Podcast Summary: New Books Network—Kristine A. Lombardi, "Crouton: One Cat's Adoption Tale" (Random House, 2026)

Episode Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Mel Rosenberg
Guest: Kristine A. Lombardi (Author & Illustrator)

Episode Overview

This engaging episode of the New Books Network, hosted by Mel Rosenberg, celebrates Kristine A. Lombardi's new picture book, Crouton: One Cat’s Adoption Tale (Random House, 2026). The discussion dives into the book’s unique feline perspective on adoption, Kristine’s journey from advertising to children's literature, the creative process behind her work, and practical advice for aspiring authors and illustrators. The episode is filled with warmth, humor, and insightful anecdotes about the joys and challenges of writing and illustrating for children.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Inspiration and Theme of Crouton

• Feline Perspective: The story is uniquely told from the point of view of Crouton, a shelter cat waiting to “adopt” her human. This narrative reversal offers a new emotional entry into the adoption experience.
• Personal Experience: Inspired by Kristine’s own cat, Boo—a calico tuxedo mix she adopted after the loss of a beloved pet. Boo’s resilience and kindness became the emotional heart of the story.
  • “I dedicated the book to my Boo, who was a calico tuxedo mix that I adopted. And just life changing. Just the kindest little creature. We had such a bond.” (02:15)

2. Artistic Choices: The Pink Palette

• Visual Identity: The book’s striking pink color scheme originated as a “pop of pink” in the penciled dummy. Reader reactions nudged Kristine to retain this limited palette, despite cats’ color vision limitations.
  • “I added this little pop of pink to kind of make the pages stand out a little more. And then I think people reacted to that and I ended up keeping it.” (02:15)
• Unconventional Approach: While some questioned the nontraditional palette, the artistic risk was embraced, resulting in a book that stands out visually in the children’s book landscape.

3. Plot Reversal and Empathy

• Reversing the Narrative: Kristine was drawn to flipping the traditional adoption story, focusing instead on what the animal feels as humans come and go at the shelter.
  • “It's all through Crouton's perspective... it’s just all about her point of view and finally seeing somebody that she wanted to adopt.” (03:16)
• Empathy for Animals: A pivotal, heart-wrenching moment with Boo—after returning her to the shelter cage—highlights the emotional depth animals may experience, influencing the book’s theme.

4. Path to Authorship and Illustration

• Creative Roots: Kristine describes a childhood filled with imaginative play and creativity, encouraged by her mother’s “activity box” full of random items to spark invention. (06:41)
• Advertising Career: She initially pursued advertising, working her way up through roles at agencies like McCann Erickson and Tracy-Locke, before the creative itch to illustrate became too strong to ignore.
• Creative Pivot: Encouraged by a supportive boss to become an illustrator, Kristine transitioned from ad agency art direction to children’s books—first via illustration, then by writing her own stories.

5. Breaking Into Publishing

• Persistence Required: Kristine recounts the many years of rejection and the difficulty of finding the right agent—especially one suited for author-illustrators of animal stories.

  • “It's very hard, especially if you specialize in animals. Your window gets narrower.” (12:12)

• Finding the Right Agent: Eventually, she connected with literary agent Stephen Fraser, describing him as responsive, nurturing, and a genuine cheerleader for her work.

  • “He wrote me back right away... I was a little bit shocked because I was sort of choosing… but I respond to how he's very nurturing.” (16:20)

6. Reading from Crouton (21:37–24:18)

• Signature Style: Kristine reads select spreads from Crouton, showcasing the book’s minimal, poignant text and playful but emotionally resonant illustrations.
  • “Hello. My name is Crouton. I live here at the animal shelter. That's me on the bottom row, waiting for the doors to open. Each day I watch the people walk by my crate. I'm always on the lookout for my person.” (21:41)
• Personal Touches: Details such as the cat sleeping on the owner's head are drawn directly from her experience with Boo. (24:00)

7. Working with Random House

• Smooth Collaboration: After agent Stephen Fraser submitted the manuscript, the editorial process moved swiftly. Kristine highlights teamwork with editor Maria Correa and the art director, Liz, as creatively fruitful and supportive.
• Production Details: Special care was taken with printing—especially to perfect the bold pinks—illustrating the hands-on nature of children's picture book publishing. (25:15–26:40)

8. Other Books and Ongoing Work

• Kristine shares highlights from her earlier books:
  • Lovey Bunny: Debut, inspired by her playful childhood.
  • Grumpy Pets & Grumpy Bunny: Animal adoption themes and celebration of unique personalities.
  • Mr. Biddles: A “cat inventor” makes friends with a lobster—Kristine’s quirky humor and fondness for animal stories shine here. (31:42–33:38)

9. Advice for Aspiring Authors/Illustrators

• Perseverance is Key: Kristine urges creators not to give up, sharing her own years-long journey to publication.
  • “Never give up. Because I had a really hard road to publication… I didn't give up.” (34:15)
• Embrace Revision: She discusses redrafting Crouton “probably 17 times,” highlighting the importance of resilience and openness to editorial feedback.

10. Legacy and Style

• Bemelmans Comparison: Host Mel draws parallels to Ludwig Bemelmans (Madeline)—Kristine considers this “the highest compliment” and admires his writing for both children and adults. (20:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On shelter heartbreak:
  “She just held her head high. She just. And it broke my heart. It was almost like she's been put back in this cage so many times… that was the turning point.” (04:21 – Kristine)

• On agent relationships:
  “He’s been going to all these bookstores in New York finding Crouton and facing the book out... I’ve never had somebody... act as a cheerleader.” (17:13 – Kristine)

• On the creative process:
  “I used to hate [rewrites], but now I feel like you can always make it stronger. If the words are okay, the picture could be funnier. Vice versa.” (23:24 – Kristine)

• On unconventional choices:
  “There must have been pushback with your color palette... But nobody said a word. You didn't say to yourself, oy vey gray and think no.” (35:33 – Mel)

• On artistic encouragement:
  “I adored my childhood and I Want to live in that little space, you know?” (29:09 – Kristine)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Publication Timeline: (00:01–01:43)
• The Pink Palette & Artistic Decisions: (01:51–02:15)
• Adoption Story Inspiration: (03:16–04:46)
• Kristine's Creative Background & Career Shift: (05:45–12:12)
• Finding an Agent & Working with Stephen Fraser: (14:36–16:20)
• Reading Excerpts from Crouton: (21:37–24:18)
• Collaboration with Random House: (24:23–26:40)
• Discussion of Other Books: (28:38–33:38)
• Advice for Aspiring Creators: (34:15–35:33)
• Ending/Final Thoughts: (36:29–37:44)

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is candid, encouraging, and sprinkled with gentle humor and camaraderie between Mel and Kristine. Their friendly rapport invites listeners into an intimate conversation about creativity, persistence, and the heart behind children’s books.

Final Takeaways

• Crouton stands out for its empathy, gentle humor, and inventive storytelling from the animal’s point of view.
• Kristine’s journey is a testament to artistic perseverance, personal authenticity, and the importance of trusted collaborators.
• Aspiring picture book creators will find inspiration in her candid advice: keep refining, keep submitting, and stay true to your creative instincts—no matter how quirky or unconventional.
• As Mel sums up:
  “The book is refreshing. It's a funny, hilarious, quirky look at pet adoption by the pet. The illustrations are precious.”

[End of Summary]