In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze interviews Peter Brown about his latest picture book adaptation, The Wild Robot on the Island. They explore his journey adapting the bestselling novel into a visual format for younger readers, his approach to creating meaningful stories without being "on the nose," and how becoming a new father has influenced his perspective on storytelling and character relationships.

Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review

Highlights:

• Adaptation Strategy: How Peter condensed three-quarters of the novel into picture book format while preserving essential emotional beats and removing violence for younger audiences
• Organic Storytelling: Peter's philosophy of focusing on craft first and letting themes emerge naturally rather than forcing predetermined messages
• Visual Storytelling: The creative process of bringing Roz's world to full color, emphasizing golden hour lighting and seasonal color palettes to enhance the narrative
• Collaborative Publishing: The team effort behind book creation, from custom typeface design to fifth-color printing decisions
• New Parenthood Impact: How having an 18-month-old son deepened Peter's understanding of the parent-child dynamics in his work
• Bridge Book Success: Creating entry points for reluctant readers through the picture book format while maintaining appeal for novel fans
• Illustration Technique: Working with ink on paper and digital finishing, plus hand-lettering custom speech bubble fonts

Notable Quotes:"I think you're more likely to express a message, a meaningful message to readers, if you focus on what the story needs to work, kind of the craft of writing first and foremost." —Peter Brown

"I wonder if he ever thinks about me. I don't know what it is, but to me that is so human and so sweet and emotional. I get choked up just thinking about it." —Peter Brown on Roz's winter thoughts about Brightbill

Books Mentioned:

• The Wild Robot on the Island by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.org
• The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.org
• Flight of the Dodo by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.org

About Peter Brown: Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter's love of both words and pictures led him to children's books. Since then he has written and illustrated many books for children and earned numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor, a Horn Book Award, two E.B. White Awards, and multiple New York Times bestsellers. Peter lives in Maine with his wife, Susan, and their dog, Pam.

Connect and Follow: Learn more about Peter Brown: https://www.peterbrownstudio.com

Credits:

Host: Bianca Schulze

Guest: Peter Brown

Producer: Kelly Rink and Bianca Schulze