The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Laura Alary and Review of the Curious Life of Cecilia Payne
- 4 days ago
- 12 min read
Laura Alary is a storyteller and educator who believes in writing stories that make us bigger on the inside.
She has loved books since she was barely big enough to clamber up the steps of the bookmobile that rolled into her neighborhood once a week. At school, Laura used to make her own books with manila paper, mucilage and crayons. The earliest story she can remember writing was about a little girl who kept spilling paint and having to turn the messes into art (a good rule for life). Nowadays Laura's books look much more professional but creating them is as much fun as it always was!
In her writing, Laura draws upon her background in Classics, theology and biblical studies, as well as her long-standing interest in ancient history, folklore, mythology, and science. Her books are meant to teach and to entertain, but most of all, to encourage children to wonder about the world and to ask really big questions.
Laura is the author of 20 books, including The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (2025); Who Needs the Dark? (2025); Sea in My Cells (2025); Wind, Stop Blowing! (2025); All the Faces of Me (2023); Here: The Dot We Call Home (2022); Sun in My Tummy (2022); The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything (2022); What Grew in Larry's Garden (2020).
Her newest picture book biography, The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars, was released January 27th.
Welcome Laura,
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing?)
I’ve been writing for as long as I have been able to hold a pencil (or a crayon)! In early elementary school, when we had free time I would make little books and fill them with stories and pictures. I started keeping a diary when I was around eleven (after I read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl) and have kept up that habit ever since. As a teen, I regularly entered the annual short story and poetry contests held by the public library. I think that was my first experience of seeing my work in print. After high school, I did exclusively academic writing, with no thought of writing for children. Everything changed when my first child was born. My son came into the world a month after I finished my PhD (a tough slog). Reading aloud and singing songs with him helped me recover my own joy in words and language. I decided to play with writing some stories of my own, and after six years my first book was published!
Because I began this work when my kids (eventually three) were so small, I got into the habit of carrying a notebook around and writing whenever I could—on the bus, in the park, waiting outside the school. That hasn’t changed much. I am not a highly disciplined or precisely scheduled writer. I always have a pen and paper with me so whenever I have a moment and an idea, I jot down my thoughts. In recent years, I have managed to set aside part of one day a week for writing in some form, whether that means working on a new story, revising an old one, writing cover letters, or preparing blog posts.
It is wonderful to "meet" you. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written?
When my children were younger we had a cottage on Prince Edward Island and spent summers there. One of the rooms had large windows with a view of water on both sides. I did so much writing there. When we had to sell the cottage, I was worried about what the loss of that space and view would do to my creativity. As it turns out, I can write almost anywhere, though I still love to write by water when I can. One summer when I was visiting my dad, we went for a drive to Peggy’s Cove, where there are glacial deposits of granite boulders. I remember lying on one of those enormous rocks and feeling its solidity and stability. But then I started to think about how it had come to be in that place, and all the change it had gone through along the way. Sitting there on the rock, I scrawled down some notes and they became a story.
That sounds like such a wonderful place to spend the summer writing. What was your inspiration or spark of interest for The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars?
I first learned about Cecilia Payne from an episode of Cosmos. There was an animated segment that told part of her story, including the bit where she adds the note in her thesis saying that her results are “almost certainly not real.” Of course, they were real, and in a few years, everyone realized that. But I was intrigued by this discovery that was so radical it seemed impossible to other astronomers, and by the young woman who made it. A big thank you to Ann Druyan (writer of Cosmos) and Neil de Grasse Tyson (who hosted the show) for bringing some of these stories to the attention of a much wider audience!
Just goes to show, you never know where the inspiration for a book will come from. What is the hardest or most challenging thing about writing The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne? And what was the most fun?
Without a doubt the biggest challenge was trying to get my head around what Cecilia discovered and how. I had high school physics to draw on (although that was a long time ago) and a vague understanding of atoms and how they behave, but I had forgotten so much. I had to do a lot of reading before I could even begin to understand how Cecilia put all the pieces together. Then I had to figure out how to express these concepts simply and accurately for young readers. That was tricky, though enjoyable in its own way.
The most fun part (and a whole lot easier for me) was learning more about Cecilia and her background. I got a kick out of how mischievous she could be (like pretending to faint to get out of chapel) and how resourceful (like dashing off a prize-winning essay in Greek to win money for school clothes). All of this background reading came in handy when Yas began work on the illustrations. When I saw the rough sketches, I was able to make a few contributions based on what I had learned. For example, Cecilia’s mother was an artist, so I was able to suggest that Yas depict her in her studio. While I would never want to interfere with an illustrator’s vision, it is fun to be part of the conversation.
Interesting. Sounds like your research was intensive, yet interesting and very worth all the effort. How many revisions did The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne take from first draft to publication? How does this compare to your other picture book biography The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell?
