In this post, we feature author-illustrator Margaux Meganck, whose previous titles include People Are Wild, which was named a CCBC Choices selection. You can hear her speak about her new picture book, Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic, and try her “invitation to imagine” activity. You’ll also find other resources to explore. Thanks for joining us, and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic
- Written and illustrated by Margaux Meganck
- Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House
- Release date: March 19, 2024
Everything and everyone has a place in the universe, but for a little speck, lost at sea, it will take an extraordinary journey to find it. The little speck does not know what it is or where it belongs. And so it embarks on an adventure across the sea, from sun-flecked surf to darkest depths, past schools of fish, storm-tossed ships and hungry eels. At last, it finds exactly what it was looking for. In vivid watercolor paintings, Margaux Meganck brings this tale to life, seamlessly shifting perspective to show how even the tiniest creatures—every barnacle, every child, every star in the sky—contributes to something greater than itself.
Explore Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic
Listen to Margaux Meganck talking with TeachingBooks about creating Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic. You can click the player below or experience the recording on TeachingBooks, where you can read along as you listen, and also translate the text to another language.
- Listen to author-illustrator Margaux Meganck pronounce her name.
- Sample an e-book of Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic on Overdrive.
- Explore TeachingBooks’ collection of activities and resources for Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic.
Invitation to Imagine
TeachingBooks asks each author or illustrator on our Virtual Book Tour to share a writing prompt, a drawing exercise, or just an interesting question to spark curiosity and creativity. Enjoy the following activity contributed by Margaux Meganck.
Imagination Activity with Margaux Meganck
First, draw a character. Remember to add in the little details that make them unique: What are they wearing, and how are they wearing it? For example, are they wearing shoes but their shoelaces are untied? Do they have any favorite items that they keep on them all the time? Are they standing? Sitting? Lying down? Add at least three details about this character, and then tell us what those details mean about them. For example: “My character doesn’t have time to tie their shoes because they are always in a hurry!”
Second, think about what your character wants more than anything in the world. And then, think about what might help or hinder your character reaching their goal.
This is how to use a fleshed-out character to drive a story. Sometimes doing work like this upfront helps you take a story in a direction you hadn’t thought of yet!
Finish This Sentence . . . with Margaux Meganck
As part of our Virtual Book Tour, TeachingBooks asks authors and illustrators to complete short sentence prompts. Enjoy Margaux Meganck’s response.
“While working on this latest project, I was surprised to learn that…”
While working on this latest project, I was surprised to learn that barnacles really are born as teeny tiny little specks (called nauplii), along with thousands of their siblings. They float through the ocean until they land somewhere safe. Then, they glue themselves down, build up their walls, and stay there for the rest of their lives!
“I hope my book may encourage readers to think about…”
I hope that my book may encourage readers to think about what they want out of life, what the obstacles might be to getting there, and how they might overcome or get there despite the obstacles.
Thank you!
To wrap up this Virtual Book Tour, we thank Margaux Meganck for signing a book for all of us.
More Connections to Margaux Meganck and Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic
- Discover books like Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic on TeachingBooks.
- PRH’s page about Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic, written and illustrated by Margaux Meganck.
- Buy Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic, written and illustrated by Margaux Meganck.
All text and images are courtesy of Margaux Meganck and Penguin Random House and may not be used without expressed written consent.
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