It’s publication day for my latest book, a story born on the seat of a tractor, It’s Corn Picking Time! (Neal Porter), stunningly illustrated by Melissa Crowton. Here’s the eye-catching cover!
And here’s Kirkus’s starred review of our book:
“A rhyming introduction to an essential but often-invisible agricultural process.
Dawn is breaking, and a denim-clad, brown-skinned farmer greets the day, her long hair unsecured and her trusty dog at her heels; corn-harvesting season has arrived, and it’s time for the work to begin. The hours ahead bustle with activity, and from sunup to sundown, the cornfields, managed by a diverse team of folks, undergo transformative change: Stalks are felled, chaff is discarded, and kernels are processed in a puff of fragrant steam. Many of these tasks may be unfamiliar to uninitiated readers, but when dusk falls and workers convene cozily around the farmer’s dinner table, we retreat to a homey environment recognizable to most. The book’s final spread underscores what’s been heavily hinted throughout: Nothing can be accomplished without community. Though readers won’t need technical knowledge to appreciate the complexity of work in industrial farming, tools and machinery are labeled when introduced, and clearly illustrated visuals make the titular harvesting process legible for novices. The tightness of Esbaum’s onomatopoetic rhyme makes potentially unfamiliar terminology accessible, while Crowton’s lovely and detailed illustrative art invites immersion—her grounded palette and innovative use of perspective and shadow permeate the story, evoking autumn’s crisp temperatures and wood-smoky smells. And for those with lingering questions, extensive backmatter provides additional explanation. An informative joy.”
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I thought it would be fun to interview illustrator Melissa, so let’s get to it! I’ll share a few of her brilliant spreads here and there, PLUS early sketches so you can get an idea for her process. (Wish I could show you more! Melissa really outdid herself!)
JE: Welcome, Melissa! What was it about this manuscript that made you want to sign on as illustrator?
MC: Whenever I get handed a new manuscript to look over, I always sit with it for a while. I don’t like to rush into a yes or a no, and I find the extra time lets me decide if I can see myself contributing to the story. In the case of It’s Corn Picking Time!, I got excited right away. I liked not only the wonderful text, but the playful way the topic was approached. Both sides of my family have heritage with farming and animal caretaking, so I connected quickly to the project.
JE: I can only imagine the number of decisions you have to make! What are your first steps?
MC: When I start a new project, I try not to get too overwhelmed–which is often hard to do! Because there are so many decisions, I have to be strategic about where to start. While the process has never been the same between all of my books, I do follow one consistent ritual. First, I print off the manuscript and read it as often as I can. I carry it around, I read it to myself and out loud– essentially, I’m trying to familiarize myself with the pacing and narrative flow of the words. Because picture books are primarily read out loud, I think it’s important to hear the words, and not just in my head. I also carry around a pencil, and jot down any ideas or small sketches that come to mind. Easing into the project helps trick me into feeling more prepared.
Below: Melissa’s first little manuscript sketches/notes for this book. She says: “This one shows the notes I make when I carefully examine the story for interesting visual details. I jot down any scribbles that come to mind with no thought for polish or how good it looks. You never know when an idea will grow!”
JE: That seems a great way to become very at-home with a story! Could you share a bit about your process and how you choose a style for a particular project?
MC: I go through many stages before I arrive at a finished book. First, I make small thumbnail sketches so that I can nail down the sequence of the book. This turns into more finalized sketches, which we call a dummy. This gives me time to work out all of the kinks before moving to final art. Next is deciding on the style. I use a lot of the same techniques for most of my projects, but I always try to bring something new to each project, not just to contribute to the story, but to challenge my work. For this book in particular, I leaned very heavily into collage elements, like using old photos, book scans, and handmade textures to give the farm life and dimension. I do a lot of the illustration elements separately on paper, scan them in, and then move them around on the computer. This method leaves room for play and mistakes, but also gives me enough control to craft the illustrations exactly how I want them.
Below, early cover sketches. Melissa says: “I try to keep a stack of notecards next to my desk whenever I get an idea I want to quickly jot down. These were the first iteration before we settled on our current cover.”
