The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Hunter Liguore, Glenda Sburelin, and Where Are You Going Butterfly?
Hunter Liguore is an award-winning writer, conservationist, and historian, whose work has been translated in Arabic, Brazilian-Portuguese, Chinese, French, German, Italian, and in India (multi).
She’s the author of The Whole World Inside Nan's Soup, illustrated by Vikki Zhang(2021) and The Modern Art of War: Sun Tzu’s Hidden Path to Peace and Wholeness (2024). Her unique writing explores unity and connection with all people, reciprocal relationships with the natural world, and kindness and empathy for all, without exception. She’s a professor at Lesley University and hosts peace walks in New England.
For information on Hunter, see our earlier interview (here).
Glenda Sburelin is an illustrator of children's books, born in 1972, she studied advertising graphics and photography. Her passion for drawing brought her closer to the world of editorial illustration for children, with about fifty publications with Italian, European and non-European publishers. At the same time, she also cultivates a keen interest in artistic research, using various techniques ranging from painting to ceramics and resin.
In addition to numerous Illustration Exhibitions, she has exhibited in Contemporary Art Exhibitions and Personal Exhibitions in Italy and abroad and in Group Exhibitions of artist's books. The most significant Illustration Exhibitions include the "Illustrators Exhibition of the Bologna Children's Book Fair", the Portuguese Biennial "Ilustrarte3" and "Ilustrarte4", "The Images of Fantasy" International Illustration Exhibition of Sarmede (IT).
Glenda is the author/illustrator of Story of a Dream (Om en dröm) (2017), and the illustrator of Chiare, fresche et dolci acque, Petrarca racconta il Canzoniere (2024) by Daniele Aristarco Écoute by Paola Franceschini (2023), Seres diminutos del bosque by Denise Despeyroux (2012), Ogres et Geants by J. Trüffel (2010), and El pirata Malapata by Alonso Núñez (2003).
Their newest picture book, Where Are You Going Butterfly?, released on September 3rd.
Welcome Hunter and Glenda, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about yourselves and your debut book.
First of all, I want to thank you for your interview, I am very honored.
Thank you, Glenda. Let’s start with you. Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write or illustrate? How long have you been writing or illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate?)
GLENDA - I approached the world of illustration in 1997 after visiting an exhibition. I was fascinated by those works, the care and the quality of the images. At that moment, I felt that that world was the right “place” for me, so I began to draw consistently to look for my “voice,” my way of communicating through illustration, gradually transforming a passion into a job. I published my first book the following year. Since then, illustration has been part of my daily life and has become a profession. I set up my studio in a room in the house.
I have illustrated many types of books, from classic fairy tales to various stories, but what interests me most are the stories that address the great themes of contemporary life, such as respect for the environment and acceptance of diversity, which can stimulate reflection and conscious thinking in children.
It is great to get to know you, Glenda. Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child?
GLENDA - As a child I loved Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren: what fascinates me is her strength, resourcefulness and great imagination. Then I also loved The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, but also H. C. Andersen's fairy tales.
Pippi is such an amazing character and a fun series of books. Hunter, what was the inspiration for Where Are You Going Butterfly?
HUNTER – My life experience. The story is about a young child without a home who feels invisible—what makes them feel this? Society, the separation of otherness. It reveals to the reader that a child without a home still has a life—still has a grand imagination, and very much contributes and makes an impact. In the end, the child is no longer invisible, because they are seen for who they are, (e.g., their ingenuity, their intelligence) not by their circumstance or label.
This was exactly what captured my initial interest in this book. Glenda, what about Where Are You Going Butterfly? manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?
GLENDA - When I read the story, I immediately imagined that skinny little girl, with disheveled hair and a great desire for discovery, despite her difficult condition. I fell in love with her!
It is a story that speaks of redemption and possibility, of how an instant, if you know how to seize it, can change our destiny. The little girl, the protagonist of this book, is attracted by the wonder of two large orange wings, symbolizing beauty and creative energy, but also that vital thrill, as fragile as it is ephemeral, that we must not let slip away. She followed the wings of a dream, and this opened up, in a sequence of events, a world of possibilities.
