The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Betsy Groban and Joanie Stone, plus Giveaway

2 minutes ago
8 min read

Betsy Groban is a native New Yorker who lives in the agreeable hamlet of Cambridge, MA. Following a career in book publishing, public broadcasting, and arts advocacy, she works as a reporter, editor, and children’s book author.

She’s the book review editor of the Jane Austen Society, serves on the board of the Associates of the Boston Public Library, and is a member of the NBCC. She also writes a column about reading with her four young grandchildren for Publishers Weekly.

Collage of the covers of Betsy's four bookks.

Betsy’s the author of Pow for Pia: Ready-to-Read Level 1, illustrated by Allison Steinfeld (2026), Henry Winkler: A Little Golden Book Biography, illustrated by Kayla Harren (2025), , Pizza for Pia: Ready-to-Read Level 1, illustrated by Allison Steinfeld (2024), and the editor of Totally Middle School: Tales of Friends, Family, and Fitting In (2018).

Joanie Stone was born and raised in Virginia, where she still lives today with her husband and young daughter.

She has a love for all things vintage, especially children’s book illustration, advertising and fashion from long ago. She hopes her images will inspire kids to pick up a pencil and create their own worlds through stories and art.

Collage of the covers of Joanie Stone's latest books.

Joanie’s the illustrator of 22 books including, Coco and Stephen, Together Forever: How a Kitten and Bunny Became Best Friends by Beth Stern (2026), Caitlin Clark: A Little Golden Book Biography by Marisa DiNovis (2025), The Woman Behind the Magic: How Lillian B. Disney Shaped the Disney Legacy by Brittany Richman (2025), Taylor Swift: Wildest Dreams, A Biography: An Empowering Picture Book Biography About Her Journey to Stardom for Kids by Erica Wainer (2024), Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights by Bonnie Bader (2023), A Pigeon in Paris: Petite Takes Flight by Paige Howard (2023), the early reader series The World of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler (2022), I'm Going to Kindergarten!: A Book for Soon-to-Be Kindergarteners by Andrea Posner-Sanchez (2022), Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist by Evan Griffith (2021), Beast in Show by Anna Staniszewski (2021), Let's Go Trick-or-Treating!: A Halloween Book for Kids and Toddlers by Lori Haskins Houran (2021), and Unbeatable Betty: Betty Robinson, the First Female Olympic Track & Field Gold Medalist by Allison Crotzer Kimmel (2020).

Their newest picture book, A Monkey Named Punch, releases on September 1^st.

Welcome Betsy & Joanie!

Hi Maria! Thank you so much for this opportunity to answer some questions.

Tell us a little about yourselves. (Where/when do you write or illustrate? How long have you been writing or illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate? )

BETSY – I spent decades as a children’s book publisher, and it’s been a joy for me to be on the “other side of the desk” as an author these past few years. I am drawn to early readers, an appealing category for me because of the challenge of telling a story using appropriate vocabulary for new readers reading by themselves (or trying to) and still having wonderful illustrations to add dimension to the story.

JOANIE - I’ve been illustrating for the past 8 years professionally. My favorite types of books to illustrate are fiction and books about nature and animals.

It is wonderful to "meet" you both. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve created an illustration?

JOANIE - I work from home, so I do the majority of my work at my home studio although I frequently end up taking my work with me on vacation because deadlines are always looming.

I suppose there could be worse places. Though I hope you enjoy your vacations, too. Which has been your most interesting picture book to write or illustrate? Why?

BETSY – This is, as the saying goes, as hard to answer as being asked to choose my favorite child (or grandchild!) Since I was asked to write A Monkey Named Punch by the editor, it had the steepest learning curve, and certainly the tightest timeline (see below). Both of which made it quite interesting!

JOANIE - My personal favorite book of mine that I’ve illustrated has been the Little Golden Book Let’s Go Trick-or-Treating by Lori Haskins Houran because I am a huge lover of Halloween and all things spooky. I hope to get the chance to do more spooky books one day.

I suppose writing to editor proposal could be challenging. Joanie, I hope you get the chance to do spooky again! Betsy, what was your inspiration or spark of curiosity for A Monkey Named Punch?

Book cover - on a flat space of a rock tower, a baby macaque monkey sits upon, and hugs, a larger stuffed monkey.

BETSY – As I mentioned in the previous question, I was asked to write A Monkey Named Punch, so the inspiration came later, when I began researching and writing. I was determined to “do Punch proud” by telling his amazing story in an honest, genuine, and appealing way.

Betsy you have definitely succeeded in doing that! Joanie, what about the A Monkey Named Punch manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?

Title page - Punch the baby macaque money pulling a stuffed orangutan by its arm, behind him.

JOANIE - The chance to illustrate Punch of course! He is the cutest little monkey carrying around his toy protector and his story is both sad and uplifting at the same time. He looks so tiny in comparison to his orangutan toy, and I wanted to capture that in the illustrations.

You definitely did that. Your illustrations are heartbreaking (in Punch's loneliness) and hopeful (as he tries to make real monkey friends). How many revisions did A Monkey Named Punch take for the text or illustrations from your first draft to publication?

BETSY – A Monkey Named Punch was done on an extremely tight schedule, so there was only time for one set of quickie revisions. Happily, both the editor and I were pleased with my text so it wasn’t a problem.

