Anastasia Magloire Williams
Anastasia Magloire Williams is an illustrator, storyteller, and graphic designer living in sunny Florida. It is her passion to paint colorful adventures, reveal important history, and tell untold stories that reflect the diverse world we all share. Just like in the book Wild, Wild Hair, she had a complicated relationship with her big Afro as a child. But with the help of her amazing stylist Okeya, she has learned to love her magical hair!
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Oh goodness, that’s hard to say! It’s a toss-up between Where the Wild Things Are, Fireman Small, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Rabbit Foo Foo, Are You My Mother? and Hop on Pop! I also had my dad read an Arthur book to me every night while eating pears because I loved how it sounded.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
From a children’s book, probably the Lorax’s “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” I don’t think I understood the importance of community before that book. I don’t think I understood how I have an impact on others either, before The Lorax.
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
So many artists have inspired me, but the foundational three major inspirations for me as an illustrator are Glen Keane, Hayao Miyazaki and Eric Carle. One of my favorite authors is Holly Black, though she writes for older folks!
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
So that little Black children could see themselves in stories, not just about Black history, but in fantasy stories, stories about STEM, about music, about loving themselves, about friendship and family, stories my mother had trouble finding for me as a kid.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
If even one child reads your book, if it reaches just one kid and shares the message with them that it’s wonderful to wonder, that they matter and can dream big, that creativity and curiosity and empathy and love are important, then your book is a success. Also, plant seeds and water them, but move onto new gardens, new flowers and possibilities in the meantime. Before you know it, that seed will be a forest.
