Chris Soentpiet
This year we studied a fantastic illustrator. His name is Chris Soentpiet. Through his books, his website, and our observations we were able to learn a lot about him. His life experiences and his love of drawing were easy for us to study him and enjoy him. He was adopted at the age of 8 from Korea. Later he illustrated a book called Jin Woo that deals with a boy being adopted! He taught us how patient you have to be to research material, take pictures, and pay attention to details when you are illustrating. We made our own sketchbook to go along with the books he drew.
VERY Exciting day! Chris Soentpiet wrote back to us! He answered our questions we couldn't find the answers too. Then he asked us to take pictures of us so he could see us reading his book. We feel famous!
Dear Ms. Elsen and her amazing 3rd Graders,
Thank you for your email.
I’ll answer your question within the text:
How are you? I am well. I was painting in my studio in New York City and I’m taking a break from painting now.
Do you have a pet? If so, is your pet in any of your illustrated books? I have a goldfish name Chocolate Chip because his eyes look like chocolate chips. No I haven’t put Chocolate Chip in any of my books. But my friend’s dog, a beagle is in SATURDAYS & TEACAKES. See if you can find him.
Do you like to read? Have you ever read a book you wish you illustrated? I love to read. In fact when I was young I love to read comic books (Superman, Flash, Aquaman) and mysteries (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys series). I did used to illustrate my favorite comic books in my journal.
Do you ever get sick of writing? Sure I get sick of writing. I get writer’s block. When that happens, I take a break, go for a walk, take my kids to the playground. Then I am recharged and I go back to writing again.
Is it sometimes hard to illustrate a book? Do you have to make big decisions? It’s hard to make a book if I am unprepared. Meaning I have to research at the library to know what type of clothes the character would wear if it’s a historical story, meaning it’s a story from a long time ago. I have to make important decisions because my books are studied in schools like yours, so I want to make sure whatever I paint would be accurate and true to the story. A perfect example of this is COOLIES. It’s a story about Chinese railroad workers in America. I have to make sure they are painted in period clothing, not sweatpants and sweatshirts. Schools use my books to teach history lessons and kids can learn about what the Chinese wore during that time they were building the transcontinental railroad.
Why do you like illustrating? Do you like it more than writing? I love illustrating like some love playing basketball or some love swimming or some love reading. I just happen to love painting and illustrating. I love illustrating more than writing because painting is my first love and I’m very confident at it.
What is your favorite thing to draw? What is the hardest to draw? I love drawing people. If you look at all my books, you can see I don’t draw many animals, houses or landscape. I love to capture the feelings and emotions of people in my paintings. I hope you get to see my books and see if you can find different expressions on the characters faces and ask yourself what they are feeling without reading the text.
What is your favorite book you’ve illustrated? It’s hard to choose a favorite book. It’s like asking which of my parents is my favorite. But if I had to choose, I would pick COOLIES, AROUND TOWN and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
Here is a list of my books if you’re interested in my other titles. You can ask the librarian to help you find it:
More Than Anything Else
America the Beautiful
Silver Packages
Momma, Where Are You From
Around Town
My Brother Martin
Something Beautiful
Molly Bannaky
So far from the Sea
Peacebound Trains
The Last Dragon
Coolies
Amazing Faces
Where is Grandpa?
Brothers
Happy Birthday to You
Saturdays and Teacakes
Dear Santa Please Come to the 19th Floor
Amazing Places
Hope that answered your questions. Now I have to hop back to my drawing table.
Happy reading!
Chris Soentpiet
Then we chose one object from a favorite book and practiced drawing and painting it. Check out our gallery for some of these photos! Below that is slideshow.
VERY Exciting day! Chris Soentpiet wrote back to us! He answered our questions we couldn't find the answers too. Then he asked us to take pictures of us so he could see us reading his book. We feel famous!
Dear Ms. Elsen and her amazing 3rd Graders,
Thank you for your email.
I’ll answer your question within the text:
How are you? I am well. I was painting in my studio in New York City and I’m taking a break from painting now.
Do you have a pet? If so, is your pet in any of your illustrated books? I have a goldfish name Chocolate Chip because his eyes look like chocolate chips. No I haven’t put Chocolate Chip in any of my books. But my friend’s dog, a beagle is in SATURDAYS & TEACAKES. See if you can find him.
Do you like to read? Have you ever read a book you wish you illustrated? I love to read. In fact when I was young I love to read comic books (Superman, Flash, Aquaman) and mysteries (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys series). I did used to illustrate my favorite comic books in my journal.
Do you ever get sick of writing? Sure I get sick of writing. I get writer’s block. When that happens, I take a break, go for a walk, take my kids to the playground. Then I am recharged and I go back to writing again.
Is it sometimes hard to illustrate a book? Do you have to make big decisions? It’s hard to make a book if I am unprepared. Meaning I have to research at the library to know what type of clothes the character would wear if it’s a historical story, meaning it’s a story from a long time ago. I have to make important decisions because my books are studied in schools like yours, so I want to make sure whatever I paint would be accurate and true to the story. A perfect example of this is COOLIES. It’s a story about Chinese railroad workers in America. I have to make sure they are painted in period clothing, not sweatpants and sweatshirts. Schools use my books to teach history lessons and kids can learn about what the Chinese wore during that time they were building the transcontinental railroad.
Why do you like illustrating? Do you like it more than writing? I love illustrating like some love playing basketball or some love swimming or some love reading. I just happen to love painting and illustrating. I love illustrating more than writing because painting is my first love and I’m very confident at it.
What is your favorite thing to draw? What is the hardest to draw? I love drawing people. If you look at all my books, you can see I don’t draw many animals, houses or landscape. I love to capture the feelings and emotions of people in my paintings. I hope you get to see my books and see if you can find different expressions on the characters faces and ask yourself what they are feeling without reading the text.
What is your favorite book you’ve illustrated? It’s hard to choose a favorite book. It’s like asking which of my parents is my favorite. But if I had to choose, I would pick COOLIES, AROUND TOWN and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
Here is a list of my books if you’re interested in my other titles. You can ask the librarian to help you find it:
More Than Anything Else
America the Beautiful
Silver Packages
Momma, Where Are You From
Around Town
My Brother Martin
Something Beautiful
Molly Bannaky
So far from the Sea
Peacebound Trains
The Last Dragon
Coolies
Amazing Faces
Where is Grandpa?
Brothers
Happy Birthday to You
Saturdays and Teacakes
Dear Santa Please Come to the 19th Floor
Amazing Places
Hope that answered your questions. Now I have to hop back to my drawing table.
Happy reading!
Chris Soentpiet
Then we chose one object from a favorite book and practiced drawing and painting it. Check out our gallery for some of these photos! Below that is slideshow.