Antoinette Portis：Write from Your Inner Child

Antoinette Portis：Write from Your Inner Child

From Storyland Podcast by Storyland Podcast

November 30, 2025 · 48 min · Episode 1

About this episode

Antoinette Portis discusses her creative process and the importance of honoring children's emotions in literature.

嘉宾 | Guest： Antoinette Portis is an award-winning American author and illustrator of picture books. Her debut title Not a Box became a contemporary classic, followed by Not a Stick, Wait, A New Green Day, Hey, Water! and others. Her work is celebrated for its elegant minimalism, visual wit, and a profound respect for children’s creativity and perception. Before becoming a full-time author-illustrator, she worked as a creative director at Disney. Portis's books invite readers to rediscover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary. 01:56 — Staying Connected to the Inner Child Portis shares how curiosity and noticing small things fuel her creativity. 03:48 — Why Structure Matters in Picture Books She explains how structure creates page-turn magic and supports imagination. 06:43 — Early Creative Memories Childhood moments that shaped her as an artist and maker. 09:30 — Encouragement vs. Discouragement How adults influence a child’s sense of creative identity. 13:09 — The Making of Not a Box The writing class insight that transformed her approach: honesty over cleverness. 14:32 — Sparks Behind Hey, Water! and Other Books How observing shapes in nature became a foundation for new…

People in this episode

Guest: Antoinette Portis

Topics covered

  • creativity
  • children's literature
  • inner child
  • picture book structure
  • creative identity
  • emotional complexity

Keywords

  • creativity
  • picture books
  • children's emotions
  • inner child
  • artistic inspiration
  • storytelling

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Disney

Books & works: Not a Box, Not a Stick, Wait, A New Green Day, Hey, Water!

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