Breadcrumb
Pacific alumnus tackles social issues, embraces hope in new book
Matt de la Pena's new book Milo Imagines the World was released on Feb. 2
Alumnus new book takes children and adults on a beautiful and provocative journey that opens curious eyes and challenges stereotypes.
Milo Imagines the World, released on Feb. 2, continues the graduates forte of tackling serious social issues with the backdrop of understanding and hope. Milo has been on the New York Times Best Seller List (for childrens picture books) for portions of the past month.
He will as part of the Pacific Alumni Associations Leading Voices series.
The bespectacled Milo, wearing a yellow-green hat with a pencil and sketch pad in hand, joins his sister for a subway ride filled with imagination and dreams, yet ending at the most stark of places the prison where their mother is incarcerated. Lifes possibilities are explored and assumptions are shattered by Milo with his train-ride drawings.
I had to figure out how loud or how quiet I was going to be in my writing about prison and the mothers incarceration, de la Pena said. I decided to place it at the end, and I hope adults and children can come back to that and have their thoughts evolve during additional readings.
Today, during the pandemic, its even harder to resist lazy stereotypes because we are being asked to stay away from people. You cant get to know the real story of their lives. You just see them six feet away and make assumptions.
Milo Imagines the World is the third collaboration between de la Pena and Sacramento-based illustrator . They swept the prestigious and Caldecott Honor (illustrations for Robinson) with the 2016 book Last Stop on Market Street. They also worked together on Carmela Full of Wishes in 2018.
Robinson suggested the concept for the new book.
Christian grew up with an incarcerated mother. He really wanted to share that story, de la Pena said. When he told me about that, I knew we were going to do this book together. It was a great challenge and opportunity for Christian because he had to be an illustrator in two ways his own drawings, and the drawings Milo was making.
He said it is important for authors and illustrators to respect each others space. Having played basketball at Pacific, de la Pena said that experience helps in the literary creative process.
As a point guard, you try to deliver the ball in the best position for your teammates. As an author, I know what Christians strengths are as an illustrator. You try to put your illustrator in the best possible position to succeed. We know each other so well now that a lot of this comes naturally, de la Pena said.
The book nears its conclusion with Robinsons vivid illustration of a prison gathering room and de la Penas powerfully descriptive words about Milo:
And its in that tight tangle of familiar arms that he feels most alive.
I tinkered and tinkered with those words and then they locked into place like a puzzle, he said. The anxiety flees for a second and hes in his safe spot.
I think its a challenging book for parents, but not for kids. Parents have an instinct to protect their children, but thats an adult sensibility. Whats amazing about kids is they will enter a story wherever they are. Some kids are fascinated that Milo makes art. Some are curious about where the mother is. I like to have layers in a book so kids can enter at different places.
Whats next for de la Pena?
I am working on what could be my favorite book. Its called Patchwork and it is illustrated by Corinna Luyken. She did The Book of Mistakes, which really put her on the map, he said. There are so many children who are pushed at an early age about what they want to be. I want to challenge that in Patchwork. I gave it that title because people are so much more than any one thing.
That resonates with de la Pena who came to Pacific as an athlete, but exited on a path to becoming an author.
I would not be an author if it wasnt for Pacific. I had never shown my writing to anyone. I always thought, as a male, I wasnt supposed to be writing poems, he said. But then I had these incredible professors who tapped me on the shoulder and said you have a talent, a gift. It makes you want to share. I owe so much of who I am today to Pacific.
