MOWMT March 12: Berrie Torgan-Randall Draws Upon Memories

Drawing upon memories and mentor texts while writing and illustrating the Bella & Blue series by Berrie Torgan-Randall

Because my mother is a librarian, my two sisters and I were frequent visitors to our local library. Being surrounded by beautiful, entertaining, and inspiring books fueled my desire to pursue a career as an illustrator and writer of children’s books. There was one particular story that I checked out again and again, Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham. I loved the humor and heart in this classic picture book. Harry, like many kids, doesn't want to take a bath, and when he is dirty, his family doesn't recognize him. The kicker comes with a surprise ending when Harry is seen burying the scrub brush, so he never has to take another bath. Harry the Dirty Dog made me laugh in the same way I laughed when I sat on my dad’s lap as he read the Sunday comics. His use of funny voices while reading the comics made the comic storyline even more humorous.

I consider myself a visual learner and part of my motivation writing Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue was to create a story that would appeal to visual learners. I also did my research about early reader graphic novels knowing that these books are important for emerging readers. Bella Meets Blue is the first book in my developing series Bella & Blue and encourages young readers to read independently, but they are also the kind of books that an adult can enjoy reading to or with a child. As with other graphic novels, I wanted Bella & Blue to be accessible and interesting. The stories help develop visual literacy by using multiple and engaging images to accompany the "bite-sized" textual content.

While creating the Bella & Blue series, I read a lot of early reader graphic novel mentor texts including the Unicorn and Yeti series by Heather Aryis Burness and Hazel Quintanilla and the Bird and Squirrel series by James Burks. These books helped me figure out the number of pages and pacing of graphic novels for young readers. I also attended a workshop on Writing with Humor and Heart at the Highlights Foundation. During the class, Elise Broach (a prolific author of board books, early readers, and picture books including Bedtime for Little Bulldozer) talked about creating a likable character and including tension that keeps the reader turning the pages.  She challenged the attendees to revise our funny scenes to be funnier. 

In the chapter “Blue Ribbon,” Bella asks her grandmother Gigi for help making a costume for Blue.  Hat-loving Gigi brings out her hat collection to garner ideas for Blue’s costume.  Blue decidedly doesn’t like any of the hats and hides under the couch until Gigi brings out a summer hat and recalls a happy memory when Bella’s dad bought them all hot dogs. Bella and Gigi realize that Blue is not excited about the summer hat but is clearly excited by the word “hot dog.” Bella and Gigi make a hot dog costume for Blue, and he proudly prances around the room with the costume on. Although Blue doesn’t win the Blue Ribbon at the Canine Costume Contest, Bella gives Blue a hug and lets him know he gets the prize for being the best dog ever. 

When thinking of ideas for the second book in the series, Bella & Blue: Times Two, I intend to draw upon the humor and heart tips that I learned about from the Highlights Class and the visual techniques from mentor texts. In addition, I will, of course, be forever inspired by the memory of Sunday morning comics with my dad.

PRIZE: Berrie will design a promotional postcard for an upcoming book and send a copy of Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue to one lucky winner.

Berrie Torgan-Randall is an author/illustrator working from her home studio in Media, PA (west of Philadelphia). In addition to being an author/illustrator, she is the Illustrator Coordinator for the Eastern Pennsylvania SCBWI. Berrie’s illustrations have appeared in Ladybug Magazine, and her debut early reader graphic novel, Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue was published by The Little Press Publishing in 2022. Berrie recently signed a contract with The Little Press Publishing for the second book in the Bella & Blue series to launch in October 2026 titled Bella & Blue: Times Two. Check out Berrie’s portfolio https://www.berrietr.com; follow her on Instagram at #blue.berrie and X @berrietr.