Using sparse text, color, and white space, the story begins when a girl named Lydia is bored with her tech toys and entertainment. The idea came to Cordell after he checked his email while playing with his then 2-year-old daughter and she said, “Dada, stop checking email and play.” Hello! Hello! delivers a powerful message about unplugging from the virtual world to enjoy the natural world. The text and illustrations capture the main character’s strong personality and her big imagination.

It’s based on the day Cordell and his daughter made a book together. King Alice is about a dad and daughter making a book together when stuck indoors on a snow day. Origin Stories: Creating Fiction from Real LifeĬordell writes and illustrates books for families so it’s fitting that he looks to his own for inspiration and ideas.