Erin Dealey

We’re delighted to welcome Laurie Ann Thompson to the blog today, in celebration of her latest picture book, Let The Light In / Illus. Adriana Predoi (Worthy Kids).

From Worthy Kids: Help little ones move from sadness to brighter days with this hopeful and encouraging look at a universal emotion.
 

Meet the Author: I first met Laurie Ann Thompson when she was co-regional advisor for the SCBWI Western Washington region (Patricia Newman and I were Co-RAs for CA North/Central.) A former software engineer, she now writes for children and young adults to help her readers—and herself—make better sense of the world.

She is co-author of the Two Truths and a Lie series and author of several award-winning nonfiction books, including the teen how-to guide, Be a Changemaker, and Emmanuel’s Dream, a picture book biography about Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, which won the Schneider Family Book Award and was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book.

Let’s ask some questions!

Inspiration

Q 1. What was the inspiration for LET THE LIGHT IN? Did you ever feel sad feelings like the ones in the book when you were a child? Feelings that wouldn’t go away?

LAT: Oh, yes. I have definitely dealt with feelings of sadness, grief, and even depression, both as a young person and, now, as an adult. The difference is that when I was a child, I didn’t talk about these so-called “negative” feelings very much. I somehow got the idea that we should experience those emotions in private and not risk making others uncomfortable by discussing them openly.

I’m glad to see that this seems to be changing, and it’s becoming more common to talk about the full range of human emotions. Still, moving through these feelings can be uncomfortable and challenging at times, and it helps to know how to take care of yourself when you’re feeling down.

Illustration Surprises

Q 2. What surprises did illustrator Adriana Predoi bring to the book?

LAT: It was an absolute delight to see Adriana’s interpretation of my rather spare, abstract text! I love how she conveys emotion through her brilliant use of color and symbolism. Her vibrant color palette pops off the pages, yet there is a subtle softness to the backgrounds that makes it feel warm and welcoming. And the bird motif throughout was such a wonderful surprise, too, as I’m an avid amateur bird-watcher!

Q 3. What is your favorite spread? Why?

LAT: I can’t possibly pick just one, so I hope you’ll humor me and let me choose two!

The first is what I call the “rainbow” spread. It’s where the story takes a turn from sadness to starting to find your way through to happier times. I had written, “Slowly but surely, you sense a new way, / a glimmer of sun on a shadowy day.” Adriana drew this sunbeam shining down from above onto the child character, breaking apart the dark clouds and turning them rainbow-colored.

I love that you can still see the darkness and rain and sadness all around, but the light and the color are starting to be visible, too. And the expression of hope on the character’s face as they see this transformation is adorable. Beautiful!

The second is the one with the cat. I had written, “You visit a friend, one who won’t make you talk.” In my head, I was envisioning a human friend who just sits with you and is present but doesn’t pry, but I didn’t specify or give any kind of art note. Thank goodness!

When I saw Adriana’s sketch for that page, I said, “Of course!” Having a cat on that spread felt 100% perfect, since animals have always been some of my biggest sources of comfort in life. Even though we’ve never met, it felt like Adriana somehow knew me better than I know myself!

There is seriously so much to love about Adriana’s artwork, though, and I have many, many more favorites I could rave about—but I guess you’ll have to check it out for yourself!

Take Aways

Q 4. What do you hope readers will take away from reading LET THE LIGHT IN?

LAT: My hope is that this book will provide readers with a toolbox filled with self-care techniques, thus making their difficult emotional journeys a bit smoother and easier to navigate. That said, I don’t in any way want to minimize the value of seeking professional help when needed. Sometimes the problems are bigger than our coping mechanisms can handle, and there’s absolutely no shame in calling on mental health experts for additional support.

Parents and Educators

In addition, I hope the book will provide an entry point for parents and educators to think and talk about their own difficult feelings and preferred self-care methods and share them, as appropriate, with the young readers in their lives. I see the book as an opportunity to strengthen the bond between a child and an adult caregiver by encouraging an honest and open exchange of experiences, emotions, and coping mechanisms.

Many thanks to Laurie Ann Thompson for joining us on the blog today.

To find out more about her work, check out her website: lauriethompson.com

And follow her on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriethompsonauthor/

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/LaurieThompson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurieannthompson/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lauriethompson1/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lauriethompson.bsky.social

Next up: We chat with Anita Yasuda and celebrate the Book Birthday of her nonfiction pb,

Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei A Life In The Mountains

illustrated by Caldecott-Honor artist Yuko Shimizu (Harper Collins).