Furthermore, on the design level, I focused a lot on perspective choices, varying the observer's point of view depending on the scene. I imagined making the eye of the person reading the book coincide with that of the butterfly, which now flies up and now down. This allowed me to play with perspective planes, making the illustrations more dynamic. Sometimes, to create certain shots, I physically built small scenes using scissors, glue and cardboard, which I then reproduced through drawing.
Wow, your connection with, and joy in creating, the little girl comes through so clearly. Hunter, what made you choose a butterfly over say a bee or other city wildlife to frame your story?
HUNTER – The butterfly will mean many things to many people, however, if you’ve ever experienced what it means to be truly alone, you might recognize the butterfly as a reliable friend (to the child), one without judgement or penalty, one that carries both freedom and beauty.
I love that image of a butterfly. I often feel that with dragonflies, too. Glenda, what is a (or the most) fun or unusual place where you’ve written a manuscript or created an illustration?
GLENDA - I have always been attracted to places that tell stories. One day, when I was very young, I discovered a building, hidden among the narrow streets of the historic center of my city. So, I climbed over the fence and slipped inside. It was a place full of dust, history, and faded memories. I will always keep that feeling of wonder and discovery mixed with the thrill of adventure that I felt entering that forgotten place. It was like crossing the threshold of another world, in another time. I recorded that discovery in a notebook, describing the light that filtered through the large windows, the long shadows on the floor, and even some invented characters that danced in the middle of the empty hall.
That must have been an amazing old house! Hunter, what was the toughest part of writing Where Are You Going Butterfly?
HUNTER – I very much take my time to consider how the book will be dedicated. It can take many months to sit with this, ruminating and opening authentically to a series of words that does not create duality or judgement, but equanimity, and maybe can offer an energetic imprint of oneness and joy to carry the book wherever it goes. In some cases, it is never read; other times, it is the very first impression. So do check it out!
Dedicated to the helping-hands, serving, caring, and nourishing
others like beautiful butterflies, so that all children and their
caregivers may have a home that’s safe, secure, and nurtured
with dignity and respect.
—H.L.
That is so powerful! I can see why it takes time. Glenda, as an author/illustrator and an illustrator, do you prefer either format? What’s the hardest part of illustrating picture books?
GLENDA - As a child, I was very shy and taciturn and what made me feel at ease was telling and exploring the reality around me through drawing. So, drawing for me has always been about communicating emotions and telling stories. Images, through their visual grammar, are the means I prefer to move with.
I think the most difficult part, even if I consider it the most engaging, is the initial planning, when you look for the right key to tell that given story. It is a delicate path in which you make precise choices that determine the language, the tone that is given to that book. Placing illustrations alongside a text means representing its meanings without being didactic, but rather adding parallel narrative contents, both in a figurative and plastic way.
You accomplish this so well! I love your illustrations. Hunter, did anything surprise or amaze you when you first got to see Glenda’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?
Text © Hunter Liguore, 2024. Image © Glenda Sburelin. 2024.
HUNTER – Glenda’s work as a whole is ruminated and carries a distinct harmony that creates natural bridges between what we call ‘city’ or ‘wild,’ so as to see them as WHOLE, without separation. In this way, she creates a conversation, through art, for the reader to consider their own ability to encourage reciprocal, whole relationships, which is the core theme of the story—strangers become friends and neighbors; animals/wildlife become equal and in balance with what we call our one world. Her ability to translate the non-gendered artist and evoke ‘art within art” is no doubt a high point to the book.
Glenda, is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Which is your favorite spread?
Text © Hunter Liguore, 2024. Image © Glenda Sburelin. 2024.
GLENDA - There are several spreads that I had fun making, playing with the perspective and the dynamic poses of the little girl, but there are a couple of images that communicate with the text in a profound way: one is the illustration in which the little girl is on the pier and the butterfly flies towards the sea. Here the butterfly disappears and is evoked in the orange clouds of the sunset on the horizon that draw large wings welcomed by the little girl's arms. I find it very poetic and symbolic.
The other spread is the last one, in which I transformed the coins left by the new friends in the bowl into wildflowers, thus creating a small flower garden for the butterfly, which here appears for the first time in all its beauty. Throughout the pages of the book the butterfly was just a fleeting orange trail, but in this last illustration it finally reveals itself to the reader's eyes.
