A Conversation with Jim LaMarche

BY Jim LaMarche

$16.95 U.S.

Daniel was tired of being little.Mouse! They’d been calling himthat since he was born. He hadn’tused to mind it, even liked it once,but not anymore. He poked atsome crackers on the table.“Someday I’ll be so strong,” hemumbled. “Someday . . .”

And then it happened. Somethingso strange, Daniel wasn’t sure hecould believe his eyes. One littlecracker trembled for a second,then lifted up off the table. Notmuch. Not even an inch. Then, just as suddenly, it dropped rightback down.

Daniel blinked. Had that reallyhappened? How? Had he done it?

Up is the story of an ordinaryboy with an extraordinary talent, atalent no one knows about but him.Can Mouse really lift things off theground? Or is it enough that hebelieves he can? Once again, JimLaMarche has mixed the magicalwith the everyday to create a bookthat stretches our imaginations andour dreams.

JACKET ILLUSTRATIONS © 2006 BY JIM LAMARCHE.

Jim LaMarche has been mixingmagic with the everyday since 1992,when his illustrations for LauraKrauss Melmed’s The Rainbabies

earned him international acclaim.Jim’s illustrations “indicate a deepkind of thinking about illustrationin children’s books,” said the New

York Times.

Jim’s first venture into writingearned him similar praise. “Thisdazzling picture book is an artistictriumph,” raved School Library

Journal of The Raft. “The luminousillustrations evoke a magical aura,”added the Horn Book.

Of his illustrations for The Elves

and the Shoemaker, “LaMarche createsa set of honey-toned illustrationsthat make the familiar Grimm taleless an odd encounter with thesupernatural than a warm-heartedexchange of gifts,” said Kirkus Reviews

in a starred review. Up is the second book Jim has

both written and illustrated.

MANUFACTURED IN HONG KONG.

www. c h r o n i c l e k i d s . c o m

ISBN-13 978-0-8118-4445-1ISBN-10 0-8118-4445-5

LaM

arche

Visitwww.chroniclebooks.com/up/ for more information about this book

SP Iknowyouusemodelsforyourcharacters—yourin-lawsfortheoldcoupleinThe Rainbabies,yourownsonforNickyinThe Raft,aSantaCruztailorandhiswifeforthecoupleinThe Elves and the Shoemaker.WhodidyouuseasmodelsforUp?

JL MymodelforMouseinUpisaboyfromtheelementaryschoolmywifeteachesin.Hehasawonderfullyexpressivefaceandhealwaysworkedhardforme.Ididusemyyoungestson,Dominic,fortheboyinThe Raft.Hegottiredofitallandquitinthemiddleofthejob.Hisolderbrothercameinandservedashisagent.Wehadtorenegotiatehiscontract.

SP Someillustratorswhousemodelstendtowardanalmostphotographicrealism,butyourillustrationsfeelmuchmorefreelydrawn.Canyouexplaintoustherelationbetweenthemodelsketches/photosandthefinalpainting?

JL Idouseacamera,butbeforeItakeanypicturesImakehundredsofdraw-ingstohelpmedecideonthescene.ThenItakemany,manyphotosforeachscene.MostItossaway.UsuallyIwillworkfromtenorsophotostodomyfinalsketches.Itrytogettotheheartofthephotoswithouttryingtocopythem.Facialexpressionsaresodelicate.Onesmallchangeintheeyesforexample,andtheportraitcouldgofromsurprisetosinister.ByusingrealpeopleformycharactersIgettoborrowtheirparticularquirks.Forexample,inThe Elves and the Shoemakermymodelforthelittlegirlelfmetmeatherdoorforamodelingsessionwhistlingandwhistling.Hermotherexplainedthatshehadjustlearnedtowhistlethatday.Ofcoursethathadtobeaddedtothestoryline.

SP Forsometimeyouworkedasacommercialartist.Howhasthataffectedyouasabookillustrator?