It’s hard for me to keep track of revisions because I write longhand in bound books, then make edits in different colours. When one version has become too scrawled over, I write it out fresh and keep going. It’s a bit messy, but it works for me. This story did require a lot of revisions (dozens, I would guess) because it was hard to hit the right balance between the story about Cecilia’s life (what you might call the social-emotional part), and descriptions of her work (the science).
The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything is a shorter book (32 pages as opposed to 56) and has less back matter, which made it a bit less time-consuming to write, though it still went through many versions. Writing about Maria Mitchell was a bit easier for me because her story focused more on the overall trajectory of her life as a scientist, teacher, and advocate for the rights of women. I didn’t need to wrap my head around ionization or absorption lines!
You have a different writing process than anyone else I've interviewed. Thank you for sharing it. Did anything surprise or amaze you when you first saw Yas Imamura’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?
When I learned that Yas would be illustrating this book, I was thrilled. I was already familiar with her work from The Very Oldest Pear Tree and The Gravity Tree and knew she could bring the historical setting to life beautifully. I think what surprised (and delighted) me most when I saw the final illustrations was how impressionistic and beautiful some of the scientific spreads are. With physical objects like clothing and scientific instruments, Yas has taken care to be historically accurate. But when it comes to science, she hasn’t been overly literal and I really love that.
Text © Laura Alary, 2026. Image © Yas Imamura, 2026.
A good example is the spread when Cecilia first arrives at Cambridge. She’s striding along, looking both energized and a bit awestruck. All around her are images representing past and present research at Cambridge: the silhouettes of famous scholars, things that look like cells, stars, and atoms, but rendered in a very dreamlike way. That’s one of my favourite spreads.
This is such a fantastical and fascinating spread! Was there anything you discovered during your research that you wished you could have included in the text or back matter?
I wish I could have included more anecdotes about Cecilia as a child and young woman. She had such wide-ranging interests (including languages, poetry, drama, and music) and was remarkably resourceful. In a world of specializations, we sometimes seal arts and science off from one another. Cecilia Payne is a good example of someone who really was curious about everything and valued all kinds of learning. I did manage to squeeze a few stories about her into the back matter. I hope people read it—there’s good stuff in there!
I suppose you can bring the stories to school visits and/or add them to a teacher's guide/activity packet on your website. What's something you want your readers to know or learn about The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne?
I’d like readers to know that you don’t have to be an astronomy buff to enjoy this book. As the title suggests, the story is as much about Cecilia herself as the details of her discovery. A big part of that story is her broad curiosity about the world. When Cecilia started university, she wanted to be a botanist, not an astronomer!
Two of my kids are now in university and one is in the final year of high school. I’ve seen how much pressure there is on them to choose a path—one that often excludes other interests. I think it’s good for younger readers to hear about someone who stayed open to learning all sorts of things, even changing course, and still found satisfaction and success in the field she finally chose.
Cecilia is a great role model for following interests and being open to what life presents us. Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
Absolutely! I’m happy to say I have quite a few projects on the go. Next in 2026 is Around the Circle: Celebrating the Church Year (Beaming Books), a journey through the seasons of the liturgical year for young children. The illustrations by Claire Westwood are truly magical. In fall 2026 comes Wireless (Nimbus Publishing), a story about friendship and communication, set in Newfoundland in 1901 (the story incorporates a significant event that happened in December of that year). Thérèse Cilia, the illustrator, has done a terrific job of making the historical setting feel detailed but lively.
I hinted earlier at a book about the rock cycle (coming in 2028) and there’s another STEM title in the works that will be a companion to Sun in My Tummy and Sea in My Cells. I can’t say much more except that it also looks at a natural cycle and helps children connect it to their own lives. There are other books underway too, but that gives you a taste!
These all sound so interesting. We will have to keep our eyes open for them. Best of luck with these projects. 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?
© Joel.bourgoin/Shutterstock
When it comes to landscapes, I am drawn to open, windswept spaces (preferably by the sea). I grew up by the ocean and will always feel most at home there. I find wind very cleansing and energizing. Having said that, I once visited Cathedral Grove, an old growth forest on Vancouver Island (part of MacMillan Provincial Park), and was so moved and humbled by resting against those ancient trees. I would love to go back. I have a bit of a thing for islands, so my wish list includes Sable Island (off the coast of my home province of Nova Scotia), Shetland and Faroe Islands, Lindisfarne, and Skellig Michael (my son visited and his photos made me want to see it for myself). I’d also like to see a real glacier while I still have a chance.
I hope you get a chance to see all of these places. Thank you, Laura, for sharing with us a bit about yourself and your new picture book biography.
My pleasure, Maria! Thank you for the conversation.
