Kathmandu, seen through the eyes of a young villager. A poem by the Nepalese poet Swo Swopnil Smriti, "The Red Brick Jungle," inspired me to make these illustrations. As is common in economically troubled countries, many people in Nepal migrate to the city (and more go abroad) in search of better economic possibilities and better education. The contrast between villages and cities is much higher there than in western countries—in fact, commuting between the two can feel like time traveling. The poem voices the feeling of being in a place where one does not belong and being estranged from one’s roots.

I am happy to announce that these illustrations were among the winners of the Worldwide Picture Book competition (2015).

A tour through Mustang, Nepal.