JL ForyearsIdidcommercialandeditorialwork.OneweekanartdirectorwouldaskmetodrawlikeLeonardodaVinciandthenextweeksomeonewouldwantaNormanRockwell.Ididmybest.AndIdidlearntobeflex-ible.IwenttoalotofmeetingswithartdirectorsandmarketingteamsandclientsandIlearnedhowtolistenandtrytodistillalltheideasintooneil-lustration.NowIonlydochildren’sbooksandIlovetheprocessofworkingwithmyeditorandartdirector.Itrynottogetinthewayofmakingagoodbook.Thestoryandartshouldbeaseamlessmarriageandtheartshouldn’tdoanythingelsebuthelpthestory.

Daniel heard the water lapping softly against his legs. He heard the gulls

screeching overhead and the seals sniffing further out in the water. He thought

he heard the whale sigh. He felt the whale’s cool skin and his fingers tingled.

His heart pounded. He seemed to feel the whale’s blood in his own veins. And

then he felt calm.

Slowly, slowly, so slowly no one even saw it, the whale lifted up, off the

sand. Not much. Hardly enough to notice. But with everyone pushing, not much

was enough. The whale edged slowly back into deeper water. Further and further,

until finally it was deep enough to swim.

Then, with a couple of strokes of its huge tail, the whale turned and swam

away, free.

UpWritten and illustrated

by Jim LaMarche

$16.95 HC, 0-8118-4445-59 x 11 inches, 32 pages, Full color throughout

Ages 3–8Fall 2006

Also by Jim LaMarcheThe Elves and

the Shoemaker

$16.95 HC, 0-8118-3477-8Ages 3–8

IRA Teachers’ Choice

“…this timeless tale will leave readers suffused with the pleasure of seeing

gifts received and appreciated.”— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

SP WhatinspiredyoutocreateUp?Didthebookbeginwiththesetting?ThecharacterofMouse?Thetelekineticability?

JL AhotsoakinthetubwastheinspirationforUp.OncethehouseissettleddownintheeveningIenjoyalonghotbath.WithmyfootworkingthehotwaterIslowlysimmermyselfintoastateofcompleterelaxation,ormaybedelirium.I’lldosomereadingandevenrevisitdesignorstoryproblemsI’veworkedonthatday.OnenightinthetubtheideaforUpcametomeprettymuchinarushofimages.Thesoapinmyhandstartedthelevita-tionideaandthenitalltumbledtogether,theboyfromafishingfamily,theolderbrother,theboy’sgrowingpower,andthefinalwhalerescue.Usuallymyideastaketimetoevolve,lotsoftime.Ittookmeatleastayeartofigureoutthetitle.JustonelittleUp.ThankGodIdon’tgetpaidbytheword.

SP Upisverymuchacoming-of-agestory—inthiscase,Mousegainstherespectofhisfatherandadmittancetothegrown-upworldofthefisherman.Doyourecallasimilarepiphanyforyouoryoursons?Amomentwhenyouortheyseemedtogrowupinanin-stant?

JL TherewasneverjustonethresholdIcrossedinbecominganadult.TherehavebeenmanyandIthinkI’mstillcrossingthem.RecentlyIwatchedtwoofmysonsclimba200-footrockwall.Takingturnstheycarefullybelayedeachotherupthegraniteface.AsIyelledunrequestedanduninformedadvicefromtheground,mysoncamebackwith,“Dad,pleasebequiet—Ineedtoconcentrate.”Lettinggo,andoccasionallykeepingmymouthshut,isoneofmylatestadultchallenges.

SP BothThe RaftandUp,thetwobooksyouhavewrittenaswellasillustrated,areaboutboyswho,eventhoughtheyarepartoflovingfamilies,feelthemselvesonthe“outside,”untiltheyfindthemselvesthroughthecourseofthestory.Canyoutalkaboutyourownyouthfulfeelingsofbe-inganoutsider?

