‘Papilio’ and ‘Chooch Helped’ are children’s books brought to life by friendship
NPR's Book of the Day explores two new children's books and the creative processes behind them. The first book, "Papilio," follows a black swallowtail butterfly's transformation through a collaboration between three authors—Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser—each handling a different stage of the butterfly's life cycle with their own artistic techniques and materials.
The episode also delves into "Chooch Helped," a Caldecott Medal-winning book born from a chance meeting between author Andrea L. Rogers and illustrator Rebecca Kunz at the Cherokee National Holiday. Their book examines sibling relationships and cultural traditions through mixed-media illustrations that capture the essence of Oklahoma life, from nighttime bicycle repairs to crawdad gigging.
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1-Page Summary
Creating the Picture Book "Papilio" Collaboratively
Three children's authors - Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser - have collaborated to create "Papilio," a unique picture book following a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly. Each author took responsibility for a different stage of the butterfly's life cycle, bringing their distinct artistic styles to the project while maintaining a cohesive narrative.
Artistic Approaches and Character Development
Clanton crafted the caterpillar phase using a mix of materials including watercolors, ink, and leaf pressings, drawing inspiration from his young son's curiosity. Tabor tackled the chrysalis stage using color pencil and watercolor to create what he calls a "loose, wild feel," while Musser employed gouache and colored pencil to capture the emotional journey of learning to fly in the butterfly stage.
The team chose to feature a black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenus) as their protagonist, deliberately challenging conventional expectations with its less colorful appearance. As Clanton explains, they aimed to create a "hapless hero" that readers could relate to throughout the transformation journey.
Caldecott Medal-Winning "Chooch Helped"
A chance meeting at the Cherokee National Holiday between author Andrea L. Rogers and illustrator Rebecca Kunz led to the creation of "Chooch Helped," which went on to win the 2025 Caldecott Medal. This marked Kunz's first venture into children's book illustration.
Story and Artistic Elements
The book explores sibling relationships, focusing on an older sibling's journey to understanding their mentoring role. Rogers draws from personal experiences, such as watching her own child participate in cultural traditions, to create authentic family dynamics.
Kunz's illustrations employ layering, collaging, and painting techniques to capture the warm, earthy Oklahoma setting. Her artwork emphasizes themes of kindness and care, depicting nighttime activities like bicycle tuning and crawdad gigging that evoke the essence of Oklahoma life.
Challenges and Creative Approaches
The collaborative process between these authors showcases how different artistic styles can be woven into unified narratives. Each artist brought unique techniques: Musser with gouache and color pencil, Clanton with his mixed-media approach, and Tabor with his watercolor and color pencil combinations. Their shared backgrounds and experiences are reflected in illustrations that capture both cultural and environmental elements of their stories.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- You can explore your own creative expression by starting a collaborative art project with friends, where each person contributes to a piece using their preferred medium. For example, one friend might sketch the outline, another could fill in with watercolor, and a third could add details with ink or colored pencils. This not only allows you to appreciate the diversity of artistic styles but also helps you learn from each other's techniques and perspectives.
- Create a themed art journal where you dedicate each section to a different artistic style or medium that you want to experiment with, such as watercolors, ink, or gouache. This personal project encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, develop new skills, and understand the process of transformation, much like the stages of a butterfly's life cycle depicted in different artistic styles.
- Volunteer to read and discuss books with children at a local library or school, focusing on titles that emphasize themes of kindness, care, and relatable characters. By engaging with young readers, you can foster a love for storytelling and illustrations, and also gain insights into how different narratives and artistic representations resonate with diverse audiences.
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Creating the Picture Book "Papilio" Collaboratively
Children's authors Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser have created "Papilio," a picture book about a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly, depicting the life cycle stages of a butterfly in a unique and imaginative way.
Authors Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser Created the Children's Book "Papilio" About a Caterpillar's Transformation Into a Butterfly
The story of "Papilio" is a children's narrative told in three parts corresponding to three stages of life – caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly – with each author contributing their insights and creativity to distinguish the different stages.
Butterfly Life Cycle Stages: Clanton's Caterpillar, Tabor's Chrysalis, Musser's Butterfly
Ben Clanton explains his contribution to the caterpillar phase, incorporating into Papilio's character the unstoppable wonder and curiosity he observes in his youngest son as the caterpillar grows and initially explores the world. Corey R. Tabor bravely tackles the chrysalis section, employing imagination to depict the character's time as goo within the chrysalis as a motion-filled adventure, despite the character's physical stasis. Finally, Andy Chou Musser takes over the butterfly section, focusing on the challenges faced by Papilio in learning to fly, expressing this endeavor in rich, varied illustrations.
Collaborators Crafted Cohesive Visual Narratives Showing Papilio's Changes Using Unique Artistic Styles and Techniques
Musser talks about using gouache and colored pencil for the butterfly section, aiming to convey the emotional spectrum of Papilio's attempts to fly. Tabor utilized color pencil and watercolor for the chrysalis stage to generate a "loose, wild feel" that aligns with the narrative's adventure. Clanton describes his use of a blend of materials such as watercolors, ink, leaf pressings, stamps, markers, and colored pencils for the caterpillar stage, mirroring a young child's exploration.
Despite the unique styles and techniques, the thre ...