JE: I was stunned by them, that’s for sure. I love that they show the harvest process in a true-to-life way that pulls a reader into the action so completely. What was the most challenging part of illustrating this picture book?
MC: There are so many challenging things about illustrating a picture book. One of the hardest for me is living with the fear of failing! I worry that I won’t be able to make artwork that I am proud of, and deliver a book that the author doesn’t enjoy. I try to set that aside as much as possible so that I can immerse myself in the process and have fun while doing it. The other thing that was an interesting challenge on this project was illustrating equipment or structures that needed to be accurate, like the corn combine, for example. A lot of my previous books are set in classrooms or homes which are much more general. It’s Corn Picking Time! meant that I needed to make sure that any object I illustrated was correct; the book is a beautiful story, but also a teaching tool, and I wanted the illustrations to represent corn farms accurately. Jill was extremely helpful with this. I would have been lost without her sharp eye for detail!
JE: Well, much of this one takes place in what is literally in my own back yard. 🙂 Which spread is your favorite?
MC: Ooh, that’s a tough one! During the process of making the book, my favorite spread kept changing. If you ask me today, my favorite is the one that starts with “These are the keys…” (pg. 6-7). It was the first spread where I finished illustrating the farmer, and I loved drawing her work bench with all of its trinkets and tools. My dad has a big shop which holds all of his construction and farming objects like our protagonist, so I took inspiration from that while finalizing the design.
JE: Aww, that makes it extra special, Melissa. What’s up next for you?
MC: Right now I’m working on developing my first authored and illustrated picture book, which is very exciting! All of my projects so far have been in collaboration with an author, which I have loved, but I am excited to stretch both my visual and written skills with a new project. Wish me luck! I also like to explore alternative art techniques when I have gaps in projects to keep my illustration practice growing. I’m currently diving into screen printing, which has been really rewarding.
Below, one last process shot: Melissa says, “This photo shows the beginning and the end: on the right are the first small dummy books I made of the project. I work small in my sketchbook, but also compile all of those tiny sketches into mini books so I can start to imagine the book as a physical object, and not just as singular images. On the left is the final product, what we call the F&Gs, (folded & gathered), a chance to check the color, page quality, and printing consistency. Very full circle!”
JE: Oh, my gosh, I LOVE those little dummy books. BEST of luck, Melissa, with every bit of the pulling-everything-together process for your very own big project. And THANKS for being so open about your process and giving us a peek behind the curtain!
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Readers, you can enter to WIN a copy of It’s Corn Picking Time! for the little in your life simply by leaving a comment below. A random winner will be chosen on August 15th, and a book will be on its way to you soon after (U.S. mailing addresses only, please).
If you want to order a copy, you can find it at online retailers like:
If you’d like to see more of Melissa’s work, check out her website.
The winner of my last giveaway, for Polecat Has a Superpower, was Stephanie Raszler. Stephanie, let me know your mailing address, and Putnam will get the book out to you!
Jill and Melissa, I LOVE< LOVE< LOVE everything about this book! I can't wait to own my own copy.
Thanks thank thanks, Jody!
What an interesting process, Melissa! Thank you for sharing. Congrats on your book, Jill! What a great combination of information and sensory experience.
Thank you, Amy!
Growing up in Iowa with a very large garden, we always had both sweet corn and popcorn, winter and summer. I love seeing how it’s done with all the big machinery. The illustrations are vibrant and make the equipment look understandable and interesting. Jill has such a talent for getting her message across with few words, and always with perfect rhyme and rhythm. I’m looking forward to poring over this book.
Thank you, Colleen, my poet friend! Means a lot coming from you.
What a fascinating look into Melissa’s art making process. The illustrations are beautifully paired with a well written text. Congratulations to you both!
Thanks, Mark. She’s amazing! I feel so lucky that she took on this ms.
so excited to read this one…I love that it’s so close to home for you 🙂
Haha. VERY close to home, Katie.
Wow – the WHOOSH spread is so powerful! Cannot wait to read this book. Great interview!
I agree! Exciting yet simple!
My fave page, Cathy & Julie!
