Lin Xiaobei: As a picture book writer, you should not only read more books, but also play more!

Lin Xiaobei is familiar and loved by mainland children's books readers, probably starting from 20 15. This year, her picture book Click Click won the first prize of the 4th Feng Zikai Children's Picture Book Award. The child who runs around grandma's sewing machine as a "big toy" in the book has the shadow of his childhood.

Since 1999 published the first picture book "Loading Fish", Lin Xiaobei has penetrated into the field of children's book creation for 19. She writes poems, draws pictures and makes picture books, and twenty or thirty picture books have appeared. In May this year, her new picture book "Step by Step Frogs Love to Jump" was published in simplified Chinese by Inspirational Children's Library. It was this opportunity that I met her in Shanghai.

The following is an exclusive interview with Lin by Story Planet.

Story Planet: What kind of child was the little cup when I was a child? Did you like painting since you were a child? Is there anyone in the family who works in the arts?

Lin Xiaobei: No one in my family is engaged in artistic work, but I like painting since I was a child. I grew up in a relaxed environment, and my parents and teachers supported and encouraged me, so I spent a lot of time on painting since I was a child.

When I grow up, I will help the school to do some design and layout. Drawing makes me confident.

When I was a child, my conditions were limited, so I didn't have many opportunities to see art exhibitions and I didn't have any special artistic influence, but my parents would buy me some complete sets of books. There were no picture books at that time, only books with illustrations. I will pick the books I like until I break the cover, but I don't touch the books I don't like.

The art teacher sometimes takes me to participate in painting competitions and can see some works. But when I was a child, I was too good, I didn't like myself like that, and I felt it was too late to understand.

Story Planet: You studied children's literature in graduate school. How will this help you create picture books in the future?

Lin Xiaobei: Masters are all theoretical courses, but I am more interested in creation than literary theory. Moreover, children's literature covers a wide range, and picture books are only a small part of it, so I just finished the credits of this course in the postgraduate stage and didn't study hard.

The greatest help for my own creation in the master's stage is to contact a large number of picture books, read a lot of books intensively, and suddenly understand the creation of picture books. On the other hand, at that time, several students also liked picture books very much, and it was also a great gain to have like-minded people to chat after reading the books.

Story Planet: What was your first job?

Lin Xiaobei: First, I helped others draw illustrations, and then I began to draw picture books, so I didn't go to work in the company.

Story Planet: You said that the first picture book "Loading Fish" was inspired by maurice sendak's classic picture book "Animal Country". Can you elaborate on the process of conception?

Lin Xiaobei: There is a lot of discussion in the animal kingdom. This book is really great. It uses design rather than words to enhance the whole story. This book made me realize for the first time that picture books also have some kind of "grammar" of their own, and it is obvious, unlike some books, which are hidden deeply and have direct enlightenment to me at that time. Pretending to be a fish is a book that draws lessons from the beginning and end of Animal Country. If you can see the picture of that story, you can understand what I'm talking about.

Story Planet: Tell me about your latest work, step by step frogs love to jump. Why is the hero positioned as a little frog?

Lin Xiaobei: Step by Step Frog was originally a magazine column cartoon. I was working with a dance company. They think dancing children are like little frogs, so they design their roles as little frogs.

There are some things about this role that I like very much. The column has been serialized for many years, and I think it should be turned into a book. However, the design and layout of the original column in each issue are different, so when I wrote a book, I added a lot and changed a lot on the original basis.

After changing from tadpole to frog, Bubu frog forgot how to swim, but it is good at jumping and loves to jump. It thinks about how to jump higher, better and more fun every day. Its friends will not laugh at its inability to swim, but appreciate its jumping ability.

Bubu frog originally lived in the jungle. It knew there was a big city outside, and kept saying it wanted to go, but it never went. One day I heard a bird say that you can walk along the river. My sister will leave at once and start the next day. It found that her sister had left, and said that she would definitely get lost and should protect her, so she also went out. This character will have a little shadow of his own-when there are new opportunities in front of him, he "dare not go", but he will still look for opportunities (for example, to protect his sister in this story) and bravely go on the road.

Story Planet: Now you often go to various places to tell stories to children and get along with young readers. What unforgettable experiences have you had?

Lin Xiaobei: When I was leaving after an activity, a child said to me seriously, "I will definitely remember this day!" " "I think the children have received both the content of their own stories and the status of telling stories. I am very happy.

I also had a special experience when I wrote the book Click Click Click. Before the book was officially published, I attended an art festival. For many days in a row, different people took this book to tell stories to children. I participated in every scene and had the opportunity to observe the reaction of the storyteller and the audience as a bystander.

