This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity but reflects the full conversation from the BookWorthy Podcast. Grab a cup of coffee, listen, and read along.
The blog version of this episode is available at www.valeriefentress.com/blog
Valerie - Welcome to Book Worthy, where we talk about the heart behind the books your kids are reading. Today, we're talking with author and illustrator Tori Higa. Tori's latest board book, God Must Love, is aimed at ages zero to three, with a message of how big, wide, and wonderful God's love is for all. Welcome to Book Worthy Tori.
Tori - Thank you, I'm glad to be here.
Valerie - It's exciting to have you. We had your book as one of our top almost 20 books for Christmas this year. So I'm excited to kind of get to talk a little bit more about this book. But before we get started, we have to do our random question of the week. And that is, as an adult, are you pro-nap?
Tori - say definitely yes. I don't take them enough, but I feel like whenever I do, it just helps even if it's just like a quick 20-minute, so yes, definitely.
Valerie - I love that. It's one of those we as kids fought naps in kindergarten. We fought naps, and they're no longer in kindergarten. And I was like, I just want to go back to kindergarten, where I'm painting and reading and taking naps. Kindergarteners had it so good. Too fun. Well, Tori, why don't you tell us a little bit about your book, God Must Love?
Tori - Okay, so it's a book that I wrote. It's just kind of all about all the things that God's created in this world. So he's created big things, he's created little things, he's created colorful things, different things, just all the things that he's created. And if he's created them, then he must love those things. And so ultimately, he's created the child for whom the book is intended. And so he must love the child; he must love us as people. So that's just kind of what it's about in a nutshell.
Valerie - I love that, and it's really great illustrations that you did yourself, which is very exciting. It's not often that the author and the illustrator are the same these days, but it's fun when it happens. What made you want to illustrate it on top of writing it?
Tori - So I feel like, so I have an art background. I majored in art a long time ago. And so I've always had that kind of artistic background. And then when I took a children's book illustration class years ago, the teacher said, If you want to be a children's book illustrator, you're going to have to learn how to write because if you're more marketable, if you can write and illustrate a book instead of just illustrating. So that was kind of the first time that was kind of planted, like that seed was planted. And so I feel like that was sort of why I decided maybe I could.
Write some books and illustrate what I've written as a way to get work and make my own work.
Valerie (- I love that it's one of those I like to draw, I can't quite draw consistently enough to do picture books because it all has to look the same in subsets. And so I really appreciate, I really appreciate those that can do both the art of writing and the art of illustration because it's so interwoven in children's books that it has to be done well. I think you've done really well with this book in keeping it simple and engaging, and easy for kids to turn the pages for kids. What was kind of your inspiration for this book?
Tori - So it happened a long time ago. My kids are now in high school, seniors, and sophomores. But when they were little, like preschool age, I was driving in the car and I had Christian radio on and the talk show host was talking about, he was quoting some of the Puritans and he was saying, this Puritan is writing all about how God created this vast universe, but the same God that created such a huge thing created the teeny tiny ladybug and all these teeny tiny things. And I just thought this needs to be a kid's book because we do have a diverse God who created so many different things. That just blows your mind when you think about it. So that was kind of my inspiration that I thought I needed to do this as a children's book. But of course, it took me years. That was just kind of like shelved on the back, you know, the back burner for a while. But then just recently I thought, you know, I have to actually take these ideas that I've written down and try to go with them and write them now. So long time ago.
Valerie - I how, what is it, being a parent, you're so enveloped in that world of your kids and how they think, what they like to read, that it does become kind of part of your own way of taking in the world and communicating it and looking at God's creation, both big and small, colorful and spiky, can all point to God's character and how much he loves us individually, which something we all want to hear, whether we're adults or children.
Tori - Yeah, for sure. Yeah, kids, feel like they are the best inspiration for sure.
Valerie - Very neat. Now, of the small things in the world, what are your feelings on bugs?
Tori Higa - So I don't really love bugs, but I still think that God created them, so he must love them. So he must love them for the whole ecosystem of everything. I know that they help, but I don't personally. Mean, ladybugs are cute, so. And I know little boys love roly-polies, but yeah.
Valerie- Oh yes, yes, the roly-poly's you had in that book made me laugh because we have many stories of my kids picking up roly-poly's and wanting to bring them inside, like no, their home is the garden, and so they stay outside. Too fun. What do you hope to communicate to kiddos with this book? It's kind of simplistic because of the age range that you're wanting to aim this for, but what do you really hope kids walk away from when parents read this book to them?
