At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will launch you into the universe of the brilliant minds behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to The Fan Brothers!
About the Creators:
TERRY FAN received his formal art training at Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. His work is a blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, using ink or graphite mixed with digital. He spends his days (and nights) creating magical paintings, portraits and prints.
ERIC FAN is one of the internationally renowned Fan Brothers whose picture books include The Barnabus Project, The Night Gardener and Ocean Meets Sky. Eric and Terry also illustrated the Chris Hadfield-penned picture book The Darkest Dark, Dashka Slater’s The Antlered Ship and Beth Ferry’s The Scarecrow. Recipients of the prestigious Sendak Fellowship, they have received a Governor General’s Literary Award and the Dilys Evans Founder’s Award from the Society of Illustrators, and were also shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal among other honors.
Spotlight on The Fan Brothers:
Can you share some insights into your illustration process for The Darkest Dark?
Eric: We knew we wanted to stay true to the book’s setting, which takes place on Stag Island. Luckily, Chris and his wife Helene invited us to tour the island and his childhood home, so we were able to gather some great references. We even visited the cabin where Chris watched the moon landing and his childhood bedroom, which has remained almost unchanged since he was a kid.
Terry: Regarding the actual illustrations, we mainly used graphite and ballpoint. After scanning the images, we imported them into Photoshop, where we did all the coloring and finishing touches. We use a shared Dropbox folder to work on the final illustrations. Typically, we upload all the layered Photoshop files, and then we can both work on the files and see what the other is doing. The magic of technology!
The Darkest Dark deals with overcoming fears and dreaming big. What message do you hope young readers take away from Chris’s story?
Terry: In The Darkest Dark, a young Chris must first overcome his fears before being able to imagine himself as an astronaut. The first step in any dream always starts with one’s imagination, and this book is a testament to where that can lead when the roadblock of fear is removed.
Eric: I think it’s a very important message since fear often holds us back from doing something exciting or meaningful. It’s a message that’s equally as important for adults as it is for young readers. To some extent, fear held me back from pursuing a career in art full-time for many years – that leap into the unknown.
Terry: Yes, it’s a crucial message, and I hope Chris’s incredible story will inspire readers of all ages. Early on in the development of this book, Chris invited us to fly with him on a small airplane, and at one point, he had Eric take the controls for a few minutes! It was a somewhat terrifying but also exhilarating experience. It was then that the theme of the book became so resonant. Eric and I are nervous – even on commercial flights – so this was a way of facing one of our darkest fears.
How do you balance your creative visions when working together on a project like this?
Eric: It’s a fluid process, and Terry and I have become fairly adept at navigating the push and pull of collaborating. You’re also collaborating with the editor and author for a picture book, which can be challenging but very rewarding.
Terry: Sometimes there can be challenges. But I love the whole collaboration process, and it’s when I have the most fun. Everyone brought something valuable and unique to the project, and the final book was the result of all those different creative visions coming together.
Why do you think space and exploration are such compelling themes for children’s books? Do you have any personal connections or interests in space that influenced your work on this book?
Eric: It’s funny because I opened this email questionnaire just as I exited the theatre after seeing Interstellar on IMAX, which underscores my fascination with space and astronomy. 2001: A Space Odyssey has always been my favorite film, so I think space is something I’ve always been interested in. It made illustrating a book by a real astronaut all the more amazing.
Terry: I think because it just touches on a primal fascination that everyone has with the unknown. I’ve been deeply interested in anything space-related for as long as I can remember. Growing up I loved books by Issac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein. 2001: A Space Odyssey was one of my favorite films, as well, along with Planet of The Apes, Alien, and Blade Runner. I also have a keen interest in astronomy and physics, and have read many books about quantum physics, black holes, the nature of reality, and other topics. So, working on The Darkest Dark was really a dream come true for me.
How has the reception been for The Darkest Dark, and what feedback have you received from readers? Can you share any touching or memorable responses from children or parents about the book?
Eric: The reception for The Darkest Dark has been great. Chris is such a fantastic speaker, and we’ve been lucky enough to attend events and signings with him and see first-hand how he interacts and inspires his readers. At one of the first signings we did in Sarnia, a kid showed up dressed as an astronaut, which was pretty awesome. Chris took the time to talk to him, pose for pictures, and even give him some tips on becoming an astronaut.
