Children begin forming concepts of their appearance and how it differs from others much earlier than many might think. Similarly, they may be receiving social messages, either overt or unintentional, that certain physical appearances are more or less “normal” and “accepted,” something that can severely impact their sense of self-worth and create prejudices. In Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham’s new board book, Kitty-Corn Club: Parts of Us, readers can explore how looking different doesn’t make anyone less beautiful or worthy of belonging. We had a chance to sit down with Shannon and LeUyen and talk about their newest collaboration and the importance of addressing body image with young readers.
About LeUyen Pham and Shannon Hale
LeUyen Pham and Shannon Hale are the team behind the bestselling picture books Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn, Pretty Perfect Kitty-Corn, Party Hearty Kitty-Corn, and Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn, as well as the Kitty-Corn Club board books; the bestselling graphic novels Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever; and, with Dean Hale, the early chapter book series The Princess in Black. They have made a bunch of other books too. They are both moms of cat-loving kids, wives to book-creating husbands, honor award winners (Caldecott and Newbery), and believers in unicorns. Pham lives in Los Angeles, Hale lives in Utah, and together they know they can be — and make — anything.
Shannon and LeUyen, thank you so much for joining us. Let’s get started!
For those who are not familiar with the adorable Kitty-Corn series, can you introduce some of the main characters of this book and what sets their story in motion?
Shannon: Kitty made herself a unicorn horn and sometimes loves to gallop and neigh. Unicorn made himself some kitty ears and sometimes loves to meow and scamper. They are both kitty-corns who enjoy expressing those different sides of themselves, and in each other, they have a best friend who just gets them.
LeUyen: In other words, Shannon and I are Unicorn and Kitty.
What made you want to bring a message of body diversity and positivity to readers of such a young age?
Shannon: Kids love animals! Talking about the different ways different animal body parts look is just fun and interesting for kids. And it’s a gentle way to introduce the idea that we’re all unique in our own ways, and isn’t that awesome?
LeUyen: Board books are so much fun for introducing basic concepts to toddlers, and body parts make so much sense! I remember my little ones giggling over wiggling their little toes, or using their belly button as an actual button. It’s a natural place to want to start when making board books.
At the end of the book (spoilers!), the Kitty-Corn Club friends help Octopus feel supported by constructing tentacles of their own. How would you advise little readers who may want to help a friend who also feels insecure about their appearance?
Shannon: Small children are marvelously accepting. The whole world is still so new to them, they just don’t get as phased by differences as older kids and adults can. My advice for the adults would be — when a kid asks “why” questions about body differences, answer them. By simply acknowledging that yes, bodies are all different, we’re communicating non-judgment of those differences, and that in turn helps kids be more accepting of themselves and others.
LeUyen: Honestly? Reading books like this is a good start. I think kids remember experiences better than words. Building empathy through make-believe characters helps to find empathy in real people.
Kitty-Corn is the third series you’ve worked on together. How did this professional partnership come about, and how has it evolved over time?
Shannon: We knew each other for years before we got a chance to work together, starting with The Princess in Black series. It was the graphic novel memoir Friends series where we really got close. Graphic novels are such massive labors, and they were such personal stories, it was inevitable! The Kitty-Corn series was unique. We created it together from the ground up, a total and complete partnership and an expression of our friendship and love for each other.
LeUyen: And it has evolved quite a lot over time. Like Kitty and Unicorn, we go through our ups and downs and struggle to find common ground, often in the telling of these stories. The books are actually a pretty fascinating reflection of our relationship. We’re both very similar and very different, in the same way Kitty and Unicorn are. Art definitely reflects the stuff of life!
Shannon, many of your books for young readers involve elements of fantasy and magic. Do you find that this is an especially effective genre to explore real-world issues, including body image?
Shannon: Yes! I learned something interesting about fantasy early on. My second novel is about a girl who learns the language of fire and can start to control it. I heard from readers who identified with the main character and told me, “I can see that the firepower is really a metaphor for drug abuse,” or “mental illness,” or “adoption,” or “sexuality,” or “feeling different.” I realized that by taking a fantastical element seriously and exploring it compassionately, readers were free to apply their own worries and needs and use the fantasy as a metaphor to inform their own struggles. I love the flexibility of fantasy stories.
LeUyen, your previous works have explored several visual styles while also maintaining your trademark charm, especially in character design. What was your process for developing the visual style of the Kitty-Corn books?
LeUyen: I’ll be honest, I didn’t put much thought into the visual style of these books. The point of these stories is not, I think, how beautiful the pictures are meant to be. They’re meant to be reflections of friendship, and consequently, the time spent in developing the books is time spent in understanding the characters. There is a life in every character I design, a spark that makes them real, a little life force. Understanding how that force manifests on the page, making that force emerge from the book and reach out to the reader — it’s what I live for.
I’ve said it before, there is nothing that can reach a kid with such intimacy as a book. When you see a kid holding a book on their lap, watching them draw the book closer, drinking in every element of it — it’s a direct connection to their brain, to their heart. That’s what I’m trying to make with all of my books, that connection.
We always love to ask children’s creators about their favorite reads when they were children themselves. Is there a book or series from that time that holds a special place in your heart?
Shannon: Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken were my favorite books in 3rd grade. Soon after, I got into fantasy, and my favorite authors were C.S. Lewis, Robin McKinley, Patricia McKillip, Anne McCaffery, Lloyd Alexander, and so many others!
LeUyen: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth Speare and The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin were the first books I remember worshipping. Picture books have always had my heart, though, even as a teenager. Illustrators like Hilary Knight, the Provensens, Trina Schart Hyman, Tomi Ungerer — so, so many. Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina remains one of my favorite picture books of all time.
Lastly, in honor of Kitty-Corn Club: Parts of Us, what is your favorite thing about yourself, inside or out?
Shannon: I love my open, accepting heart.
LeUyen: The bump on my index finger (it’s a sign that I draw so much)!
A sparkly and shiny thank you to LeUyen and Shannon for taking the time to share their work and insights with us! Be sure to find Shannon online at ShannonHale.com and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. You can also find LeUyen online at LeUyenPham.com, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. And, of course, don’t forget to check out Kitty-Corn Club: Parts of Us and add it to your family’s reading list!
Want to check out more books that celebrate the beauty of diversity? Check out our article on Picture Books on Diversity to Build a Better, More Inclusive World.
To see all of our recommendations for mini-bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
