The Picture Book Buzz -Interview w/Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Leeza Hernandez and Review of Cats in Construction Hats

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen never thought she'd grow up to be a writer. As a child, she thought of being a doctor (but she's afraid of blood), a lawyer (but she doesn't like losing arguments), a carpenter (but she's too clumsy), a model (but she likes eating too much), a presidential candidate (but she had a dissolute youth), a UN ambassador (the argument losing thing again)... almost everything but a writer.

In fact, in 2001, Sudipta was well on her way to not being a writer. She had graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1998 with a BS in Biology, spent a year in Boston, and then had returned to Caltech as a PhD candidate in developmental biology. That's when she had her first child, Isabella. Bella's birth didn't change Sudipta's plans - she thought she'd take a long maternity leave then return to graduate school. Then, her daughter Brooklyn came along.

With two small children, Sudipta found herself less interested in biology as she was in parenting. Using her science background as a springboard, Sudipta began writing nonfiction for children, including Championship Science Fair Projects, Last Minute Science Fair Projects, AIDS, and Autism. She branched out into other nonfiction, including biographies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Jane Goodall.

Sudipta visits schools to share her stories and experiences and teaches writing to children and adults. She lives in New Jersey with her family and an imaginary pony named Penny.

Sudipta is the author of 58 books, including Princess Power Chapter Book #2 (2024), Princess Kira's Kiwi Jubilee (2024), Purrmaids #14: Contest Cat-tastrophe, illustrated by Vivien Wu (2023)(series), Roxie Loves Adventure, illustrated by Leeza Hernandez (2022), Chicks Rock! (2021), Mermicorns #3; The invisible Mix-up, illustrated by Vivian Wu (2021) (series),Chicks Rule, illustrated by Renée Kurilla (2019), Rutabaga Boo!, illustrated by Bonnie Adamson (2017), Merida #3: The Ghostly Horse, illustrated by Gurihiru (2016), Merida #2: The Fire Falls, illustrated by Gurihiru (2016), and Merida #1: Chasing Magic (Disney Princess), illustrated by Gurihiru (2016).

Leeza Hernandez is an English designer-turned-illustrator who sometimes writes and always draws—especially cats. She’s spent the past two decades living on the East Coast of the USA, where she's built a vibrant creative career that bridges editorial design, children’s publishing and art licensing.

Since the '90s, Leeza has worked in magazine and newspaper design, where her take on visual storytelling began. In the early 2000s, that love for visuals translated into more creative illustration projects that led to her books for young readers. And she’s worked on picture books, chapter books, and board books ever since. These days, Leeza’s expanding her creative reach into surface design and the wonderful world of cat conventions (yes, it’s a thing!). Her feline-inspired artwork—equal parts cheeky and charming—can be found in her Etsy shop, on her website and her Instagram. Fueled by family, cats, travel, and a serious love of cheese, Leeza finds inspiration in the little things and joy in bringing big ideas to life. 

She’s the illustrator of the Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero! Chapter book series, as well as Baby's Black and White Books Things That Go and Farm by Mary Cartwright (3/20205), Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo by John Lithgow (2013), and Roxie Loves Adventure by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (2022).

Welcome Sudipta and Leeza, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about yourselves and your book.

Tell us a little about yourself. (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?)

SUDIPTA - I started writing in the fall of 2002, right after my second baby. I had two children under 2 and I had all these stories I wanted to tell them – without thinking through how hard it was to craft publishable manuscripts with two small children running around! Persistence is a virtue, however, and it did get easier to write as I learned more and more about the craft (despite adding a third child into the mix). When the kids were younger, I developed the habit of writing in the cracks – instead of a set schedule, I just wrote when I could. That’s a habit that has been hard to break – I still don’t follow a clock so much as I follow inspiration.

When I began writing, I wanted to write picture books my babies could read at school with their friends. Even though the babies are all legally adults now, picture books remain my first and deepest love. 

LEEZA - When I was around 12, I got a set of books called The Garden Gang, published by Ladybird in the UK. They were written and illustrated by a girl my age, and that blew my mind. I’d been making art for as long as I could remember, so I decided then and there: I was going to be an author-illustrator. That summer, I doodled story ideas constantly—but it didn’t last. School picked back up, life moved on, and my interests shifted towards design and languages.

