The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Lynn Brunelle, Jason Chin, Review of Life After Whale
Lynn Brunelle A four-time Emmy Award-winning writer for "Bill Nye the Science Guy," Lynn Brunelle has over 25 years’ experience writing for people of all ages, across all manner of media. Previously a classroom science, English and art teacher for kids K-12, Lynn has created, developed and written projects for Chronicle, Workman, National Geographic, Scholastic, Random House, Penguin, A&E, The Discovery Channel, Disney, ABC TV, NBC, NPR, The Annenburg Foundation, World Almanac, Cranium and PBS.
A regular contributor to NBC’s New Day Northwest TV as a family science guru, Martha Stewart Radio as a family activity consultant and a contributor to NPR's Science Friday, she is the creator of the Mama Gone Geek blog and Tabletop Science—videos that make science fun and accessible. She has also written for several children’s and parenting magazines and podcasts.
Recent highlights include giving a Ted Talk, speaking at the UN about girls and STEM education, throwing out the first pitch at a Mariners/Yankees game to honor bees for BEE-ball day, and being officially named a Treasure in her hometown.
She’s an award-winning author of over 50 titles, including Haiku EW!, illustrated by Julia Patton (2024), Turn This Book into a Beehive, illustrated by Anna-Maria Jung (2018), Big Science for Little People: 52 Activities to Help You & Your Child Discover the Wonders of Science (2017), Mama Gone Geek (2014). Camp Out! (2007), Mama’s Little Book of Tricks, illustrated by Jessie Eckel (2007) and Pop Bottle Science (2004).
Jason Chin is an author and illustrator of many acclaimed books. He received the 2022 Caldecott Medal for Watercress, by Andrea Wang and a Caldecott Honor, Sibert Honor, and the NCTE Orbis Pictus award for Grand Canyon. While researching his books, he’s gone swimming with sharks, explored lava fields and camped with scorpions at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Jason loves making art, learning about science, and getting outside to hike, bike, ski and explore.
Jason grew up in a small town in New Hampshire that happened to be home to Caldecott medalist, Trina Schart Hyman. Hyman presented regularly at his elementary school, and they met when he was a teenager. She became his mentor and guided him as he pursued a career in the arts. Jason studied art at Syracuse University and began his illustration career while living in New York City. In 2009 he published Redwoods, his first book as both author and illustrator. Since then, he has written and illustrated numerous award-winning books that combine his passion for nature, science and art. Jason now lives with his family in Vermont.
He’s the author/illustrator of 7 books, including The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey (2022), Island: A Story of the Galápagos (2021), Your Place in the Universe (2020), Grand Canyon (2017), Coral Reefs (2011), and Redwoods (2009). And the illustrator of 10 books, including Watercress by Andrea Wang (2021), Nine Months: Before a Baby Is Born by Miranda Paul (2019), Pie Is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard (2018), and Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul (2015).
Their newest picture book, Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall, was released on June 4th.
Welcome Lynn and Jason, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about your newest book and writing.
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?)
LYNN – I live on a small island in the Pacific Northwest and my office is on the top floor looking over my garden and into the woods. I share the office with my husband, two dogs and two cats. It’s a gathering place where all are welcome.
I love writing in my nook in my office and I also love writing outside. I always have a notebook/sketchbook going and I fill it with the river of thoughts I have during the day. In the summer, one of my favorite things is to take the kayak out and write on the water—floating along. It’s dreamy.
I also spend a lot of time hiking in the Grand Forest near my house. I don’t write there, but I ponder and wonder as I wander and that is such a gift.
I also swim on the local Masters Swim Team and the methodical movements of swimming during practice also help me process thoughts and ideas.
I have been writing for years. I started with ghost writing and editing and then moved on to writing books, articles, screenplays television scripts and anything I can get my hands on! I love telling surprising stories rooted in science and nature. Nonfiction or fiction—the science and nature aspects seem to pop in no matter what I am writing.
JASON - The first book that I wrote and illustrated, Redwoods, came out in 2009 and I’ve been making books about science and nature ever since. I write about science because I am fascinated by scientific inquiry and discovery. I enjoy learning about the underlying principles and connections that make our world what it is. The feeling I get when something hidden is revealed excites me and often fills me with wonder, which is what I want to pass on to readers through my books.
