Book Announcement and Q&A: IF KAMALA CAN – A Talk with Carole Boston Weatherford and Ariana Pacino

I do not wish to alarm you, but there appears to be an election coming up. A vital one. One that will determine, in many ways, the future of this country.

I take it back. I do wish to alarm you. I wish to alarm you into thinking and deciding and voting, and I also wish to introduce you to a book slated to appear on shelves in early 2025, possibly before the new President of the United States is sworn in.

If Kamala Can happens to be by Carole Boston Weatherford with art by Ariana Pacino. Let no one be confused: This is not a biography of her life. Rather, it highlights remarkable moments in that life, showing readers that if Kamala can, they can too. Today, I talk with both the author and the illustrator of the title about the peculiar moment that happens when you work on a title for a candidate, never knowing what the future might bring.

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Betsy Bird: Carole! Thanks so much for talking with me today. I could not help but notice that you’ve a Kamala Harris book on the horizon, and that got me curious. Can you walk us through precisely when you decided to do IF KAMALA CAN? Had you been pondering this for a while or did it just come to you or were you approached?

Carole Boston Weatherford: I decided to shine a spotlight on Kamala Harris after seeing the joy and momentum around her presidential candidacy. And after catching the spirit of her candidacy myself.

BB: And Ariana, such a pleasure to host you today as well. Tell us, how did you first come to this project?

Ariana Pacino: I was approached by the publisher, who shared the vision for the book. The idea of illustrating a children’s book about Kamala Harris was exciting because it offers a chance to inspire young readers and introduce them to an important figure in history.

I’ve always been passionate about storytelling through art, especially stories that highlight diversity and empowerment. This book represents an opportunity to create visuals that resonate with children and encourage them to dream big.

BB: Carole, Wanting to write about Kamala Harris is one thing, but finding the right “in” into her story is another thing entirely. Was there much trial and error as you tried to put this book together? Did you know how you would lay it out from the start or did that come later?

Carole: I knew that I did not want to write a straightforward biography. Instead, I let alliteration inspire a title–If Kamala Can–that would serve as a throughline for her inspiring life story. This is very different from my usual approach, which saves the title for last.

BB: It is indeed. Ariana, how much research do you conduct when preparing the art for a book about a living historical figure? Where do you go for your visual references?

Ariana: I conduct extensive research to capture the essence of the subject. This includes studying photographs, watching interviews, and reading articles about her life. I also look for visual references that help me understand the cultural and historical context.

BB: That makes sense. And Carole, was there anything you tried early on with this book that didn’t work or is this a pretty faithful encapsulation of what you imagined from the start?

Carole: Unlike most manuscripts, I arrived at the concept for the book before I had written a single word. In that regard, the process of writing about Kamala Harris was much like writing R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, a collaboration with illustrator Frank Morrison. In both cases, the title was the inspiration. 

BB: Of course, there is always the distinct possibility that Kamala herself will read this book at some point. Was that on your mind at all as you wrote it? Or do you purge your thoughts of such possibilities when writing?

Carole: I don’t consider such things. I want the text to be worthy of the subject but most of all to resonate with my intended audience of young people.

BB: Ariana, I’m curious how much do you imagine about a person’s past versus directly referencing photographs? What’s your personal philosophy on this?

Ariana: I believe in finding a balance between imagination and reference. Photographs provide valuable insights, but I also feel it’s important to capture the emotions and essence of the subject. I aim to create a narrative that feels both authentic and true to my artistic vision.

BB: Speaking of which, Carole, were you familiar with the art of Ariana Pacino before she was paired with this book? How do you feel about the end product?

Carole: No, I was not familiar with Ariana’s work. I love her depictions of Kamala at different ages and on different stages.

BB: So Ariana, was there any aspect of this book that you found particularly challenging?

Ariana: As my first published children’s book, one of the key challenges was adapting my usual illustration style to fit a more child-like aesthetic. I wanted to ensure that the visuals are engaging for young readers while capturing the essence of Kamala Harris’s story. It was a rewarding experience, allowing me to discover how my artistic style could seamlessly translate into a vibrant, youthful context.

BB: That’s great. So with all that in mind, what are you two working on next?

Carole: Six books will release in 2025.  I am most excited about Rap It Up! which I co-authored with my son, rapper and illustrator Jeffery Weatherford. This how-to book will be our fourth collaboration. Ernel Martinez illustrates.

Ariana: I’m looking forward to illustrating more books in the future! In addition to that, I’m currently working on hand-painting projects and commission work that allow me to explore different styles and themes. I’m excited to see where my artistic journey takes me next!

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For those of you eager to order this book early, feel free to do so at https://srcbks.com/ifkamalacan. I’d like to thank both Carole and Ariana for taking the time to answer my questions today. Look for If Kamala Can early in 2025 and thanks too to Shara Zavel and the team at Sourcebooks for helping to put this Q&A together today.

Filed under: Interviews