JOANIE - This project had a very tight schedule; it was 2 months from start to finish. Luckily there weren’t too many revisions along the way besides some minor sketch revisions and adjustments to the final colors at the end.

WOW - tight timeline indeed! That makes this book all the more amazing. Betsy, what was the toughest part of writing A Monkey Named Punch? What was the most fun?

BETSY – The toughest part was the quick turnaround. The most fun was learning about Punch and the impact he had on people around the world. His life, which began so tragically when his mother abandoned him at birth, turned into a story of extreme kindness by zookeepers who fed, comforted, and took care of him, and resilience, bravery and smarts on the part of Punch.

I'm glad he keepers were able to care for him and to give him exactly what (or who) he needed to grow up to be a healthy macaque monkey. Joanie, what was the toughest part of illustrating A Monkey Named Punch specifically? What was the most fun?

JOANIE - The toughest part for me was the tight deadline. I was also working on other projects at the same time, so it was a very busy non-stop two months of working to get everything done on time. The most fun for me was getting to draw a book with animal characters since I mostly work on books with human characters but I hope to do many more animal books in the future!

You did a fantastic job illustrating this book. Can't wait to see you illustrate more animal books. Betsy, did anything surprise or delight you when you first saw Joanie’s illustrations for the first time? Which is your favorite spread?

BETSY – I was thrilled when I learned that Joanie would be illustrating A Monkey Named Punch. I had seen and admired her work in previous books like Coco and Stephen: Together Forever and I’m Going to Kindergarten! and I think she did an amazing job with A Monkey Named Punch. She wonderfully captured his initial vulnerability and sweetness and his growing strength and independence. I also really like the way she depicts the setting of the zoo in Tokyo and the crowds of well-wishers who come to visit Punch.

Internal spread - on the left, a pictural map with spot illustrations of otters, organgutan, red panda, macaque monkey enclosures. A stream flows down the center with a pair of flamingos. On the right, Punch's photo surrounded by laurel leaves floats above the entry gate a red bus.

Text © Betsy Groban, 2026. Image © Joanie Stone, 2026.

I think all the spreads are great, but I guess my favorite is the very first one, setting the stage for the story by showing a panorama of the zoo, with Punch’s little face in a green garland.

I totally agree with you. The illustrations are stunning! Joanie, is there a spread that you were especially excited about or proud of? Which is your favorite spread?

Internal image - a series of spot illustrations of Punch dragging his stuffed orangutan by its arms, drapped over his back, sitting together, and snuggled for a nap.

Text © Betsy Groban, 2026. Image © Joanie Stone, 2026.

JOANIE - I have two favorite spreads - one of the snow monkeys on the snowy mountain and also one of Punch carrying his orangutan toy in different positions all across the page ending with him snuggled up and sleeping with it.

You've captured so much affection and longing in these spot illustrations; they are beautiful and poignant. Joanie, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in A Monkey Named Punch? If so, could you share one or more with us?

JOANIE - The only thing that I can think of in this particular book is that there is a teddy bear on one page and I modeled it after my daughter’s bear, Mr. Teddy, from when she was little. I worked closely with the art director and editor of this book, and they had a clear vision of what they wanted each spread to show, which I found very helpful.

Aah, what a nice touch! Is there something you want your readers to know about A Monkey Named Punch?

BETSY – The story of Punch is inspirational for all of us. He overcame terrible adversity and, with help from friends and his own resilience and courage, set a great example of adaptation and finding joy whatever your circumstances. And his popularity continues to grow – he received thousands of birthday cards from around the globe on his recent 1^st birthday!

JOANIE - This book was a true labor of love for me. Under different circumstances I probably would have passed on such a tight deadline while also juggling other projects but I could not turn this one down. I love Punch and his story so much and the story that Betsy wrote was filled with great illustration moments.

Punch is inspirational, but you two are amazing to create such a touching and gorgeous picture book in such a short time frame. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?

BETSY – Yes, I’m putting the finishing touches on Pia Loves Her Library Card, my third early reader featuring the life and adventures of plucky five-year-old Pia and her family. It will be published by Simon Spotlight in 2027. I think you can guess it’s about…

JOANIE - I am currently working on book 7 in the Emily Windsnap series as well as a middle grade non-fiction called Better Together.

Best of luck to both of you on these and future projects. We will have to keep our eyes open for them. Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?

Photo of flowering trees and pathway in Riverside Park, New York. © The City of New York.

BETSY – I love urban parks like Riverside Park in New York and Hampstead Heath in London. But if I could wave a wand and be there instantly, I’d pick the Ichikawa City Zoo outside Tokyo, to pay a surprise visit to Punch!

Photo of Shenandoah National Park in the fall. © Go Shenandoah National Park.

JOANIE - I live not too far away from the Shenandoah National Park and it is just gorgeous in the Fall time with all the leaves changing colors. I am looking forward to visiting it this Fall!

Thank you, Betsy and Joanie for stopping by and sharing with us. It was a pleasure chatting with you both.

Be sure to come back on Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF post on A Monkey Named Punch.

To find out more about Betsy Groban, or contact her:

Website: https://www.betsygroban.com/

To find out more about Joanie Stone, or contact her:

Website: https://www.joaniestone.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joaniestoneart