To find out more about Laura Alary, or to contact her:
Website: https://lauraalary.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura.alary/
Review of The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars
Many women scientists faced discrimination and scorn for their discoveries. While some quit - changing careers, others kept fighting, discovering, and creating remarkable things that many of us take for granted these days. This biography is a gorgeous tribute to a female astronomer who discovered the essence of stars.
The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars
Author: Laura Alary
Illustrator: Yas Imamura
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (January 27, 2026)
Ages: 7 - 12
Nonfiction
Themes:
Biography, astronomy, discrimination, determination, and curiosty.
Synopsis:
An incredible picture book biography about how the trailblazing astronomer found her people―and figured out what stars are made of.
Cecilia Payne loved learning to see nature’s wonders, even things other people called impossible. While studying at Cambridge, she dreamed of becoming a great astronomer like the ones she read about in the library. But too many people thought women didn’t belong among stars or atoms.
So, Cecilia packed her bags for Harvard, where she could surround herself with women who also loved astronomy and physics. These “Harvard Computers” shared their treasures with her―thousands of photographs of starlight. Cecilia found a way to read the patterns in these photos and started asking big questions. Could these photos show her what stars are made of? What if they showed Cecilia something all the great astronomers called impossible?
With stellar gouache and watercolor art and thrilling scientific details, this biography is a loving tribute to the joy of curiosity, the value of community, and the struggle to find confidence in your own voice. Extensive back matter helps readers learn through an author’s note, timelines of Cecilia’s life and of discoveries that led to hers, a list of Cecilia’s honors and awards, and resources for further reading.
Opening Lines:
When she was eight years old, Cecilia Payne discovered
she was a scientist.
She was lying in the orchard under the apple trees when
she spied a flower that was not supposed to be there. It
looked like a purple star with a bee nestled at its heart.
Although she had never seen one before, she knew it by
name: the bee orchid. Cecilia had heard her mother talk
about seeing these flowers in the south of France. She had
seen drawings of them in books. This blossom nodding in
the tall grass perfectly matched the picture in her mind.
What I LOVED about this book:
What a fun opening first line. And how fun for an observant, attentive child to discover an unusual French flower growing in a patch of English grass. Despite her mother's steadfast belief that this was impossible, Cecilia carefully transplanted the flower to her own garden. Cecillia was right. And she promised herself that "She would learn to see all the wonders of nature. And she would always trust what she knew was right, no matter who said it was impossible."
Text © Laura Alary, 2026. Image © Yas Imamura, 2026.
Cecilia continued to observe the world, nature, and the stars - marveling at the wonder and mysteries of it all. An intellectual sponge, encouraged by her teacher, she learned the names of constellations, "poetry, music, ancient Greek, the language of numbers." Though her classmates never understood why she constantly studied plants and science, Cecelia had a plan. To go to Cambridge, where scientists were making exciting discoveries about cells, atoms, and stars. Yas Imamura's captivating watercolor and gauche illustration of Cecilia's arrival at Cambridge is equal parts whimsy and scientific. It is so stunning.
Text © Laura Alary, 2026. Image © Yas Imamura, 2026.
In true Cecilia form, she learned everything she could and when her questions and knowledge brought her to the attention of the preeminent astronomer Arthur Eddington, he offered her the opportunity to use the observatory's impressive library. When she faced discrimination and comments that "women do not belong in the world of stars and atoms," Cecilia headed to America and Harvard University, where she found other women scientists passionate about astronomy. Fascinated by photographs of stars, Cecilia worked long hours to figure out what stars are made of.
Text © Laura Alary, 2026. Image © Yas Imamura, 2026.
When she proposed her theory, that stars are made of gas, preeminent scientists and astrophysicists dismissed her theory. For the first time, Cecilia broke her promise to herself and backed down. The ending is inspirational and stunningly illustrated. A wonderful author's note offers more information on Cecilia Payne and how her struggles and determination can be an inspiration to all readers. This is supplemented by two detailed time-lines exploring Cecilia's life and the science of the discovery of what stars are made of, a history of Harvard and Cecilia's discovery, and a list of her honors and awards. This is a wonderful and inspiring biography of a determined and brilliant astronomer.
Resources:
what activities, sports, or crafts interest you? How could you combine these interests into something fun to do as a job?
for some fun astronomy activities and information, check out Astronomy Activity Book for Kids: 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing by Aurora Lipper and Victoria Stebleva and Astronomy for Curious Kids: An Illustrated Introduction to the Solar System, Our Galaxy, Space Travel―and More! by Giles Sparrow (Author), Nik Neves.
pair this with The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of by Kirsten W. Larson, illustrated by Katherine Roy, Galaxy Mapper: The Luminous Discoveries of Astrophysicist Hélène Courtois by Allie Summers, illustrated by Sian James, and Her Eyes on the Stars: Maria Mitchell, Astronomer by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Liz Wong.
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