Still, I think the idea always lingered. It wasn’t until I discovered SCBWI in 2004 that I really found my way back to children's books. I illustrate, sketch, and doodle daily. Writing is harder—it doesn’t come as naturally to me and I can be pretty self-conscious about it. I juggle illustration with a full-time design job, so I fit in what I can, when I can. No two weeks are ever the same—and I love that.

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

SUDIPTA - This is a fun question! I actually have a few stories about unusual writing locations. I started drafting Roxie Loves Adventure on the subway in Manhattan on my way to a school visit. I wrote the first draft of Alpaca Goes Back-A to School on the sand at Boneyard Beach in Florida when I was there for the Amelia Island Book Festival. But my favorite unusual place was curled up next to my son in his toddler bed (I'm short but it was still a tight fit!) asking him to name dinosaurs for me as I drafted Tyrannosaurus Wrecks. Even at five years old, he knew many more than I did! I actually had to google some of his suggestions to make sure he wasn’t making the names up!

LEEZA - Oh wow, great question! Honestly, I illustrate anywhere and everywhere—I never leave home without a sketchbook, so I’m always noodling and doodling. I’ve noticed in the past couple of years my book deadlines often lined up with my travel for cat conventions where I sell my cat art—oddly—hotel rooms and airplanes became my makeshift studios. When I worked on sketch revisions for Cats in Construction Hats I was at the SeaMeow Cat Convention in Seattle. And when I worked on the final art for the same books, I was on a recon trip to Arizona while scouting a new event. Good times!

Those all sound like fun adventures. Sudipta, what was the inspiration for Cats in Construction Hats? 

SUDIPTA - I was actually inspired by some art on Leeza’s Instagram feed. She had this awesome piece with some green cats sitting on a yellow construction truck. The moment I saw it, I knew those cats deserved a story!

That's an interesting start for a story. Leeza, what about the Cats in Construction Hats manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator? 

LEEZA - Sudipta and I are always bouncing ideas back and forth-"Got a story for this?" "Any sketches for that?" I'd already been drawing cats in construction vehicles, so my brain was living in the world when we started talking about this idea.

If you know the Doozers from Fraggle Rock, that’s exactly how I pictured these goofy little cat characters—hard at work, building something together for everyone to enjoy.

When Sudipta writes a sparse text, it gives me room to stretch. I get to play, add my own humor, pop little visual Easter eggs amongst the pages, and tell silent side stories. That creative freedom—to expand the world beyond the words—is what appeals to me the most. Plus, it’s a book all about cats!

Nice that you get to collaborate and I imagine helpful that you have the same agent. That's a very good point for author's to remember. Sudipta, what was the toughest part of writing Cats in Construction Hats? What was the most fun?

SUDIPTA - The most fun, I think, was how much fun it is to read the text out loud, even in the early drafts. The rhythm is, in my opinion, infections! The toughest part was letting myself write something so sparse and so dependent on the illustrations. I had to put a lot of trust in the illustrator, but luckily, Leeza and I are old friends, and she is worthy of the trust!

Leeza, what’s the hardest part of illustrating picture books? What was the toughest part of illustrating Cats in Construction Hats specifically? What was the most fun?

LEEZA - Sometimes the hardest part is having too many ideas. I can get caught up trying to include everything, and if I’m not careful, perfectionism creeps in. But honestly? Cats in Construction Hats didn't have a tough part. It’s all cats—my happy place! Even the scenes that took longer to figure out were still a joy to work on. It was a PURRleasure from start to finish. But then it always is when I get to work on bringing Sudipta’s words to life!

Sounds like you two make a great team and this was just PURR fun to write and illustrate. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for the text and illustrations of Cats in Construction Hats?

SUDIPTA - On the writing side, this was a very quick project. Once the idea was in place, the words themselves came easily. I believe I wrote it in mid-2021, and then Leeza got to work on the dummy and samples. The time between submissions and offer was also very short - I think it took over a month to get the book officially signed up and on the way to bookshelves!

