The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Srividhya Venkat and Danica da Silva Pereira
Srividhya Venkat - A children’s author and former early childhood educator, Srividhya Venkat strongly believes in the power of books and stories.
While she likes to write stories that bring out the nuances of her upbringing in India, she is also inspired by her experiences from living in three different countries. In addition, she enjoys performing oral storytelling for children.
When not reading or writing, Srividhya loves to listen to music, tinker with new recipes, and explore the world outside her window. She currently resides in the Chicago area with her family.
Srividhya’s the author of 6 books, including Girls on Wheels, illustrated by Kate Wadsworth (2023), Dancing in Thatha's Footsteps, illustrated by Kavita Ramchandran (2021), and The Clever Tailor, illustrated by Nayantara Surendranath (2019).
For additional information on Srividhya, see our earlier interview (here).
Danica da Silva Pereira - Danica Da Silva Pereira is an illustrator born and bred in the tropical state of Goa, India and currently based in the historical town of Oxford, UK. After completing her Bachelors in Fine Arts, she worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. Danica has graduated with an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art, UK in 2020.
Her work is influenced by documentaries and she is passionate about representing diversity and advocating for environmental causes. She uses mixed media including colour pencil, water colour, acrylics, digital painting and enjoys screen printing. Her favourite recent work is a non-fiction dummy book that she wrote and illustrated called Welcome to Majuli.
Danica’s the illustrator of Forbidden (10 Stories to Make a Difference) by Anjali Tiwari (2021).
Their newest picture book, Seeker of Truth: Kailash Satyarthi's Fight to End Child Labor, releases on August 8th.
Welcome Srividhya and Danica,
Danica let’s start with you. Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you illustrate? How long have you been illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to illustrate? )
DANICA - I have been illustrating stories since I was a little child. I remember illustrating my first picture book – my rendition of The Lady and The Tramp - as a 9-year-old. I have always enjoyed telling stories be it through my art or music and eventually I knew I wanted to illustrate picture books for the rest of my life. As I also work as a graphic designer and most recently an Art and Design tutor, I illustrate on the side of it. I really enjoy illustrating non-fiction because I enjoy that I get to delve into the research process myself. Additionally, I love being able to visually communicate my research tailored to a certain young age group and find a creative way to tell stories that different age groups will understand.
It's so nice to meet you, Danica. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve illustrated a manuscript?
DANICA - During my Masters in Children’s Book illustration, I was illustrating a book I wrote myself on the life of working bees. One of illustrations from this unpublished picture book came from sketches I made on a trip to Sandringham Palace, UK. I fell in love with the walled gardens there, which were absolutely full of bees devouring the beautiful flowers all over.
Sounds like a wonderful place to sketch. What helps both of you to be inspired? (perhaps a certain place, music, activity, etc.)
SRIVIDHYA - Reading, listening to podcasts, attending webinars are a few ‘writerly’ activities that inspire me. Occasionally, I break away from my writing to do other things like going for nature walks, listening to music, watching movies, and meeting friends.
DANICA - Having moved from India to the UK, I have grown to deeply miss witnessing the rich cultural heritage of India on my doorstep. It is through my illustrations that I am able to relive this culture and my memories on a daily basis. I enjoy sharing my own experiences through my work and it is what always keeps me inspired. Through non-fiction, I am always motivated to educate the younger audience of social causes that need to be spoken about and making education accessible. I also really enjoy exploring the outdoors and hence nature is a theme that reoccurs in my work.
Srividhya, what was your specific inspiration or spark of interest for Seeker of Truth?
SRIVIDHYA - I first learned about Kailash Satyarthi four years ago and was surprised that I had not known earlier about his incredible work as a child rights activist and social reformer. Kailash’s story stirred up childhood memories of seeing children working in households and tea shops. But I never questioned what I saw at that time. I wrote Seeker of Truth because I wanted young readers to know that children everywhere don’t lead the kind of lives we know. Some children do not get to play and go to school, but instead are forced to work to help their families. I wanted readers to learn what one man named Kailash has done to help these children.
I'm glad that you've introduced us all to Kailash Satyarthi. Danica, what about the Seeker of Truth manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?
DANICA – The minute I was told that the book was about Kailash Satyarthi, someone who has been in a life-long fight against child labor I was hooked. Having witnessed many instances of child labor personally, I really connected to the manuscript and immersed myself in researching the topic.
Your personal connections are so evident in the illustrations. Srividhya, what was the hardest or most challenging thing for you about writing Seeker of Truth? How did writing it compare to creating Girls on Wheels? What was the most fun?
SRIVIDHYA - The most challenging thing about writing Seeker of Truth, my first nonfiction picture book and biography, was learning details about child labor which led to several insights into this unjust issue - the agony inflicted upon young children who are sent far away from their homes, the responsibilities entrusted upon them to support their families, the abuse they endure, and more. I stopped my research several times and asked myself if I had the strength to go on with this project. I also wondered if this would make an appropriate children’s book.
Writing Girls on Wheels was challenging in a different way in that I was writing a fictional story revolving around skateboarding, a sport I was unacquainted with. But as is required with working on any new subject, I did the necessary research to make the story effective and authentic.
Looking back, I enjoyed the process of working on both books, each of which had completely different journeys. With Girls on Wheels, I was excited to write a fictional story inspired by girl skateboarders in India. With Seeker of Truth, I was eager to share Kailash Satyarthi’s inspiring real-life story of activism which began when he was as young as five years old.
