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16 Ontario School Library Association …continued from page 15 What were your favourite picture books when you were growing up? What made them your favourites? I am sure I had loads of favourites but I do remember loving various Dr. Seuss and similar picture books. Re-reading them to my son now, I remember the fascination I would have with certain images. I loved the dog party scene at the end of Go Dog Go, as it is so full of tiny things to study and find. I loved Bartholomew Cubbins and Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose because they were so imaginative and odd. On Beyond Zebra was just so bizarre and hilarious to me then. I loved CDB! by William Steig for its puzzles to figure out. My brother had a wonderful Richard Scarry collection that I just loved. Later on I adored all the Beverly Cleary books because I could so relate to Ramona. Who has had the greatest influence on your work? How and why have they influenced you? Hmm, that is a good question. My mum for being my dear mum. My dad because he read me lots and lots of books. He also travelled to Japan for work often and would bring me home amazing cute stickers and things that I am sure influenced my style. We would go for long walks together with the dog and watch Loony Tunes on Sundays--just having fun together. My brother too because he is seven years older and was so cool to me as a little kid. He went to OCAD first and I got to watch his work progress. In your biography on the Kids Can Press website, you disclose that in another life you might like to be a fabric designer, a librarian, or even a small-town cafe owner. What would you like best about each of these alternate-life careers? Being a fabric designer would quench my love of pattern and repeats as well my love of fabric, crafts and sewing. I worked for ten years at the CBC as a library assistant/researcher so I just adore that environment--keeping all the books organized and doing circulation. I hope to one day get back into libraries. Being a café owner would be so nice, because I love the idea of creating a cozy place in which to serve people comforting hot drinks. My day revolves around my morning coffee and afternoon tea; it's important to me! A happy ritual of sorts. Has the work of an illustrator changed during the 15 years since you started freelancing? If so, what are the worst and best aspects of those changes? It has changed and grown, with all the Internet outlets to show work creating quite a saturated environment, but that can be good too. It can be overwhelming to see all that is out there from all over the world, but I try not to get too outward looking and trust that I just need to keep plodding away in my little studio and do what I do. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and for giving all of those shapes from the mathematics curriculum a chance to show off their dramatic talents. z