Public Service Announcement #14
Wellsprings of community—in picture books, creating, helping, gathering.
Interview with author-illustrator X. Fang
“But Mr. Li was a kind human, and he did what kind humans do.
He offered to help.”
I was already a fan of X. Fang’s book DIM SUM PALACE. Then when I spotted her newest, WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN at Vroman’s here in LA, I felt like I had to have it! Luckily, my dear friend Bonnie was at the bookstore with me—and gifted me this book!
It’s now my favorite of the year! Why? The story, the strangeness, the art with pencil strokes and neon space-inspired pink contrasting with neutral ones for the earthy setting. The hilarity of these aliens declaring they are absolutely human! The truth conveyed about how to treat anyone, no matter how unfamiliar they may be. (And that community care often ends in a party!) It’s not hard to make leaps to use it to teach kids (and growns) how to treat any stranger near or far.
Was community, its value, and the beauty of helping strangers part of the impetus for creating WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN? What is its origin story?
X. Fang: I'm embarrassed to admit that it was not. I actually worked backwards by starting with a title and then building a story from there. The title was an inside joke between my husband and I after my hairstylist told me this conspiracy theory about lizard people living among us, even infiltrating the highest levels of government. I thought that was such a funny and silly idea, and my husband and I joked about all the possible disguises these lizard people could wear. Then, I thought, what if lizard people didn't wear a disguise at all, but rather proclaimed "We are DEFINITELY human" with confidence and swagger? I might believe them!
So with that title stuck in my head, I began thinking of a story. I thought about all the reasons why my characters would pretend to be something they are not. It could be for nefarious reasons, benign reasons, or the reason is because they want to feel safe so they feel that they must hide who they really are. I was really interested in the latter reason, because it lent itself to a wonderful exploration of how a community can welcome those who are not like them, by showing kindness and offering help without stipulations or conditions. And how this generosity of spirit can be contagious.
How is community important to you now and how has it been important? Is there a particular time in your life that you’ve been part of a web of people in a rewarding, meaningful way?
X. Fang: I belong to this epic group text called the Coven that consists of a dozen female artists lifting each other up, ranting, making dumb jokes, and sharing advice and recipes. An artist's life can be a lonely one, and to just have a group of people with you in your pocket at all times is so meaningful to me.
Also, I recently moved to a small town in Maine with my family and now I am part of a rural community filled with people who are so different from me. But we all share a passion for this place that we call home and we share a commitment to care for the land and the people in our community. I'm learning so much.
What do you think about the role children’s books and picture books in particular in building connections, in helping others, in fostering the kind of empathy Mr. and Mrs. Li show in the book?
X. Fang: I think children have a greater capacity for empathy than we give them credit for and they're ALWAYS ready and willing to help out. A picture book might help them articulate it better. In my experience of reading We Are Definitely Human at storytimes, the kids don't seem at all surprised by the kindness of humans, because I think that is how they see the world already. I honestly think picture books might help adults foster empathy, and connection more than kids.
Do you have any advice for someone looking to help others or make friends or connect?
X. Fang: Be authentic. If you want to help someone, do it because you genuinely want to help, not because you think it'll get you something in return. If you want to connect with a person, connect with them because you are genuinely curious about them, not because they are "cool" or the "right person to know.”
Finally, please tell us about your inspirations in general! For DIM SUM PALACE, for WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN, for art and story and community-making? Who are your heroes? What are your favorite works or experiences you draw from?
X. Fang: I have so many inspirations! I don't even know where to begin. I love the simplicity of pencil on paper, so I'm drawn to people who draw. My favorite artists are Saul Steinberg and Vija Celmins. Very different styles but both push drawing to such brilliant heights. Saul Steinberg's work is so eclectic and witty. I'm often in awe of the way he designs his drawings. Vija Celmins' work speaks to my heart. It uses drawing as a way to affix a memory into one's heart
More picture books on community
Wellsprings of community for me
As you may remember, I’ve got a fund going for my friend, dear Ajjour. We’ve had 70 donations!! And we’re trying to reach 75—and then 100! Each gift or share is an act of love.