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Creating the Picture Book "Papilio" Collaboratively
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Actionables
- You can create a visual journal to document personal growth by dividing it into three sections that represent different phases of your life, much like the stages of Papilio's life cycle. Start by choosing a past period where you felt like a beginner or were facing challenges (your caterpillar phase), a transitional time when you were developing (your chrysalis phase), and a current or future time when you've achieved or will achieve a new level of understanding or skill (your butterfly phase). Use different artistic mediums for each section to reflect the changes in perspective and growth, such as crayons or pencils for the caterpillar phase, watercolors for the chrysalis, and vibrant markers or paints for the butterfly phase.
- You can challenge common expectations in your own creative projects by choosing subjects or themes that are unconventional or unexpected. For instance, if you're writing a story, poem, or creating artwork, pick a protagonist or central theme that isn't typically seen as heroic or noteworthy and explore their journey. This could be a story about the underappreciated role of a street sweeper in a bustling city or a painting series focused on the beauty of decaying buil ...
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Caldecott Medal-Winning Book "Chooch Helped": Chance Meeting and Collaboration
The collaboration between author Andrea L. Rogers and illustrator Rebecca Kunz led to the creation of the Caldecott Medal-winning children's book "Chooch Helped."
Authors Meet: Rogers and Kunz Collaborate on 'Chooch Helped'
Rogers and Kunz Bonded Over Shared Culture and Mutual Admiration
Andrea L. Rogers and Rebecca Kunz first met at the Cherokee National Holiday. Rogers was doing book signings and Kunz was showing her artwork. They found that they appreciated each other's work. In fact, Rogers had even sent images of Kunz’s work to her editor earlier that day. This chance meeting sparked a collaboration that would lead to their acclaimed children's book "Chooch Helped."
Kunz's Serendipitous Meeting Leads To First Children's Book, Caldecott Medal
The collaboration between the two was serendipitous, with Kunz illustrating her first children's book with Rogers. Their successful joint effort resulted in winning the prestigious 2025 Caldecott Medal for "Chooch Helped."
"Chooch Helped" Highlights Family and Cultural Experiences
Sibling Dynamics: Mentoring Older vs. Exuberant Younger
"Chooch Helped" is a heartwarming tale that captures sibling relationships and dynamics. The older sibling in the story takes on a mentoring role, a responsibility they only realize after a conflict arises. This leads the siblings to a place of forgiveness and understanding. Andrea L. Rogers relates this dynamic to her personal experiences, such as her own child participating in cultural traditions like making dumplings despite the ensuing mess, emphasizing the value of involving children in their culture.
Kunz's Illustrations Capture the Warm, Earthy Oklahoma Setting, Enhancing Themes of Kindness and Care
Rebecca Kunz brings the literary world of "Chooch Helped" to life wit ...
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Caldecott Medal-Winning Book "Chooch Helped": Chance Meeting and Collaboration
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore your cultural heritage through art by creating a visual family tree that incorporates traditional patterns, symbols, or colors unique to your background. Start by researching your cultural history and identifying elements that resonate with you. Then, using materials like colored pencils, paints, or collage materials, craft a family tree that not only outlines your family members but also visually represents your shared heritage.
- Foster understanding and forgiveness in your family by initiating a "story of us" book, where each member contributes an anecdote about a time they learned a valuable lesson from another family member. This can be a physical notebook or a digital document. Encourage your family to write or draw about experiences that highlight learning, forgiveness, and kindness. Over time, this book will become a collection of family wisdom and shared values.
- Experiment with layered art techniques to create personalized greeting cards that convey w ...
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Challenges and Creative Approaches in Story and Illustration Development
In an inspiring display of collaboration, a team of authors and illustrators known as Papilio Artists have united to blend their distinct styles into a cohesive narrative. This partnership showcases a range of unique illustration techniques and storytelling methods, stemming from their desire to highlight individual voices and shared creative expressions.
Papilio Artists Wove Distinct Styles Into a Single Narrative
The collaborative project between the authors was born out of sheer enjoyment and the collective goal of leveraging their individual storytelling and illustration approaches.
Unique Illustration Techniques by Clanton, Tabor, and Musser
The project features the talents of Andy Chou Musser, who utilizes gouache and color pencil in his illustrations. Ben Clanton creates depth in his artwork by collaging a multitude of materials such as watercolors, ink, leaf pressings, stamps, markers, and colored pencil. Meanwhile, Corey R. Tabor brings his vision to life using a combination of color pencil and watercolor.
Authors Used Collage, Stamping, and Leaf Pressings to Capture Papilio's Changing Perspectives During Metamorphosis
Exploring the transformative journey of metamorphosis, Clanton, in particular, engages with the caterpillar phase using an array of techniques. His use of collage, stamping, and leaf pressings artfully captures the evolving perspectives inherent in Papilio's metamorphosis, echoing the natural and delicate process of change.
Chooch Helped Team Adapt Kunz's Art Into Children's Book Style
Central to adapting the illustrations for a children's ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Challenges and Creative Approaches in Story and Illustration Development
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore mixed media art by starting a daily journal where you combine different materials like magazine clippings, fabric scraps, and natural elements to document your day. This practice encourages creativity and can help you develop a unique visual language, similar to how the artists combined various techniques to tell a story.
- Host a collaborative art project with friends or family where each person contributes to a large canvas using their preferred medium, whether it's watercolor, colored pencils, or ink. This collective effort can result in a piece that represents the group's diverse perspectives and styles, fostering a sense of unity and shared accomplishment.
- Take inspiration from ...
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