★ Reminiscent of Junie B. Jones. Illustrations by Ogawa evoke Raina Telgemeier vibes and bring funny scenes of this charming read by Button to vivid life.”
Publishers Weekly, starred review
In Brianna Banana: Helper of the Day, nine-year old Brianna is convinced she will finally make a friend in her class if she is chosen to be classroom helper, but someone else is picked instead! Hear from illustrator Suharu Ogawa on how she brought the characters of Brianna Banana to life.
Where did you draw inspiration from for the illustrations for Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day? Did your own experiences help bring the characters to life on the page?
One of the characters I resonated with was Rumi. When I first read the manuscript and learned that there was a girl named Rumi, a common Japanese name, and that she had recently moved to a new country, I immediately thought of my family who moved to the States back in the 1990s. I was already 18 years old, but my little brother and sister were around 10 and 15, and even though they were older than Rumi in this book, they went to a new school in a new country without knowing much English. They were just as nervous and a little quiet as Rumi at first, but eventually they found their own best friend like Brianna who was so caring, super energetic and fun! Rumi’s character is based on my little sister Ayumi when she was Rumi’s age (even the haircut)!
Do you have a favorite illustration from the book? The illustrations are all so cute!
It is without a doubt the one where Brianna screams “Poop face!” She is so hilarious!
What does your process look like when creating art for a book? What illustration techniques did you use?
Even though all the images were created digitally, I started with a pencil on loose papers, especially the character sketches. I love seeing all the loose sketches all at the same time on a big table. I drew Brianna dressed in different clothes, making different faces (like when she screams “Poop face!”) and doing different actions. I did the same for all the characters. Some of the cheese girls don’t have names in the story (other than Kinsley and Claire), but I have named the rest. There are Michelle, Lara and Pippi! After I have basic loose thumbnails, I make tighter sketches digitally.
What would you like to see Brianna do next?
Well, of course I want Brianna to experience being the helper of the day. I hope she remembers how to get to the library! I know Brianna and Kinsley don’t get along well, but I hope to see them playing together, too. Maybe Brianna is going to make her own Banana Club. Everyone is welcome!
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
One of the many things I enjoyed about this story is how Brianna does a breathing exercise when she is feeling overwhelmed. Looking back to when I was her age, I wish I knew how to process my emotions using the same technique. I am a lot older than Brianna now, but I try to do the same exercise when I get upset.
Suharu Ogawa is a Toronto-based illustrator. Her love for drawing started in a kindergarten art school after being kicked out of calligraphy class for refusing to convert to right-handedness. Formally trained in art history and cultural anthropology, she worked for several years as a university librarian until her passion for illustration called her out of that career and into the pursuit of a lifelong dream. Since then, Suharu has created illustrations for magazines, public art projects and children’s books, including All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet, Cities: How Humans Live Together and Why Humans Work: How Jobs Shape Our Lives and Our World. She also teaches illustration at OCAD University in Toronto.