Sebastian Meschenmoser does not really believe in adults

What kind of tandem could a super-tidy penguin and a super-messy tapir make? The answer gives the famous German children's book author and illustrator Sebastian Meschenmoser in his book "Gordon and Tapir" which also marks his first meeting with Bulgarian readers, thanks to the publishing house "Tochitsa" and the translation by Kalina Ivanova.


"Gordon and Tapir", Tochitsa Publishing / Photo: Yana Lozeva

Meschenmoser was born in Frankfurt am Main in 1980 and began studying at the Akademie für bildende Künste in Mainz in 2001 and till today he's considered as one of the most innovative new children's books authors and illustrators. 

He often encourages young and adult readers of his works to become storytellers themselves by letting  them wander through the images he creates without giving them the words. And his characters are always animals and as we understand from ihm himself, this has a very simple and logical exploanation. 

Sebastian Meschenmoser / Photo: Personal archive

What provoked you to choose children's books as a medium of expression?

Since I was a child I always liked drawing and telling stories with my pictures. That’s why I wanted to become an illustrator ever since.

And you yourself, what books did you love as a child and what are the images that have been most strongly imprinted on your mind since childhood?

I loved the books of Janosch and Richard Scarry, but also enjoyed Rohald Dahl illustrated by Quentin Blake a lot. Stories with animals were my favourites. I also loved animal encyclopaedias.


"Gordon and Tapir", Tochitsa Publishing / Photo: Yana Lozeva

Is the importance of children's literature underestimated and what is its greatest and most significant strength?

I can only speak for Germany.  Here, the importance of picture books is very underestimated. I have the impression that many people think “children are childish, so they just like simple stories”. In Japan, by contrast, being a picture book illustrator is seen as the highest form of art.

Are there taboo topics in children's literature that need wider advocacy?

I see the transgender topic at the moment as difficult to deal with in picture books. But if you transfer it into a good story, that is interesting for children, it can work. 

The characters in your books are usually animals. What is the advantage of telling stories through them?

Basically, it is much easier, because you don’t have to write a lot about the characters. If you need a very active, chaotic character, you just take a squirrel and if you need a more shy character, you add the hedgehog. People do not have too many prejudges against animal-characters. If you use human figures you implicitly reveal so much about them with just their clothes or skin colour. These days, this automatically becomes part of the story. Animals keep everything more neutral, so there is more focus on the story itself.

If you had to make a self-portrait, but through the image of an animal - which would you choose and why?

I think there is a bit of myself in everyone character of mine. In the mornings I am definitely the Pugman (Mopsmann).

What kind of stories spark your imagination and what emotions usually accompany them?

Mostly everyday events in my life, which get lost in a “What if..” But also things I see when I travel or people I meet.


"Gordon and Tapir", Tochitsa Publishing / Photo: Yana Lozeva

How did the idea for "Gordon and Tapira" come about? How would you describe the main idea or purpose of the book?

I once had a roommate who was on one side very chaotic and on the other side very tidy. He had strong parts of both characters. I think if you live together with people, everyone will automatically become one of the roles. It can be a book about friendship, but also about relationships.

Which of the two main characters do you associate with?

Again, a bit of both, depending on who I live together with. I still wonder how my former roommate managed to use that much toilet paper… and how he made the pudding explode and how there were foodstains on the ceiling…


"Gordon and Tapir", Tochitsa Publishing / Photo: Yana Lozeva

Tell us a little more about the creative process - which comes first - the images or the text and how does one complement the other?

Usually the story plays like a movie inside my head. So the first thing I do is draw a storyboard and then add the text.

Is humor a necessary part of the formula for the success of a children's book? What are the other important elements?

I like using different layers of storytelling. Some things will be funny just for the children, some more for the adults reading the book. My books are designed to be for all ages. It is important not to repeat something in the text and the illustration. I also like leaving parts in my books without text, so that the children and parents have to talk about what they see.


"Gordon and Tapir", Tochitsa Publishing / Photo: Yana Lozeva

With age, everyone slowly drifts away from the child in themselves. Do you manage to save it and how?

I remember very much how it was being a child.  In any case I do not really believe in adults. I have never even seen one.

The last book that stuck in your head for a long time?

“The Neverending Story” still sticks in my head.


"Gordon and Tapir", Tochitsa Publishing / Photo: Yana Lozeva

What are your favorite places or ways to disconnect from reality?

Hogwarts and my studio.

If you could instantly change one thing with one click, what would it be?

I think, everyone wants to be taken seriously, wants to be seen and wants to be loved. So many conflicts are based on adults who suffered of a lack of these things when they were children. We need to take our children serious and stop feeling so superior.