I love love love ink on paper even just a drop of ink on paper to me looks like, wow,

that looks really good.

Just because it's so permanent and official looking,

kind of like when you first get to use a sharpie when you're kid and you know it's like wow I made this dark bold line

Welcome back to working. I'm your host Isaac Butler and I'm your other host June Thomas.

June who did we just hear extolling the virtues of ink? That was children's book author and illustrator Mika Sun. Okay last time I checked

you yourself do not have any kids unless there's been some huge life events since you moved to Scotland. I'm curious about what got you

interested in the work of a children's book illustrator and author and if I can just for my own

pleasure please ask you to include the word book as frequently as possible in your

answer absolutely just to confirm Isaac I have not acquired any kids since our last episode

I first met meika because my partner was in a writing group with her, which is how I came to attend the launch party for her

first book which she mentions in the interview. And sometimes it takes that kind of weird coincidence for us

non-parents to realize how cool kids books are. Like Mika's first book, Tea with Oliver, was about the joy of writing letters, which is just the perfect topic for a stationary lover like me, and her more recent series, which began with Donut Feed the squirrels and has more recently included

once Mark Kookie is about some adorable Brooklyn squirrels whose energy

absolutely captivates me.

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.

I have a kid, so that is.

Yes, you have an excuse.

Well, right, right.

And you know, I know the classic children's books,

but I didn't know the new ones and discovering them with her

particularly when they are legitimately funny or legitimately adorable and

...