Continuing our Libraries in the Picture feature for Libraries Week, we are extremely excited to welcome illustrator Rikin Parekh to the blog.  Rikin's work is characterised by a whimsical and energetic line.  Rikin has an impressive list of publications and has illustrated James Bishop's Iguana Boy books, Emma Perry's This Book has Alpacas and Bears, Konnie Huq's Fearless Fairy Tales and Joanna Nadin's The Worst Class in the World.  Rikin has also written an illustrated the picturebook Fly, Tiger, Fly!

Can you introduce yourself – a little about your work and technique?

My work tends to drawn towards animals, colour and expressions which I find really intriguing. I use a dip pen and a brush to ink my illustrations and use watercolours, acrylics and colouring pencils to colour in my work. All this done to the sounds of either a film soundtrack or Jimi Hendrix! 

This year’s Libraries Week is themed around books and reading, can you tell us about some of the books you enjoyed as a child and why these connected with you?

The late, great Judith Kerr's The Tiger Who Came to Tea was one of the first picture books I remember reading. It filled me with so much joy, excitement and wonder, reading and seeing a tiger coming to someone's house and having fun! That sense of wonder and joy coupled with the amazing illustrations inspired me and continues to do so. 

What do you feel is important about libraries?

I feel libraries are not just important but a lifeblood for the community. It's where children can go and check into new worlds, meet new characters, become inspired by word and colour, feed their hunger for knowledge and see the importance of learning. It's where people can come and find answers. I love my local library, I remember going there many times whilst at school, loaning books out, just becoming mesmerized by how much knowledge there was and why I couldn't just take it all in! 

Can you share details of one of your favourite libraries – this could be a school library or a public library?

I think it would have to be the library at my old high school, Preston Manor High in Wembley. It was here that I learnt how to use the internet, how my friends and I would seek refuge there when it rained outside and we'd discover the beauty of books. It was briefly shut as it was being refurbished but when it opened, during the late 90's when I was there, it was SO cool! We had new seating areas, Mac computers, PC's, new furniture, NEW BOOKS! I loved going there during my empty periods and drawing in the learning booths, it felt like my studio and I had any reference books at an arm's length. 

Can you tell us anything about your next book?

I have a couple and a few picture book manuscripts I've submitted to my agent. That's about all I can say right now! 

Thank you so much to Rikin for a brilliant interview and for his amazing library inspired doodle!