JL Ineverquitefeltlikeanoutsider.IwasprettyshyasakidbutIalwayshadgoodfriendsandneverfeltisolated.IguessIthoughtIwassomewhatdifferent—butIfiguredeveryonefeltdifferentonewayoranother.Ijustneverhadaproblemwithbeingalone.EvenonafreezingMidwesterndayI’dputonmyskisorskatesandjustgooffbymyself.Therewasusuallysomeheroicstoryplayingalonginsidemyhead.Ithinkthecharactersinmystoriesarelikeme;theylikequiet,alonetimetoexploreandpretend.ThesedaysIseemyselfinmyboys.Likemetheypreferindividualpursuits—backpacking,mountainbiking,climbing,piano.Wedon’tseemtobeafamilyofjoiners.

Inamoreliteralsense,Iwasalwaysan“outsider”inthatIusuallywantedtobeoutside.Thehousealwaysseemedhotandstuffy,andwithtwobrothersandtwosistersandlotsoftheirfriendsitwasoftenbusy.It’sstillhardformetositinmystudioallday.Infact,thinkIneedabreakrightnow.

SP InbothThe RaftandUp,waterisanimportantelement—aMidwestriverintheformer,theoceaninthelatter.Whathasbeentheroleofwaterinyourlife?Waterasinspiration?

JL GrowingupinruralWisconsinIcouldridemybiketotheriverinfiveminutesandtohalfadozenlakesinahalfhour.Ispentagoodportionofmysummerdayswithmymaskandsnorkelfloatingonalakelikeaturtle,barelymovingforhours.Attheriverinmyhometownabunchofuswouldswimbehindthespillingwallofwateratthedamn.Thesunwouldturnthetan-nin-stainedwatertogold.WealwayshadarowboatandcanoeatourcabinandIwasusuallyinoneortheother.Iguessit’snottoosurprisingthatnowIliveastone’sthrowfromtheocean.Waterissomagical.I’vedivedin80-footkelpforests,whichisasclosetoflyingthroughthewoodsasIthinkI’lleverget.IcaneasilyseemyselfasanoldmancontentedlypaintingwaterscenespretendingtobeClaudeMonetorWinslowHomer.

SP Inalmostallofyourbooks—boththoseyouhaveillustratedandthoseyouhavealsowritten,thereisanelementofmagic:aboywhothinkshehastelekineticabilities,themysteriousappearanceofaraftabletoattractanimals,abearwholearnstoread,abirdwhonestsonaman’soutstretchedhand,acarouselhorsethatcomesalive,andofcoursethefairytalesofThe Rainbabies, The Elvesand the ShoemakerandLittle Oh,inwhich12miniatureba-biesappearafterarain,apairofelvesrestoreapoorshoemakertoprosper-ity,andanorigamidollcomestolife.Yetthesettingsandcharactersareallveryeverydayandrealistic.Canyoutellusaboutyourunionofthemagicalwiththeeveryday?

JL I’vealwayslikedtomixthe“magical”withtheworldweseeeveryday.Ithinkmagic—acertainkindofmagicanyway—canhappenanyplace,anytime.Themagicoflove,themagicofachild’simagination,themagicofdreams—well,they’renotsodifferentfromthemagicofelvesorrainbabiesorlevitatingbeachedwhales.

There’salsothedynamicsofthething.Iffantasticeventsaresetonlyin

fantasticalworlds,atinyoystercrackerliftingoffatablejustdoesn’tseemlikemuch.Butifithappensinthereal,regularworld,toarealboy,inarealhouselikeyourown...

Ithinkafamiliarrealityiswhatmakesfantasywork,whetherit’sinastorylikeThe Salamander RoomorThe Polar ExpressorThe Elves and the ShoemakerorUp.

“I think magic—a certain kind of magic anyway—can happen anyplace, anytime.”

JimLaMarchehasbeenmixingmagicwiththeeverydaysince

hisillustrationsforLauraKraussMelmed’sThe

RainbabiesearnedhiminternationalacclaimbywinningthePrix

deBolognain1993.Heisthefatherofthreeboysandliveswith

hiswifeinCentralCalifornia.Upisthesecond

bookMr.LaMarchehasbothwrittenandillustrated.

