The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Kris Tarantino and Cori Doerrfeld plus Giveaway
- Maria Marshall
- 2 minutes ago
- 8 min read
Kris Tarantino is a picture book author whose writing is filled with humor, whimsy, and heart.
Kris is a member of SCBWI and speaks frequently at conferences and schools. Most recently, she was selected to participate in the 2025 Storyfest literacy day in San Antonio, Texas. In 2024, Kris was selected to be a faculty presenter at the 2024 All Texas Y’all SCBWI Conference. Kris holds a B.A. in Business, Marketing, and Art. Prior to writing children’s books, she worked in marketing, licensing popular entertainment characters for companies that make fun products like toys, books, and balloons.
Her second picture book – BedSlime Blues, illustrated by NYT bestselling Cori Doerrfeld, releases Feb. 3, 2026, with WaterBrook/PRH. Her first book, Be My ValenSlime (WaterBrook/PRH 2023), also illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld, received critical praise and a Starred Review from School Library Journal.
Cori Doerrfeld lives in Minneapolis, MN with her husband and two children.
She received her undergraduate degree in Studio Art from St. Olaf College and her Post Baccalaureate from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Cori is the author/illustrator of 14 books, including Nellie's Big Splash (2025), Ready to Soar (2024), Beneath (2023), The Giving Day (2020), The Welcome Wagon (2020), Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! (2019), Wild Baby (2019), Good Dog (2018), and The Rabbit Listened (2018).
And the illustrator of 19 books, including Goodnight School by Catherine Bailey (2024), Fall for Old Oak by Leanna Koch (2024), Busy Spring Days by Leanna Koch (2024), Summer at the Park by Leanna Koch (2024), Be My Valenslime by Kris Tatantino (2023), The Great Get-Together by Karlyn Coleman (2023), Help Mom Work From Home! by Diana Murray (2021), and That's Life by Ame Dyckman (2020).
Their newest picture book, Bedslime Blues, releases on February 3rd.
Welcome back Kris and Cori,
How did the experience of writing or illustrating this sequel differ from the first book you created together?
KRIS – Writing this sequel was much easier than writing the original story. It flew out of my head pretty quickly. But one thing that was different was the individual monster moments. In Be My ValenSlime, the monsters were together the entire book. But in BedSlime Blues I gave each monster their own struggling bedtime scene. This gave Cori more room to focus on illustrating each monster’s specific bedtime grumps, as well as work in new monster-ific details!
CORI – On one hand, illustrating the sequel felt like visiting old friends because I had already designed and worked with the main characters. However, I admit I didn’t know when making the first book that the monsters were supposed to be children with parents! So, I had to shift how I viewed the size of their world and their independence. I do feel that overall, Bedslime was a little easier to illustrate because there were so many scenes that featured only one monster, where Valenslime had every character on nearly every page!
It is interesting how they differed. Kris, what was the inspiration or spark of interest for Bedslime Blues?
KRIS – The inspiration came first from my own kids’ bedtime drama, as well as all the families out there who have their own little “monsters” who just won’t go to sleep. I knew I wanted to write a story that showed how these monsters—who generally don’t like anything—also don’t like bedtime. I thought about how that would look within typical bedtime routines. Since this was a series, I needed to keep some elements from Be My ValenSlime to anchor this next story. For example: I kept key works, like wowza, grumpy, and gruffy. I also added a few new ones, like slime-tastic and monster-ific. In addition, I kept each monster’s personality and character traits. And I kept a similar opening to the story—Meet the monsters! A tad gruffy. A bit grumpy. And definitely not ready for . . . BEDTIME!
Then there was the title. It had to contain the word ‘slime’. The original title was BedSlime for Monsters. But the team wanted something punchier. So, I spent a weekend brainstorming and landed on BedSlime Blues. I thought it was hooky and fit the monsters—they could be singing the blues, the bedslime blues (not literally singing but grumping about it). My editor loved it!
Definitely something all kids and their parents/caregivers can relate to. I love the alliterated title. Cori, what about the Bedslime Blues manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?
CORI – I really enjoyed creating the monstery world in the first book, so it sounded fun to expand and explore that more. I truly love the designs I came up with for the monsters and liked the idea of focusing on them individually a little more in this book.
I'm so glad you were up do doing more with the adorable & irascible monsters you've created. Kris, what was the toughest aspect of writing Bedslime Blues? Was it harder or easier that writing Be My Valenslime? How many revisions did you end up doing?
KRIS – Bedslime Blues was fairly easy to write since so much time, revision, and character development went into the first book. I’d say it took about 20 revisions.
But there was one scene that was particularly difficult - the scene where Snoodle discovers Loppie (her stuffie) is missing! She can’t go to sleep without Loppie. It’s so relatable to kids. I remember when my kids couldn’t find their favorite bedtime stuffie. A complete meltdown was soon to follow. But “how” to solve this problem was the challenging part. I knew I wanted to find a solution that was “fun” verses just looking under a chair or behind a pile of toys. I was stumped for a long time. Then I had a brainstorming breakthrough that I knew kids would love—detectives and clues! In the scene, Snoodle and Daddy grab magnifying glasses, like two detectives, and search for clues—First they follow slimy footprints! Then they find a ribbon! Then a button! And it all leads Snoodle to finding…LOPPIE!
