinating story! Would love to have a copy 🤗
July 28, 2022 at 1:03 pm
marsha weiner
courage runs deep !!!!
….may it be contagious
July 28, 2022 at 1:06 pm
kskeesling
Loved hearing the role reversal for writing GIANT ISLAND. Great blog post Tara and Jane!
July 28, 2022 at 1:11 pm
Maria Marshall
This book looks stunning and I am really looking forward to reading it. I love Jane’s description of it’s creation. Thanks for a great post Tara & Jane!
July 28, 2022 at 1:12 pm
Sheila Dinn
What could be better than a new Jane Yolen book combining family, adventures and imagination?!
July 28, 2022 at 1:13 pm
Andrew Hacket
The way this book came together is fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing.
July 28, 2022 at 1:14 pm
Ilona Bray
What a lovely, not to mention far-ranging interview! Wonderful to hear bits of Jane Yolen’s family history.
July 28, 2022 at 1:16 pm
Helen Carol Bloemen
both stories are wonderful. The Giant Island magic and the Jane yolen family’s escape from the Cossacks. Write on Jane!
July 28, 2022 at 1:18 pm
kdgwrites
This was such an inspiring article. I agree with the beginning comment, no matter how rich our ideas are, there is always another out there that can add more flavor. In my case this is why I am involved in critique groups.
July 28, 2022 at 1:22 pm
rosecappelli
Thanks for this post, Tara! Giant Island looks like an awesome book. The illustrations remind me of Stephen Kellogg’s work. Beautiful!
July 28, 2022 at 1:23 pm
kathydoherty1
This looks like a treasure of a book!
July 28, 2022 at 1:24 pm
Kim A Larson
Congratulations, Jane and Doug! What an interesting journey for this book. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to reading it!
July 28, 2022 at 1:26 pm
supermario6
I can’t wait to read this!
July 28, 2022 at 1:34 pm
topangamaria
WOW wow WOW Does this story look ever so magical !!!
July 28, 2022 at 1:44 pm
mariearden
What a fascinating tale! The two illustrations drew me right into it. So magical!
July 28, 2022 at 1:48 pm
maureenegan
Wow, amazing tales—the fiction and the family one!
July 28, 2022 at 2:11 pm
kimpfenn
This is fantastic – what a magical, mystical treat! I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the interview and blog! My heart needed this today!
July 28, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Patricia Finnegan
GIANT ISLAND sounds absolutely magical — and the collaboration between illustrator, author, and editor sounds magical, too!
July 28, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Christine Van Zandt, author of A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS
Thanks for sharing the way the book came to press. The art is lovely. I can’t wait to read your wonderful words that bring it fully alive.
July 28, 2022 at 2:20 pm
Bethanny Parker
This sounds like an interesting story. I hope I get a chance to read it someday.
July 28, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Valerie Bolling
What a wonderful interview. I love the idea that illustrators start with text and create the visuals, and this story — and Jane’s experience — was a role reversal. I look forward to reading the book!
July 28, 2022 at 2:32 pm
Karen Lawler
This is PURE MAGIC!!!! I love it and can’t wait to read it !!! xoxo
July 28, 2022 at 2:36 pm
mcglentim
Sounds awesome. Can’t wait to read!
July 28, 2022 at 2:37 pm
claudia sloan
Loved the interview with Jane Yolen! Thanks for that. The book looks beautiful and it sounds like a wonderful story! 🙂
July 28, 2022 at 2:37 pm
susandilldetwiler
What a gorgeous book! I am so glad that Jane Yolen included the story of her grandmother’s ingenuity in Ukraine.
July 28, 2022 at 2:37 pm
Paul Brassard
What an interesting challenge! Perhaps someday a publisher will have the wild and crazy idea to challenge writers in a contest to write the text to an illustrations-only picture book. I’d sign up in a minute. Can you imagine the buzz it would create for the publisher and the book? Oh, the places we’d go…
July 28, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Barbara Senenman
Great interview. This looks like a magical read. Love the way it came to life. Can’t wait to read it.
July 28, 2022 at 3:02 pm
Brenda Huante
What amazing teamwork! Thank you for sharing!
July 28, 2022 at 3:03 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Incredible! What a lesson for us all. can’t wait to read it.
July 28, 2022 at 3:09 pm
Pat Severin
Such a non-traditional approach to writing a children’s book but it not only worked it surpassed the creation of story and illustrator developing a story truly together!
July 28, 2022 at 3:13 pm
dawnbyrne4
Very interesting. I wonder if only the great author Jane Yolan can be good at writing a book this way. Sounds hard to do. Can’t wait to read Giant Island!
July 28, 2022 at 3:17 pm
Reed Hilton-Eddy
I love it! My 9 year old is in that “sweet spot” of still being in the world of glorious imagination and Old enough to explore like that. It’s such a tiny window in our lives. To capture that essence verbally and visually – stunning
July 28, 2022 at 3:22 pm
Nora Nickum
So interesting how this book came to be! Excited to read it and see all the illutrations.
