5 books Ashley Spires would love to illustrate
CBC Books | Posted: June 26, 2018 2:27 PM | Last Updated: June 26, 2018
Ashley Spires is the creator of the award-winning middle grade series Binky The Space Cat. Her other books include the picture books Small Saul, which was chosen for the TD Grade One book giveaway in 2016, Larf, The Most Magnificent Thing and The Thing That Lou Couldn't Do. Her latest is the middle-grade graphic novel Gordon: Bark to the Future, a dog genius who must save the world.
The author and illustrator shares the books and stories she'd love to illustrate with CBC Books.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
"This book reads like a Monty Python sketch, and, though I'd give my left arm to sketch out the Eric the Half-A-Bee bit (not my right arm mind you, just the left, because I have to, you know, draw) this book is the next best thing. I love drawing sci-fi and I love drawing funny, so this book would be all kinds of perfect. Vaguely worried/stupefied is also my favourite expression to sketch, so Arthur Dent is my dream character. Oh, the ways I could draw that towel!"
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
"When I was listening to this one — I listen to a lot of books while I draw — I had to stop it now and then because the vivid imagery was so overwhelming that I couldn't remember what I was supposed to be drawing! The fantastic world with kind-eyed monsters, flying paper birds and a tiny dragon was such a delight to experience, I can't help but wonder how much more amazing it would be if I got to watch it flowing out of my pencil."
Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan
"This book left the time and place open to the interpretation of the reader and I loved the freedom in that. My imagination went wild picturing the town, the mystical happenings and the old imposing homes. The visuals were so engrossing that I am certain that my sketchbook will be filled with images inspired by this book for years to come. It was at once whimsical and full of malice, which, though it is adult fiction, also describes some of the best children's stories of all time. Perhaps that's why this book captivated me so; it's an adult fairytale with characters who are begging to be sketched."
The Twits by Roald Dahl
"Okay, I know this one was already illustrated by the incomparable Quentin Blake, but those first chapters describing in great detail the hairiness of Mr. Twit's face and all the various crud that lives in said hair makes me happy squeal. I love drawing bad guys and these two miserable people who do such miserable things to each other are the bad guy jackpot. Roald Dahl is the reason I do what I do. His dark humour and despicable characters lit a creative fire in me that keeps going with each of my projects — not that my work is wicked like his... yet."
Lockwood & Co Series by Jonathan Stroud
"In case it wasn't obvious from all of my choices, I enjoy drawing British people and monsters and this series has it all. I'd be happy to sketch any of the volumes in this series with all the horrific ghosts and misty English streets. Plus someone is always holding a rapier or a cup of tea, so I'd never have to fuss about what to have the characters doing with their hands!"