When Angelina Gauthier’s children were young, their family would play a game. They would try to outdo each other by explaining how much they loved each other.
Those lines between family are now immortalized in Gauthier’s second children’s book, I Love You to the Treetops.
“I was excited because it wasn’t coming from a place of vulnerability, it was coming from a place of celebration,” Gauthier said about sharing her ritual with the public. “A celebration of a family’s love. It’s something that a lot of people can relate to, no matter what your family looks like.”
Writing a children’s book is tricky, with the lack of word space and intended audience restricting what the author can do. Authors also have to work in unity with illustrators to bring the perfect vision forward.
Gauthier said she wanted to represent all kinds of cultures and families in the illustrations.
“It’s a tricky thing to share with your illustrator,” she said. “We do a process called storyboards, just like if you’re working in movies … It’s a very collaborative process. With this story in particular, I really had a ton of faith with my illustrator … The illustrations had to have a ‘wow’ impact as well.”
Gauthier self-publishes her books, which means once the book is written and printed, the work doesn’t stop.
“There’s even a bigger process,” she said. “When it’s done, a publisher doesn’t take over the advertising and stuff like that; it’s all up to me,” said Gauthier. “I wish I could be a best-seller, but I don’t do it for that reason. Writing is something I’ve always loved to do.”
Gauthier, who is the principal of Carson Elementary School, published her first book, What Kind of World Would It Be?, in 2019. She hopes to publish a new children’s book each year and is already working on bringing 2021’s effort to print.
READ MORE: Quesnel elementary school principal publishes her first book
“This story was very different than my first,” she said. “My first story was really inspired by my students and what we talk about at school — kindness,” said Gauthier. “This one came from a bedtime ritual.”
The book is found through Gauthier’s website, kindnessandstories.com, Quesnel home-based business Tiny Treats, and Amazon.
READ MORE: Quesnel author signs books in only appearance of 2020
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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