The way community has been key to this fund is immeasurable. The friend who is translating for us. The once-stranger handling the technicalities of transfers. The Camps Breakerz Crew supporting Ajjour and our process. Our fundraising team sharing with others. The once-strangers generously advising and chatting on the phone when we hit a snag.
The work of mutual aid is entirely communal.
That’s where you come in too. By giving or sharing, you become part of my and Ajjour’s and all of our community. You’ll get updates via the fund, you can follow along with precious Ajjour and the kids he dances with and delivers food to, and you can be part of helping someone who is himself a helper. Who desperately needs support and is completely wonderful—a 19-year-old young man trying to take care of his parents and own community while trying to survive. Trying to live. We want to give Ajjour all the love we can and a chance at freedom and to pursue his unique dreams.
Marina Zlatanova generously and beautifully captured Ajjour and the Camps Breakerz children with her exquisite block cut. The joy and hope of dance! The way Ajjour’s eyes sparkle in that one-armed handstand! The children’s cheers and glee! This piece embodies moments of healing, peace, and community that breaking provides during unthinkable trauma, Ajjour teaching kids just like he was taught by the crew that came before him.
How to enter to win one of 12 prints—Marina will mail anywhere!!
Give at least 20 US or Euros (or equivalent) to Ajjour and his family.
Comment on our IG post with “gave” or 🎁 or 💝.
Friday (9/20) we’ll pick a dozen winners to send a print to—and remember, it’s international!
And if you’d like to get involved in our fundraising team for Ajjour, please email to let me know!
Another wellspring of community for me has been very local, volunteering for the 100% grassroots David Kim campaign for congress here in Los Angeles. It’s another major and meaningful way I’ve found community: through good work, good people, and learning.
Above, a picnic with folks who drove from totally different counties to come and support David’s third—and successful, we hope!—run to represent 22 neighborhoods in LA. Of course, I brought picture books and a craft! People created flags with they want to do to change things.
Mine was: “make art that connects people.”
David is for the people, for real, and he just about won it last time! He’s about community. He includes. He carries boxes of paper for letter-stuffing. He DMs people back. Not only does this crew align with my values, they’re working for change, and they have changed me and the trajectory of my life and my children’s books too. (If you’re in LA, we’ve got a Comedy Night next week you’re invited to.)
Poster by local artist and now friend Natalie Bui. It embodies and represent the spirit of what David’s up to. (And now it’s on one of my fave t-shirts too!)
“In learning more about David Kim’s campaign and his approach, I wanted to capture the diversity of the neighborhoods he could serve, his playful and warm spirit (and honor the way he shows up in unicorn outfits for campaign efforts), and of course capture the magicalness that is Los Angeles.”
90-minute online Picture Book Seminar 9/26
Picture Books: The Heart of your Story and Submission with Writer’s Digest University.
Yup, we’ll get to the heart of what matters to you and future readers about your story as well as the heart of things for your process and submission decisions.
Plus, we’ll end with an extensive Q&A for anything you want help with! Hope you can join! ✏️❣️Thursday, September 26 at 1pm EST online!
As a picture book teacher, editor, and one-on-one coach/mentor, my approach has been described with these words: “energizing, encouraging, productive, straightforward, fun, and confidence-building.”
What is a wellspring of community for you?
Please share in the comments if you’d like to! How have you created or pursued more community?
Have you joined with others around something? Offered your own gifts to help? Checked in with a friend or neighbor? Asked for support? Made a new, unexpected friend? Taken on a creative project that fosters a new connection?
Paid subscriber upgrades
Aside from supporting me as a writer, I host video Q&A’s two-four times a year for paid subscribers. Our first two were neat opportunities for discussion together! If you’re a subscriber who’d like to upgrade before the next one this fall, you can join in too! And if you can’t, no worries about that either.
Thank you for spending this time with me and for reading! I hope it served you as moments well spent. And please do tell a friend, leave a comment, or stay tuned for the next PSA from Danielle Davis.