Terry: As Eric said, it has been a thrill to be part of this incredible project, and to work with Chris, who is such an inspiration. The feedback from readers has been wonderful. I’m always so touched and grateful when I read reviews on forums like Goodreads, to realize how many people love the book. But the most gratifying experiences are like the one Eric mentioned, when the book sparks a child’s imagination and acts as a springboard for their own passions and dreams.
Books by The Fan Brothers:
The Darkest Dark
Written by Chris Hadfield
Illustrated by The Fan Brothers
44 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Paperback
ISBN 9780735264823 | Tundra Books
Chris loves rockets and planets and pretending he’s a brave astronaut, exploring the universe. Only one problem – at night, Chris doesn’t feel so brave. He’s afraid of the dark. But when he watches the groundbreaking moon landing on TV, he realizes that space is the darkest dark there is – and the dark is beautiful and exciting, especially when you have big dreams to keep you company. Inspired by the childhood of real-life astronaut Chris Hadfield and brought to life by Terry and Eric Fan’s lush, evocative illustrations, The Darkest Dark will encourage readers to dream the impossible.
More Books by The Fan Brothers and Devin Fan:
Barnaby Unboxed!
By The Fan Brothers
80 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882436 | Tundra Books
Meet Barnaby: he’s half mouse and half elephant, with just a dash of flamingo . . . and fully trained! When he’s brought home to be pampered and cared for by his very own little girl, life is perfect . . . until a new, even more perfect pet comes on the scene. Suddenly Barnaby is no longer the most perfect pet around, and his little girl doesn’t seem interested in him anymore. Feeling unappreciated, Barnaby runs away and finds himself swept up on a wild journey through the city and an emotional search for home in a tale of love found, lost and found again. In a poignant follow-up to their award-winning, internationally bestselling picture book The Barnabus Project, The Fan Brothers and their brother Devin Fan have once again crafted a heartfelt and sweetly sensitive story full of adventure, friendship and family that will enchant readers of all ages.
The Barnabus Project
By The Fan Brothers
72 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735263260 | Tundra Books
Deep underground beneath Perfect Pets, where children can buy genetically engineered “perfect” creatures, there is a secret lab. Barnabus and his friends live in this lab, but none of them is perfect. They are all Failed Projects. Barnabus has never been outside his tiny bell jar, yet he dreams of one day seeing the world above ground that his pal Pip the cockroach has told him about: a world with green hills and trees, and buildings that reach all the way to the sky, lit with their own stars. But Barnabus may have to reach the outside world sooner than he thought, because the Green Rubber Suits are about to recycle all Failed Projects . . . and Barnabus doesn’t want to be made into a fluffier pet with bigger eyes. He just wants to be himself. So he decides it’s time for he and the others to escape. With his little trunk and a lot of cooperation and courage, Barnabus sets out to find freedom – and a place where he and his friends can finally be accepted for who they are. This suspenseful, poignant and magical story about following your dreams and finding where you truly belong will draw readers into a surreal, lushly detailed world in which perfection really means being true to yourself and your friends.
More Books by Eric Fan:
Night Lunch
Written by Eric Fan
Illustrated by Dena Seiferling
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735270572 | Tundra Books
Noses sniff the air as mouthwatering smells waft down city streets, luring growling bellies to the Night Owl. Inside this elegant, horse-drawn establishment, a feathery cook works the grill, serving up tasty dishes for shift-workers and operagoers alike: a mince pie for Fox, a ham sandwich for Badger and puddings for little Possums. Mouse, a poor street sweeper, watches as the line of customers swells, ever hopeful that someone will drop a morsel of food – but Owl’s cooking is far too delicious for more than a crumb to be found. As the evening’s service winds down, weary Owl spots trembling Mouse. Has he found his own night lunch, or will he invite this small sweeper inside for a midnight feast for two? From the imagination of two acclaimed picture book creators, together for the first time, this dreamlike picture book is a magical ode to Victorian lunch wagons. Evoking the sounds, sights, smells and tastes of the city at night, Night Lunch reveals how empathy and kindness as well as dignity and gratitude can be found – and savored – in the most unexpected places.
