Six Months Without My Mother: Honoring Her Through Yabbit the Rabbit
Six months after my mother’s passing from Alzheimer’s, I share how writing seven versions of Yabbit the Rabbit, including The Rabbit in the Moon, helped me honor her original idea, remember her final night, and create a story rooted in memory, culture, and love.
Redesigning Yabbit the Rabbit: Evolving from Anthropomorphic to Animal Character
The latest Yabbit the Rabbit sketches mark a major design evolution! Learn how illustrator Rod Lazo reimagined Yabbit and introduced new mythological characters for The Rabbit in the Moon.
Evolving the Yabbit the Rabbit Brand: From Storybook to Emotional Connection
As The Rabbit in the Moon evolves, so does the Yabbit the Rabbit brand. Learn how this new story refines Yabbit’s personality, introduces supporting characters with purpose, and strengthens the emotional connection behind the brand’s core message: “Trying is Brave.”
Launching the Yabbit Rabbit Website: Laying the Foundation for The Rabbit in the Moon
The first version of our website for Yabbit the Rabbit is finally live! Even without finished artwork, launching early ensures our readers and followers can verify our project and follow along. Here’s how I built the foundation and why I’m now focused on building an email list before the release of The Rabbit in the Moon.
Finding Inspiration in the Park: My Writing Process for Yabbit the Rabbit and The Rabbit in the Moon
Creativity can’t be scheduled, it has to flow naturally. After my mother’s passing, I stopped forcing ideas and began writing only when inspired. Each morning, I find my best ideas for Yabbit the Rabbit and The Rabbit in the Moon while walking my dog in the park, observing life as it unfolds.
Translating The Rabbit in the Moon into Spanish: Balancing Accuracy and Creativity
Translating The Rabbit in the Moon into Spanish requires both structure and soul. My translator, Sandy, and I are blending two techniques, verse-to-prose and interpretive translation, to preserve the heart of the story while making it resonate with Spanish-speaking readers.
Translating The Rabbit in the Moon into Spanish: The Challenge of Rhyme
Translating a rhyming children’s picture book is one of the toughest creative challenges. As I prepare to adapt The Rabbit in the Moon into Spanish, I’ve discovered seven main translation approaches, and I’m learning how to balance rhyme, meaning, and culture in every stanza.
Editing The Rabbit in the Moon: Fine-Tuning Words and Illustrations
Now that the final draft of The Rabbit in the Moon is complete, I’m reviewing alternate verses with my illustrator to balance text and illustration, then sending the manuscript to my longtime editor and mentor for a detailed language polish. Here’s how I’m approaching the editing stage of a children’s picture book.
From Myth to Moonlight: Creating the World of The Rabbit in the Moon
After seven drafts, I finally wrote an original story I love. The Rabbit in the Moon blends Aztec and Greek mythology with personal experiences and family inspiration. In this post, I share how I built Yabbit’s world from scratch, discovered Snail’s backstory, and created a cast of characters who find strength in moonlight.
Saying Goodbye to the Original Yabbit the Rabbit Story
Saying goodbye to the first version of Yabbit the Rabbit was one of the hardest moments of my creative journey. After reading that story to my mother before she passed, I realized it wasn’t just a book, it was a farewell. Here’s how I found peace in starting over and creating a timeless version that would carry her spirit forward.
Exploring Yabbit the Rabbit’s Age: How Character Details Shape Illustration
Determining Yabbit the Rabbit’s age is a key step in shaping his character design. Learn how illustrator Rod Lazo interprets Yabbit’s age through art, imagination, and storytelling.
New Yabbit the Rabbit Sketches: Watching Yabbit the Rabbit Come to Life!
Illustrator Rod Lazo continues to refine the design for Yabbit the Rabbit. Take a look at the latest sketches and see how Yabbit the Rabbit’s personality is evolving before your eyes.
Show, Don’t Tell: Bringing Yabbit the Rabbit to Life Through Illustration
Great picture books don’t just tell stories—they show them. I’m learning how to let my illustrator, Rodrigo, visually express Yabbit the Rabbit’s world, emotions, and actions so children can connect with the story through art.
First Look: Yabbit the Rabbit Character Sketches by Illustrator Rodrigo Lazo
The first body sketches of Yabbit the Rabbit are here! Illustrator Rodrigo Lazo has brought our main character to life with expressive, human-like traits that perfectly match the tone and action of our story introducing Yabbit the Rabbit.