ME: What did you find hardest about this book?
We worked on this book over the span of 3+ years. As an illustrator, my skills grew tremendously with each new piece we added to the project. In the end, I illustrated over 60 scenes. It was sometimes hard to keep myself from going back into a previously finished piece to make a small adjustment or change based on some new technical skill I had picked up along the way.
ME: What emotion are you trying to evoke in the reader?
Without question we want to bring a sense of joy and delight to the reader. Many of the classic fairy tales have some darker themes in them, but we wanted to keep the focus on telling positive stories that made each one of the featured children shine.
ME: What is the most memorable thing about creating this book?
For me it would be imagining the looks on the kids’ (and their families’) faces when they saw the final illustrated scenes featuring them as the main characters. Many of them were posing for their photos in their classroom or in a home and had no idea what we were about to do to transport them into these fantasy worlds and situations. Knowing that it would make each one of them feel like a star is my favorite memory about the process.
ME: Can you explain how your writing/creative process effected the final product in a book like this?
Since this book is based on fairy tales, folk tales and nursery rhymes, the process always began with research. First, I reread stories that I have heard my entire life, but I went back looking for other details and storytelling elements that could be worked into the illustrations. I took all kinds of notes, so that once the illustration was completed, I could then work on a draft for its accompanying Chicago Pretender newspaper-style article that would fit with the clever twists we added to tell our versions. It was that combination of figuring out what details to show in the images and what details to include in the written story that made them work so well together.
ME: Did you identify with any one part of this book over others? Why?
Larry Broutman did all of the photography, so I did not meet any of the children featured in the illustrations I was creating until the book launch celebration, with one exception. My niece, MacKenzie, and nephew, Decklyn, are featured in the circus-themed illustration. Their favorite movie at the time was The Greatest Showman, so I transformed them into the trapeze artist and the ringmaster. I loved being able to include them in this project. They were so excited to show it off to their teachers and friends.
ME: What was the most rewarding thing about this project?
There are two things I found the most rewarding about working on this project. The first is how this book celebrates access and inclusion for all children, regardless of gender, race or ability. It not only shows the children featured in the book that anything is possible, it subtly shows readers of the book that all children are capable of great things. The other rewarding aspect for me personally was getting to work with coauthor and photographer Larry Broutman. This is the fourth book in a series of books Larry has published. It has been such an incredible experience getting to work with Larry. Through this process, I have come to consider him a great friend. His kindness, his philanthropy and his friendship have impacted my life in ways he will never know.
ME: If an author/illustrator asked you for advice on a project like this, what would you tell them?
Do it! This project has given back to everyone involved in so many ways. The author proceeds from the book are being donated to The Chicago Lighthouse and Access Living. The children featured have been part of radio, tv, newspaper and magazine articles. The families have been touched by how special this made their children feel. It is spreading a message of access and inclusion for all. It shines a positive light on the city of Chicago and reminds everyone that Chicago’s greatest treasure is its children.
ME: Do you have any plans to do other similar projects?
Larry has plans for all kinds of future book projects, some of which he is already hard at work on. I myself am working on some ideas I have for my own children’s book pitches.
Rich Green is the illustrator and co-author of newly released Chicago Treasure. Rich created the Chicago Treasure Lighthouse sculpture that was displayed during the summer of 2018 on Michigan Avenue as part of Lighthouses on The Mag Mile and now permanently resides at The Chicago Lighthouse. Rich also illustrated the A Girl With A Pink Cape series, A Boy With A Cape, and Niko & Kate. He graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Computer Graphics and Animation and interned with Disney. Rich is the Chicago-Area Illustrators Network Representative for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and an Executive Board Member of The Artist Guild of Lockport. His artwork can be found in regional galleries.