Dyslexia Awareness Week
As its Dyslexia Awareness Week we have a guest blog from Naomi Jones and Rebecca Ashdown, author and illustrator of the picture book Thunderboots. They kindly sent each other a few questions to answer!
Rebecca asked Naomi …
Naomi, I know you’re really passionate about dyslexia being a superpower. I’m really interested in how being dyslexic is a superpower for you?
I think one of the main things is that it helps me make connections other people might not see which can be so useful when making up stories! I also think being dyslexic means I’m resilient and not afraid of making mistakes which also helps as a writer. As I write this, I’ve literally had to correct the spelling of four words in this one sentence. My diagnosis at 21 really helped me make sense of why I thought the way I did. It also helped me to realise that there are so many different ways of learning and seeing the world around us and I really think that should be celebrated.
Once you’ve written your stories, do the illustrations ever surprise you or make you think of the story in a different way?
Yes they definitely do! I absolutely love how much of a partnership a picture book is – you really do need both the words and the pictures to tell the whole story. One of my favourite things is ‘meeting’ my characters when I get to see what they look like. It’s always a really special moment to see how someone else has imagined a character who has previously just lived inside your head! I also love how an illustrator often adds lots of small details to a place or person which really help bring a story to life. It’s so cool to see someone else’s imagination have fun with your words.
Where do you find inspiration for your stories – does it come from real life or from your imagination?
I get inspiration from everywhere and anywhere. Sometimes it’s from something my kids do or say, or it can be something that pops into my head when I’m out walking the dog or listening to music. Often I find the best stories come when lots of bits of ideas and things I’ve been thinking about for a while come together at once!
Naomi’s Book Recommendation
The book I’d like to share is Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green and Francis Martin. It is a fantastic twist on a traditional fairytale and I love that it also celebrates another neurodivergent way of thinking.
Naomi asked Rebecca …
Rebecca, you’ve shared with me that your daughter is dyslexic and sometimes found school hard. I wondered if there was anything you did with her when she was little to help foster a love of books and reading even though this was something she might have struggled with?
Since she was little, it was really obvious that my daughter learnt and thought differently. By the time my six year old son was reading Harry Potter, his nine year old sister was still mixing up her letters, struggling with numbers and doing anything to avoid reading out loud. Fortunately, we knew that although she was found reading hard, ‘visual thinking’ came naturally to her (just like my husband who is also dyslexic). As an artist, this was something to be celebrated and nurtured.
From the earliest age, we’ve done many things together to help foster a love of books, starting with a love of pictures, words and stories. We read together as a family every night, paid weekly visits to the library and took part in The Summer Reading Challenge. We intentionally sought out books with lots of images and instilled a positive sense of visual literacy. Interesting conversations sparked curiosity in the words and concepts she was struggling with on the page. Playing word games and board games, making up poems and silly jokes, and watching Michael Rosen on YouTube were all thrown into the mix!
My children are teenagers now and they both love reading. My daughter can confidently talk to a room full of people, express herself through both words and images and clearly articulate her thoughts and ideas. Even now, the journey continues to be a process of co-discovery. Each stage has held surprises, as every person has different motivations and interests. It’s been a privilege to be a part of this wonderful adventure.
What was your favourite spread in Thunderboots to illustrate and why?
I loved creating the first double page spread. This was the part where I got to ‘know’ the character of Trixie and ‘bring her to life’. On the right hand page, we see Trixie in a cutaway of the block of flats where she lives. I purposely included a lot of detail to add interest and fun things to spot, which is especially nice for children who might find reading tricky.
How did you become a children’s book illustrator? Was it something you always wanted to do?
I’ve always drawn – and love it! I studied illustration at college and worked in graphic design and motion graphics for many years. It was when I had children that I revisited illustrated childrens’ books and fell in love with the idea of creating them myself. I was very lucky with my first commissions, which came in quick succession. One was a retelling of Rapunzel written by Wendy Meddour, ‘How the Library (NOT the Prince) Saved Rapunzel’, and the second was a series of picture books called ‘Bob and Flo’ that I both wrote and illustrated. It can be hard work but it’s a dream job!
Rebecca’s Book Recommendation
I love the The Wizard of Once trilogy by Cressida Cowell. These books are so original and funny (great for reading together). The main character Wish is a dyslexic girl and there are lots of wonderful illustrations dotted all the way through that really enhance the reading experience.
About Naomi Jones
Naomi Jones worked in children’s publishing for eight years – at Puffin, Orion, and most recently as Rights Manager at Hachette Children’s Group – before leaving to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. She is the acclaimed author of the picture book The Perfect Fit (OUP); its sequel One More Try (OUP); How to Catch a Rainbow, How to Make a Story (OUP), and The Odd Fish (Farshore).
About Rebecca Ashdown
Rebecca Ashdown worked as a graphic designer, vector illustrator, and motion graphics artist, before becoming a full-time illustrator. Her books have been shortlisted for several awards including The Sheffield Book Award and the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal among others.
Thunderboots by Naomi Jones and Rebecca Ashdown is available now | picture book | paperback Oxford Children’s Books
Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Federation.
