The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Suzanne Kaufman and Review of Blue
- Maria Marshall
- 7 hours ago
- 11 min read
Suzanne Kaufman is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of All Are Welcome. She is the recipient of The Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Mentorship and Portfolio Honors. Her books have been awarded Bank Street College Education Best Children’s Books of the Year Honors, Notable Books for a Global Society, Washington State Best Picture Book Award, Mathical Honor Award, Amazon Best Children Book of the Year and seen in Bologna Children’s Book Fair Spectator Child Exhibition.
She has presented at SCBWI Summer and Winter Conference, NMAEYC Conference, Tucson Book Festival, Los Angeles Festival of Books and Penguin Random House Book Festival. Over the years, she’s done everything from animating special effects for Universal and Discovery, to be an animation lead on games that were awarded the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences “Innovation in Art Direction,” “Innovation in Animation,” and “Children’s Title of the Year.”
She has lectured about illustration and animation around the US, England, Japan and Peru. When not tramping through the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her family, you will find her teaching illustration or working in her studio.
Suzanne is the author/illustrator of A Friend for Ghost (2022) and Confiscated (2017). And the illustrator of 13 books, including Hello Dog/Hello Human by Sara Levine (2025), Let’s Eat by Alexandra Penfold (2024), Wherever You Go by Alexandra Penfold (2024), Let’s Make Music by Alexandra Penfold (2024), All Are Neighbors by Alexandra Penfold (2022), Big Feelings by Alexandra Penfold (2021), Take Your Pets to School Day by Linda Ashman (2019), 100 Bugs by Kate Narita (2018), All are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold (2018), and Samanthasaurus Rex by B. B. Mandell (2016).
For additional information on Suzanne, check out our earlier interview (here)
Her newest picture book, Blue, was released on June 3rd.
Welcome Suzanne, thank you so much for stopping back by to talk about your newest book and your writing and illustration.
What is most unusual place that you have written and/or illustrated a manuscript?
One of the most unusual places I sketched Blue Herons was on my trusty paddleboard. Here is a link to some of the many magical moments with Blue and one of the images from this video.
That would be magical, and I imagine a bit challenging. What was your inspiration or spark of interest for Blue?
I came up with the rough concept for a book about a boy who has a magical encounter with a heron on the flight home after my brother-in-law Michael passed away. Michael had a special connection to Blue Herons and he and his family looked for magic in everything including nature. So, the book is about magic found in the natural world and the many ways that magic sustains us.
You have created a poignant, fun, and touching tribute to Michael and his family. Which came first for you with Blue, the text or the illustrations?
The book started as a visual outline that I drew on the flight back from saying goodbye to Michael. The last moments with him where he was sleeping were surrounded by family, books, and the profound words of Mary Oliver and her poem of the Blue Heron. You see Michael was tall and had the wingspan of a Blue Heron and talked many times of this stunning animal as being his spirit animal.
We left sadly to catch a flight home, and, on the flight, I was inspired by thoughts of Michael maybe being free soon. I thought of him as a child and of a photo his lovely wife Jenny sent me of him watching a Blue Heron. I thought I needed this magic and quickly jotted down what would be the foundation of Blue. I came home stormed through ideas about Michael, an inquisitive blue heron, and what one magical night could be.
So much emotion and love were poured into this book! Thank you for sharing this initial sketch. What was the toughest or most challenging part of writing Blue? What was the most fun?
Writing - the toughest part and the one of the most rewarding parts of writing Blue was learning to trust my gut. I redid the dummy close to 50 times with many variations based on feedback from my Editor Nikki Garcia, my agent Alexandra Penfold, and one of my closest friends, Jessixa Bagley. Listening to all but in the end trusting my gut on what worked.
The most fun part was the two years I spent reading and analyzing the writing of one my favorite authors Mary Oliver. Her poems use the natural world as a central theme, not just for description but to explore deeper questions about life, death, spirituality, and the human experience. It was fun to live her world of sometimes there are no rules.