UPAconversationwithJimLaMarche

SP:SusanPearson,EditorJL:JimLaMarche

SP WhatinspiredyoutocreateUp?Didthebookbeginwiththesetting?ThecharacterofMouse?Thetelekineticability?

JL AhotsoakinthetubwastheinspirationforUp.OncethehouseissettleddownintheeveningIenjoyalonghotbath.WithmyfootworkingthehotwaterIslowlysimmermyselfintoastateofcompleterelaxation,ormaybedelirium.I’lldosomereadingandevenrevisitdesignorstoryproblemsI’veworkedonthatday.OnenightinthetubtheideaforUpcametomeprettymuchinarushofimages.Thesoapinmyhandstartedthelevita-tionideaandthenitalltumbledtogether,theboyfromafishingfamily,theolderbrother,theboy’sgrowingpower,andthefinalwhalerescue.Usuallymyideastaketimetoevolve,lotsoftime.Ittookmeatleastayeartofigureoutthetitle.JustonelittleUp.ThankGodIdon’tgetpaidbytheword.

SP Upisverymuchacoming-of-agestory—inthiscase,Mousegainstherespectofhisfatherandadmittancetothegrown-upworldofthefisherman.Doyourecallasimilarepiphanyforyouoryoursons?Amomentwhenyouortheyseemedtogrowupinanin-stant?

JL TherewasneverjustonethresholdIcrossedinbecominganadult.TherehavebeenmanyandIthinkI’mstillcrossingthem.RecentlyIwatchedtwoofmysonsclimba200-footrockwall.Takingturnstheycarefullybelayedeachotherupthegraniteface.AsIyelledunrequestedanduninformedadvicefromtheground,mysoncamebackwith,“Dad,pleasebequiet—Ineedtoconcentrate.”Lettinggo,andoccasionallykeepingmymouthshut,isoneofmylatestadultchallenges.

SP BothThe RaftandUp,thetwobooksyouhavewrittenaswellasillustrated,areaboutboyswho,eventhoughtheyarepartoflovingfamilies,feelthemselvesonthe“outside,”untiltheyfindthemselvesthroughthecourseofthestory.Canyoutalkaboutyourownyouthfulfeelingsofbe-inganoutsider?

JL Ineverquitefeltlikeanoutsider.IwasprettyshyasakidbutIalwayshadgoodfriendsandneverfeltisolated.IguessIthoughtIwassomewhatdifferent—butIfiguredeveryonefeltdifferentonewayoranother.Ijustneverhadaproblemwithbeingalone.EvenonafreezingMidwesterndayI’dputonmyskisorskatesandjustgooffbymyself.Therewasusuallysomeheroicstoryplayingalonginsidemyhead.Ithinkthecharactersinmystoriesarelikeme;theylikequiet,alonetimetoexploreandpretend.ThesedaysIseemyselfinmyboys.Likemetheypreferindividualpursuits—backpacking,mountainbiking,climbing,piano.Wedon’tseemtobeafamilyofjoiners.

Inamoreliteralsense,Iwasalwaysan“outsider”inthatIusuallywantedtobeoutside.Thehousealwaysseemedhotandstuffy,andwithtwobrothersandtwosistersandlotsoftheirfriendsitwasoftenbusy.It’sstillhardformetositinmystudioallday.Infact,thinkIneedabreakrightnow.

SP InbothThe RaftandUp,waterisanimportantelement—aMidwestriverintheformer,theoceaninthelatter.Whathasbeentheroleofwaterinyourlife?Waterasinspiration?

JL GrowingupinruralWisconsinIcouldridemybiketotheriverinfiveminutesandtohalfadozenlakesinahalfhour.Ispentagoodportionofmysummerdayswithmymaskandsnorkelfloatingonalakelikeaturtle,barelymovingforhours.Attheriverinmyhometownabunchofuswouldswimbehindthespillingwallofwateratthedamn.Thesunwouldturnthetan-nin-stainedwatertogold.WealwayshadarowboatandcanoeatourcabinandIwasusuallyinoneortheother.Iguessit’snottoosurprisingthatnowIliveastone’sthrowfromtheocean.Waterissomagical.I’vedivedin80-footkelpforests,whichisasclosetoflyingthroughthewoodsasIthinkI’lleverget.IcaneasilyseemyselfasanoldmancontentedlypaintingwaterscenespretendingtobeClaudeMonetorWinslowHomer.

