When the two immigrant parents in Zeno Sworder’s latest illustrated book go to the baker asking for a cake for their son, the baker asks for something different instead of money. “Five centimeters should do it,” says the baker. “Your height, of course.”

Zeno Sworder (Thames & Hudson, January 2023)
That starts the story of My Strange Shrinking Parents: a tale that connects to immigration, parental sacrifice, and the changing perspective that comes with growing up.
In this interview, Zeno and I talk about immigrant parents, the use of height as a symbol, and what’s different about creating an illustrated book.
Zeno Sworder is a writer and artist who lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is also the author of This Small Blue Dot (Thames & Hudson, 2021).
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