Illustrating - the hardest part of illustrating Blue was letting the book be finished. I redid the art three times slowly adding color and warmth to the overall blue look. In fact, on the last day after I had turned in the final art a Blue Heron landed on the roof of my south Seattle home which is nowhere near where a Blue Heron would be. It was a sign, and I freaked out reaching out to friends Doug Salati, Ceilia Ruiz, Jessixa Bagley, and Jennifer K Mann for advice on what more I could push. All their comments just confirmed the changes I wanted to still make. So, after the art was done, I pushed color, refined some of the expressions, and added the surprise second read on the last page of text. Hint: Blue is there in spirit for the Boy.
The most fun part was how experimental the environments were. Link showing revisions on first spread. I only had a simple value study, and I would just play with all types of materials and techniques until they felt right. There were no final sketches for the environments. Link to Suzanne painting with Sumi ink.
Thank you for sharing your rough sketches and the links to your videos about adding the color and exploring Sumi ink. It is just a great experience to glimpse behind the construction of books. How long did it take from the first draft to publication for the text and illustrations of Blue?
It took a total of 5 years. Here is the breakdown:
· Idea to dummy sold in 3 months
· 3-6 months revising dummy to my liking in between all the lovely Welcome books I was working on.
· Waiting 3 years to have time to paint it.
· 6 months final art fully focused
I am glad you helped make all the Welcome books, but I am personally glad you got time to create this precious book, Is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Or perhaps is your favorite spread?
I am especially proud of the book's last page. I am repeating myself but as I neared the end, I felt like the book was close but didn’t have Michael’s warmth. So again, I took big parts of the book and added color. In fact, I did this the last week of making final art. I sent in final art and still I felt something of Michael was missing. That day a Blue Heron landed on the roof of my house. So of course, I freaked out and knew it was a sign the book wasn’t done. I reached out to friends like Doug Salati and Celia Ruiz my Milkwood teachers, and they confirmed the last page could be more.
So again, I did another play pass on the last page. I didn’t sketch ideas I just painted I think 7-10 different poses of Blue's spirit snuggling the boy. There I found the meaning of this book at last. I felt like I had done Michael and his family right. The spirit was meant to be a second read and to let the reader know that even if their parent might not be around, they will always be there in spirit and the parent feels the comfort that they will be there in spirit too.
Text & Image © Suzanne Kaufman, 2025.
So please sit in the last page and remember we all hope that even if we might be gone someday that in some way, we are there in spirit and our love shares this deep hope. I decided that this isn’t just hope but it is a truth that we all can believe in that our modern world can still be magical through the power of nature.
I'm so glad the heron's visit encouraged you to create this stunning ending. It is very magical and comforting. Having created multiple picture books, what was the most rewarding part of the publishing process for Blue?
Now that it is out, the most rewarding part of publishing Blue is the opportunity to read it out loud to a group of kids and adults. I just came back from an amazing Storytime at the Eric Carle Museum where, by end of the read out loud, kids where mimicking Blue flying and whispering hello and goodbye to Blue. The families leaned into the magic of the book, and it was the most amazing moment of my career.
That sounds like an amazing story time. What's something you want your readers to know about or take away from Blue?
Oh, so many things…
In these tough times, I want them to believe in Magic and lean into it. The big thing is no matter what, we all hope if we can’t be around our loved ones that we can be there in spirit and our loved ones hope for the same Magic.
Also trust your gut. We are all here to make the world a better and more beautiful place. Trust you have something to bring to the world.
I love both sentiments, thanks Suzanne! Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
I am wrapping up my 5th picture book in the All Are Welcome series called Welcome to our Classroom. It is a love letter to teachers. Teaching and teachers are dear to my heart.
My parents were both teachers and I was fortunate to be animation professor before making books. So, it was wonderful to make something to honor all the teachers both big and small in this world.
Can't wait to see this one. Last question, what animal or natural feature (place) do you want to learn more about? Why?
I love nature and can’t wait to learn more about the boreal forest, also known as taiga, is the world's largest terrestrial biome, characterized by coniferous forests and cold, subarctic climates. The reason is for a super-secret project with a good author friend I wish I could talk about, but it will be a new style and age group that I will grow into. It will be dark, beautiful, magical and a once in a lifetime project. You might see some very rough character sketch ideas on my Instagram.
Wow, thanks for the heads up. We will have to keep our eyes peeled on your Instagram page! Thank you, Suzanne, for stopping by to share with us your newest picture book.
