Illustration Student Mikayla Baird’s Very Un-Boring Journey in Writing and Illustrating a Children’s Book
Writing and illustrating a book dummy (or unfinished draft) for her children’s book, “The Most Boring Cake,” was anything but boring for design student Mikayla Baird. From unexpected challenges, to learning to let the story take center stage, to discovering that it is serious work to write a funny book, Baird has crafted a delightful story filled with layers of joy and topped with applicable and inspiring themes.
Readers got a little taste of Baird’s book at her capstone reception. Sharing her work — along with the lessons she has learned along the way — was the icing on the cake. While many have fallen in love with Mikayla’s story, her favorite reviews are from the most discriminating of critics. “My favorite feedback so far is that my two-year-old nephew has asked to read my book every single day,” Baird said.
Throughout her writing process, Baird learned the importance of trusting herself, as well as her readers. “Often, media can be too afraid of allowing the story to overpower the message, often to the detriment of both,” she says. “It starts to feel preachy, or like the creators don’t trust the audience to draw the right conclusions. Many of my favorite books and movies are primarily focused on the story — which makes me want to spend more time with them. This usually results in me finding deeper meanings in my own way.”
Through some trial and error, Baird found the perfect recipe for telling a story she would have enjoyed as a child, and one she would still find fun as an adult, even if she was not quite sure what the message would be at first. “There was a brief time when I panicked about my story not having enough of a moral and tried to superimpose one upon it — and it just kept not working,” she said. “So I switched back to just telling the story I wanted to tell. It was really exciting to see that themes did emerge naturally — themes like acceptance and finding joy in life. I’m really glad that I took that approach. It was a good experiment.”
Most recipes for cake call for flour, sugar and eggs. Baird’s recipe for “The Most Boring Cake” called for lots of prayer, more than a few tears, trust in the process and the tools and experience she needed to bring it all together. And by following and even developing her own journey, Mikayla has written and illustrated a story of sweetness and joy that takes the cake.