SP Inalmostallofyourbooks—boththoseyouhaveillustratedandthoseyouhavealsowritten,thereisanelementofmagic:aboywhothinkshehastelekineticabilities,themysteriousappearanceofaraftabletoattractanimals,abearwholearnstoread,abirdwhonestsonaman’soutstretchedhand,acarouselhorsethatcomesalive,andofcoursethefairytalesofThe Rainbabies, The Elvesand the ShoemakerandLittle Oh,inwhich12miniatureba-biesappearafterarain,apairofelvesrestoreapoorshoemakertoprosper-ity,andanorigamidollcomestolife.Yetthesettingsandcharactersareallveryeverydayandrealistic.Canyoutellusaboutyourunionofthemagicalwiththeeveryday?

JL I’vealwayslikedtomixthe“magical”withtheworldweseeeveryday.Ithinkmagic—acertainkindofmagicanyway—canhappenanyplace,anytime.Themagicoflove,themagicofachild’simagination,themagicofdreams—well,they’renotsodifferentfromthemagicofelvesorrainbabiesorlevitatingbeachedwhales.

There’salsothedynamicsofthething.Iffantasticeventsaresetonlyin

fantasticalworlds,atinyoystercrackerliftingoffatablejustdoesn’tseemlikemuch.Butifithappensinthereal,regularworld,toarealboy,inarealhouselikeyourown...

Ithinkafamiliarrealityiswhatmakesfantasywork,whetherit’sinastorylikeThe Salamander RoomorThe Polar ExpressorThe Elves and the ShoemakerorUp.

“I think magic—a certain kind of magic anyway—can happen anyplace, anytime.”

JimLaMarchehasbeenmixingmagicwiththeeverydaysince

hisillustrationsforLauraKraussMelmed’sThe

RainbabiesearnedhiminternationalacclaimbywinningthePrix

deBolognain1993.Heisthefatherofthreeboysandliveswith

hiswifeinCentralCalifornia.Upisthesecond

bookMr.LaMarchehasbothwrittenandillustrated.

UPAconversationwithJimLaMarche

SP:SusanPearson,EditorJL:JimLaMarche

A Conversation with Jim LaMarche

BY Jim LaMarche

$16.95 U.S.

Daniel was tired of being little.Mouse! They’d been calling himthat since he was born. He hadn’tused to mind it, even liked it once,but not anymore. He poked atsome crackers on the table.“Someday I’ll be so strong,” hemumbled. “Someday . . .”

And then it happened. Somethingso strange, Daniel wasn’t sure hecould believe his eyes. One littlecracker trembled for a second,then lifted up off the table. Notmuch. Not even an inch. Then, just as suddenly, it dropped rightback down.

Daniel blinked. Had that reallyhappened? How? Had he done it?

Up is the story of an ordinaryboy with an extraordinary talent, atalent no one knows about but him.Can Mouse really lift things off theground? Or is it enough that hebelieves he can? Once again, JimLaMarche has mixed the magicalwith the everyday to create a bookthat stretches our imaginations andour dreams.

JACKET ILLUSTRATIONS © 2006 BY JIM LAMARCHE.

Jim LaMarche has been mixingmagic with the everyday since 1992,when his illustrations for LauraKrauss Melmed’s The Rainbabies

earned him international acclaim.Jim’s illustrations “indicate a deepkind of thinking about illustrationin children’s books,” said the New

York Times.

Jim’s first venture into writingearned him similar praise. “Thisdazzling picture book is an artistictriumph,” raved School Library

Journal of The Raft. “The luminousillustrations evoke a magical aura,”added the Horn Book.

Of his illustrations for The Elves

and the Shoemaker, “LaMarche createsa set of honey-toned illustrationsthat make the familiar Grimm taleless an odd encounter with thesupernatural than a warm-heartedexchange of gifts,” said Kirkus Reviews

in a starred review. Up is the second book Jim has

both written and illustrated.

