3 Questions and 3 Sentence Starters with Steve Antony

Hi, Steve Antony! I hope you're having a terrific Thursday. Thanks for dropping by to answer my questions and finish my sentences. 

The jacket illustration for Betty Goes Bananas always makes me laugh. If there was a thought bubble above Betty’s head, what would it say? 

Steve Antony: I actually have no idea! I guess she would be thinking something like, “I love my pink bow.”

Illustration credit: Steve Antony 

Please take us through the process of creating one of the illustrations for Betty Goes Bananas. 

Steve Antony: I approached all of the drawings for Betty in much the same way. They began with really rough sketches, until I found what I was looking for: a tempestuous, yet adorable, character that was both relatable and believable. 

Every line of emotion had to be just right in order to convey exactly what Betty is feeling throughout the book - frustration, anger, desperation, glee, exasperation, curiosity.

Betty is full of life, so I wanted my mark-making to reflect that. I used bold outlines to make Betty pop off the page, and I used Photoshop to brightly colour her in. The textured background on each page is banana paper, of course!

Four of Steve's rough drawings

Donna Kouri always makes me Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding for my birthday. Just typing those words makes me wish today were my birthday. Yum!

How do you like your bananas? Fried? Dipped in chocolate? In a muffin? :) 

Steve Antony: A banana split with melted chocolate drizzled all over it!

Please finish these sentence starters: 

*Reading is good for the soul.

*Picture books are not always just for kids.

*Mr. Schu, you should have asked me if I know any real life Betty’s. I do.

I am giving away one copy of Betty Goes Bananas. 

Rules for the Giveaway 

1. It will run from 12/4 to 11:59 p.m. on 12/6. 

2. You must be at least 13. 

3. If you win, please pay it forward. 

Borrow Betty Goes Bananas from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.