As we’re finalizing the last few pages of Addy Wants to Fit In, I can’t help but look back on how far it’s come! I wanted to share some of the illustration progression with you.

As for writing, I took a class in Austin at The Writing Barn in January of 2017. It was an intensive 6-week class that I started with a very general idea of a children’s book I wanted to write about picky eating. But finished the program with a very concrete draft that got 8 peer-reviews and a detailed review from the instructor. Throughout the next 6 months I got a few more reviews and made some more tweaks until I completed it at the end the summer of 2017.

I knew Eddie Martinez, illustrator, from the school I worked at in Austin. He was the art teacher and was interested in getting into illustrating. We agreed that since we were both new to this, we’d be patient with each other and work together to get this dream accomplished.

Some of the first sketches Eddie showed me I was so impressed with! He wasn’t sure he wanted the ants to look so he did some discovery… note the manilla folder! Scroll down to see some of the progression.

In early 2018, I broke down the text so he knew where the words would go, and he made a full start to finish book with sketches of each scene.

This next one is when he got clearer on the shapes of their bodies (although the shape of their heads will change!) He decided on how they’d each have 4 legs and 2 arms. He added in this adorable ladybug sidekick, too!

These next few were almost final drafts, just missing color!

And then… the color begins!

And finally, we start adding text!

E. Martinez, 2018 - A page from Addy Wants to Fit In by Jacky Lamenzo

Pre-orders are coming very soon — be sure to join our email list if you want to be the first to know when we launch! I am so appreciative of your support and Eddie’s endless hard work! Addy Wants to Fit In is coming SOON!

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