Elise Gravel is committed to creating books that help children change the world

Elise Gravel is a Quebec author and illustrator who has both written and illustrated dozens of books for children including The Bat, The Worst Book Ever, The Mushroom Fan Club, I Want a Monster!, What Is a Refugee?,  Arlo & Pips and Puppy in My Head.

The appeal of Gravel's work lies in the humour, emotion and use of her own past experiences to help children be more socially conscious and better understand the world around them. 

"I'm a child myself! My sense of humour hasn't matured since I was a kid. Maybe that's why," said Gravel about her reason for creating.

Gravel spoke with CBC Books about her work. 

Why did you create Puppy in My Head, a book about anxiety and mindfulness for children? 

I practice mindfulness. I've been doing that for a few years. It helps me a lot.

I have a daughter who used to have a lot of anxiety when she was younger. She had trouble sleeping as she had many thoughts running through her head. So I invented this character that was a dog. I was telling her the same things I say in Puppy in My Head, about this puppy that you have to love and also care for. You have to love it and accept it, but also have to help the puppy calm down at times. It seemed to be helpful to her, so I thought maybe it would be a good idea to share that with other kids, too. So that's what I did. 

It's important to teach empathy to everybody, but unfortunately, I think it's too late for many grown-ups.

It's important to teach empathy to everybody. Unfortunately, I think it's too late for many grown-ups. I am hoping that with the next generation, we could make a difference, particularly in what's happening in the world today —and all the division, all the hatred and violence could be solved if we learn to think that we are all the same and we all need respect and love. We are all human beings no matter what we think and what we are like. I am hoping that the next generation will be kinder. 

I also think that empathy helps me personally to be happier. It helps me be less angry all the time. It's a mental health thing as well. I think everybody needs to learn that. 

How has the pandemic affected your work schedule and habits?

I'm slowing down. I find it hard to focus and I figured that I need a lot of downtime to walk in nature, read and dream about all kinds of stuff.

What books did you love to read when you were growing up?

I loved Roald Dahl, and I was also reading tons of French Bande Dessinée, so series like Tintin, Lucky Luke and Asterix.

When did you decide that you wanted to be an artist? Why?

I think as soon as someone enjoys making art, they're an artist. So I've been an artist from the age of three! Becoming a professional artist has been a slow progression, I don't remember making a decision about it.

What's your creative process in creating words and art?

I do both at the same time, this is the regular process of being a cartoonist. I first do my decoupage, or storyboard, which are very rough thumbnails of the illustrations with a text. After that, I start working on the sketching and the text and that's what I submit to the editors. It has to be the text and the illustrations so they know what's happening and what it will look like. Cartoons, comics and graphic novels have a very specific language. You absolutely have to know and show what's happening. Sometimes it's only in the image. Sometimes it's only in the text.

I think as soon as someone enjoys making art, they're an artist, so I've been an artist from the age of three!

I have an office and studio. But these days and since the beginning of the pandemic, I haven't been there because it's depressing. I try to be in nature a lot and go to the cottage. I work on an iPad and sketch using an app called Procreate. Generally the idea comes first. Sometimes the drawing, the illustration comes first. Sometimes I draw something and I feel like, "Oh, this character should have a backstory. Who is this character? What does he want?" Then the story evolves from the character.

But mostly I have to think like a cartoonist. I write and sketch at the same time because both are languages and they go together. They have to be developed together, for sure. 

Your book The Bat was named one of the best picture books of 2020 by CBC Books and is part of your Disgusting Critters books? How do you research the science and facts for the books — and ensure the information can be understood by children?

I use Internet sites in my research for the series. Doing research is pretty easy because what I'm looking for is specifically the most basic information about those creatures. 

The hard part is finding a joke that can go along with the facts! So the research isn't hard, the humour is the hardest part.

You have also received a Rights and Freedoms Award for your work. How important is social justice for you?

Very! I consider myself an activist, I want to contribute to changing the world. I would like everyone to feel safe, loved, respected and as important as everyone else.

I consider myself an activist, I want to contribute to changing the world.

I have a talent that people seem to enjoy, and it's natural for me to use that talent to help others. I'm very lucky and privileged and I want to share everything I have with people who are not as lucky as I am.

You have described your own challenges with anxiety and attention deficit disorder. What are your coping mechanisms?

I'm taking medication for my ADHD, which helps a lot. Also I try to exercise a lot, rest, meditate, and take care of my body and my mind.

How important is empathy to you and your work? What kinds of feelings or emotions do you hope to inspire/instill in kids through your work?

I have a lot of empathy and it comes out naturally through my work. I hope that kids will learn to feel it too: if we all do, the world will be a better place.

How do you define success for your career?

Having my books read and enjoyed by as many kids as possible. That makes me very happy, and that's success.

I also want to slow down and publish less! That's what I'm trying to do these days. I make around 10 books a year, in English and French. That's a lot of work because I have to write everything in both languages.

So my goal is to slow down, make fewer books — and relax and be happy.

What advice would you give to aspiring author-illustrators?

Read tons, practice all the time! There's no secret recipe. Also, don't be afraid to make mistakes, and don't be shy about your work. You're learning, be kind to yourself!

Gravel's comments have been edited for length and clarity. Read more interviews from our In Conversation series here.