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.

Four rough line drawings of atoms doing beachy things. — What would atoms do at the beach? Probably exactly what we humans do!

From the final illustration: the Oxygen guitarists.

A black and white sketch of a group of atoms on surfboard and others on the beach. — 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.

A Sodium atoms mans the grill as Chlorine atoms line up for burgers and hot dogs. — From the final illustration: Sodium manning the grill as the Chlorines line up for food.

A group of carbon atoms create a cheerleading tower

It’s almost a book! Now available for pre-order: HOW ATOMS MAKE FRIENDS, a new picture book written by the wonderful Ainissa Ramirez and published by the good people at MIT Kids Press/Candlewick will be out 1/26/27. You can buy a copy for the future scientists in your life now by visiting the bookseller of your choice here.

Speaking of making friends—Ainissa and I have yet to meet in person, but if we were atoms, and books were electrons, the two of us bonded over science picture books several years ago through Twitter…back when it was a fun place. So imagine my delight when I was approached by one of my favorite publishers, and an art director I’d always wanted to work with, to illustrate Ainissa’s wonderful text about the smallest of particles and how they connect to make the world around us.

This was a challenging conceptual project to visualize, but one that entertained me immensely once I got going. Growing up, I never considered myself a “science kid” but I always enjoy the process and learn so much through these projects. I hope our book brings the same joy and wonder to readers once they get their hands on it in January.

If you’d like to get a bit more of a sneak peek at ATOMS, check this out.