The Author
Brittany Jelinek
Rhyme AND reason. For as long as I can remember, I have loved words. Rhyming them. Making them up. Writing them down. It’s incredible how recipes come together. The Tootie Foodie is absolutely one for me: A combination of cuisine, rhyming and understanding emotions have always been ingredients.
My favorite book growing up was 'Cloudy with a chance of meatballs' -all about the adventures in The Land of Chew and Swallow. I have always loved poetry, specifically anything Shel Silverstein. My mom would read his poems to me every night and I would laugh hysterically at the cadence and the hilarity.
A favorite poem growing up was 'Angela’s Word', about this young girl who never learned to say the word 'no' -until one day deep down inside it came out from her and changed her world (for the better). I recited it in front of my 5th grade class having no idea how much the poem would resonate with me when I read it again 25 years after that, finally finding my “no.”
When I went to culinary school, I thought I wanted to be “the next big restaurant chef”- a female taking the Chicago restaurant scene by storm
When I went to college and studied journalism, I thought I wanted to be “the next big food writer”- infusing industry with humanity.
When I started my catering company at 22, I thought I wanted to be “the entrepreneur that redefines the catering industry” changing the way people think about what’s possible at a catered event, each a decadent experience for the senses.
When I sold my company 12 years after that, I thought I wanted to be … kind of nothing. I felt totally lost. Everything I knew about everything I knew vaporized.
Except for words. Words were everywhere. And I just started writing. I had more time and space than ever before (as lovely as it was uncomfortable) -with myself and with my kids and with my words. My husband always encourages me “just write! Write write write!”. So I did. I would sing songs and make up poems and try to make my two boys (and myself) laugh. Or soothed. Or excited. Or calm. The writing has always been on the inside. The Tootie Foodie is where it comes out!
The brand emulsifies my culinary background with my habit of rhyming and my passion for psychology- all of which is intended to be a helpful message for kids to relate to in deeper ways they might not even realize at the time, growing emotional intelligence along the way that will help them when experiencing a tricky-ish part of life. I want adults to laugh while teaching and kids to laugh while growing and feel like feeling is okay.
It’s actually the answer. Maybe it’s for the kids. Maybe it’s for the adults who love them. Somewhere between all of the things I thought I wanted to be, I became the author of these books- where words might help us smile while feeling seen while the real clunky stuff of a little human being, being human unfolds.
And because feelings, just like toots- are always better out than in.
Xoxo - B
The Illustrator
Başak Notz
Başak Notz is a Mediterranean visual storyteller in Chicago.She is a published illustrator who enjoys slowing down to seek the beauty around her, and draws from her bi-continental observations to reflect on what she sees.She sprinkles her handwritten words on her whimsical illustrations. As can be seen from the body of her work, she enjoys talking about, eating, and drawing food.
Her clients include, Penguin Random House, HarperOne Publishing, Meredith Group, Arts Midwest, Vogue and many others.
When Brittany approached her for a children’s book idea based on food, she knew they were going to have fun.
Başak Notz
The Designer
Rachael Loerwald
Rachael Loerwald is a wife, a mom of two, and the founder and creative director of Studio Foray, a branding and packaging design studio in Dallas, Texas.
With a background in graphic design and over 12 years of experience working with successful startups in the creative field, design is a language of love she speaks fluently.
Brittany and Rachael immediately bonded over their love for playfully sophisticated design and their collaboration is a match made in design heaven, igniting excitement in every project they tackle together.
Rachael Loerwald