I’ve got a second picture book coming out in January 2027, called HOW ATOMS MAKE FRIENDS, written by Ainissa Ramirez and published by Candlewick/MITKids Press. This one presented a lot of abstract concepts for not-so-sciency me. But I know what you’re thinking, “Hey Anna, what’s with all the beach images? Was that your way of avoiding the science, just like you did in elementary school? Everyone knows, atoms can’t surf...let alone barbecue!” Well, you’re not entirely wrong…
“A grain of sand.” Early on in her manuscript, Ainissa uses these words to describe the tininess of atoms—so small they are a million times smaller than a grain of sand. HOW ATOMS MAKE FRIENDS is about a group of buddies who just so happen to be atoms. But in order to explain their individual atomic behaviors—how they meet, connect, get along, form groups—the setting needed to be in a human context. So I’m asking myself, where could that happen? Where could you find a motley crew of diverse characters doing all sorts of activities? How could we go from a grain of sand to…I know: THE BEACH!
Here are a few early thumbnails and sketches to show my thought process as I tried to suss these guys out. In a later post, I’ll explain why everyone in this book seems to be wearing a hula hoop. HOW ATOMS MAKE FRIENDS is now available for pre-order for that beach-loving, miniature scientist in your life.
What would atoms do at the beach? Probably exactly what we humans do!
From the final illustration: the Oxygen guitarists.
Here’s an early idea of how Hydrogen (surfers) might break up a gathering of Salt molecules on the beach.
The final sketch for the big beach scene.
From the final illustration: Sodium manning the grill as the Chlorines line up for food.