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The Children’s Book Review | September 14, 2018
The Children’s Book Review: Which five words best describe Eraser?
Anna Kang: mistakes – persistence – hard work – success.
Chris Weyant: teamwork – dreamer – gumption – friendship – pink.
If you had to take a vacation with one of the characters from Eraser, who would it be? Why?
AK: Eraser, without a doubt. She doesn’t mind getting dirty, she’s always willing to give you another chance, and she’s forgiving. She’s the supportive buddy that helps you be your best. An ideal partner.
CW: I think Ruler would make a fine travel partner. He’s loyal and supportive, and you never know when you’ll need to measure something. Plus, he can always springboard you to the next leg of your adventure.
AK & CW: The first person to read Eraser, besides our daughters and editors, was our younger daughter’s second-grade teacher, Mrs. Hahn. After our daughter shared the F&G’s with her class, Mrs. Hahn stopped us in the school hallway to tell us how much she loved it. It meant a lot to us, especially coming from a dedicated teacher like her.
What’s on your nightstand? Any books?
AK: So many. They’re a leaning tower of unread/to-be-read/half-read books that stare at me every night. The pile includes a mix of young adult and adult novels, including Front Desk by Kelly Yang and The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong.
CW: There’s a big stack waiting patiently to be read but the top layer is The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris, and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.
For your writing energy: sugar or salt, tea or coffee?
AK: Sugar and coffee; and sometimes, sugar in my coffee.
CW: Coffee then more coffee. Who needs anything else?
Writing tools: computer, pen and paper, or all of the above?
AK: Mostly computer, but I really love a .5mm Extra Fine Pilot Rolling Ball pen in blue on lined paper.
CW: For my art, it’s old school pencils, brushes, watercolors and Pigma Micron pens. Sometimes I’ll use a little Photoshop to adjust minor mishaps or for lettering.
Can you tell us one more thing we may not know about Eraser, your writing style, or yourself?
AK: I was a shy and awkward child. While on vacation with my family when I was 12 years old, I fell into the turtle pool at Sea World. Yep. Always the coolest kid. I eventually wrote a well-received essay in high school about that humiliating moment and it sparked my interest in writing.
CW: I drew hundreds and hundreds of sketches of Eraser before I finally created one that I felt captured the spirit of this indefatigable dreamer. I thought it was fitting that I made so many mistakes and redrew so many illustrations for a book that celebrates mistakes. Many thanks to all of the erasers who helped me on my drawing board along the way.
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Written by Anna Kang
Illustrated by Christopher Weyant
Publisher’s Synopsis: Eraser is always cleaning up everyone else’s mistakes. Except for Ruler and Pencil Sharpener, none of the other school supplies seem to appreciate her. They all love how sharp Pencil is and how Tape and Glue help everyone stick together. Eraser wants to create so that she can shine like the others. She decides to give it a try, but it’s not until the rubber meets the road that Eraser begins to understand a whole lot about herself.
Inspired by a school essay their daughter Kate wrote in the third grade, the author and illustrator behind Theodor Seuss Geisel Award–winner You Are (Not) Small have created a desktop drama about figuring out who you are, finding happiness, and the importance of second, third, and maybe even fourth chances.
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Two Lions | September 1, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1503902589
Available Here
Book Trailer
About the Author and Illustrator
Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant are the creators of Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small and its follow-ups That’s (Not) Mine and I Am (Not) Scared. Christopher’s work can be seen routinely in The New Yorker magazine and his cartoons are syndicated worldwide. As an author, Anna regularly goes through first, second, and third drafts. Chris wears down many erasers while making his art. This husband-and-wife team lives in New Jersey with their two daughters and their rescue dog. Visit them at www.annakang.com and www.christopherweyant.com.
Twitter: @annakang27 @chrisweyant05
Instagram: annakangbooks; christopherweyant
Facebook: Anna Kang – Author; Christopher Weyant
For more information, and to download a free activity kit, visit annakang.com, or download here.
This speed interview with Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant, author and illustrator of Eraser, was conducted by Bianca Schulze. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Anna Kang, Christopher Weyant, Determination, Friendship, Picture Book, Speed Interview, and Teamwork. This article was generously sponsored* by Two Lions, Amazon Publishing.