In the Picture

Jyoti Rajan Gopal
  • 5.0 (5)
  • BOOKS

A podcast where we talk about all the “behind the scenes”, “between the lines” AND “beyond the cover” work that goes into making a picture book. I’ll be highlighting the work of illustrators, book designers, art directors and the many creatives who make picture books the visual and narrative feasts that they are.

  1. In the Picture with Anden Wilder

    MAY 12

    In the Picture with Anden Wilder

    In which we talk about how a book by Kate Di Camillo changedthe trajectory of her life, how her high school art teacher connected her with SCBWI and her critique group, her work process, how the MC of her next picture book, Elaine, started off as a stream of consciousness for her morning pages, how the Bologna Book Festival was an inspiration, the advice she finds herself giving over and over again to mentees, yupo paper and so much more. To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.com You can follow me on: Instagram @jyotirgopal Blue Sky @jyotigopal.bsky.social To learn more about Anden and her work go to andenwilder.com and follow her on Instagram @andenwilderillustration   Anden’s books: Scamp (Little Brown, 2025) Tulip’s Mess (Knopf, 2025) Elaine ( Knopf coming Oct. 2026)  Books mentioned: Sing a Song of Popcorn by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo The Lost Christmas Gift by Andrew Beckham (Princeton Architectural Press) Women of Abstract Expressionism (YaleUniversity Press)   The paper Anden uses– yupo paper. Syntheticpaper made from 100% polypropylene, known for its smooth, bright white, andnon-absorbent surface that is waterproof and durable.

    50 min
  2. In the Picture with Adriana Hernández Bergstrom

    MAY 5

    In the Picture with Adriana Hernández Bergstrom

    In which we talk about her long and winding path to being an author illustrator, how she started off as a biological illustrator (what is that you ask? Listen to find out!) then worked on set design, how a sudden move to Germany and becoming a mom refocused her creative energies, how exactly book designing works, how teaching feeds her work, and redesigning classics. We had also had an illuminating discussion about measurements forpicture books and how the US System (derived from the older British Imperial system) and so different from what the rest of the world uses can lead to convolutedconversations with illustrators in other parts of the world! To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.com. You can follow me on Instagram @jyotirgopal and Blue Sky @jyotigopal.bsky.social To learn more about Adriana , follow her on Instagram@adriprints Adriana’s books: Abuelita and I Make Flan (Charlesbridge, 2022) Tumble (Scholastic, 2023) Countdown for Nochebuena (Little, Brown, 2023) She’s also the illustrator for: Boomer At Your Service by Vanessa Keel  (Spork, 2019) and the upcoming Challahbaloo by Elizabeth Suneby (PJ Library, Jan 2026) Check out: The Storyteller Academy Hans My Hedgehog by the Brothers Grimm

    1h 5m
  3. In the Picture with Cassandra Federman

    MAR 16

    In the Picture with Cassandra Federman

    In which we talk about how she worked as a wrestler and a mystic wood elf, the gift of an SCBWI membership, the journey to being a self-taught illustrator, revision and pagination, finding the right art style for a project, partnering with Ben Clanton, and the joy of finding her way back to her childhood love of creating stories. To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.com. You can follow me on Instagram @jyotirgopal and Blue Sky @jyotigopal.bsky.social To learn more about Cassandra, follow her on Instagram and Blue Sky  @cassfederman Cassandra’s books:This is a Seacow (Albert Whitman & Co) This is a Seahorse (Albert Whitman & Co) Gray Squirrel Loses It (Random House) Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, A Princess, and her Crew of Lady Pirates. (Aladdin/ Simon and Schuster) Aquamanatee (DC) Releasing Oct 2026:Aquamanateam: More Than a Dream (DC)

    1h 7m
  4. In the Picture with Joyce Wan

    FEB 18

    In the Picture with Joyce Wan

    In which we talk about the instructor at the SVA who changed the direction of her career, how greeting cards led her to picture books, how stationary shows can reveal picture book trends, her work process, the very creative dummy she cold-mailed to Scholastic and how to shift your thinking about marketing. To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.comFollow me on Instagram @jyotirgopal and Bluesky @jyotigopal.bsky.social  To learn more about Joyce  go to wanart.com. Follow her on Instagram @joycewanbooks Books and resources mentioned:  School of Visual Design SVA National Stationary Show New York International Gift Fair  Purple Cow by Seth Godin  Blue Apple Books Latest Joyce Wan release: Lucky New Year Colors (Hippo Park | Astra Books)