I am glad you stuck with it. Danica, what was the hardest or most challenging thing for you about illustrating Seeker of Truth? What was the most fun?
DANICA - I initially worked on this book on the side of a full-time job, which was extremely challenging. Managing the workload was the hardest thing and as I do all of my line art with graphite on paper. I was spending my nights hunched over my drawing board and my days in front of my computer.
I think the most fun part was the research as it was a privilege to learn more about Kailash Satyarthi’s work. I am also so proud to be able to help enable spreading awareness about this cause with the world.
That would make for some really long days. How many revisions did Seeker of Truth take for the text or illustrations from the first draft to publication?
SRIVIDHYA - Seeker of Truth went through countless drafts and revisions. I remember taking an early draft to my critique group in January 2021, and then taking back revisions to them every other week in the months that followed (except when I needed to step away from it). The manuscript went on submission in the fall of 2022, and the contract was signed in the spring of 2023, after which my editor and I made further revisions.
DANICA - I completed around 3-4 revisions of the sketches and around 5 revisions of all 12 spreads of the final art! There are even some final artworks which haven’t made it to the final book.
Wow! Srividhya, when you first saw Danica’s illustrations in Seeker of Truth, did anything surprise, amaze, or delight you? Which is your favorite spread?
SRIVIDHYA - My heart skipped a beat when I first saw Danica’s illustrations for Seeker of Truth. It felt magical to see the story I’d known only in words coming to life with her lovely art.
Text © Srividhya Venkat, 2024. Image © Danica Da Silva Pereira, 2024.
I love Danica’s art style and color palette that recreates Kailash’s world and complements the story. It’s tough to pick one spread, but I love the opening one where we see little Kailash hearing the hummingbird story. I also like the other early spreads, including the ones where we see Kailash observing children working, which would have required plenty of research. The spreads showing him rescuing children, the global march, and the illustration with “Freedom is non-negotiable” on his arm as the hummingbird hovers over him – all give me the goosebumps. There’s much I love about Danica’s art!
I totally agree with you. I am so intrigued by her style and the colors of her illustrations. Danica, is there a spread that you were especially excited about or proud of? Which is your favorite spread?
Text © Srividhya Venkat, 2024. Image © Danica Da Silva Pereira, 2024.
DANICA - It is very hard to pick just one but if I were to pick then it has to be the one where Kailash rushes to the brick factory and finds Wasal Khan’s daughter but also saves many other children. It was a challenging one to illustrate and included a lot of research and revisions but I am proud of the outcome.
This is a really powerful illustration. Danica, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Seeker of Truth? If so, could you share one or more with us?
DANICA - The pattern that is used on the end papers is actually the light shapes that are falling on the floor in the scene where teenage Kailash sits in his shed and contemplates changing his second name to Satyarthi which means “Seeker of Truth”. As this moment was so pivotal to changing his name as well as his lifetime fight against child labour, I have used this pattern on the end papers.
Thank you for sharing this with us. What's something both of you want your readers to know about Seeker of Truth?
SRIVIDHYA - Seeker of Truth is the story of one person who took it upon himself to make change happen. Just like the hummingbird in the story, he took action when others didn’t. But he inspired others who worked with him to bring change.
I’d like readers, young and old, to know that they can do the same:
Be curious about your community and the world
Contribute your services or show support to causes you believe in
Speak out against injustices
Unite with others and take action, when needed
Remember that even your smallest actions could make a huge impact!
DANICA - I want the readers to witness how throughout Kailash’s journey, it was the little steps that made the difference over time. After illustrating this book, the phrase “little by little, drop by drop” inspired by the resilience of the hummingbird hasn’t left my mind. As a result, it has greatly made a presence in my own actions in life. If there is anything that the readers take from this book then it should be that.
I think this book will have a big impact on your readers. Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
SRIVIDHYA - I am working with my agent on finalizing a couple of picture book manuscripts for submission. I am also working towards diversifying my writing, so am exploring other genres to write.
DANICA - Yes! I cannot say a lot but I am working on an exciting new non-fiction book with Oxford University Press that is aimed at making non-fiction more motivating and engaging for struggling readers.
Good luck with your projects! Last question, is there a plant or flower you love growing, or wish you could grow, in your yard or garden?
SRIVIDHYA - I would love to have an herb garden someday. Herbs such as cilantro, basil, curry leaves, and fenugreek have medicinal properties and are intrinsic to my culinary interests. This is wishful thinking - I am ‘thumbless’ as far as gardening is concerned. (Lol!)
DANICA - As I have moved to the UK from Goa, India 6 years ago, every year my mum sends me local Indian vegetable/herb seeds like Amaranth, curry leaves and Malabar spinach. I love taking up the challenge of growing these indigenous plants in my home in the UK, cultivating a suitable environment for it. One example is a baby curry plant that my mum pulled from her garden in Goa, India – literally carried it in her suitcase to the UK. I planted it here. It initially struggled but one year later is it flourishing in British soil giving me multiple curry leaves to use in my food every day!
Thank you, Srividhya & Danica, for sharing with us a bit about yourselves and your new picture book.
Be sure to check back on Friday for the Perfect Picture Book Friday post on Seeker of Truth: Kailash Satyarthi's Fight to End Child Labor.
To find out more about Srividhya Venkat, or to contact her:
Website: https://www.srividhyavenkat.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VenkatSrividhya
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srividhyavenkat/
To find out more about Danica da Silva Pereira, or to contact her:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yetanotherbydanica
X(Twitter): https://x.com/yetanotherbydan
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