Stunning. What's something you want your readers to know about Where Are You Going Butterfly?
HUNTER –The simple act of planting one white oak can create habitat for over 500 varieties of moths and butterflies—plant one and become a butterfly steward! Talk to others about butterflies; learn about their needs and find ways to contribute to their balance and harmony—every small effort matters. Free up the use of pesticides on lawns/trees/flowers, which in any form kill all insects including pollinators, like the butterfly, as well as cause harm to people and our shared world.
GLENDA - A curiosity that I would like to tell is my approach to the study of the main character, through the three-dimensional creation of it: when I start a new book, after having studied the character in pencil, I create a prototype in self-hardening clay or carded wool (as in the case of Ecoute). This allows me to empathize with him, but also to move him in space to be able to represent him more easily from different points of view.
Thank you Hunter, we do need to protect the pollinators. Glenda, that is amazing and so fascinating. Glenda, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Where Are You Going Butterfly? If so, could you share one or more with us?
GLENDA - Often in my books I add an element that is not present in the story, but that can accompany the protagonist throughout the pages of the book. In Where are you going butterfly? I inserted a black cat that follows the little girl, a discreet observer of what happens. That black cat in reality is mine, Pido!
I love the little side kick and it's even more special knowing it's your cat. Are there any new projects you both are working on now that you can share a hint or tidbit with us?
HUNTER – I have many projects soon to be released—in most cases, they collectively circle dignity and respect for all life, and living in harmony with each other and our world. 😊
GLENDA - In the last two years, I have been working continuously on three books for children and young adults, so I would like to explore new areas of application of illustrations. For now, I am waiting for confirmation for a new project that I hope will come to fruition, but it will not be a book.
Furthermore, I recently visited a beautiful botanical garden that left me with many suggestions, sparking in me the desire to experiment with new colors, techniques and creative paths, which I hope will mature new ideas.
I wish you both success with these projects. Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, or garden? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
The Butterfly Place Atrium © Michael Bruce Greene
HUNTER – The whole Earth is one big garden! Each of us, no matter if we’re living in an apartment or house or street—has the opportunity to create homes for butterflies—in this way, there is an underlying symbolism to the story, Where Are You Going Butterfly? By visiting a nearby butterfly garden, you can have a direct experience with these gentle creatures; they have so much to teach us about harmony with each other and our inner selves—equally, each garden, like the Butterfly Place in Westford, MA or the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium in NY, offer resources to help establish your own gardens and butterfly awareness too.
GLENDA - For me, contact with nature is essential to relax the mind, get some exercise, but also as a source of inspiration. It is a daily practice that I indulge in after work. There is a place in my heart that I visit regularly, it is a natural park at the foot of the mountain, crossed by the river and nestled in the woods, where it is often possible to meet deer and hear their bellowing. Here I collect wild herbs and many ideas for my illustrations, taking photos and sketching small watercolors. It is a place to immerse myself in, in its lights and colors that change with the seasons and hours of the day, in the scents, in the lush and spontaneous vegetation.
It sounds lovely. Thank you, Hunter and Glenda, for stopping back by to share with us your newest picture book.
To find out more about Hunter Liguore, or to contact her:
Website: https://www.hunterliguore.org/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Skytale_Writer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunterliguore/
To find out more about Glenda Sburelin, or to contact her:
Website: https://www.glendasburelin.com/
Review of Where Are You Going Butterfly?
Gently, yet poignantly portrayed, this is a heartfelt and gorgeous adventure full of kindness, nature, and the discovery of community.
Where Are You Going Butterfly?
Author: Hunter Liguore
Illustrator: Glenda Sburelin
Publisher: Reycraft Books (2024)
Ages: 5-9
Fiction
Themes:
Homelessness, community, kindness, butterfly, and empathy.
Synopsis:
As she collects coins from passers-by, the homeless girl's world is transformed when she spots a breathtaking orange and black butterfly fluttering by. Driven by the mesmerizing sight, she sets off on a whimsical chase, unaware of the profound impact her journey will have on those around her. Along the way, she crosses paths with an old man struggling with his groceries, an artist searching for inspiration, a mother and her children in need of assistance, and a restaurant owner facing his own challenges. Through small acts of kindness and generosity, the homeless girl unknowingly touches the hearts of each person she meets. In a heartwarming twist of fate, those she helps are inspired to pay her kindness forward, creating a ripple effect of compassion and goodwill. As the bonds of community strengthen, the true power of empathy and connection shines through, proving that even the smallest gestures can make a world of difference.