LEEZA - All in, it took about 18 months—from early idea development through sketches, rounds of revisions, final art, more revisions as well as the jacket, case cover, and endpapers—and did I mention revisions?! There are several layers of feedback throughout the process—from the editor, art director, designer and author—so it’s not a straight line from start to finish.

I create my illustrations by hand before I scan everything in and work on finals, which adds time, too. I’m not the fastest artist out there, but I get the job done… eventually!

Interesting. Sudipta, did anything surprise or amaze you when you first got to see Leeza’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?

 Image © Leeza Hernandez, 2025.

SUDIPTA - One of the things I love about Leeza’s work in general is the amazing attention to detail. I encourage readers to look closely at the end papers, for example, and discover all the little extras hidden there. But my favorite illustration is actually a little easter egg that is featured in all of the books that Leeza and I collaborate on – somewhere, in each book, there is an illustration of a highland cow sitting in a bathtub. A little inside joke between us!

Those end pages are do intricate and amazing! Leeza, is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Or perhaps is your favorite spread?

Text © Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, 2025. Image © Leeza Hernandez, 2025.

LEEZA - Of course, I love them all. I’m especially proud of the blueprint-style endpapers—they were so fun to create and added a nice detail that we couldn’t fit into the main body of the book (and we tried!). But if I had to pick a favorite, it’s the blue cat getting ready for the party with the hair dryer. He cracks me up every time I look at him. dryer. Oh—and did Sudipta mention the Highland cow?!

I found it! I chuckled at the blue cat as well. What's something you want your readers to know or to discover about Cats in Construction Hats?

SUDIPTA - Most people will come away from Cats In Construction Hats with the clear message about teamwork, but I think it's important to note that the cats are all individually very capable. Sometimes, kids think that you only need a team if you can’t be successful on your own, but that simply isn’t true. We can be very good at individual pursuits and then also succeed in a different way when working with others.

A very important reminder. Thanks, Sudipta. Leeza, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Cats in Construction Hats? If so, could you share one or more with us?

LEEZA - My favorite thing to do: tucking in little Easter eggs is the best. We already mentioned the Highland cow, who first appeared in Roxie Loves Adventure.

The case cover illustration underneath the book jacket of Cats in Construction Hats is a nod to my own childhood—the wooden building blocks, paper scraps, and crayons I had as a kid and my love of making things. I’m also obsessed with putting little welly boots (aka galoshes) on my animal characters— another tiny tribute to my younger days.

And one more small detail: the authorization signatures on the blueprint endpapers say "Leeza, Sudipta, Cat, and Rat." Maybe no one else will notice or get it—but I do!

Thank you for sharing these treasures with us! Are there any new projects you both are working on now that you can share a hint or tidbit with us?

SUDIPTA - Leeza and I actually have another picture book coming out this year called Alpaca Goes Back-A To School about an alpaca who is going back to school (I probably didn’t need to explain that!). Other upcoming projects include a few picture books. One is called Hippopota-Mess illustrated by Michael Slack which is about a messy hippopotamus. And another picture book is tentatively called Happy-Baras! illustrated by Anne Appert about two capybara friends, one of whom is a glass-half-full type and the other a glass-half-empty type. And last but not least – Leeza and I have a sequel to Cats In Construction Hats called Cats in Conductor Hats where we will see our familiar cats on a train adventure.

LEEZA - Aside from what Sudipta already mentioned (I'm currently working on final art for Cats in Conductor Hats) I’ve been working on a fabric line featuring my black cat designs, and I’ve slowly been getting back into writing—something I hope to do more of this year. I've got some travel and cat conventions coming up, so while I pivot and prep for those, I’ll still be noodling and doodling in my sketchbook!

These all sound like so much fun. Best of luck to you both. 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? 

SUDIPTA - I am dying to see Antelope Canyon in Arizona! It looks gorgeous and almost otherworldly. So different from anything else I’ve ever seen in my life!

LEEZA - I’ve always wanted to visit Yosemite and the Redwood National Park—I could spend days soaking up the inspiration and sketching, I'm sure. But top of my list? Cat Island (Tashirojima) in Japan. It's inhabited by cats, has cool hiking trails and gorgeous ocean views. Yes, PURRlease!