    1h 2m
  5. In the Picture with John Parra

    12/10/2025

    In the Picture with John Parra

    In which we talk about how John was invited to illustrate his first picture book, how the doors to his creativity were thrown wide open when he began to explore his heritage, how he decides what projects to work on, how art is his language of exploration and communication, the value of having a work spacethat’s ready to go, and why a good night’s rest can spark new creativity! To learn more about me and my work, go to jyotirajangopal.com You can follow me on Instagram, @jyotirgopaland Bluesky, @jyotigopal.bsky.social  To learn more about John got to johnparraart.com   Books mentioned:  Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown and John Parra Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son by John Parra This Moment is Special: A Día de Muertos Story by John Parra Viva Valenzuela by Natalie Alonso illustrated by JohnParra (coming March 2026) My Name is Gabriela by Monica Brown and John Parra Green is a Chile Pepper by Roseanne Thong and John Parra One is a Piñata by Roseanne Thong and John Parra         John’s favorite paints: Golden Brand acrylics   John’s publicist: PRfrom the Heart

    1h 13m
  6. In the Picture with Gordon C. James

    11/04/2025

    In the Picture with Gordon C. James

    In which we talk about how Gordon started off as an illustrator for Hallmark, how he found his way to picture books, his approach to illustrating stories, trying chalk pastels for the first time, the power of routine in preventing creative blocks and his first love, fine art. To learn more about me and my work, go to my website. You can follow me on Instagram and Bluesky  To learn more about Gordon go to Gordon C James andfollow him on  InstagramBooks mentioned: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes Go Tell it: How James Baldwin Became A Writer Just Like Jesse Owens written by Paula Young Shelton Let ‘Er Buck by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Campy by David Adler Chapter book series Scraps of Time by Patricia McKissack Also mentioned: Clearwater Arts Center African American Children's Book Fair

    56 min
  7. In the Picture with Stan Yan

    10/23/2025

    In the Picture with Stan Yan

    In which we dive into Stan’s first picture book, There are Zombies in the Basement and, and why although the main character was based on his son, he drew him as a white ginger-haired kid and how he found his way to writing his first MG graphic novel, The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang, which just came out this past Sept. Serendipity is a word that crops up a lot in our conversation, a reminder of how creative paths can suddenly appear in ways that we didn't plan or envision! To learn more about Stan and his work, go to ⁠Stan’s website⁠ To learn more about me and my work, go to my website. You can follow me on Instagram and Bluesky Books mentioned: Maus by Art Spiegelman Dark Night by Paul Dini and Eduardo Risso Resources: Kids Comic Unite– social media networking group for kidlit and YA graphic novel creators Mascot Books – the company Stan used to publish his first picture book Louise Campbell The Booking Tree - Stan's booking agent

    1h 12m
  8. In the Picture with Jennifer Browne

    10/23/2025

    In the Picture with Jennifer Browne

    In which we talk with the Creative Director of Neal Porter Books about what kidlit publishing was like back in the 80s (typesetting without computers!), the importance of marrying text and art so it’s seamless, how she defines a successful picture book, the value of art history, the impact of book bans on publishing, and so much more. To learn more about me and my work, go to ⁠my website⁠.You can follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Bluesky⁠ Books mentioned in this episode: The Walk the Mouse Girls Took by Carla Kuskin Watercress by Andrea Wang and Jason Shin I Don’t Care by Julie Fogliano, Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott and Sydny Smith I Will Eat You in the End by David Duff and Marianna Coppo (Fall 2026) I Know How to Draw an Owl by Hilary Horder Hippely and Matt James

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A podcast where we talk about all the “behind the scenes”, “between the lines” AND “beyond the cover” work that goes into making a picture book. I’ll be highlighting the work of illustrators, book designers, art directors and the many creatives who make picture books the visual and narrative feasts that they are.

Information

  • Creator
    Jyoti Rajan Gopal
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jyoti Rajan Gopal
  • Show Website
    In the Picture

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