MANUFACTURED IN HONG KONG.

www. c h r o n i c l e k i d s . c o m

ISBN-13 978-0-8118-4445-1ISBN-10 0-8118-4445-5

LaM

arche

Visitwww.chroniclebooks.com/up/ for more information about this book

SP Iknowyouusemodelsforyourcharacters—yourin-lawsfortheoldcoupleinThe Rainbabies,yourownsonforNickyinThe Raft,aSantaCruztailorandhiswifeforthecoupleinThe Elves and the Shoemaker.WhodidyouuseasmodelsforUp?

JL MymodelforMouseinUpisaboyfromtheelementaryschoolmywifeteachesin.Hehasawonderfullyexpressivefaceandhealwaysworkedhardforme.Ididusemyyoungestson,Dominic,fortheboyinThe Raft.Hegottiredofitallandquitinthemiddleofthejob.Hisolderbrothercameinandservedashisagent.Wehadtorenegotiatehiscontract.

SP Someillustratorswhousemodelstendtowardanalmostphotographicrealism,butyourillustrationsfeelmuchmorefreelydrawn.Canyouexplaintoustherelationbetweenthemodelsketches/photosandthefinalpainting?

JL Idouseacamera,butbeforeItakeanypicturesImakehundredsofdraw-ingstohelpmedecideonthescene.ThenItakemany,manyphotosforeachscene.MostItossaway.UsuallyIwillworkfromtenorsophotostodomyfinalsketches.Itrytogettotheheartofthephotoswithouttryingtocopythem.Facialexpressionsaresodelicate.Onesmallchangeintheeyesforexample,andtheportraitcouldgofromsurprisetosinister.ByusingrealpeopleformycharactersIgettoborrowtheirparticularquirks.Forexample,inThe Elves and the Shoemakermymodelforthelittlegirlelfmetmeatherdoorforamodelingsessionwhistlingandwhistling.Hermotherexplainedthatshehadjustlearnedtowhistlethatday.Ofcoursethathadtobeaddedtothestoryline.

SP Forsometimeyouworkedasacommercialartist.Howhasthataffectedyouasabookillustrator?

JL ForyearsIdidcommercialandeditorialwork.OneweekanartdirectorwouldaskmetodrawlikeLeonardodaVinciandthenextweeksomeonewouldwantaNormanRockwell.Ididmybest.AndIdidlearntobeflex-ible.IwenttoalotofmeetingswithartdirectorsandmarketingteamsandclientsandIlearnedhowtolistenandtrytodistillalltheideasintooneil-lustration.NowIonlydochildren’sbooksandIlovetheprocessofworkingwithmyeditorandartdirector.Itrynottogetinthewayofmakingagoodbook.Thestoryandartshouldbeaseamlessmarriageandtheartshouldn’tdoanythingelsebuthelpthestory.

Daniel heard the water lapping softly against his legs. He heard the gulls

screeching overhead and the seals sniffing further out in the water. He thought

he heard the whale sigh. He felt the whale’s cool skin and his fingers tingled.

His heart pounded. He seemed to feel the whale’s blood in his own veins. And

then he felt calm.

Slowly, slowly, so slowly no one even saw it, the whale lifted up, off the

sand. Not much. Hardly enough to notice. But with everyone pushing, not much

was enough. The whale edged slowly back into deeper water. Further and further,

until finally it was deep enough to swim.

Then, with a couple of strokes of its huge tail, the whale turned and swam

away, free.

UpWritten and illustrated

by Jim LaMarche

$16.95 HC, 0-8118-4445-59 x 11 inches, 32 pages, Full color throughout

Ages 3–8Fall 2006

Also by Jim LaMarcheThe Elves and

the Shoemaker

$16.95 HC, 0-8118-3477-8Ages 3–8

IRA Teachers’ Choice

“…this timeless tale will leave readers suffused with the pleasure of seeing

gifts received and appreciated.”— Kirkus Reviews, starred review