To find out more about Suzanne Kaufman, or to contact her:
Website: https://suzannekaufman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skaufmanart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzannekaufman
Review of Blue
Being a devout bird lover and having had the fortune gift to round a corner and come nose to beak with a Great blue heron and then granted the privilege to quietly stay and watch as it continued its hunt for food, I felt a sense of wonder and magic in its gaze and calm acceptance. Especially given the deadly swiftness and accuracy of that bill. I adore both the fun adventure and the hopeful healing offered by this spectacularly stunning and poignant picture book.
Blue
Author/Illustrator: Suzanne Kaufman
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (June 6, 2025)
Ages: 4 -8
Fiction
Themes:
Friendship, love, connection, and bedtime stories.
Synopsis:
This sweet story about a child’s magical night with a blue heron is the perfect dreamy bedtime story for little ones.
One summer morning, Boy wakes up to discover Blue. Curious, he follows this mysterious bird on a day’s worth of adventure, play, and exploring the nooks and crannies of their coastal home. And at night, they soar, with hands and wings reaching for the stars. But as the sunrise peeks out, Boy is forced to say goodbye to Blue. For now.
In this gentle and touching story, New York Times bestselling illustrator Suzanne Kaufman proves that love can transcend all boundaries.
Opening Lines:
Among the reeds,
the sun rises . . .
And I rise too.
What I LOVED about this book:
The title page begins the story with a young boy charging (arms spread wide) over a dune, toward the beach, following big, shiny bird footprints. I love that the first time we see them together, on the opening spread, we just see the boy's boots and the Great Blue heron standing in the water surveying him over its shoulder, with such a gripping gaze.
Text & Image © Suzanne Kaufman, 2025.
From that early morning meeting into the afternoon, we watch as these two friends mimic, chase, and play with each other on the beach and in the surf. With such wonderful, loving, and carefree abandon. The sparse, lyrically dreamy text beautifully combines with illustrations which are so full of life, light, and playfulness. Both on the part of the boy and the heron and the images themselves. For instance, as the pair's legs run, splashing along the shore, the lower three-quarters of the page shows their bodies reflected in the wet sand. Suzanne Kaufman leaves it to the reader to decide if this a first encounter or day spent as old friends.
Text & Image © Suzanne Kaufman, 2025.
As the sun sets , they stand wings spread wide, until "with an incredible leap and a mighty flap, Blue takes flight" and the boy sits on the sandy knoll as dusk descends, stars fill the sky, and the moon rises "watching. Wondering. Hoping." When "Suddenly, with a swoosh, swoop, and a quiet settle . . . Blue returns."
Text & Image © Suzanne Kaufman, 2025.
As stunning and magical as the day of play and friendship or the heron's majestic departure and return have been, it is nothing compared to the heartfelt, phenomenal ending. Gorgeous, full double page, luminous spreads carry the boy and the reader on a special magical journey. I don't want to give it away, though you can look back at the interview for the final page and Suzanne's thoughts on the ending. Suffice it to say, it is touching, poignant, magical, and STUNNING!
Perhaps, because I've recently lost my mom (who also adored birds), or just Suzanne's incredible skill at bringing a reader into the heart (and magic) of her story, but after reading the story, I was floored by the end pages. The beautiful way they begin, with a boy, arms spread wide, pushing apart curtains covered with bird footprints as he watches a heron skim across the water as the sun rises. And how they end with the boy hugging a stuffed heron at the same window watching a new sunrise. Perfect bookends to the story, both wrapping it up and encouraging readers to start the story again.
Image © Suzanne Kaufman, 2025.
This is a wonderful picture book for bird lovers, families experiencing loss, those looking for the wonder and magic still found in nature, and anyone needing a dose of hope and love. It's a book to be treasured and read over and over again.
Resources:
draw your own Great blue heron with step-by-step instructions or just color one (Audubon coloring sheet).
write or draw about your own adventure with a Great blue heron, or your favorite bird.
Pair this with Dream Animals: by Emily Winfield Martin, The Snowman: A full-colour retelling of the classic by Michael Morpurgo, and Aaron Becker's whimsical Journey Trilogy.