Tori - So I just want kids to just notice God's creation and just to look at a sunset and just look at the changing leaves and the colorful flowers and just look at all of God's creation and just think, wow, we have a God who not only loves us, but he loves these things that he's creating, and mostly he loves us. And that's why he created these things. So I just want them to kind of think about God's creation and God's love and just notice those things that maybe would go unnoticed if you're just going about your day.
Valerie - It's one of those things that I know for me, God speaks to people in lots of different ways, and nature is one of those places that God speaks to me the most because it is the most diverse. It is the hardest to understand. I mean, why is there a mosquito that will bite me? Someone needs to explain that ecosystem to me one day, but it is neat that God does have it all figured out. It's not something that he's surprised by. And that's such a sweet truth to communicate to kids, to look around them, to get eyes off of phones, and to see the beauty that God has created, because it's all intended to point to him and the love that he has for us. So I think you've done a very fun job. Well, did you always want to be an author, Tori?
Tori - Thank you. Very sweet.
Tori - So I did not, I really feel like it went back to taking that class because I wanted to be a children's book illustrator. And when that teacher said, You need to write, when they see, it was first planted. But it took me years, you know, till maybe when the kids were little, I thought, okay, maybe I could write. And I sort of felt like I was getting inspiration for writing that was new, that I would be like in the grocery store, and I'd have like a line that I have to write down really quick and stuff like that. So that was kind of when it started. So yeah, it was a long process, but I feel like I wish that I were more open to it. Back then, I just was, it's intimidating. So.
Valerie - It can be intimidating. It's hard to put your words out for other people to read because it's like putting your heart out there. Here's my heart on a platter treated well. I love what you said about writing things down in the grocery store because there's a, one of my favorite movies is becoming Jane and it's about Jane Austen and kind of as she's learning how she wants to be a writer, which it was very Apropos in that time period and there is just moments where she just kind of like a conversation is happening and she'll just go sit down and write something and the mom just goes, she's writing. I'm like, oh, that's just so exactly how it is. And fun. Now, um, you kind of talked about that class as being kind of your launch to writing, um, kind of. What has your author journey been a little bit, as you kind of went from that art background towards this class and then writing forward?
Tori - So, my writing background, so the author background, I sort of, I had another idea back when the kids were little, about the color of Christmas and red being the color of Christmas and what it could actually symbolize for Christians. So I had that idea and ended up writing that and illustrating that book, maybe about five years ago. So that was kind of like my start. So I feel like I'm still new, and it took me a while to actually keep on trying to pursue it. So yeah.
Valerie - Yeah, we kind of forget that the publishing journey is very long. And it was being able to be an illustrator and author shortens it just a little bit, but it is just a challenge to get into the market to make sure an idea is going to be ready for kids, and to get a book in your hands. I think the estimate right now is 18 to 24 months from contract to book in your hand, and that's not even a book on a shelf. So it is a process for certain. What has been your favorite part of the publishing process?
Tori - I think it's just, like, going back and forth with the editor. Feel like that's inspiring because it just kind of helps feel like you're on the right track and everything. So I enjoy the process of that. I enjoy the illustration process. I feel like I've learned a lot about, like, just, you know, how do you make a dummy and how do you do thumbnails and all that kind of stuff. So I enjoy all the nitty-gritty stuff, and I like even making my own little kind of book myself, and just like, you know, add a little index cards and just to see how the cadence is gonna go and how the pages will turn. And so I enjoy the whole process, I think, from start to finish.
Valerie - Very fun. So, are you a very visual writer rather than a word writer? Know for myself, especially with picture books, I will have to draw it all out in a very dumb dummy. Yes, we don't talk about those, but they are there just because being able to visually think through what you're wanting to verbally communicate, because it is such a dance of words and images in children's books. And so I think it's a big process to go from that visual idea to the words and making it all work.
Tori - Yeah, and I feel like it's all part of it because with kids, as you know, when you're reading something, they're looking at the picture and they're seeing like all the things that you're writing, but they're looking at it, they're looking for it in a visual form. And my big thing too is I think that for kids, that's like one of their first times that they're exposed to art is in these children's books. And so that's what's helping them, you know, understand their world better. So, so yeah, so I definitely am a big visual writer and all that.
Valerie - Very neat. Now, what art has inspired you as an artist?
