What:
I’ve written, illustrated and recorded three books for young readers: Zosan, Tamaishi, and Where All the Little Things Live.
My first, Zōsan, was funded on Kickstarter in 2015. It included a softcover edition printed offset, a hand printed letterpress edition and an audiobook performance. Tamaishi is my second book for young readers. It follows the story of a little Pebble named Tama as he discovers that things aren’t always what they seem. Where all the Little Things Live is a story of courage, friendship and forgiveness.
Why:
My books are intended to be read by parents with children, because that’s how I learned to read—reading nearly every night with mine. I like to say my books are for kids and grown up kids. There are subtleties that adults can appreciate, but the heart of the story is still accessible to younger readers, and can facilitate meaningful discussion.
But a core reason why I made these books is a legacy for my children, so they will remember my voice long after I’m gone. They are in many ways autobiographical and encapsulate life lessons: empathy for others, resilience, and finding joy in the world.
I recorded audiobooks for all of them because it lets me do all the things I like to do: from voice acting to composing and playing the piano. I remember being lost in audiobooks on cassette tapes; I still have one of Alice in Wonderland. It had multiple voice actors, incidental music and it captivated me so much I’m surprised I didn’t break the tape.
Listening to this kind of immersive experience enables younger readers to understand the story even they can’t read it themselves. The music and actors paint in the mind’s eye in ways that reading can’t.
All the while, I’m also immersed in the joyful process of creating, reminding myself that regardless of anything else, that’s what matters.
How:
In 2015 I heard a Japanese folk song called “Zōsan” and was drawn to it immediately in part because I’m half Japanese but also because it’s a gentle song with a simple message about how children love their parents, and I was a new dad at the time. I scribbled ideas for a picture book in my sketchbook and forgot about it.
I found that sketch book two years later and ultimately turned it from a picture book to a 5000 word narrative. I turned to self-publishing and crowdfunding because I figured I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, and didn’t want to wait on establishing a reputation or be discouraged by the inevitable and necessary rejection path towards traditional publishing. After Zōsan was successful I’ve launched two other Kickstarter projects and at least partially funded my other two books.
On the SCBWI-MI blog, Ian says:
I have some old cassettes of audiobooks I had as a kid. One was a production of Alice in Wonderland. There were others like “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tinder Box”. All of them used multiple voice actors, incidental music and immersive sound design. I was captivated by all of them, I’m surprised I didn’t ruin the tapes listening to them so much.
Audiobooks let me dive into lots of the things I like to do. They allow younger readers to experience the story without being able to read the words, and the sound design creates a different kind of experience, one left to the mind’s eye.
Note: Ian also writes extensively about process and revision on his blog here. It’s worth taking a look!
Bio:
Ian Tadashi Moore is a father, designer, musician, and artist from southeast Michigan. He grew up talking to the bugs in the back lawn and plinking melodies on piano keys. He likes the sounds words make and will probably never act his age. He has written and illustrated three books, Zōsan (2015), Tamaishi (2018), and Where All the Little Things Live (2020).
Where All the Little Things Live is a winner of the Honorable Mention in both Best Illustration and Chapter Books in the 2020 Royal Dragonfly Awards.
Links:
Blog: https://iantm.com/books/blog
Facebook: facebook.com/iantm.books
Twitter: twitter.com/iantm_books
Instagram: instagram.com/iantm_books
Ian Tadashi Moore on SCBWI Blog
Thank you for visiting Linda’s blog.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.
Learn more about her poetry chapbook, Security
Thank you again for this opportunity to share!
You’re welcome, Ian!