June Author/Illustrator: Ben Clanton Talks Mentor Texts

Welcome to Part II of our interview with author/illustrator Ben Clanton.  In Part I, Ben teaches about the interplay between text and illustrations... so don't miss out!

Do you utilize picture books as mentor texts?  If so, how? 

Absolutely! Not always proactively, but I’m a huge picture book aficionado. When I come across a book that really works or that captivates me, I dissect it to see how it works. You might think this would take away somewhat from the magic of a good book, but I feel it usually deepens my understanding and adoration. I typically don’t apply a certain mentor text to a specific text I’m working on. Instead I’m creating a general arsenal of what works and what doesn’t. Some texts to check out . . . Stuck by Oliver Jeffers, There are Cats in this Book by Viviane Schwarz, and The Skunk by Mac Barnett and Patrick McDonnell.

Were there any particular mentor texts that inspired you in the creation of SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY? Or another one of your published books?

One that comes to mind right away is perhaps one of the most influential picture books there is . . . WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. In WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, the illustrations get gradually bigger and take up more of the page as the book approaches the climax (three full-bleed spreads with no text).

I applied something akin with the wishes the boy makes in Something Extraordinary. He starts out with the simple classic wishes such as “I wish I could fly!” but gradually they become a bit more involved or unusual and they start to add up. So when the boy wishes his drawings would come to life the robot that results sticks around and the same with the wishes for fangs and a tail and unusual pets. The wishes start to fill up the page and build up as the book approaches an important turning point and the boy’s most desperate wish of all.

Another mentor text that comes to mind is Jon Klassen’s This Is Not My Hat in which the text says only so much and lots of the storytelling is reliant upon the illustrations. In Something Extraordinary, if you were to read the text alone it would read like a list of wishes. The illustrations are doing a lot of augmenting in Something Extraordinary. There are two birds that are particularly important in the book and that really carry the story. They are never mentioned outright in the text.

It is so interesting to see how you have utilized mentor texts, Ben! Thanks so much for sharing with us.  I'd like to encourage the ReFoReMo family to conduct an author study with your books.  In Part I of the interview, Ben mentions how he is still evolving. An author study allows us to see that process up close.  All of Ben’s books have whimsy, heart, and humor.  Each one is packed with feelings. Here are a few of the underlying and character themes you will find.

Something Extraordinary- Ben's Newest Release 2015:
-Optimism, following dreams, wonder, imagination, thinking outside the box/creativity

Rex Wrecks It- 2014:
-Excitability, individuality, inventiveness, problem solving, playfulness, teamwork, learning from each other

Mo’s Mustache- 2013:
-Originality, being yourself, standing up for yourself, frustration, speaking your mind, admiration, celebrating others and yourself

The Table Sets Itself- 2013:
-Handling responsibility, tackling boredom, seeking more out of life, trying new things

Vote For Me- 2012
-Bragging, persuading, competition, speaking before thinking, apologizing

And now, pop on over to Part I of Ben's interview... it is toooo good to miss!

Ben Clanton is the author/illustrator of such books as Something Extraordianry, Rex Wrecks It!, and Mo’s Mustache. When Ben isn’t doodling up stories (and often when he is) he likes to cook, explore outdoors, play basketball, and play games with friends. Ben is in the midst of a move back to Seattle, WA. Find out more about Ben at www.benclanton.com.