 Today we celebrate the book birthday of Abuelo, the Sea, and Me. We sat down with illustrator Tatiana Gardel to learn all about the visual inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about the book: Abuelo, the Sea, and Me is a tender, heartwarming picture book that vividly explores intergenerational connections, family history, and the immigrant experience. When this grandchild visits her abuelo, he takes her to the ocean. In summer, they kick off their shoes and let the cool waves tickle their toes. In winter, they stand on the cliff and let the sea spray prick their noses and cheeks. No matter the season, hot or cold, their favorite place to spend time together is the beach. It’s here that Abuelo is able to open up about his youth in Havana, Cuba. As they walk along the sand, he recalls the tastes, sounds, and smells of his childhood. And with his words, Cuba comes alive for his grandchild. What 3 words would you use to describe your book? Nostalgia, love, family  Where did you get the idea to illustrate this particular story? Although this story is based on Ismée’s personal experiences, I instantly connected to it as soon as I read the manuscript. I had just lost my grandfather at the time, and creating the visuals for this book was a way for me to grieve his loss and pay homage to him. I also connected to Abuelo’s character on a personal level. Being an immigrant myself, who was born and raised by the coast, I’ve always nurtured a deep relationship with the ocean. More than that, when I immigrated to the U.S., my trips to the beach became a way of feeling close to home, just like Abuelo in the story. One more coincidence with Abuelo's character is that guava is also my favorite fruit!  Are you agented? If so, can you share how you got one? Yes, I'm represented by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. I was in the process of starting to query when I received my first offer to illustrate a book. My editor gently asked if I wanted to make the deal myself or use the deal to speed up the query process. I chose the second option. I had met Jem a few months prior in an online event. I really liked her and kept her on the top of my list. When my editor offered to help, I sent her a few names and got connected to my agent. When Jem and I had the call, I was sure she was the right person for me to partner with. I absolutely love to work with her! What comes next for you as an illustrator? I have two more books coming out later this year, Xavier’s Voice by Ashley Franklin (The Innovation Press), and Painting the Sky with Love by Mary E. Haque (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan). I'm currently illustrating a book for 2025 and will start another for 2026. I’m also revisiting some personal projects I had shelved for a while. I hope to start writing my own stories very soon. What 3 recommendations would you give illustrators who are starting out? 1. First and foremost, learn about the industry. Go to libraries and bookstores, see what’s being published, and what type of stories you connect with. Check who the authors, illustrators, publishers, editors, and designers of those stories are. Take notes and build a list. Most likely these are the people you’ll end up working with. 2. Take your time to build a strong portfolio. Work on your craft, study and practice. Take classes, go to conferences. If money is an issue, check for free online content and scholarships. Have industry professionals take a look at your pieces, and be open to receive feedback. Show who you are through your work and what you like to illustrate. Don't use weak pieces to fill in the space. Showcase work you're proud of. Be patient, persistent, and intentional with your goals. 3. Join groups and organizations to find support and ask questions. Make connections with your peers and network. If you are not comfortable networking in person, do it online through social media. People in the kidlit world are the nicest and usually very friendly.
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