Back in the day, the “School Lunch Lady” (as she was known) was as almost as important to the kids going to school as their teachers. In many cases, these selfless individuals grew attached to their charges as much or more than their teachers did. But what were these ladies doing when they weren’t making sure the children were being fed properly? That was the question creator Jarrett J. Krosoczka tried to answer in his series of Lunch Lady books. Come to find out, at least in Jarrett’s world, at least one of them was using her spare time to fight crime and bring justice to cafeterias everywhere.
His Lunch Lady series by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, became an unqualified hit and favorites of children (and adults) all over. Fast forward to the present and the Lunch Lady returns with a revamp of the series in full color and hardcover editions. Starting with THE FIRST HELPING which contains Lunch Lady books 1 and 2 and THE SECOND HELPING which contains Lunch Lady Books 3 and 4. Not to mention a new Lunch Lady book in the offing in 2023. With all that going on, it was a great opportunity to talk the successful creator about his books and the 10th Anniversary of his School Lunch Hero Day Program, which honors those real heroes of the cafeteria. So, let’s welcome creator Jarret J. Krosoczka to GVN’s Talking Comics.
GVN: Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your time, Jarrett.
JJK: The pleasure is all mine!
Some History
GVN: Let us start with some of your history. When did you take an interest in drawing and writing, and whose work inspired you to pursue that ambition?
JJK: Well, that is sort of like asking me when I started eating. I’m not quite sure; it was just always there. I was weaned on Saturday morning cartoons, daily comic strips, and monthly visits to the comic book shop. So, I always surrounded myself with words and pictures. My mother, who was a very talented artist, would send me drawings of my favorite cartoon characters while incarcerated. Because of her addictions, I was raised by my maternal grandparents. So, at a very young age, I saw that genetics passed down that same skill to me and I was always determined to do something with it.
Children’s Books
GVN: From the start, were books aimed toward children always your targeted audience or did you have a different idea initially? It’s hard to argue with the success you’ve had.
JJK: In high school, I thought I would either draw ultra-violent superhero comic books or maybe become an animator. But during my senior year, I was chosen to be a volunteer counselor at this fantastic place called Camp Sunshine. There, I worked with a young population who were dealing with cancer. So, it was my work with those kids that turned my attention to writing for a younger audience.
Influence of Retro Culture
GVN: When it comes to your drawing style, what would you say was your biggest influence? How did retro culture (i.e., shows like Batman 66) influence your cartooning?
JJK: I would RACE home to get in front of the television for reruns of Batman ’66. The vibe of that show, plus Charles Schulz, Jim Davis, and Bill Watterson were my comics gods when I was little. But then in college, I fell in love with the work of John Singer Sargent. SO yeah—a realistic portrait painter who worked at the end of the 19th century and then the comic strips of the late 20th century were my biggest influences.
The Influx of Indie Possibilities
GVN: I can relate to that in many ways; in my case it was reruns of the original Star Trek, and I am a HUGE fan of Bill Watterson. But I digress as always. The indie comic scene has really evolved over the last number of years, and you have been involved in it for a long period of time. What do you feel has changed about indie comics publishing since the aughts?
JJK: As a high school student, I would take art classes at the Worcester Art Museum and my teacher, Mark Lynch, would bring in comics by Art Spiegleman and Harvey Pekar. He wanted to show us that comics existed outside of the two major comic book publishers. When I graduated from art school in 1999, I moved to Somerville, MA. I would walk down to The Million Year Picnic in Harvard Square and dart straight to their indie section in the far-left corner of the shop. It was there that I was introduced to Craig Thompson, Jeffrey Brown, and James Kochalka’s work. That work kept comics alive for me as I started my picture book career, which then morphed into a career in comics. What’s amazing about today’s landscape is that there are so many options of comics that are being created by an incredible chorus of voices.
Inspiration for Lunch Lady
GVN: So, when it comes to the Lunch Lady series, what was the inspiration for this story? I remember way back in the day our lunch ladies having a wicked snap of the wrist to place our food on the tray. It would make sense that it translated into karate chops. 😊
JJK: It was inspired by my actual lunch lady, but she was a sweetheart. I had a chance encounter with her when I was 23. I was back at my old elementary school with my first published book, and she was dutifully and lovingly prepping to feed the kids. When she told me about her grandkids, I was shocked to learn that she did not live in the school cafeteria. That night I started doodling in my sketchbook and five years later, I had a pitch to show my editor at Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Bringing the Lunch Lady Back
GVN: It’s been since 2014 that you did your last Lunch Lady book, Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Scuffle. Why do you think this is the perfect time for you to revisit the character and for readers of all ages to discover or rediscover LUNCH LADY?
JJK: I am lucky that the Lunch Lady books are still being read voraciously by kids even though I haven’t been putting out new stories. But that limited color palette worked so well for the comics market of the mid-late ’00s. I had a librarian recently tell me that kids look at her as though she’s handed them a stone tablet when she gives them a limited-color comic. So, the time is right because we can reinvent with full color, a new trim size, and a hardcover, which is what readers are looking for in this modern era.
School Lunch Hero Day
GVN: Part of the positive results of your Lunch Lady series has been your establishment of a recognition for those who serve our children in their nutritional needs. As a matter of fact, the 10-year anniversary of School Lunch Hero Day, which you helped to establish is coming up on May 6. You have been recognized numerous times for your different books. Where would you say this project ranks in your list of accomplishments? (It was and is a wonderful idea. When my girls were in school, their grandmother took a job as the lunch lady at their school. They loved it and she loved it enough that after they left, she did it for many years after. She just loved the kids)
Inspiring Stories
JJK: Well, I will share two stories that to this day still shake me to my core. I was visiting a school and stopped into the cafeteria to say hello. The school had recently celebrated School Lunch Hero Day. This woman gave me an enormous hug and started tearing up. She told me that before the celebration, she thought she was at the end of the universe at the school, that she didn’t matter. Prior to that, kids didn’t even bother to learn her name. And you think, damn. Wow. This cartoon character helped kids see the humanity in a person who cares for them every single day.
Another came from a mother who started crying at a book signing. She had explained that she had escaped an abusive relationship and after that, her daughter slipped academically. The kid was so traumatized that she was just faltering in all aspects of life. But then the school librarian put a Lunch Lady book in her hand, and the kid was hooked. She kept reading and reading the series. It is an honor to be a part of someone’s childhood and healing process.
Future Projects
GVN: Thank you so much once again for your time, Jarrett. Before I let you go, do you have any other projects upcoming you would like our followers to know about? Also, where can they follow you on social media?
JJK: Well, I am working on a brand-new Lunch Lady book! #11 will be here in early 2023! I also have Sunshine, a graphic memoir that is a companion to my book Hey, Kiddo. THANK YOU!!!
You can look for Lunch Lady: The First Helping which contains Lunch Lady books 1 and 2 and Lunch Lady: The Second Helping which contains books 3 and 4 on their release February 22nd.
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Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
