10 Questions with Binny Talib
Binny Talib is an award-winning Author/Illustrator with a whimsical, contemporary style, she has illustrated over 30 books here and internationally, ranging from picture, baby board, non-fiction and chapter. Binny creates happily on beautiful Sydney harbour with other lovely creative folks drinking copious amounts of dandelion tea and her studio assistant Paddington the Border Collie. There has never been a dessert she hasn’t liked, seriously.
How did the idea for this story first come to you?
This story is rooted in my childhood, I grew up in country NSW where the night was full of eerie, rustling sounds, branches tapping on the roof, wind hissing through cracks. Our old houses had strange air vents high on the walls. Some had elaborate Victorian designs, and I often imagined what might live behind them, secret creatures, tunnels, or entire hidden worlds. My city-dwelling children had similar vents in their bedrooms, and one night the idea of a letter falling through one of them sparked the whole story.
As a mother, I’ve watched my children navigate the highs and lows of moving between countries and schools: adjusting, making friends, starting again. It’s not always easy. Sometimes, all it takes is one kind gesture, or one little letter to change everything. I wanted to capture that quiet magic in this story.
How did the story change or evolve over time?
When I first wrote the story the creatures were in all the illustrations and came to the tea party at the end, however as I was developing the artwork I felt it was more about the connection between the Juniper and Jasper and didn’t want the creatures taking all the glory!
Did you visualise the handmade elements from the beginning, or did that come later?
I wanted readers to feel the tactile magic of holding a letter in their hands. So when creating the artwork, I explored how to best capture that experience and incorporating real paper textures and collaged envelopes helped bring the story to life and off the page.
What was your favourite part of making this book?
Probably the collage pieces! I also focused on creating a warm atmosphere in the artwork, using lots of texture and layering to give it a cosy, inviting feel.
The artwork for this book was chosen for the prestigious Society of Illustrators Annual 67 Awards Exhibition in New York. What was it like seeing your work exhibited in New York?
This was a dream come true; I have been buying the SOI annual since studying illustration at university. To be there at the event and seeing my book on the wall was thrilling. New York is a real hub for contemporary illustration, and they have wonderful thriving children’s book scene, it was a delight to share in it for an evening. The award night was full of people from all over the globe which made it very special, Germany, Ukraine and ….Australia!
Not many people write letters anymore. Why do you think children will be interested in letters?
Letters are tactile, they can be artwork, they are thoughtful, and special, someone has taken the time to create it. There is also the element of surprise and mystery, and something they can keep.
You’ve spent some time promoting this book now, including an instore event. How are people reacting to the book?
I’ve been so delighted and genuinely humbled by the response to this book. People seem truly charmed by the letter writing element and deeply connect with the story of friendship. At a time when many children are experiencing a sense of isolation, often amplified by technology, this book feels like a small, heartfelt antidote, a reminder of the power of connection through something as simple as a letter.
Tell us a little about what you are doing in schools with this book and letter writing.
I’ve developed a school based letter writing project designed to inspire creativity and connection. During my visit, I’ll read the story aloud to the students, followed by a fun and engaging discussion about the art of letter writing. Together, we’ll dive into creative workshops where students can write their own imaginative letters and design their own stamps. To complete the experience, the class will be paired with a different school to exchange letters and build friendships across classrooms!
