Jenny Sue’s eyes are not the same as other people’s eyes. Her right eye looks in one direction, while her left eye sometimes wanders. Jenny Sue has a travelin’, lazy eye. Although it makes her different, it also helps her see the world in a special way. Here is a charming story about one very inspiring little girl who overcomes her disability and offers inspiration to others.

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This story was inspired by my childhood. I’ve had a ‘lazy’ eye since the day I was born.

When I was little and got a patch and glasses (to try and fix my eye), I felt really shy and awkward. I never thought anything was ‘wrong’ with my eye until then. My doctor’s name was Dr. Dave (aka Dr. Lewis) and I really liked him. He wore glasses, too! I went to Children’s Hospital once a week for a year doing all sorts of eye-exercises to help my eye. Still, my left eye often saw the bird flying off in the landscape, when it should have seen it in a cage. But with the patch and glasses, my ‘lazy’ eye did get stronger and more confident. As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized my travelin’ eye sees differently than others, and it has helped me see the world in a unique way — and to paint it in a fun way. I guess you could say that my wandering eye became my muse! This story is also a tribute to my Mom who always helped me look at things a little differently and think, “We just gotta get creative, Jenny Sue!”

I hope you enjoy my story and pictures!

When I was little, my dad traveled the world. I remember him telling me that people are the same everywhere and that people are good-hearted. He inspired me to travel the world, too, and I have learned the same beautiful lesson. In Southeast Asia, I learned this popular saying when comparing different cultures, “Same, same. But different!”

My picture book, SAME, SAME. BUT DIFFERENT, is published with Henry Holt and Christy Ottaviano Books. You can order it thru your local, independent bookstore or here with Powell’s Books, or now on Amazon.com here.

It is inspired by my little friends at Sunshine School in Bhaktapur, Nepal, my travels in India and Thailand, and of course, my dad. Below are some of my student’s art from Nepal. I did a project with them where they shared different parts of their culture and daily lives with my friends in the U.S. We went for walks in their village and drew temples, musicians, potters, and farmers. They drew their parents at home in their traditional dress, and they drew their mud houses, wells and animals. They drew themselves and they drew each other and had so much fun! These, along with a few bulging sketchbooks of mine over several trips, have been great research+inspiration for this book. I will share interior spreads soon.