Great Interview or THE GREATEST Interview? The Cover Reveal and Q&A of Ratface Does Not Want to Be Your Friend by Eliza Kinkz

I would move mountains and build bridges for Eliza Kinkz. I tell this to you in one of my rare fits of honesty. Yes, I love many many illustrators out there, but (let’s be honest) there’s just something about Eliza’s work that has always stood apart from the pack. Maybe it’s the obvious debt she owes to such classic picture book illustrators as William Steig and James Marshall. Maybe it’s the fact that she isn’t afraid to put the occasional butthole in an illustration (something European picture books are just fine with, but Americans get squidgey around). Whatever the case, any time a book of hers is on the horizon, I’ll be there. And now that I know that a picture book going by the name of Ratface Does Not Want To Be Your Friend (five outta five stars on that title – no notes) is out February 16, 2027, I need to know more. Much much more.

Today, we reveal the glorious (and only slightly nauseating) cover of this marvelous picture book. But first… a description! It is:

“Ratface lived in the greatest city on earth and slept on an old diaper by the dumpster. His only companion was a worm . . . or was it a crunchy spaghetti noodle? Obiously, he had everything he needed.

Tinky Suarez slept in a grand canopy bed, had a custom stretch limo, and handed out ponies like party favors just to make friends. But Tinky was lonely.

When Tinky’s limo runs over Ratface, she decides they should be best friends. To her complete shock, Ratface isn’t interested! Maybe he just needs some sophisticated mayhem to change his mind?

Gloriously honest, Ratface Does Not Want to Be Your Friend proves you don’t have to like everyone, and they don’t have to like you . . . and that’s totally okay. A laugh-out-loud read about boundaries, big feelings, and finding the right friends, not all the friends.”

Let’s ask Eliza a plethora of queries and then (and only then) shall we reveal the cover…

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Betsy Bird: Eliza. Madame. Uncontested queen of picture book humor. It is my honor, NAY, my privilege to be allowed to premiere the cover of RATFACE DOES NOT WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND. I did not know I wanted to see an Eliza Kinkz version of a sour-faced rat until it was spread out before me. Now I have to ask: Whence the rat?  Where did this book come from? 

Eliza Kinkz: Firstly, I am so feliz this cover is out in the world as I could not wait to smack people awake with it!! 

So the rat came from my love of the word/name RATFACE. I re-discovered it while reading many, many James Marshall books during my time as a fellow at his archives at UCONN.  As Ratface was a background poster gag in many of his books.  

Marshall was probably inspired by the use of it in old comics!  With it being a popular insulting, or funny name. 

Part of me now wonders if Marshall’s playful spirit was WANTING ME to make this book… as maybe he wanted to do a Ratface book?  And NEVER got the chance! 

Or WORSE, was told no?!

Or possibly just the name RATFACE was waiting for a creator to CREATE an amazing lead character to fully celebrate its greatness?

In any case, his ghost definitely did try to get me to put a Regio Cafe Enchilada Especial  in one of his art boxes, BUT for some strange reason the archive’s librarian was not down with this tasty platter.  

NOW the book idea is one I brought with me to the Fellowship!   

As I wanted to create a picture book about characters who DO NOT END UP BEING FRIENDS!!

Anddddddd on that impossible task, I ADDED ANOTHER SCOOP OF IMPOSSIBLE with…

I WANTED THE STORY TO BE FUNNY. 

BB: Sorry, I’m still stuck back on the fact that you were influenced by Carl Barks in some way, and now I want to make that the focus of ALL my questions. I will resist, but it’s hard. In the meantime, I should confess that I have this children’s librarian-related-condition where I cannot read a picture book and not want to make grand, sweeping statements that tie it into the greater cultural zeitgeist. 

As such, forgive me my next question. 

You see, I’ve noticed a small trend in picture books (like in WE USED TO BE FRIENDS by Marcy Campbell) where kids are being reassured, on some level, that it’s okay to not be friends with someone sometimes. This isn’t all that common of a theme usually. Even with your book, I had this knee-jerk reaction as I read it thinking, “Aw, but they’re gonna end up friends at the end anyway, right?” But no! You stick to your guns! 

Was there ever any temptation (or pressure by others) to make Ratface and Tinky bestest buds by the finish? 

Eliza: I’m very fortunate to work with the kind folks at Kokila who understood right away what I was going for with this book.  As it all came from my annoyance at adults asking kids

 “Did you make a friend today?” 

STOP ASKING THIS QUESTION ALL THE TIME, ADULTS!!!

Just stick to the weather, and cookie flavors. As the above puts pressure on kids!! 

Does anyone ask you when YOU go to the DMV if you made a new friend? 

And actually it was ME who wanted to end Ratface more sweetly, but my awesome editor Namrata Tripathi kept cartwheeling around me singing “It doesn’t feel right.”  

She finally let me have my way after I sweetly pushed her off a slide, but in that moment the idea of the ending HIT ME.  

(And Namrata hit me as well with a juice box! As people don’t like it when you push them off slides, kids)

THE IDEA was that kids need something ridiculous to say to one another about NOT being friends.  NOT something sweet, or sentimental as that is too awkward whatever the age!