Thank you, Sudipta and Leeza, for sharing with us a bit about yourselves and your newest picture book.

To find out more about Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, or to contact her:

Website: https://www.sudipta.com/ 

Twitter: https://x.com/SudiptaBQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SudiptaBardhanQuallen/?ref=settings 

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

To find out more about Leeza Hernandez, or to contact her:

Website: https://www.leezaworks.com/

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

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/leezaworks

Review of Cats in Construction Hats

Extremely sparse rhyming text, focused on "at" words, sight words, and colors, coupled with detailed and descriptive illustrations, makes this a fun read-aloud for younger kids and a great "I can do it" for those a little older.

Cats in Construction Hats

Author: Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Illustrator: Leeza Hernandez

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (April 8, 2025)

Ages: 3- 7

Fiction

Themes:

Cats, construction, cooperation, colors, rhyming, "at" words, and humor.

Synopsis:

Colorful cats in construction hats are on the job to build a house in this adorable, bouncy, rhyming picture book! Kids will delight in learning about colors while giggling at the hilarious antics of these forklift driving kitties.

Six colorful cats work together to build a house...with just a little help (and mischief) from some tiny rat friends. Little readers will delight in following along with the simple rhyming text, big construction vehicles, and the failures and triumphs that come with a big project! Bulldozers, cement trucks, excavators, and even a giant crane feature in this story, but each read through also offers smaller details to discover!

Opening Lines:

Yellow cat. Green hat.

Dig this. Clear that.

Green cat. Orange hat.

Mix this. Pour that.

What I loved about this book:

Before you dive into the book, be sure to look at the opening end papers and the inventive and individual crew's proposed blueprints for a cat house. Six cat construction crews, delineated by their fur and hard hat color, set out to each build the perfect cat house. While all the crews wear Leeza Hernandez's favorite galoshes, only the red cats sport a different color (yellow) - likely because all the other cats are wearing red galoshes.

Text © Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, 2025. Image © Leeza Hernandez, 2025.

The yellow cat crew operates a digger and a dump truck to clear the rubble. The green cat crew uses the cement truck (with a fun fish logo on it). Pay attention to all the humorous antics of the rats throughout. Such at the one lying under the cement mixer, "running" with the mixer's rotation or the one below making a brick castle. The orange cat crew are brick masons, operating a forklift, creating a wall, and juggling bricks.

Text © Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, 2025. Image © Leeza Hernandez, 2025.

The blue cat crew operates the crane lift, moving supplies and pipes all around the site. The red cat crew are the welders. Though the purple cat crew don't seem to have a specified role, they do sound the alarm when the rats knock loose a pile of metal pipes which crash into the construction site with a great cartoon-like bit of illustrated onomatopoeia bubbles and a cat's double entendre cry of "RATS!" The one grey cat, with the megaphone on the cover makes a cameo appearance near the end.

Leeza Hernandez captured a great range of expressions on the faces of the cats, in an almost wordless spread, as they look at the rubble that had been their 'perfect' cat houses. Even the youngest kids will be able to feel their range of emotions. Using hand drawn pencil, paint, and ink illustrations and textures makes for some fun dimension in the illustrations.

Individually talented in their own aspects of construction, the cats discover that putting the rats to work and tackling the build together successfully creates a ___________________. Yep, you guessed it, I am going to make you read the book to see how they cooperate and what they ultimately build. As well as their ultimate celebration of teamwork. Once the cats do cooperate, the teams are reduced to just one cat of each color. Though that still feels like a satisfying clowder of cats!

This will be a big hit for kids you are fans of Richard Scary type anthropomorphized animal villages, cat (and, okay, rat) lovers, and of course kiddos that adore construction vehicles. As well as teachers and parents working on sight words and reading.

Resources:

• 

  make some fun origami cats (in lots of colors). What hats would your cats wear? Maybe the hat of a forest ranger, police, fire, chef, artist, or astronaut?

• using blocks or recycled materials (toilet paper rolls, cardboard, boxes, clean empty cans & lids, and bottle caps, etc.) build your own perfect cat, dog, hamster, rat, or other pet house.

• pair this with The Perfect Plan by author/illustrator Leah Gilbert and Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry.