Behind The Book: Spooky Celebrations Around the World

We are thrilled to celebrate the release of Spooky Celebrations Around the World, a vibrant new picture book that explores 21 unique and mysterious festivals from every corner of the globe. Illustrated by the talented Veronika Kotyk and written by Matt Ralphs, this book takes young readers on a fascinating journey through cultural traditions that honour spirits, celebrate the unknown, and bring communities together.

Veronika recently sat down with Mel Schuit from Let’s Talk Picture Books to discuss her experience illustrating Spooky Celebrations Around the World. We’re excited to share her insights here, giving you an inside look at how this captivating book came to life.

Veronika’s journey with Spooky Celebrations Around the World began with a spark of excitement. Having grown up in Ukraine, where Halloween wasn’t traditionally celebrated, she was enchanted by the magic of the holiday when she moved to Canada. The experience of trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, and donning costumes was a new and thrilling way to connect with people and brighten the chilly autumn days.

“When I first saw the manuscript,” Veronika recalls, “it hit me like a lightning bolt! I realised that Halloween was just the beginning. There are so many old, rich, and unique traditions around the world that honour the dead. I was incredibly excited to explore some of them through the book and hope that our readers will have a similar experience.”

Creating accurate and meaningful illustrations for each celebration required a deep dive into the history and customs behind them. Veronika worked closely with author Matt Ralphs and the editorial team to gather visual references and cultural insights. Whether it was learning about the gift-giving traditions of Chuseok from a friend’s husband or exploring the wooden masks of Fête des Masques, every detail was carefully researched and brought to life on the page.

“It’s hard to choose just one holiday that excited me the most,” says Veronika. “How can you choose between the spectacular Fête des Masques and the deeply spiritual Fet Gede? I dream of experiencing at least half of these amazing celebrations in the next ten years!”

One of the challenges Veronika faced was maintaining the spooky tone of the book without crossing into the realm of science fiction. The temptation to add elements like UFOs and movie monsters was strong, but since this is an educational project, it was crucial to keep it spooky yet realistic.

“The most rewarding part was seeing the reactions of my friend’s kids when they saw the author’s copy. It’s tough to compete with video games and social media, but they were fully absorbed by the book. The excitement on their faces was priceless!”

Veronika’s love for mid-century modern, constructivism, and art nouveau styles shines through in her work. Her process begins with quick sketches on plain white paper, which she then refines digitally using Procreate and Photoshop. Each illustration is meticulously crafted with a limited colour palette, creating a visual harmony that is both striking and immersive.

“I start with rough drafts, figuring out which scenes will go on each book spread. It’s a bit like film directing—choosing the key scenes from the story and putting them all together,” she explains.

Veronika shared some exciting news: next year, she’ll be collaborating once again with the same dream team on a new book about Winter Celebrations. We can’t wait to see how she brings these festive traditions to life!

Veronika also mused about the idea of creating her own picture book autobiography, imagining a world where different illustrators—Miroslav Šašek, Grasya Oliyko, Matt Hunt, and Olga Shtonda—each bring their unique styles to her life story.

Spooky Celebrations Around the World is more than just a Halloween book. It’s a celebration of global traditions that connect us all, no matter where we come from. Through Veronika’s stunning illustrations, young readers are invited to explore the rich tapestry of cultural celebrations that honour the spirits and bring communities together in fun and meaningful ways.

We are incredibly proud of Veronika Kotyk’s work on this book and can’t wait to see how it inspires children (and adults!) to learn more about the world around them. Spooky Celebrations Around the World is available now, get your copy here.

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To work with Veronika, get in touch here.