Opening lines:
She felt invisible
holding out an old cup
asking for change
until the butterfly—
with its orange and black wings—
fluttered around her head.
“Hey,” she called, following it.
“Where are you going butterfly?”
What I LOVED about this book:
What a wonderful opening and such a stunning illustration! It is so captivating to see the girl simultaneously detailed and blending into the shadow of the shrub, while the well-dressed towns person and fancy dog are merely shadows on the wall beside her. Establishing a stark contrast to the girl in a tattered dress, a single sock, a shoe with exposed toes, and a shoe with a hole on the bottom. It makes her situation so poignant. I love how Glenda Sburelin introduces the butterfly as an orange, sparkly, swirling trail starting next to the girl and drawing both the girl's and the reader's attention off the page.
Text © Hunter Liguore, 2024. Image © Glenda Sburelin. 2024.
As a picture book centered around a little homeless girl who feels invisible, leaving her unnamed ingeniously allows her to serve as a stand in for innumerable "invisible" kids. Panning out to watch as the butterfly fluttered "over the tent-homes" with the girl tailing behind, an arial double-spread draws a brief, but sharp, contrast between the tents and corrugated homes and the rest of city, and the way they "fit" together as a whole.
The butterfly leads the girl to an open window where an elderly man tries to thread a needle. The butterfly leaves a swooping trail as it circles the girl and heads off the page. Once she's helped, the girl dashes after it, calling “Where are you going butterfly?” This is such a wonderful refrain which Hunter Liguore's created. It's perfect for highlighting the girl's fascinated curiosity with the butterfly and its role in leading both her and the reader onto the next page. Where another refrain, "Flutter-flutter!" sets up the butterfly's action of guiding the girl to her next adventure.
As the butterfly circles a mother "trying to cross the street with her two children and a stroller," the girl immediately bounces up to help. It is stunning how adroitly Glenda Sburelin works with the "camera's" point of view shifts. I love how in this one feels like the reader is the butterfly looking back at the humans as they pace across the street. It beautifully captures the 'quick step' movement and their super expressive faces.
Text © Hunter Liguore, 2024. Image © Glenda Sburelin. 2024.
“Let me help,” said the girl.
She looked both ways,
holding the two children tight,
and across the street they went.
“Thank you,” said the mother.
The girl waved, skipping after those flapping wings.
“Where are you going butterfly?”
There's a great tandem between the succinct, lyrical text and the illustrations use of color, shadows, and perspective. Continuing to follow the butterfly, the little girl eventually encounters a restaurant owner trying to coax out a bunch of kittens. Be sure to check out the restaurant's name! And watch for the elderly man's black cat who joins the girl for the latter half of her adventures.
Text © Hunter Liguore, 2024. Image © Glenda Sburelin. 2024.
The girl's kindness, generosity, and caring enables her to find the need for each person the butterfly discovers. I think the butterfly's orange trail, which creates a heart behind her as she gains the kittens trust is so sweet and hints beautifully at Glenda Sburelin's use of the hearts and butterfly wing silhouette throughout the rest of the story. Pay close attention to her masterful, playful use of shadow and form. Including the next spectacular image where the butterfly flies home and its wings are mirrored in the glowing clouds. The cloud's reflection in the water completes a heart, whose point ends at the dock where the girl stands. (Look back in the interview for the image.)
I would love to share more images, more of the adventure, more of the ingenious ending of the story, but . . . I will leave you with a whole-hearted hope that you will check out the phenomenal images and the story's heartfelt feeling of hope and connection. It is an amazing picture book of a fun adventure with a butterfly which begs reflection and discussions of community, connections to others and nature, and our responsibilities as world citizens. Absolutely stunning.
Resources:
make your own butterfly or butterfly mask (see 10 easy butterfly crafts) or an origami butterfly.
plant butterfly favorites in a pot or your garden and see who comes to visit you.
I loved the saying in Dinotopia that "one raindrop raises the sea." If you could make an impact on someone in your community, who would you choose and what would you do? Why?
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