OMG, I grew up on a dairy farm and we grew corn for the cows. I cannot wait to read this book! It looks AMAZING! Congrats to both of you!
Yay! Thanks, Debra. You’ll feel right at home.
Jill, I look forward to reading your latest book, IT’S CORN PICKING TIME. Thank you for sharing Melissa’s illustration process.
Iowa holds the number one spot for corn production, followed by my state of Illinois.
You’re very welcome, Suzy. Yep, corn is king around here!
Fascinating interview
Melissa threw herself into it — exactly as I was hoping she would!
I can’t want to read this one. Great topic and great illustrations. It is a must for story time.
And it’s fairly short, which I know read aloud people will cheer. 🙂
Yay! I’ve been hearing about this book and am excited it’s here!
Thanks, Stefanie! (Me, too.)
Congratulations, Jill & Melissa! Happy book birthday! I enjoyed reading about your process. And cute dummy books!
I’ve always loved tiny books. Had some with various fairy tales as a kiddo. Actually, I think I still have them somewhere!
Wow! I LOVE this! The vibrant colors and engaging text! Congratulations to both of you!
Good to hear, Angie! Thanks.
I love the language, images and topic of this book. I’m excited to incorporate it into my teaching unit on Harvest and Fall Traditions.
That’s great news, Alicia. Curriculum materials for the book will be available soon, free on my website.
Congratulations, Jill and Melissa! Fun interview, and I can’t wait to read the book!
Thanks, Kim!
Another winner Jill! And Melissa the art is terrific.
This book will be a real hit, especially in the Midwest. Look forward to getting my hands on a copy.
Fingers crossed, Cindy!
I live in corn-growing country, so this should be a big seller here! Congratulations, Jill & Melissa!
Hope so, Jane! I’m certainly doing more promo than I ever have before. SO EASY with this one, here in the ag-centric heartland.
My boys are obsessed with farming. We have our own little farm, but it’s mostly goats and chickens, not crops! I would love to read this with my boys and then with my students in my classroom. I’m going to share the interview in the fall because I love showing kids the process writers go through when creating a book.
Fantastic! By that time you’ll be able to download curriculum materials from my website (and they’re AWESOME). Your boys sound like mine, back in the day.
Oh I LOVE watching the illustration process unfold! What a beautiful book. It would be a great companion to my book about homesteading!
Me, too, Carolyn! Every little step fascinates me.
Congratulations on a terrific starred review! And thanks for the interesting look at Melissa’s process and a peek inside the book. It is so appealing!
Thanks, Buffy! Hoping kiddos think so.
I can’t wait to read this! I am always looking for books on farming to learn more about how our food grows and the farmers that put in the work.
That’s excellent, Danielle. I should have mentioned the backmatter, two spreads chock full of the types of questions (and answers) kids might ask after experiencing the book.
Cogratulations, Jill, on the starred review from Kirkus! Your gorgeous new book is full of information and written in rhyme! Impressive.
Thanks, Kathy! I first wrote the manuscript in … probably 2018, then stuck it “in the drawer” because I wasn’t loving it. When I finally remembered it and could look at it with fresh eyes, it was surprisingly close and only took some language tweaking and sound effects. D’oh. Revision magic strikes again.
What a great interview! I loved seeing the sketches and learning about Melissa’s process. Congratulations to you both!
Thanks, Becky!
An important concept and gorgeous illustrations. I really look forward to reading this!
Thank you, Sandra. Hope you like it!
Wonderful! Can’t wait to read this! Congrats to both of you!
Thanks, Rebecca!
Wow – What a wonderful book! I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for sharing all the details.
Hope you enjoy it, Claire!
Happy Book Birthday! I LOVE this book!
Thanks for all you’ve done to help promote it, Robin! 🙂 I APPRECIATE it!
Congratulations, Jill and Melissa! Being from Wisconsin and surrounded by corn fields, I’m especially excited for this book!!
I was surprised by all I learned while writing this one, Judy. Thought I knew MORE.
As always, the perfectly rhymed text paired with the perfectly illustrated pages make this the PERFECT farming picture book. Congratulations to you and Melissa!
Thanks, friend!