Tori - So, oh gosh, well, I love Van Gogh, but that's more fine art. So my favorite children's book artist has to be Ezra Jack Keats. He did The Snowy Day, and I just love his simple style. I can remember as a kid just poring over his illustrations and just loving his art style. So, because I feel like a lot of it's kind of collage, but then he uses paint and yeah, so. And I also love Vanessa Brantley Newton, her style as well, so.
Valerie - Very neat. Yes, definitely that unique play of colors and textures that help make a snowy day, and those types of books really stand out. You know, what is it? Even Eric Carlyle his books are very simple, but the art itself is so immersive and fun to explore. And I think that's the joy of children's books, the ability to look at different things. I have a teenager who was taking an art class in school, and they were going through all the different styles of art. And it was neat to see him kind of be like, pointillism is not my favorite. Was like, okay, I'm so glad you got to pick your not-favorite piece of art. It was fun to watch his mind churn and process art in his own way. Well, Tori, what is your favorite book other than the Bible?
Tori - Okay, so not a kids' book, just a book in general.
Valerie - Yeah, your favorite book for you.
Tori - Okay, so this would have to be a book called A Tale of Two Seasons. It's actually written by my dad. So my dad passed away back in 2021, but he wrote this book over the last 25 years of his life. And so, or he just kind of wrote it on and off. And I just love this book. I feel like I can read it over and over again. And I'm just so thankful that he put his words on paper. It's like, it's like a basketball memoir, but it's about his faith, and it's about life. And it's just about so many things and life lessons that I just love the book and so I'm just I'm just so thankful that he's written it and actually the same publisher that did my children's book did his book and so anyway it's just a special book that I'm glad that he's written and I feel like everyone should write a book so they can their loved ones can have something after they're gone so highly recommend yeah.
Valerie - There's definitely some. I'll have to check that one out. It sounds really good. We have some basketball lovers in our household, so I'm sure they would enjoy the insights into that world. Too fun. What is your favorite children's book that's not your own?
Tori - Okay, that would have to be Jesus Storybook Bible. Sally Lloyd Jones and Jago is the illustrator. So I just love that book because I have a special memory of it. So I can remember when my son was probably like two years old, I was looking for a good storybook Bible for him. And we lived in a small town, and there was no Christian bookstore. And so I ended up ordering it online and just thinking, This looks good. And then we just loved it for like their whole childhood, for my son's whole childhood, and my daughter's whole childhood. And we would just read it every night till probably till they were like 10 years old, and they just loved it. And I feel like it's good for adults, like the messages. So I just, that's my favorite. I love how beautiful the illustrations are, how beautiful the words are, and how they point everything to Jesus.
Valerie - Okay. I'm seeing your art style as you're picking out all these different, was like, okay. Okay. I see. Yes. The Jesus story in the Bible is amazing. And I love that classic. Yes. Did you ever read the devotional she did with Jago? That's like, to make your heart sing. That was our, was it, as my kids were growing up, it was kind of our daily dinnertime devotion book. I loved it because it was so rich. And so if I didn't have time in the world, at least I knew we would get that at dinnertime. Too fun. Well, Tori, what can we expect next from you?
Tori - Okay, so right now, well, I feel like I always have tons of projects going on, but children's book-wise, I'm illustrating for a client. So she's like an indie writer, and her book is so sweet. I'm not sure I'm allowed to talk about it yet or not, but it's just a really sweet faith-based book that I'm doing her illustrations for. So I'm kind of in the throes of that right now. So, that's fun. Then, and then personally, I'm going to be, I'm planning on launching a greeting card company. So I used to have a greeting card company back before I had kids. So now I want to do that again, and so just kind of use my art for greeting cards and stuff like that. So yeah, always fun creative projects.
Valerie - Always. It's fun to meet creative people who can do so many different styles of both art and writing, because writing for greeting cards is even harder than children's books, think. Even shorter than a children's book. So it is a challenge. Well, I look forward to hearing more about both of those projects. They sound really unique. Now, where can people find out more about you and your book story?
Tori Higa - So, probably my website, which is just torahiga.com, and then just also social media, which, so I'm just pretty much on Instagram and Facebook. So that's just at torahigacreates.
Valerie- Very neat. We'll make sure to have those links in the show notes so people can find you easily. Thank you so much for joining me today, Tori.
Tori Higa - Thank you. Thanks for having me. It's nice to meet you.
Valerie - Nice meeting you, too. And thank you for joining Tori and me on this episode of the Bookworthy podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links that we discussed, and let us know in the comments. As an adult, are you pro-NAP? Help other parents discover Bookworthy by leaving a review and sharing with friends. Happy reading.
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