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by Nina Victor Crittenden
Thank you, Tara, for starting Storystorm all the way back in 2009 when it was PiBoIdMo. Just think of all the wonderful ideas that have been generated in this community since then! I am excited to start off the New Year with a bunch of new ideas!
I’m the illustrator of two picture books and the author/illustrator of THE THREE LITTLE PUGS, a picture book that was published in 2018. A couple years later, during the pandemic, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and my creativity completely shut down. I turned to knitting, which became my primary creative outlet. I leveled-up my skills and learned how to make cowls and do colorwork and knit adorable tiny things like mermaids, chickens, and turtles.
Knitting has truly been a lifeline for me. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all my knitting friends, with an extra special thank you to Anna Hrachovec of Mochimochiland for all her amazingly clever patterns (she makes awesome picture books, too!).
In the winter of 2023, I decided to knit a tiny little scarf with some leftover yarn from a project and then needed someone to wear it, so I made this illustration of a bunny in the snow. I was making art again (and now I’m working on a story idea about this bunny)!
In November of 2024, I retreated with friends and finally learned how to play and have fun in a sketchbook (thanks to Courtney Pippin-Mathur and her great big bag of Posca pens). My sketchbook practice is now almost daily and involves putting a sticker here and a postage stamp there and letting myself draw, hand-letter, paint, and collage as much or as little as I want to that day. If I don’t like something, I paint or glue something else over it. I can plant little thoughts and watch them grow and dink around with story and characters in a low-stakes setting that is just for me.
I’m the best version of myself when I’m making things, no matter what I’m making. Making things just makes me happy. And I’m happy to be here with all of you, making stories.
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What other creative outlets feed your writing and/or illustration practice?
What makes you happy? What fills up your cup?
Is Dr. Pepper the best pop in the world?
a. Yes
b. Absolutely
c. All of the above
To all of you who have read this: Thank you! Don’t forget to make time to do the things that make you happy, it is a nice way to pass the pre- and post-publication times (however short or long they may be).
Wishing you every happiness in the New Year! xoxo
Nina Victor Crittenden is an illustrator/author, certified veterinary technician, and knitter. She works traditionally with ink and watercolor. Nina is the illustrator of CEDRIC AND THE DRAGON and CHICKEN LILY, and the author/illustrator of THE THREE LITTLE PUGS. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, kids, four cats, and one really old dog.
Visit her at ninacrittenden.com or follow her on Bluesky @ninacrittenden.bsky.social and Instagram @nvcrittenden.
Are you a fan of puns? I sure am! I grew up in a really punny family so puns have always been one of my favorite things. Puns are a fun way to play with words and a terrific way for kids to develop a love of language.
Tara Lazar’s 7 Ate 9 (illustrated by Ross MacDonald) is an excellent example of fabulous punning for a number of reasons (and you can always count on it for a laugh).
Chicken Lily, written by Lori Mortensen, is full of clever chicken puns. The main character is a chicken who is too chicken to read a poem onstage at school.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving was the inspiration for this promotional postcard that I made back in 2011:
I even put a pun in The Three Little Pugs (a group of pugs is called a grumble):
Let’s pick a random topic and get started:
Cheese.
You don’t need to havarti supplies, just a pencil and paper will do. Immerse yourself in the subject and don’t let anything get pasteurize. Milk it for all it’s worth. Where there’s a will, there’s a whey. Get ready for some brie-lliant ideas to start rolling in. Have fun and be silly, before you know it you could have a pile of…
Thank you, Tara! Have a punderful day, everyone!
Nina Victor Crittenden is an artist, certified veterinary technician, scarf knitter, and tea drinker. She works traditionally using ink and watercolor on hot pressed paper. Nina is the illustrator of Cedric and the Dragon and Chicken Lily, and is the author/illustrator of The Three Little Pugs. She lives in the land of 10,000 lakes with her husband, daughters, guinea pig, bunnies, fish, and two little pugs.
Visit her at ninacrittenden.com or follow her on Twitter @NVCrittenden and Instagram @nvcrittenden.
Nina is giving away one copy of Chicken Lily and one copy of The Three Little Pugs. There will be two winners of one book each.
Simply leave ONE COMMENT below to enter.
You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm participant and you have commented once below. Prizes will be given away at the conclusion of the event.
Good luck!
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 