Sometimes readers ask me if I plan to make a work of fiction. I have illustrated works of fiction, which I enjoy, but it’s very hard for me to write fiction. Nonfiction comes with the constraint of having to explain a topic. This helps me to focus my time and energy and helps me to be creative, because I have come up with an interesting way to present the subject. With fiction, there are unlimited possibilities, and I have a hard time deciding what the story should be. There are too many choices.
Lynn your office and woods sound heavenly. Jason, your enthusiasm for nonfiction shines through your books and is so infectious. Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child?
LYNN – E.B White was my first favorite author. My parents read to me. I loved Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, of course, but even as a kid I really connected with his essays about living and working in New York and Maine. I loved the whole All Creatures Great and Small series by James Herriot as well as Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. I couldn’t get enough of Misty, of Chincoteague by Margurite Henry. As far as picture books, I really loved Robert McClosky’s Time of Wonder and Blueberries for Sal. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile by Bernard Waber and anything by Leo Lionni.
So many wonderful books!
JASON - When I was around 8 years old, I discovered the books of Trina Schart Hyman and she became my favorite artist. Her illustrations had such vitality. She had a remarkable ability to capture the inner spirit of her characters. I also loved David Macaulay’s book The Way Things Work, because it revealed the inner workings of everyday things. I could open to any page and discover something new, and that was really appealing to me.
There are so many great books on these lists! Lynn, what was the inspiration for Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall?
LYNN – We had a whale wash up on our island during the pandemic and it got me reading about why whales beach themselves. Which got me thinking about healthy whales that live long, beautiful lives and what happens when they die at sea. That’s when I discovered whale falls. And I was dazzled by the idea of the end of one animal’s life being the start of an entire new ecosystem—a cascade of populations and generation of countless species of animals that broke down, used and recycled nutrients over centuries and sent them back into the life cycles of future generations. It was beautiful and life-affirming and I thought this story needed to be shared!
Thank you so much for sharing the book's back story. Jason, what about the Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?
JASON - This text has everything I love in a nonfiction book. It’s about a fascinating ecosystem and is full of weird and wonderful facts. The writing is lyrical and passionate. It drew me in and captured my imagination. Most of all Life After Whale is good story. It has drama, sadness, and hope and, even though it’s an obscure topic, it contains universal truths about the interconnectedness of being and the cycle of life.
I can see why you fell in love with the text. What is a (or the most) fun or unusual place where you’ve written a manuscript or created an illustration?
LYNN – Our family goes camping every year and I love getting up first, starting the fire, making coffee, and heading out to the middle of the lake with my coffee and a notebook huddled up in my kayak waiting for the sun to rise over the mountain. It’s so still on the glass-like water and the colors wake up and the birdsong begins. It’s magical. I jot down thoughts, reflections, inspirations, curiosities, and most of the time something suggests itself and emerges as a book idea.
JASON - I don’t have an unusual place where I have made any published art—that work is all done in my studio. I do a lot of sketching on location when I’m doing research. The most fun place I did this was in the Galapagos Islands. As for the most unusual place, that would probably be the sketches I do in airports to pass the time. I was in Norfolk, VA recently, and I had so long to wait that I was actually able to do a small painting.
A still lake and the Galapagos sound like divine places to write and sketch. Lynn, what was the toughest part of writing Life After Whale? How long did it take from the first draft to publication?
LYNN – The toughest part for me for any book is the fine-tuning and the fact checking. Making sure the content is spot on isn’t so easy—even if you speak to the experts—there are always disparities between scientists and sources. But it’s really satisfying when you get the details just right so that all the experts and sources agree. Jason’s illustrations and his process of getting things just right was such a huge help for this book. He truly made it so much better by simply being part of the team.
It's so frustrating to reconcile sources sometimes. Jason, as both an author/illustrator (one of my favorites being Grand Canyon) and illustrator of both picture books and middle grade books, do you prefer either format? What’s the hardest part about just being the illustrator of picture books?
