Heartwarming Adventures That Teach Love, Bravery, And Friendship
Michael and Nicole Collazo share their journey creating Cozy Critters, a series of picture books that teach children valuable life lessons.
Michael & Nicole Collazo are a creative husband-and-wife duo based in Southern California, best known for bringing the beloved Cozy Critters to life. Their charming picture book series, including Cozy Critters on the Ark, introduces young readers to a world where animals and humans connect through heartwarming adventures. Michael, the illustrator, infuses each page with vibrant, action-packed artwork, while Nicole’s storytelling focuses on building meaningful relationships between characters. Together, they craft tales that not only entertain but also impart valuable life lessons about care, love, and bravery. Their journey from science careers to full-time authors and illustrators reflects their deep passion for creating stories that resonate with children, especially those who may feel lonely or unsure. Drawing inspiration from their own experiences with their guinea pig, Cooper, they created characters like Rufi and Cooper to showcase the different ways love and care can be expressed. As they continue to build the Cozy Critters world, Michael and Nicole aim to inspire children to embrace nature, animals, and the power of friendship. Discover their creative adventures and learn more about their inspiring work by visiting their website at www.thecollazonook.com or following them on Instagram at @thecollazonook.
A delightful and engaging series that captures the essence of friendship and compassion in a world of adventure.
How do your personal experiences with exotic pets influence the development of characters like Cooper and Rufi in the Cozy Critters series?
Owning our guinea pig Cooper taught us a depth of love that comes with caring for a vulnerable and trusting friend. We loved him because he wanted to be with us and that made us feel warm inside. We want children, who often struggle with feelings of loneliness, to see our characters and believe that there are individuals out in the world who will love them. We want them to hope for such things.
“Owning our guinea pig Cooper taught us a depth of love that comes with caring for a vulnerable and trusting friend.” – Michael & Nicole Collazo
Can you elaborate on the creative process behind combining storytelling with illustrations to create a cohesive narrative in your books?
When we tell stories, we lean heavily on visuals to communicate with the reader. The character’s expressions, body language, and dramatic gestures communicate the subtext beneath the words, In our opinion, the subtext is where the meaning of stories is found. When we write, we discuss the plotline and then develop each scene by drawing it first, then add minimal words to tell the parts of the story that benefit from elaboration.
What challenges did you face transitioning from science careers to full-time authors and illustrators, and how did you overcome them?
My dad once told me that no one can buy one second of time. We have faced great difficulty with making enough time for one another, our obligations, and our passions. Nicole and I have both had phenomenal experiences in science, with cherished moments of discovery and wonder. However, one’s time generally ends up spent on what one loves the most. We use our nights between 7 and 10 PM to pour our energy into creating adventures for children. We both completed master’s degrees and currently work in Government agencies. Nicole retained her usage of science in her career, while I ventured into the business of contracts. During our evenings, we began to dream together. We founded Pure Imagination Pursuits LLC to create content for children. Finding an outlet for our creativity and intent to inject love into our culture has been the most rewarding experience of our lives. It is our investment in the world. We have overcome the stresses of divided time by believing that our lives will have a real and lasting impact.
How do you ensure that each Cozy Critter character embodies distinct personalities and life lessons that resonate with young readers?
Our characters come from our own hearts and our own personalities. Some are bossy, some are brave, some love to work, some are unsure of themselves, and others just want to be in a warm safe place. Because of their differences, we can explore a range of relatable situations that resonate with different types of children. For example, Rufi is not cuddly like Cooper, but he enjoys company as he labors to help his friends. Cooper is not often found working but he expresses care through cuddling and being held. Each one of them is a valid example of how to express care.
In what ways do you incorporate educational elements into your stories to foster a love for nature and animals among children?
Animals gain children’s attention, help children to feel safe, and give storytellers like us a memorable means of illustrating principles that will help children in their relationships as they grow. Animals are safe and relatable vehicles for building connection between a child and a message. Since children learn by example, we want children to see the tender care and small gestures of love exchanged between the characters in the story and feel a longing to experience the same sense of family. We are intentional in showing the human characters acting tenderly with animals and with their own families. We also show the animals act with bravery to care for one another, like a child may act bravely to engage a friend and express care.
Could you share insights into the collaborative dynamic between you and Nicole in writing and illustrating your books?
Nicole helps me articulate what we mean to say and express to the audience as we write and revise the stories together. I reach for symbolism and abstraction, to tell the story with a depth of feeling. In contrast to most writers and illustrators, once we discuss the plot, we begin by illustrating and then select the words to add and revise as our story takes form. For our first book we spent six months with revisions.
What advice would you offer to aspiring authors aiming to create engaging and meaningful children’s literature?
Find people who share your passion, offer good input, and are genuinely happy to see you succeed. You will run into solid advice from others that is valid but not encouraging. A dream is like a little seed and you need to protect it from negativity. Hone your skills alongside partners who are rooting for you to succeed while you grow and improve. Join peer groups that provide both critique and encouragement, because one without the other will quench a precious dream. Be brave and find a good outlet to show people what you are doing. In keeping with a message that we share often, there are people out there who want to know you and they will like you.
