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An Interview With Local Author-Artist Lois Ehlert Lois Ehlert has written and illustrated more than 20 children’s books. She lives in Milwaukee. Her books are full of colorful collages. Her newest book, “Waiting for Wings,” is about butterflies. Ehlert spoke with The Key about her work. The Key: Two of your books are bilingual: “Moon Rope: a Peruvian Folktale/UN Lazo a LA Luna:Una” and “Cuckoo: A Mexican Folktale/Cucu: un cuento folklorico mexicano.” Talk about the hispanic influence in your work. Ehlert: I spent a lot of time in Central and South America. I also collect folk art and primitive art. My book called Market Day tells a story with folk art from different countries. In the back of the book, there is a photograph of the art used in the book. It describes the art and tells which country the art is from. Many of my other books have been published in French, Korean, or other languages. The Key: One reviewer said your book “Cuckoo” is “almost as much a piece of folk art as it is a folktale.” How would you describe your art? Ehlert: In the folktales, I incorporated some of the folk art from those countries in my art style. For example, in “Cuckoo,” the cuckoo bird is like a stick toy that Mexicans make for their children. The book has an owl that is made to look like tinware. Some of the pages look like the tissue paper banners used for Mexican festivals. So I think Mexican children who read that story will recognize the style. The Key: Your books are colorful and entertaining. There is also a strong educational component. What are your goals when you make a book? Ehlert: My goals are multi-level. I try to extend the reading range so that people of different reading skills will be able to get different things from the books. I grew up in a family with a younger brother and sister, and my mother used to read to the three of us together. We probably looked at the books in different ways. I always liked books that had lots of things in them, so I could read them more than one time and notice different things. Also, when I research a subject, such as butterflies, I’m not able to get all the information into the art and the story. Yet I feel older children and adults might like to know more about the subject, so I include the information elsewhere in the book. I designed some of my books for children who don’t know how to read yet. I want them to know what it is like just to hold a book in their hands and turn the pages. I notice that older kids study the art and the art techniques in my books. I’ve been an art teacher for children and have illustrated textbooks, so I have worked in education and art my whole adult life. The Key: What advice do you have for parents who want their children to love books? Ehlert: I think there’s nothing better than just reading to your kids. When you read to your children, there’s more than just the book. It’s the idea that you are doing something together. There is nothing as exciting as learning to read. It opens all the doors. It’s almost magic. I try to make my books look as irresistible as they can be. If you see one on the shelf, you want to see what it’s about. I am hoping my books will be an early introduction to art because the art in a book might be a child’s first experience in viewing art. The Key: Do you have any advice for people who would like to become authors or artists? Ehlert: I am asked this a lot and I say, “I didn’t choose it. It chose me.” Sometimes there’s something within you that makes you want to write or create art. In any creative field, you need to have that inner drive. It’s a good idea to keep a journal so you can describe things you see using words or pictures. It is also helpful to read books and try to understand how the authors convey their thoughts. |
Books by Lois Ehlert Check your local library for these books written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Most of the books are for children ages four to eight years.
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