July 28, 2022 at 3:31 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
What a great interview! Congratulations Jane! Loved how this story came together.
July 28, 2022 at 3:50 pm
Claire A. B. Freeland
What a gorgeous book! Thank you for an intriguing interview.
July 28, 2022 at 4:21 pm
Marcia Dalphin Williams
Tara and Jane, what a delightful interview. I can’t wait to read this book and live these illustrations. We have an island too on an Adirondack Lake that has a mysterious animal living there. It scares the loons away and anyone approaching with a canoe. No one has ever seen this creature….Thank goodness the Yolens made it safely out of Ukraine. Our world is a richer place for children and all of us because of it.
July 28, 2022 at 3:55 pm
Sherry Smith
Jane, Doug, What a wonderful collaboration.
July 28, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Colleen Kelley
Thank you for sharing! The art looks amazing, and I know Jane’s story will be just as amazing. I can’t wait to see this book! And thanks for the bonus of Jane’s own family story. Inspiring!
July 28, 2022 at 4:30 pm
Sandy Perlic
I love this twist on the usual way of creating a book! The illustrations are gorgeous, and I can’t wait to find out how Jane has made the story come alive with her words.
July 28, 2022 at 4:33 pm
JenFW
I’ve not yet read Giant Island, but this story here on the blog is wondrous, exciting, and inspiring. Super fun!
July 28, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Roberta abussi
This book looks STUNNING!!
July 28, 2022 at 4:43 pm
Judy Bryan
Thank you for this fascinating look behind the book! Simply magical. I can’t wait to read GIANT ISLAND! Congratulations to everyone involved!!
July 28, 2022 at 4:58 pm
Meredith Fraser
Incredible idea and how marvelous you wrote a script last. Interesting concept.
Can’t wait to read.
PS I was glad to hear your family background.
Congratulations!
July 28, 2022 at 5:05 pm
Danielle Hammelef
I’m excited to read and study this gorgeous book. Thank you for the interview and chance!
July 28, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Rebecca Ralfe
Love magic stories ❤
July 28, 2022 at 5:29 pm
Rosi Hollinbeck
This looks like a beautiful book. Thanks for telling me about it.
July 28, 2022 at 5:49 pm
peggyshallock
I love Jane Yolen books because imagination and magical words are at the core. I can’t wait to get my hands on Giant’s Island to see the wonderful illustrations come to life with Jane’s words. Great interview!
July 28, 2022 at 5:57 pm
shirley301
It is so interesting to see how this story came about. Looks like a beautiful collaboration.
July 28, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
Such a challenge to write the story to enhance the pictures, instead of the other way around. Looking forward to reading this!
July 28, 2022 at 7:02 pm
Marla Yablon
Love the way the pictures and the words dance with each other!
July 28, 2022 at 7:32 pm
Cindy
What an interesting story of how this book came to be. Jane Yolan is so amazing. What a gift to get have an editor believe in you art so deeply that you get paired up with Jane!
July 28, 2022 at 7:50 pm
Wendi Silvano
Sounds like an amazing book! I can’t wait to read it!
July 28, 2022 at 9:36 pm
Marci Whitehurst
Wow, what a unique story & way to go about telling it!! Well done!!
July 28, 2022 at 9:55 pm
katieschon
Can’t wait to read – and see – this book!
July 28, 2022 at 11:46 pm
Allison G
My kids and I have really come to love wordless picture books over the last couple of years. This, however, promises to be the best of both worlds, a wordless picture book…with words…seems like a winner to me!
July 29, 2022 at 12:15 am
seschipper
Wow! I am so impressed! Tara, thank you for this great opportunity to learn how Jane Yolen was able to create a wonderful story for the illustrations!
looking forward to reading this gem! 🙂
July 29, 2022 at 12:29 am
8catpaws
A giant in the world of storytellers gives text to the illustrations of the talented artist of GIANT ISLAND… That’s gigantastic!
July 29, 2022 at 12:37 am
Marcia Berneger
Thanks for sharing you own story, Jane! I can’t wait to get the book!
July 29, 2022 at 12:54 am
rindabeach
I love reading the back story of how a book came to be. Thanks for sharing yours!
July 29, 2022 at 2:30 am
Tara Cerven
This was SUCH an interesting read! I love learning about the process of role reversal in this case and the idea of writing the words to match the art. So cool!
July 29, 2022 at 9:13 am
Jo-Ann
OMG Tara…… thank you soooooooo much for sharing your blog with Jane Yolen……. I already loved her now thanks to you, I can love Doug Keith’s illustrations.
I always enjoy appreciating other illustrators works… and this was AWESOME…. I got lost in the Giant Island’s magic….I can’t wait to read it…. Thank you again….
Jo-Ann Albano
>
July 29, 2022 at 9:56 am
Susan Johnston Taylor
Congrats, Jane and Doug! This book looks fascinating, and I can’t wait to read it.
July 29, 2022 at 10:28 am
millerritam
I’m definitely requesting this from my local library, but would love to have a copy to share with the kids I tutor! Thanks for sharing!
