Our World: England by Sumana Seeboruth
Board books are the first ones shared with our youngest readers and we have a blog today about the challenges and wonder of writing board books from author, Sumana Seeboruth.
As a girl, I could sit for hours writing stories, imagining adventures for my characters to pursue. Back then, my protagonists were often older than me – I equated age with independence and ability to push boundaries.
Now, as a writer of Board Books, I realise the process isn’t so different. I may put myself into the mindset of a much younger protagonist – a baby or toddler – but they too are on a journey, figuring out and making sense of the world around them.
Getting Perspective
When writing Board Book, it’s essential to consider the child’s shorter attention span. Careful consideration is required on the words and visual cues that entice, with themes that excite and are relatable.
My own experiences play a role in my writing, whether it’s watching my own children, or those around me. The Feelings and First series celebrate a child’s first experience with warmth and humour – never ‘preachy’. I’ll recollect my own refusal to try a new vegetable, or remember a moment I’ve spotted a toddler asserting their independence as they attempt to wriggle out of the seat of a shopping trolley.
Equally important is to capture and celebrate the moments when a child self-regulates, and succeeds to self-resolves their conflict.
Our World: England
Being asked to write Our World: England (part of the Our World series by Barefoot Books) was exciting. Their brief was to capture the essence of a day in the life of a child living in England, across 8 spreads, with circa 100 words. Two further spreads contain endnotes to explain typically English references, such as a ‘Full English’, ‘Pick-and-Mix’.
Condensing a whole day, is akin to being on a pebbled beach and pondering which stone to take home. You can’t take them all, so you choose a few that are perfectly rounded, and select others that stand out because of their shape, colouring and maybe ones that don’t look like pebbles at all!
Our World: England, is a mix of the familiar and the uniquely English. The essence is a child’s day out with Nanna and Grandad with animals, sports, foods, travel means and leisure pastimes that capture the everyday charm of England.
There were different avenues the story could have take – a soft-play visit, a museum trip, kicking a ball in the park -but I was keen to avoid the Hollywood depiction of England with Tudor-esque castles and Notting-Hill Town houses. A visit to the park seemed most universal while still offering a chance to introduce distinctly English elements, such as a bite-sized introduction to the rules of cricket.
The story begins with a Full English breakfast, counting birds in the garden followed by a trip to the high-street where Nanna and Grandad treat their grandson to a bag of pick-and-mix. From there, the trio jump on a train passing rolling fields as they travel to the park for a picnic and a game of cricket.
Bringing the Story to Life
Every word matters when you’re restricted to a lean word-count. My first drafts go against the most common ‘rules’ in the Picture Book space of keeping illustrative direction to a minimum.
With the First and Feelings series, I do the complete opposite. The humour often lies in the words that contradict the illustrations. For example, a child entangled in clothing, defiantly remarking that they can get dressed ‘By myself!’
At the start of my writing career, I often used a triple columned grid to articulate my vision to my Editor.
· Column 1 contained the text,
· Column 2 provided illustration notes focussed on the main character’s actions and emotions
· Column 3 set out secondary characters and background elements to advance and provide depth to the narrative
Having worked, now, with my Editor on multiple Board Books, I no longer go into this level of detail and we tend to iron out any questions on a short call or email. But, I do believe those earlier detailed submissions helped Barefoot see my potential.
England in All its glory
It’s been a delight working with Barefoot Books and the talented illustrator, Ella Hobbis on Our World: England. Ella’s illustrations beautifully add depth to absent words, supporting the narrative. Her artwork seamlessly normalises England’s diversity and representation in so many different ways; Nanna and granddad are bi-racial grandparents, a sari-dressed lady is in the corner-shop (a nod to my own mother who owned a local shop and ran a local Post-Office), and a same-sex couple walk hand in hand.
As with the Our World series – sold both in the UK and internationally – Our World: England is a glimpse from a child’s eye of life, culture and community, with each page-turn offering a window into the beauty of everyday life in England.
Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Federation.