So I am really excited to hear how kids (and ADULTS) start using Ratface’s ending as inspiration for coming up with new funny ways to say hard things in life.  

BB: GOD, yes! That is so beautifully put (and probably why I love this book as much as I do). for the record, I just want to remind folks that for many years Namrata was the lead singer of the band The Effin’ G’s, and I featured one of their songs in a self-made music video. Moving on.

I love how right off the bat we’re told that Ratface lives in “greatest city on earth” which you got to fill with literally anything you wanted (20 points for the funicular). Now, of course, when you field questions from kids, they’re going to ask you what city it is. What will you tell them? 

Eliza: I’ll say it’s YOUR city!  You just got to look closely for all the magic in it  😀

BB:Smarty.

If I am a bad Betsy and I go to the Bad Place after my death, I may be forced as to answer the question “Name the funniest joke in RATFACE DOES NOT WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND?” It would be an impossibility since there are too many to choose between (though I do love that Ratface’s idea of soothing is poke someone repeatedly with a stick). Also, I swear, if “hot robot breath” doesn’t become a family phrase by someone somewhere after reading this book, I’ll eat my smelly meatball. 

But here’s the thing, surely there were jokes you wanted to include and couldn’t for one reason or another. 

Can you tell us what any of them might have been? 

Eliza: You’re the baddest Betsy  I know!

Now the toughest one I let go of was the below line…

I was given expert advice that it may not sit well with everyone…

to constantly explain constipation.. 

to 24 kindergarteners for the rest of the week. 

BB; I am constipated and enraged that this was not included in the final version. I am also literally writing my editor right now about how much I need to do a book with you someday.

So you dedicate the book to James Marshall and there are a couple moments when Tinky takes on a kind of George & Martha look (something about the teeth coming out of her mouth while the mouth is closed). 

Was that conscious or have you just internalized your Marshall-isms? And what is it about him that you like so much? 

Eliza: Totally not surprising that I absorbed some hippos in my time! Especially since Ratface started its stupendous growth while surrounded by Marshall’s archives.

And you know, I do feel a real kinship to him as a true mentor!  Our career paths are incredibly similar with being kooky outcasts from Texas towns, who turned sorrow into deeply funny illustrations and words for children.

Also “What is there NOT to like about Marshall?!”  is the bigger question. 

He has had such a humongous effect on so many of us current picture book creators!  Snarky with heart, epic side eyes, and as Sendak said

“He’s a rarity among all of us, in that he has genuine comic spirit.”

I’m actually about to visit the William Steig archive at UPENN,  so I’m curious what picture book will emerge from that! 

But I thing I know….

(No need to edit as I know the thing..and you will know the KNOW soon enough.)

BB: Okay, but I want to edit that line really really badly. *sigh*

You know, I’ve been debating with myself whether or not Ratface is a picture book antihero and I haven’t come up with any answers yet. 

I can say that Tinky is a fascinating, well-meaning antagonist. She’s got the same energy as the abominable snowman in those old Looney Tunes cartoons. Did you have any characters like that in mind as you wrote the book or did they just spring out fully formed from the ether?

Eliza: Honestly, Tinky definitely has a bit of my spark. (L’Artiste below being sparkly!)

As I’ve always been the type to fall in love with an exciting new friend.  

So much so I could maybe be a tiny, itsy bit smothering…  

(Sam, I apologize for calling you 12 times (and somehow leaving 14 voicemails) in 4th grade! 
I just really wanted to see that Horse movie with YOU! 

Sooooo WILL YOU?!)

It’s only in the last few years, I’ve learned what was going on was THAT I was looking for external validation, when I needed internal validation. To be an amazing friend to MYSELF.  

Ohhhhh, Self-Actualization…GROSS!  (I’d rather sleep on an old diaper!)

Now Ratface reminds me of my kids, as they are sooooo good with boundaries.  

Like Mr.Ratface, they knows what they like, likes who they are, and are goods with what they got.  

And lastly, to answer your debate, I don’t think you can be any kind of hero if you poke crying kids with a stick!  

BB: A bold stance. Finally, what else are you working on these days? What’s next for you?

Playing with Tara Walker at her Tundra playground where we are making the most hilarious JANE AUSTEN inspired satire of all times!

A GRAPHIC NOVEL filled with hysterical hysteria, goat butts, and the ultimate 10 year old anti-heroine-in-training. 

Get ready to PEE your pantaloonz, BETSY! 

BB: Darlin’? Consider them peed.

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Yeah. So. If you’re expecting me to top ANY OF THAT, I have bad news for you. However, the good news is that this reveal is ALSO ultimately orchestrated by Eliza Kinkz, so there you go. Do I owe you a cover reveal? Very well, then, I owe you a cover reveal.

Voila:

To Eliza, who poured not simply written answers but a veritable plethora of visual complimentary supplements as well, I cannot thank you enough. Thanks too to Sierra Pregosin and the team at Penguin Young Readers for helping to make this happen. Ratface Does Not Want To Be Your Friend is out February 16, 2027 so just tide yourself over until then.

Filed under: Best Books, Best Books of 2027, Cover Reveal, Interviews