Daddy Makes Pizza

I've been working with author Amanda Hodges to bring this sweet story to life and I am so excited that every day we're getting closer to being able to share the finished product with you! 

When I first started working with Amanda, I told her that my artwork focuses on animal imagery - not sketching people. I love personified animals. Animal imagery has always been so important to me. When I was growing up I was surrounded by animals. My love for them continued and was reflected in my graduate work (I studied animal imagery in medieval literature). Now, as an artist, I love art centered around animals. 

When I thought about what animals would be best for Daddy Makes Pizza, I couldn't stop thinking about bears. Bears are bipedal - which means they can stand on their hind legs. They're physically strong (which makes them scary for me), but this fierceness accompanies a the nurturing side of a mother bear. I loved that this story emphasized the nurturing side of a father. 

In Daddy Makes Pizza a little bear tries to explain his dad's job to his teacher. He concludes that he doesn't really know what his dad does, he just knows how his dad spends time with him. I love the way that this story emphasizes quality time with a parent over corporate profit or personal gain. 
I love the way the teacher makes an assumption about the little bear's, Tucker, dad's career - and the way he counters what the teacher says. Tucker doesn't care what his dad does for a living. Tucker only cares about how his dad spends time with him. This imaginative, sweet story is one that should be shared with every child in your life.

​Daddy Makes Pizza is Amanda Hodges' first children's book. The book was inspired by interactions with her own children. I can't wait to share this story with my own. You can find more information about Amanda's book on her website, here.