Spotlight on Jessie Sima

Jessie Sima is an author/illustrator living and working in New York City. They grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey, unaware that they were a storyteller. Once they figured it out, they told their family and friends, who took it quite well. They are the author of Not Quite Narwhal; Perfectly Pegasus; Harriet Gets Carried Away; Love, Z; Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies; Spencer’s New Pet; Jules vs. the Ocean; Hardly Haunted; and Weather Together. 

Q: How does being an author and an illustrator impact the way you tell stories?

As an author and illustrator, I think about how the words and pictures are going to work together every step of the way. As early as the sketch stage, I try to avoid having the words say exactly what is happening in the pictures, and avoid having the pictures show exactly what is described in the text. I want them to work together and lift each other up, and the best way for me to strike this balance, personally, is to write and sketch at the same time. I go back and forth, cutting words here, adding visual jokes there, until I have something that feels good.

Q: Why did you choose to write a book about sibling relationships? How do you think your young readers will relate to Jules' story?

In early versions of the story, Jules didn’t have a sister. She was just trying to make a sandcastle for herself, which was fine, but her character lacked interesting motivation. At some point, I figured out that adding an older sibling would give me more emotional complexity to work with. As a middle child, I have experience being both a younger and older sibling, so I reflected on my own childhood experiences when writing both characters. I have been the younger sister trying to get my sibling’s attention and approval, and the older sister getting caught up in their own activities (to the dismay of the younger sibling.)

I hope that younger readers will find Jules’s story relatable whether they have a sibling or not. At its core, this book is about dealing with a situation that does not go as planned, and about shifting expectations, which is something most of us can relate to.

Q: What is your favorite book that you’ve worked on and why?

It’s impossible to choose a favorite! I love them all, of course. The one that has been the most unique experience, both while creating it and while sharing it with readers, is Spencer’s New Pet. It is my first (and only) nearly-wordless picture book, and seeing how people respond to that (and to the rather unexpected ending) has been delightful.

Q: Are there any important teachers or librarians that have impacted your life/your work specifically?

I’m going to go the less traditional education route with this one and point towards my theater teachers/directors. I started going to a summer theater camp when I was very young (5 or 6), and continued acting in plays and musicals throughout high school. Theater is just another form of storytelling, and my time on stage taught me the importance of things like character development, comedic timing, and creating tension. Acting requires empathy, just like writing does, and I find myself using those skills often. Getting used to performing also rid me of stage fright, which has been really useful when I visit and talk with schools, libraries, and conferences. So thank you, Mr. Hutch, Mrs. Webb, and Ms. Baney. This may not have been the obvious step from theater, but your guidance made an impact on me, for sure.