Molly Idle

Katia Sotelo, Itzel Delgadillo

RDG 291

Bio.

Said to have started drawing even

before being able to walk.

Feels as if she has much more trouble

with words, therefore prefers to let
the pictures talk for themselves.

Graduated from Arizona State

University with a BFA in Drawing.

Took a job with DreamWorks Feature

Animation Studios.

After 5 years, she left animations to

work on picturebooks.

Currently lives in Tempe, AZ.

Interview transcripts or audio of interview What does one learn about the author from this interview?
She takes inspiration from life itself, loves kids, and is a very laid back person who enjoys laughing at herself
How does the author get his/her ideas? childhood experiences, and her children
Book Festival

Is the author working on any new stories?

Flora and the Chicks is already finished but wont be published until Spring 2017
What advice does the author have for young writers?
Learn to love your language. Make friends with your thesaurus (which is a synonym finder, not a type of dinosaur).
There are so many wonderful words out there waiting to be used well. And if, after considering them all, you still cant
find one that says just what you want to say draw a picture instead!

2008 - Hes Got the Whole World in his Hands

2013 - Zombelina
2015 - Rodeo Red / Zombelina Dances the
Nutcracker

2003 - Emmas Gift

2004 - Heads Up: The Story of One Quarter

2005 - If I had a Nickel

2006 - Pennies from Heaven

2007 - Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

2008 - Nighty Night Noah

2009 - Nighty Night, Baby Jesus: A Noisy Nativity

2013 - Flora and the Flamingo / Tea Rex

2014 - Flora and the Penguin / Camp Rex

2015 - Sea Rex

2016 - Flora and the Peacocks

2017 - Flora and the Chicks

Genre + Targeted Audience

All of Molly Idles books are picture books. The appropriate audience for
her books are Kindergarten-Elementary Aged Children. Molly believes
that although her books tend to be wordless, they are still great material
for read alouds. To make it an enjoyable experience, she suggests that the
audience does not remain silent but instead say out loud what the picture
makes them feel/think. In Mollys own words: I want these books to be

about something so big that any words you would add couldnt be enough;
its a feeling we cant necessarily put into words.

Seamless and dynamic visual

storytelling
-Publishers Weekly on Flora and
the Flamingo

The Horn Book

School Library Journal

Flora and the Flamingo

Flora and the Peacocks

Flora and the Flamingo won Caldecott Honor in

2014. Caldecott is known for selecting
distinguishable American picture books for
children that offer an astounding experience for
the reader. Molly Idle was able to create this
with a book that has no words!
Themes of authors work / books as supported
by specific examples - Friendship
Molly much prefers to let the pictures she
creates speak for themselves. She is an artist
first, writer second, and so her books often
reflect that. She enjoys allowing the reader to
create their own conclusions as to why certain
things are happening.

Curriculum

Connections

Sources:
"An Interview with Molly Idle." Art of the Picture Book. N.p., 19 June 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Bird, Elizabeth. Review of the Day: Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle. A Fuse 8 Production. 25 Jan. 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
Idle, Molly. "Molly Idle." Molly Idle. Weebly, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
"Molly Idle Wins Caldecott Honour for Flora and the Flamingo." Katpurr. Word Press, 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Ohi, Debbie Ridpath. "Interview with Molly Idle about Writing and Illustrating TEA REX." Inkygirl: Guide For Kidlit/YA Writers & Artists - via
@inkyelbows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Robinson, Lolly. Flora and the Flamingo. The Horn Book. N.p., 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2016
Sharp, Colby. SHARPREAD. N.p., 27 Apr. 2014. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

Sutton, Roger. "Molly Idle Talks with Roger." The Horn Book. N.p., 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2016.