JASON - As author and illustrator, the main challenge is in the amount of work involved. It typically takes me a year and a half to write and illustrate a book. When I’m illustrating a book written by another author, the volume of work is reduced, and the challenge is to become deeply engaged in the material. Life After Whale was a joy to work on because the text was so engaging. It was easy to get obsessed with blue whales and whale falls.
Interesting. What's something you both want your readers to know about Life After Whale?
LYNN – I want people to wonder. And to look at things with curiosity and questions. It’s always wonderful to get a new perspective and see things in a whole new way. This book specifically makes you really realize how we’re all connected through all the life cycles of living things on this planet. Plus—Blue whales! They’re astonishing. And HAGFISH! And Bone-sucking Zombie Worms! How cool is learning about these amazing creatures??!!
JASON - I want readers to know that Life After Whale is a great story that is full of fascinating facts about blue whales and the strange creatures of the deep ocean. It has drama, sadness and hope and, even though it’s about an obscure topic, I think they’ll find it unexpectedly moving. I know I did.
I think your dreams for this book will be fulfilled; it is amazing. Lynn, did anything surprise or amaze you when you first got to see Jason’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?
Text © Lynn Brunelle, 2024. Image © Jason Chin, 2024.
LYNN – Honestly, how can I choose? Every single spread is jaw-dropping. The techniques he uses, the stories his images tell, and the feeling that they evoke are all so moving. If I had to choose I might say the title page spread with the tail emerging from the water. This is how we know whales, mostly. It’s what they show us as they go about their underwater life.
I also love the spread where the whale dies. It is created with such sensitivity and respect— it leaves me breathless.
I totally agree with you Lynn. Though this image is breath taking! Jason, is there a spread of which you are especially proud? Which is your favorite spread?
Text © Lynn Brunelle, 2024. Image © Jason Chin, 2024.
JASON – I like the spread of the living whale on pages 10–11 (the text begins “She is a blue whale…”). The light on her back was particularly challenging and I’m happy with how it came out. I also like how the tail recedes into the blue making the whale look especially long.
I like this picture too and the wonderfully illustrated size comparison. Jason, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Life After Whale? If so, could you share one or more with us?
JASON - I added boats in the first and last spread to indicate the passage of time. The story begins 100 years ago, so the first boat is a tall ship. On the last spread, which takes place in the present, there is a cargo ship in the background and a whale watch boat in the foreground (it is the same boat I was on when I went on a whale watch to do research for the book).
The boats also illustrate our changing relationship with whales. A century ago, the whaling industry was busy hunting whales to the brink of extinction. Today our relationship to these majestic creatures has become less destructive (although accidental boat strikes from large ships are a leading cause of whale mortality) and more appreciative, as evinced by the whale watching tour. It’s a hopeful note, although I don’t know if anyone will pick up on it.
They will now! Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a hint or tidbit with us?
LYNN – I have a couple fun projects coming up—one is about constellations and star stories and another is a book about birds, how to see them, save them, and learn about all their cool adaptations.
JASON - I am finishing up a book called Hurricane. It’s about a family whose community is in the path of a hurricane and the meteorologists who are working to track the storm and keep people safe. It has a lot of information about the science of hurricanes, of course, but I also tried to capture the spirit of a community dealing with a natural disaster.
We will have to keep our eyes open for these books. Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
LYNN – I grew up in Maine, so Acadia has a huge part of my heart—the rocky coast, the tidepools, the shoreline, the fields, and forests. Sigh.
Mt. Rainier © Maria Marshall
There are so many National Parks I am in awe of, like Mount Rainier, Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite, The Olympics, Haleakala, Redwood, Grand Canyon. And there are so many I can’t wait to see. The landscapes and ecosystems in our huge country are mind-blowingly remarkable.
JASON - My favorite park is Redwoods National Park because it was the first one that captured my imagination and filled me with wonder. It made my book Redwoods possible, and that book launched my career. I have a deep appreciation for the individuals who had the foresight to preserve that land and those trees.
Thank you, Lynn and Jason, for sharing your journey with this amazing book with us.
