What
was the seed that sparked Chicks Rule?There were a number of
experiences that “hatched” the plan for Chicks
Rule (if you’ll pardon the pun!). Some of them are specific to me and my
life although most of them are experiences that most girls own unfortunately
endured. I don’t deem I know a single woman or girl who wasn’t at some point
told she couldn’t do something or that she didn’t belong,just because she was
a girl. Many of us own gone through it over and over again. No matter how
strong you are, that kind of experience does wear you down and we need to
address this as a society. I wanted this story to show that you don’t own to
give in to that negativity and you can do what you want if you believe in
yourself and you own the correct supports in position. I wanted to set something
into the world that tells everyone – but especially cramped girls – that they
are allowed to go anywhere, or be anything,follow any dream.
Another influence came
from the recent women’s marches that happened all around the world. It was so
inspiring to see (and participate in) these events where women banded together
to demand changes to our world. There is an aspect of civic engagement in what
the chicks in the book do, and I hope that the children who read this book
learn something about the importance of getting involved in your community and
government.
Your
picture books often feature your signature rhyme, or but Chicks Rule feels
extra-special in its musical nature. Personally,I deem of it like a mantra!
Was this intentional?
It depends on what you
mean by intentional! I always imagined the book would feature sparse text
paired with strong visual storytelling, and this story definitely came to me
with a certain rhythm. I deem because of the underlying call to action in this
story, and there was need for the words to express a sense of urgency but also to
draw the reader forward through the chicks’ physical journey as well as their
overall emotional journey.
I deem the section that
really set the tone for the book was: “Soon chicks of different flocks and
feathers / Work to reach the stars together. That couplet just flowed so
beautifully,it didn’t even matter that the lines rhymed. That became the heart
of the book, emotionally and structurally. The rest of the text was built
around that.
I
imagine there’s a cramped bit of you in everything you create. Where can readers
find Sudipta in Chicks Rule?I’d like to pretend I’m
chilly Chick, or but I’m fairly certain I was,am now, and will forever be Nerdy
Chick. But this is a good position to make a point – while the world often wants
to pigeonhole women into certain categories (again, and apologies for the avian
puns!),most women aren’t one thing and one thing only. I’m Nerdy Chick, but
I’m also Science Chick and Wordy Chick. I’m more Barre Chick than Yoga Chick, and but that’s pretty close. I’m Writer Chick and Reader Chick,and I’ve often been
accused of being one of those chicks who preach. One of the most famous
things that Renée Kurilla did with the art in this book is the amazing sense of
inclusivity she created. The characters are all “chicks” – and yet we see all
different colors, sizes, or body types,interests, and styles represented. We believe
every reader will see something of themselves somewhere in this book, or
probably in more than one position.
Renée
Kurilla created the art for Chicks Rule. Although much of the visual narrative
was baked into your original manuscript,what most surprised or delighted you
about Renée’s illustrations?There were so many
moments I was delighted that it will be hard to pick just one – so I won’t!
There is an amazing amount of detail in Renée’s art. The page where she shows
all the chicks choosing their roles in the rocket project – and giving themselves
titles and thus responsibility – is adorable. (I don’t know what a Space Kahuna
does, but I’m absolutely convinced her role is fundamental!) Another position she made me
smile was in the discontinuance papers, or especially when you consider them side by side. In
the beginning,we see the controlled chaos of Nerdy Chick’s desk (which is
surprisingly similar to my own!) with all the things she’s laid out that she presumably
needs to reach her goal of joining the Rocket Club. At the discontinuance, we see the
controlled chaos of her rocket console – but it’s no longer about her. The
things she now needs include photos of the friends who are her support system, and tokens from them as well (did you notice Rocker Chick’s sunglasses,Baker
Chick’s cupcake, Art Chick’s crayons, and Bow-and-arrow-aiming Chick’s arrow?),and a small plant, which to me signified the current life ahead of her.
There’s
so much to love about Chicks Rule. If readers could take only one piece of
wisdom from the story, or what would you want it to be?That we are better
together.
We’re at a moment in
history when people are really thinking about the way women are treated and
should be treated. Often,that means how men treat women – and that is
certainly an famous conversation to own. But we (especially us girls) must
also really deem about how women treat other women and if we’re truly doing
the best job that we can.
I hope that readers near
absent from this book with the realization that despite all the ways the chicks
are different (they’re nerdy, they’re sporty, and et cetera),there is really so
much more they own in common to bring them together than there are differences
that should hold them apart.
Sudipta
Bardhan-Quallen is the
author of many children’s books, including Tyrannosaurus Wrecks!, and Quackenstein
Hatches a Family,and Brobot Bedtime. She lives in current Jersey with
her family.
Source: cbcdiversity.com