Illuminating Stories with Aaron Becker

Aaron Becker’s work invites readers to step into breathtaking worlds where imagination knows no bounds. The Caldecott Honor-winning creator of the Journey trilogy and luminous works like Winter Light masterfully balances visual storytelling with themes of wonder and renewal. In this exclusive interview, Becker shares the inspirations behind his stories, his love for nature, and how he keeps the spark of creativity alive.

Tattle Magazine: Your stories seem to blend fantasy with deeply resonant themes. What inspired you to start creating wordless picture books like Journey?

Aaron Becker: It’s interesting what you’re saying about combining fantasy with meaning. When I was a kid, drawing was a way of making sense of the world; on the page I could escape to worlds that were safe to navigate. These places, even now as an author, act as a sort of crucible to work things out on my own terms. The creative process of book-making is a real privilege; to explore what’s on my mind through story and then share it with
the world.

TM: Many of your books focus on imagination and wonder. How do you keep that sense of wonder alive in your own life, and how does it influence your work?

AB: Parenting goes a long way on that front but I also think most children’s book authors have an age they’re stuck in and are forever operating from that vantage point. For me, it’s the moment of becoming self-conscious, around 10 or so, when suddenly I realized that the imagination was a constructed thing. I’ve remained fascinated by the loss of unaffectedness, and I think that’s tied to an awareness of wonder (and its fragility)!

TM: Nature and landscapes play a major role in your illustrations. Are there places in the real world that inspire the worlds you create?

AB: We spent six months this year living on a small island in British Columbia; the sky, the sea, the trees – it was rejuvenating and fulfilling all at once to be so closely linked to the elements. Perhaps there’s a book to come from that experience!

TM: Storytelling without words is such a unique approach. How do you think this style changes the experience for young readers?

AB: Because readers must decode the imagery without the benefit of text, there’s an ownership and a projection of self onto the page that is visceral and immediate. It’s a story format that comes naturally to me, but I’m always amazed by the different ways people interact with my books. It’s part of the privilege I was thinking about when you first asked about my work. Every reader takes something unique to them from the pages because I’m asking a lot of them. In the end, I think it creates a rich relationship between book and self.

TM: With Journey, Quest, and Return forming such an impactful trilogy, was there a moment when you felt you’d reached the perfect ending, or was it hard to let go of these characters? 

AB: The purple bird and the girl with the red marker still live with me, both in my imagination and from the response from young readers who are still discovering the books. I do have a plan to write a prequel story about the girl’s father one of these days. Perhaps in time for when the earliest readers of my books are starting their own families!

TM: You’ve inspired so many young readers to imagine worlds beyond what they see. What advice would you give to parents or teachers who want to encourage creativity in children?

AB: Hold off on judgment. Give kids the space to think and work in their own ways. A lot of times, we’re afraid our children might fail in some way and so we jump to offer suggestions and guidance. This can be helpful, to be sure, but more often than not, children just need time to discover what’s next on their own terms.

TM: Can you share a bit about your journey into children’s books? Was there a particular “aha” moment that led you down this path?

AB: After college I came across Chris Van Allsburg’s book “The Wreck of the Zephyr”. His pastel paintings of a flying sailboat totally captivated me and I decorated my apartment with pages from the book. It took another fifteen years or so, but from that moment on I knew I wanted to make something like that. I feel incredibly fortunate that it’s panned out.

Luminous die-cut companion books to Winter Light—You Are Light, My Favorite Color, and One Sky by Aaron Becker are available bookshop.org and independent bookstores across the country.