July 29, 2022 at 12:04 pm
Laurie Swindler
Congratulations all for bringing this wondrous book to life and to Jane for sharing the magic that made it happen. I’m excited to read it.
July 29, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Sydnie Kleinhenz
What a beautiful story behind the beautiful story. I also appreciated the story of Jane’s grandmother. My great grandmother was a tough lady who got the family out of Russia, too.
July 29, 2022 at 1:39 pm
cmochowski
This is great. I love the idea and these previews are lovely.
July 29, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Tamara Rittershaus
I can’t wait to share this book with my kids! ❤️❤️❤️
July 29, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Darcee A Freier
What a fun, lushly illustrated story. Love the giant waving at the end. I can’t wait to read Giant Island! Thanks for telling us a bit of the inside story.
July 29, 2022 at 11:46 pm
Charles Trevino
Well done!
Jane’s writing illustrated the story with words.
July 30, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Mary
What an amazing wonderful idea for a book. Thank you for sharing this, Tara. And thank you to Doug and Jane for making the book!!
July 30, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Patricia Tilton
I love wordless picture books, so I’m delighted Jane kept the text minimal. Love “entering the cave dripping with mystery.” My grandkids would love this book this magical story. Will make sure my library orders the book. Look forward to reading this one! Gorgeous illustrations!
July 30, 2022 at 6:37 pm
jenabenton
Wow! I love hearing how this project came to fruition. I can’t wait to read it.
July 30, 2022 at 7:10 pm
Janet Frenck Sheets
Creating words for illustrations that already exist sounds really hard! Looks like Jane did an amazing job.
July 30, 2022 at 8:02 pm
claireannette1
What an amazing story of the creation of a book. Can’t wait to see it in real life.
July 30, 2022 at 11:12 pm
Sue
Oh mu goodness! So many fascinating stories here! So many books to write! Best of Luck!!
July 31, 2022 at 8:43 am
katiemillsgiorgio
What an interesting approach to this book coming together!
July 31, 2022 at 5:59 pm
jensubra
This looks absolutely delightful!
August 1, 2022 at 12:32 am
Karan Greene
I’m intrigued! Thanks for sharing!
August 1, 2022 at 8:33 am
cathystenquist
Such a clever story, and so fascinating to hear how it began with the illustrator and ended with Jane’s beautiful words. Can’t wait to see the book knowing the backstory now. I would love to have a copy! Thank you for sharing.
August 1, 2022 at 9:29 am
Arlene Schenker
Fascinating to learn how this book came into being! Looking forward to reading it.
August 1, 2022 at 1:53 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
Love this post! Lucky for Flashlight Press that you said, yes, Jane! Can’t wait to read this title.
August 1, 2022 at 2:26 pm
Joy
This is so amazing. What a neat reverse of the “typical” way a book comes together.
August 1, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Natasha Wing
I love that the editor had found something special in the drawings and then realized that the writing had to be just as special, not just trying to get the illustrator’s words to work.
August 2, 2022 at 1:19 pm
Jennifer Johnson
I can’t wait to read it and see all the illustrations!
August 2, 2022 at 2:49 pm
lynnbmaccom
Wow, I loved reading about how this story came to be! (My grandmother was from Ukraine also and had to hide from Russian soldiers, too.)
August 3, 2022 at 11:30 pm
Elayne
I am completely entranced by the unusual way this story came together! And what a fun and imaginative book it looks like it became. Congrats!
August 5, 2022 at 3:25 pm
ptnozell
Fascinating backstory to this latest picture book from the fabulous Jane Yolen. Can’t wait to read it!
August 7, 2022 at 9:04 am
58chilihed13
I just told my public library children’s room librarian that I will adopt this for our library. I love the look and feel of this and the backstory is amazing!
August 7, 2022 at 3:04 pm
Cassie Bentley
Lovely back story and I’ll have to read the book. But knowing Jane Yolen, I know it’s a great story.
August 7, 2022 at 4:34 pm
Sandy Lowe
Love Jane’s work! Love the sound of this beautiful book, Please enter me in the drawing.
August 7, 2022 at 10:27 pm
marty bellis
Wow, this sounds like an amazing book. And what a fun different approach to writing a story. I love magic and the idea of a giant island. Can’t wait to read this! Thank you, Tara and Jane, for this interesting interview!
August 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Kassy Keppol
Thank you for sharing.
August 12, 2022 at 11:37 pm
rgstones
Can’t wait to read it!
August 16, 2022 at 3:15 am
Krissy
Great story behind the story! Sorry to hear about your house in Ukraine…
August 17, 2022 at 11:09 am
Lucretia Schafroth
Tara and Jane: Thank you for sharing the story behind the PB’s story and illustrations. So interesting to know about the role-reversal!
Jane: Enjoyed hearing about your crafty, courageous grandmother, too; love her fierceness! Also, thanks for all the inspiration your “kiddie lit” 😉 class provided years ago…Smith ’84