Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn are the mother/daughter picture-book creating powerhouse behind Where Do You Look? most recently, and also Ones and Twos. We thought it would be fun if they interviewed each other, and we weren't wrong!

Marthe: I'll start by asking you the same question that everyone else asks: What was it like working with your mother?

Nell: I've never been too excited about working with a partner or in a group at school but somehow working with you is a lot easier. We've known each other for 22 years so we know what makes the other tick. In other aspects of our lives we might intentionally push each others' buttons but professionally we keep it... well... professional.

How do you like working with your (favourite?) daughter?

Marthe: Intentionally push each others' buttons? You say those things on purpose? Just kidding... I LOVE working with you! (Also with your sister, Hannah, by the way, but that's a different interview). It's a marvel to me to watch another artist work from the same sketch and come up with something so utterly different from what's in my own head. But then to recognize at once the references, or the path that took you there. I also like that we both avoid pink and purple as much as we can.

Nell: Who is your favourite character that you've created/worked on and why?

Marthe: Yikes. That's a really hard question. Do you mean picture book character? I guess I would say the elephant in Hannah and the Seven Dresses and the monkey in A Day with Nellie. The elephant's name is Ellie but we only know that in the second book, Hannah's Collections. The monkey's name is Kiki-monkey, inspired by your favourite  childhood stuffie in real life. He's still sitting on your bed in my house. 

I prefer making animals over people any day of the week.

Nell: Me too. I like characters with non-human faces.

Since you like making animal characters and neither of us is particularly good at human faces (sometimes terrible), why haven't we made a book about monkeys yet?

Marthe: Mmm, why don't we? A book with hundreds of little tiny detailed monkeys... What's the part you like best about making a picture book?

Nell: I like making the little detailed bits.

Marthe: You went to an art school but you didn't study collage. Tell about what you did there and also whether you can imagine using your main skill in a picture book ...

Nell: I studied photography as my major but most of my other classes required visual projects and I always used collage for that (art history, art education, etc). I would love to make a photography book some day but I'm happily focused on collage picture books for the time being.

What's your favourite utensil? Scissors? computer?

Marthe: My reading glasses.

Nell: That makes you sound like an old, old person.
Marthe: Yep. One of these days you'll be making books by yourself. What will they be like?

Nell: I want to make picture books for grownups, somewhat darker than what we've done together. Edward Gorey is my favourite.

When did you start illustrating? And do you always illustrate your own work or do you sometimes illustrate other people's?

Marthe: I suppose it depends on what you call illustrating...? I made pictures and collages out of fabric all through the years when I was a toy designer, and then began to make one-of-a-kind books for my daughters when you were little.

My first published picture book, Hannah and the Seven Dresses, came out in 1999. My picture book texts have been illustrated by me or by your father, Tom Slaughter. Only once so far have I made the pictures for someone else: Time is When by Beth Gleick. I'd like to do more of that. Do you remember making stuff when you were a kid? Be specific.

Nell: I remember making paper dolls when I was little. Most of them were successful. I made buildings out of boxes with trap doors and staircases. I also liked to draw chemistry sets. Beakers that poured into tubes that simmered over fire and steamed into glass orbs.

Marthe: Do you like to read?

Nell: I'm pretty much illiterate but I like books with pictures. Oh, and I like books-on-tape. I like being read to when I'm going to sleep.

Marthe: Ahhh. Don't we all?

Marthe Jocelyn has written or made pictures for nearly thirty books, including several concept and board books for toddlers. She was the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work. For more information, visit her website: www.marthejocelyn.com

Nell Jocelyn is the daughter of Marthe Jocelyn and artist Tom Slaughter. She has recently earned a degree in photography from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Where Do You Look? is her second picture book.