The Power of Illustrations: Including a Visual Element into Novels with Alan Barillaro EP 91

Reading to Succeed with Elizabeth Morphis · Aug 13, 2026 · 30m

Alan Barillaro is a children’s author and illustrator. He is also the director of Piper, which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Based on his experience reading with his children, he has written a series, Buns Rabbit–it blends illustrations into a novel, making it extremely accessible for readers.

Alan talks about why he believes in this format–particualry in this digital-age. He also talks about his practice of keeping a sketchbook to document what he notices–and later puts into his creative work.

Buns Rabbit was nominated for the Barnes & Noble Children’s Book Award–it’s a…