Creator Crush: Kelsey Garrity-Riley, Author-Illustrator of Frankie’s Favorite Food
It’s almost Halloween and that means it’s the season for the costume brainstorming, last minute trips to the thrift store and tearing down the house to find your beloved glue gun. Speaking as someone who recently stayed up until two in the morning paper-macheing my friend’s son’s Halloween costume, I can safely say this is a holiday I adore (and take very seriously). Thus, when I read Frankie's Favorite Food by author and illustrator Kelsey Garrity-Riley (released in August) my heart skipped a beat. This utterly-charming book tells the story of a boy named Frankie who becomes appointed the Costume Manager of his food themed school play. He does a stellar job creating outfits for all of his friends, but can’t decide what to make for himself. Just in time for the performance, Frankie harnesses his creativity to overcome his indecision and makes the perfect costume.
This book is filled with adorable processions of scrumptious, gouache-painted food outfits that come just in time for Halloween (hello costume ideas!). What I loved most about this read is how well Garrity-Riley captures the all too familiar feeling of indecision. With humor, charm, and a healthy helping of food puns, the author offers a delicious antidote to the sometimes dreadful, extremely universal experience of not being able to choose.
Frankie's Favorite Food is Kelsey Garrity-Riley’s author-illustrator debut, and it’s one of our favorite children’s book releases this Fall. This brilliant read made our book roundup for our recent release Issue 9: FOOD, available to order now! We had the ultimate treat of interviewing Kelsey on her process and inspiration for creating this story. We hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the artist! Happy costume making season everyone.
What are you currently working on?
The main things I'm working on right now are a second book with Tundra that’s currently in the writing and early sketching-of-ideas phase that I'm super excited about, as well as a lovely book called You are A Beautiful Beginning (written by Nina Laden) with Roaring Brook Press. I often have cards/wrapping paper projects going on as well (mostly with Red Cap Cards who I adore working with), and the occasional editorial or surface design project but I've lately had to readjust and stay focused almost exclusively on books now that I spend much of the day watching our little boy.
Can you talk about your process of creating Frankie’s Favorite Food from start to finish?
Frankie's Favorite Food was a slow moving amalgamation of a bunch of different things I was interested in creating. I was stuck inside working on a project one Halloween night 5 years ago and as a distraction I sketched out ideas for costumes I thought would be fun to dress up in. That sort of developed into a Halloween card I later created for Red Cap Cards and solidified my interest in drawing kids in fun costumes. At the same time - we had just moved to New York City and I was enamoured with having all different kinds of food to try suddenly just a subway ride away. Specifically I would make a point of going to Chinatown in Manhattan once a week, trying a new place for lunch, and painting the meal in a little sketchbook. (I would take a photo and paint it later, too hard to eat and paint at the same time!) I initially started working on a book idea about highlighting different foods from different cultures (like dumplings and wraps from around the world). I found myself continuing to be drawn to creating kids in little costumes just for fun and eventually I got the spark to combine the two projects. My family helped brainstorm some of the little puns that are used throughout the story (and loads more that didn't make it into the book). The brilliant editors at Tundra were instrumental once they bought the book in editing it all down in just the right ways.
What is your favorite snack?
Like Frankie I definitely struggle with this question! But I’ve never met a dumpling, berry, or chocolate mousse I didn't like.
What was it like moving from Europe to the United States, to attend school at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia? Do you have any advice for people who are moving across the world to a new home?
A sense of belonging and place is a very personal and important thing. Traveling a lot as a kid was very informative to who I am. I talk about this more in another question- but having grown up not really fully European or American it was confusing and hard to first acclimate in America. But I love Savannah, and really loved my experience at school there and once I made good friends America started to feel more like home. Really that's probably everyone's experience with moving anywhere. Finding people you connect with makes all the difference. I also fell in love with the strangely specific town of Savannah and the American South and elements of it still inspire me. I think I just had to learn to embrace it for what it was and not mourn the fact that it wasn't Europe.
What is the most challenging part of illustrating and writing a children’s book? The most rewarding?
The hardest part for me is taking a loose idea that feels very specific in my mind, and figuring out how to actually get it down on paper in a way that communicates it properly. Figuring out the right flow is such a big challenge but thankfully I get to work with amazing editors who have a brilliant understanding of these things. The most rewarding feeling is certainly getting to hold the finished printed book in my hands! And then to see it out in the world with children reading and interacting with it.
What were your favorite books to read as a kid?
The first picture books that come to mind are Roxaboxen and Miss Rumphius (both illustrated by the amazing Barbara Cooney) and the Brambly Hedge stories by Jill Barklem.
What was it like growing up in Germany and Belgium?
I loved my experience of growing up in Europe very much. I feel like I should clarify though that my parents are American and so my experience was that of a third culture kid. Not being fully immersed or part of any European culture but also not feeling fully American. It brings up strange feelings of identity. But I dearly dearly loved Europe and would still live there if we could (work and our American passports are keeping us on this side of the Atlantic for now.) I know I'm guilty of romanticizing lots of aspects of my childhood. Especially the small town on the edge of the Black Forest in Germany where I spent most of my childhood. The freedom of running free in the hills and forests and vineyards behind our house with my imagination has been formative in everything I create. The layers of history and nature are still an enormous inspiration.
Where is your favorite place to draw in New York besides your studio?
My days of drawing out and about are on pause at the moment because I pretty much always have my one year old son with me! But I miss the days of drawing while grabbing a pastry at a Maison Kayser cafe or jotting down ideas while riding the subway.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere! In remembering feelings of where I grew up and travels. From time spent with close family and friends (my brother Collin is an amazing woodworker and we've had fun collaborating on occasion). My best friend Reba creates beautiful patterns and has inspired much of that work in me. I talk over everything I create with my wonderful husband Erik who is also an incredibly talented illustrator and graphic designer. Getting to see glimpses again of experiencing the world as a child through the eyes of our sweet little boy Llewyn is a new source of inspiration. I love plants and gardening and certain memories attached to specific flowers have always inspired me. I love interior design and the feeling of old spaces. Strange antiques and collections. Weird old picture books.
Frankie’s Favorite Book can be found in Illustoria’s Issue 9: FOOD On Our Bookshelf feature, which is available to order now. Many thanks to Tundra for sponsoring this issue.