In this process, I found that different storytellers would get stuck somewhere, and there were some places that I thought people should react when I created them, but they didn't, or I didn't expect them to be very popular ... so I took the time to adjust this book and then officially published it. This experience is quite rare.

Story Planet: When creating, do you usually think of the picture or the story (text) first? Can you imagine what kind of readers your book will be read by?

Lin Xiaobei: Not necessarily. The content of creation should actually include words, pictures and stories. Sometimes I see a child's action on the road, which touches me. I may record this picture and use it in future stories. Sometimes a sentence you hear will be recorded as part of your future work.

When conceiving a story, sometimes there is only a general idea, and the specific words and pictures need to be considered later.

I've been writing children's books, knowing that my works are for children, but it's hard to do it without thinking about what specific age groups books are suitable for.

Story Planet: When will you be more inspired?

Lin Xiaobei: Not necessarily. I am not a creator with special rules. Sometimes I play all the time and then work. But sometimes I get into the state, from waking up to working until I go to sleep.

Story Planet: Sometimes you will help others illustrate. How do you usually cooperate with screenwriters?

Lin Xiaobei: Usually you express your opinions through editing, and you don't need to meet and communicate with the author.

Because I have been creating picture books, I can not only draw pictures, but also write words, so I am more confident how to deal with others' words. According to your own imagination of the picture, you will know how to adjust the text better. Give your opinion to the editor and let him communicate with the author. I will be very happy when the author sees that my pictures are more than he expected and conform to the original.

The universe without a tooth is an exception. The author Guo is an artist, so our thinking about images is synchronous, which can stimulate each other's creative inspiration. He created a lot of blue photography in Paris, which is especially suitable for the theme of the universe, so after discussion, I used his blue photography as a collage base map to depict the starry sky, the universe, the sea and memories. That is a picture book about "Don't forget to date".

Story Planet: I like your painting style very much, which is a bit like children's painting. It looks chic and casual. Why do you choose a style similar to children's painting, rather than the delicate brushwork of Sandak or anthony browne?

Lin Xiaobei: This has something to do with my personality. I can't draw a picture for months. But you can draw it many times. Your own personality determines your own painting style.

Story Planet: What do you like to hear best?

Lin Xiaobei: I like when people say they like their books, they can give specific reasons instead of just saying "very good". Even if you can say a small sentence in the book, you will feel that everyone is really reading, not making polite remarks.

Story Planet: Is there anything you don't like to hear?

Lin Xiaobei: I hate that when some people reply to children's various "why", perhaps out of habit or to cover up their ignorance, they will say "there is no reason, that's it!" I think it is a pity, because there are many possibilities, and living may be cut off like this.

Story Planet: Which character or characters do you like best?

Lin Xiaobei: Step by step frogs and right and wrong. In my heart, they are most like living children.

Step by step frog's life is the same as children's life, without so much logic and rules. Jump as much as you want and do whatever you want. As a frog, it doesn't matter if you can't swim.

A large part of Feifei comes from her sister's two children, and their emotions are very different.

Story Planet: If children want to be picture book writers, what advice do you give them?

Lin Xiaobei: Don't just read picture books. Don't just read books, you have to do many interesting things to have a story.

I didn't really understand the fun of reading when I was a child, until I grew up. I didn't get into the habit of reading when I was a child, but I didn't get into it until I grew up.

I think even if you play, you should know how to play. For example, when traveling, you can go with many people or by yourself. I am very nervous when I go to a strange place. When I take the bus, I'm afraid of taking the wrong seat. I kept confirming with people around me, followed the name of the station and saw my own strategy. Find that the name of each station is correct, and then slowly calm down. This feeling is wonderful.

Some things are inherently difficult. When you went there, you found, oh, so that's it. It's not that difficult. I prefer going to the same place again and again, because there are always new discoveries in familiar places.

Lin Xiaobei:

First of all, of course, it is recommended that everyone read step by step frog loves to jump!

Then Aesop's book is also recommended!

Hirokazu Koreeda is my favorite Japanese film director. He has some good essays!

The works of Argentine picture book writer Aesop?

The little teacup said:

Recently, I like the works of Argentine picture book writer Aesop. She is a woman, too. Her painting style is crazy, bold and brave, and she knows exactly what children like. The picture is poetic and accurate.

For example, we usually think that children cry because they are hungry or uncomfortable, but her works will say that children cry because crying is their alarm, which is very interesting.

Which work do you want to read most? Please leave us a message. You can find her works in the Story Planet Library. Welcome members to borrow!