It was well worth the time it took to create this fun clue trail to find Loppie. Cori, what was the trickiest or hardest part of the illustrations Bedslime Blues? How many revisions did it take to create the illustrations? How did this compare to Be My Valenslime?
CORI – The hardest part was figuring out the scale of everything since I had already established the monsters as being pretty big but then had to add even BIGGER monsters as their parents. I don’t feel like either book had an overwhelming amount of revisions. I honestly don’t remember either book having a lot I needed to change, but at this point in my career I am also never flustered by revisions. I find it super helpful if art directors are clear and direct about what they want to see.
I remember some of the monsters being pretty big - at least in relation to Snoodle - I think you solved that challenge very nicely. Is there something you both want your readers to know or discover about Bedslime Blues?
KRIS – I’d like children to know that a peaceful goodnight is possible. The story offers a good dose of silliness and sweetness as little listeners learn about the big concept of perfect peace, what it is and how it feels. They will see that if these gruffy, grumpy monsters can find peace and go to sleep, so can they. Because bedtime really is slime-tastic. Even for monsters.
CORI – I hope the readers have fun finding all the little details I tried to add, like the sleeping animals, or what the different main character monsters have in their rooms that might tell you a little bit about what they’re like. My favorite parts to look for in the illustrations are the tiny monsters and their silly shenanigans that appear throughout the book!
This will be such a fun bedtime book, for all little 'monsters.' Kris, when you first saw Cori’s illustrations in Bedslime Blues, did anything surprise, amaze, or delight you? Which is your favorite spread?
Text © Kris Tarantino, 2026. Image © Cori Doerrfeld, 2026.
KRIS – Cori’s art is adorable! Each spread is full of monster-ific details. There are two unexpected details in particular—first, Snoodle’s bedtime stuffie, Loppie. And second, Snoodle’s moss-and-mushroom-covered bed. Both were a delightful surprise. And regarding a favorite spread? There’re so many—I love Snoodle searching for and finding Loppie, Iggy singing like a pirate in the bathtub, Fleck wrapped in daddy’s arms as they read a bedtime story together, and Zee-Zee in her comfy pj’s. So many fun, sweet, and cuddly monster moments!
I totally agree, Kris. That bed is so adorable. Cori, is there a spread that you were especially excited about or proud of? Which is your favorite spread?
Text © Kris Tarantino, 2026. Image © Cori Doerrfeld, 2026.
CORI – I like the spread where Iggy is in the bath. I feel like I captured the action and chaos of him having fun in the tub! I really enjoyed coming up with the bath toys and what he could use to pretend to be a pirate. I think my favorite overall, however, is the image where all the animals are sleeping in the forest. It can be tricky to get the colors in nighttime scenes right, and I love the way this came out!
Oh, I remember those days! Cori, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or special elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Bedslime Blues? If so, could you share one or more with us?
CORI – If you pay attention to the kitten from the start, you can see how she steals the ribbon from Snoodle’s doll and thus how it winds up being a clue later. As I mentioned before, there are also all the funny little things the very tiny monsters are doing in every scene. The bath cups in the tub scene were toys my own kids had when they were little and loved to play with at bath time!
Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
KRIS –I’m already writing the third book in this Snoodle & Friends series – A Slime-tstic School Day (working title). My editor and I need to get it polished up and off to Cori this spring. Plus, I’m always writing, so fingers crossed for some good news to share in 2026.
CORI – I just finished up another illustration project and have three more books to work on this year! One of them is another self-authored title featuring a hedgehog who insists on telling everyone, “I’m fine”, even if it isn’t true. (I relate to this very much.)
Intriguing! Best of luck to you both as you work on these projects. I can't wait to see them. Last question, what animal or natural feature (place) do you want to learn more about? Why?
© NPS photo.
KRIS – Geothermal features, like volcanos, geysers, hot springs, etc. I’ve been to Yellowstone NP. Now Lassen Volcanic NP and Hawai’i Volcanoes NP are both on my bucket list.
CORI – I am forever fascinated by the deepest parts of the ocean and the unique forms of life that live down there. I know there are creatures down there that look and act completely alien who create their own light or can withstand extreme temperatures and pressure. I know there are also so many yet to be discovered!
Thank you, Kris and Cori, for stopping by and sharing with us. It was wonderful to chat with you both.
Be sure to come back on Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF review of BedSlime Blues.
To find out more about Kris Tarantino, or contact her:
Website: https://kristarantino.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kris_Tarantino
To find out more about Cori Doerrfeld, or contact her:
Website: https://www.coridoerrfeld.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coridoerrfeld/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoriDoerrfeld
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coridoerrfeld/
🎈🎉 BedSlime Blues 🎉🎈
Kris Tarantino is offering one lucky reader a book!
- Simply comment below to be entered in the random drawing on February 13th.
- Be sure to say where (if) you shared the post (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Bluesky), and I'll add additional entries for you.
- Sorry US residents only.
