An award-winning children’s illustrator is coming to Peterborough’s Toadstool Bookshop to meet with readers and discuss her artistic process.

On Saturday, July 22, at 11 a.m., Caldecott Award-winning illustrator and Peterborough resident Beth Krommes will be signing her new book “We Are Branches,” a lyrical tribute to the intricate branching formations found throughout nature. The Caldecott Award, named in honor of 19th-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, part of the American Library Association, to the artist of the “most-distinguished American picture book for children.”

Written by Newbery Honor-winning poet Joyce Sidman, “We Are Branches” complements Sidman’s and Krommes's previous children’s book, "Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature.” In addition to her latest book, Krommes is the illustrator for numerous other children’s books, including “Grandmother Winter,” "The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish” and “Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow.”

After the book-signing, Krommes will share her journey of illustrating a children's book, starting from the initial spark of an idea to the creation of the final artwork. Krommes will also dive into using scratchboard techniques to create unique and realistic illustrations.

Krommes stated the process of creating intricate illustrations using a scratchboard is more complicated than most think.

“It often takes me a year-and-a-half to complete a children's book because my medium of scratchboard illustration is time-consuming and demanding. I need to peer through a magnifier lamp to be able to work on the illustrations,” stated Krommes. 

Krommes is looking forward to sharing her creative process and the symbolism of her newest book.

“‘We Are Branches’ is a particularly meaningful book for me because it is dedicated to my father, who recently passed away at age 96. He was very interested in every step of this project and I was glad that he lived long enough to hold the printed book in his hands,” stated Krommes. 

The book-signing is open to community members of all ages.