To find out more about Lynn Brunelle, or to contact her:
Website: https://lynnbrunelle.com/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/LynnBrunelle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnbrunelle/
To find out more about Jason Cin, or to contact him:
Website: https://jasonchin.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjchin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjasonchin/
Review of Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall
This phenomenal picture book is a stunning exploration of the intricate ecosystem and circle of life which occur with a whale fall.
Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall
Author: Lynn Brunelle
Illustrator: Jason Chin
Publisher: Neal Porter Books/Penguin Random House (2024)
Ages: 4-8
Nonfiction
Themes:
Whale life cycle, connectedness, nature, STEM, and ocean ecosystems.
Synopsis:
Follow a blue whale’s enormous body to the bottom of the ocean, where it sets the stage for a bustling new ecosystem to flourish.
All living things must one day die, and Earth’s largest creature, the majestic blue whale, is no exception. But in nature, death is never a true ending. When this whale closes her eyes for the last time in her 90-year life, a process known as whale fall is just beginning. Her body will float to the surface, then slowly sink through the deep; from inflated behemoth to clean-picked skeleton, it will offer food and shelter at each stage to a vast diversity of organisms, over the course of a century and beyond.
Caldecott Medalist Jason Chin’s astonishing artwork enriches and amplifies engaging, well-researched text by Bill Nye the Science Guy writer Lynn Brunelle. Young lovers of the macabre will relish each page of Life After Whale. Meanwhile, those grappling with the hard subject of death will take solace in this honest look at the circle of life, which closes on a young whale enjoying the same waves as her ancestor. Additional back pages offer further info and reading recommendations on whales, whale falls, and ecosystems.
Opening Lines:
She drifts slowly. The late afternoon
sunlight slants through the rippled
water overhead and streams down
the skin on her back.
Just above her, thousands of tiny, shrimp-like krill
merge and mingle into a massive pink cloud near
the surface. With a single beat of her enormous tail
fluke, she surges upward and
What I LOVED about this book:
The stunning, realistic watercolor and gouache illustrations capture the magnificence and beauty of the blue whale swimming above and below the sun-streaked ocean, as it locates and devours a huge mouthful of krill. Caldecott Medalist Jason Chin also showcases some of the sea creatures the blue whale lives with, such as seals, seagulls, and dolphins.
Text © Lynn Brunelle, 2024. Image © Jason Chin, 2024.
A wonderfully narrative and informative text, accompanied by gorgeously detailed and illustrated sidebars, gives a quick peek into a blue whale's day, its size, and diet. With her poetic tone, Lynn Brunelle explores the fascinating fact that a whale's age and experiences can be counted by the rings in its earwax plug and seamlessly weaves, biology, chemistry, and scientific terminology into the text.
With tenderness and respect, the text and illustrations follow the 90-year-old blue whale's last day and last breath. But the end of her story "is just the beginning of another story...a cascade of new life." Though the new ecosystem that arises around a whale's death is called whale fall, the whale initially floats to the surface where sharks, fish, and seabirds begin the process.
Text © Lynn Brunelle, 2024. Image © Jason Chin, 2024.
Then, with a beautiful synchronicity, the text and illustrations follow the whale from the sun-streaked water into the inky, deep dark blue at the ocean's bottom where her landing kicks up "marine snow" and her "body becomes the foundation for an ecosystem tangled with food chains and webs, interlocking the lives of thousands of creatures." An exploration of the phases - "mobile scavenger phase" (sleeper sharks, Rattails, King crabs, Hagfish, octopus, and others), "enrichment opportunist phase" (Brittle Star, snails, clams, and Tube Worms), the "sulfophillic phase" (sulfur producing bacteria), and finally, the "reef phase" (sponges and anemones) - transports the reader through the whale fall process and about one hundred and fifty years.
Coming full circle, the ending is touching, affirming, and thought provoking. Back matter includes detailed additional information on blue whales (including a fun link to hear their songs), ecosystems, the whale fall phases, and other resources. This is a fantastic book for gently exploring death and discovering the intricacies of a unique ecosystem.
Resources:
make an origami blue whale or two or try one of these crafts.
which phase of the whale fall did you find most interesting? What caught your attention?
what other life cycle do you know about? How does it compare to a whale fall?
why do you think the information and science around whale falls is so new?
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