Just One Question for Jess Hannigan
Author-illustrator Jess Hannigan.
The Spider in the Well by Hamilton-based writer Jess Hannigan, was one of my favourite picture books of 2024. It’s visually striking, with a unique colour palate and graphic, flat illustrations. Story-wise, it really has everything you could hope for in a picture book: Gold coins? Check! Morally ambivalent townsfolk? Check! An entrepreneurial spider? Check! As Jon Klassen (yeah, that Jon Klassen) has said, “I don’t trust anybody in this book.”
What really seals the deal is the ending. It’s the kind of ending that takes kids by surprise. That makes them turn to you with wide eyes that seem to be yelling, “Really? THAT’S how it ends?!” It’s also the kind of ending I suspect will make some adults grumble, “Really? That’s how it ends?”
And now you’re super curious how this book ends, aren’t you? Your wondering if you’re that kind of adult. Well, what are you waiting for? Go read the book and find out!
Spider in the Well, written and illustrated by Jess Hannigan. Published by Harper Collins, 2024.
The Question:
I love that your book raises ethical questions— about fairness, hypocrisy, virtue signaling— without providing a simple moral in response, or a clear sense of who is good and who is bad. It reminds me of how great comedy writing and political satire operate, which is very different from how many (adult) people believe picture books should work. Were you ever tempted to end this story in a way that might be more palatable to adult gate keepers?
The Answer:
"Never! I understood that the kind of story I wanted to write wouldn’t do what lots of people think a picture book should do, including some publishers and editors, and that was fine with me. The kinds of children's books I like aren’t usually the kind that are palatable to people who would, say, worry that a book containing blackmail would teach the child that blackmail is something that they should definitely be doing. I don’t usually enjoy fictional stories that seem to have been written with the intent of teaching a lesson or impart a moral very bluntly. I wrote SPIDER because I DO like mischief, tricks, surprises, comedy, and biggish ideas that I feel kids are more capable of enjoying than many adults might assume.
I met with a lot of like-minded adults that saw the story for what I’d liked it for, and been just as excited as I was. Maybe this was lucky, or else I might have second-guessed the work. My editor, Mabel Hsu, and my agent, Hannah Mann, were both very supportive of my naughty characters and never tried to water them down, so I was very grateful to have that kind of validation! There are some very entertaining reviews of the book from people who were definitely not into the book, and some wonderful ones too, which is completely normal!
For example:
This book is Baby Jess approved!
I like to write what kid-me would have gone nuts for, and adult-me (who isn't that far off) had just as much fun writing it as I might’ve had reading it. I assume there are lots of kids running around today who might be on the same wavelength with what they’re into, but you should probably never try to please every kid, or else I assume the work becomes pretty bland trying to accommodate every audience. Like the Big Bang Theory, or something awful like that."
Coming Soon!
Jess’s next book promises to be just as fun and gorgeous as her debut. The Bear Out There hits shelves April 29th, and is available for pre-order now, wherever you like to buy your books. Look out for launch events in Toronto, Montreal, and New York.
The Bear Out There, written and illustrated by Jess Hannigan. Published by Harper Collins, 2025.
About Jess:
Jess Hannigan is the author and illustrator of the picture books Spider in the Well and The Bear Out There. She also works in editorial illustration, amongst other things. Some of her clients include The New York Times, Reader’s Digest Canada, Cottage Life Magazine, VOX, and more. She was awarded the Warby Parker Visionary Scholarship Award by the Society of Illustrators in 2020, and the Bronze Jon Klassen award in her graduating years’ showcase at Sheridan College. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario, with her partner Dan and her cat, Theo.
