Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo

KLiC: What was your inspiration for Ripening Time? 

This story, inspired by my childhood, is about a little girl who is waiting across a week for plantains to ripen. It’s a celebration of food and family and connecting across generations. My parents are Jamaican immigrants, and I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, a place where—at the time—it wasn’t always easy to find plantains. My mother used to go to the grocery store across town in search of plantains, sometimes finding the food we longed to eat. Their presence in our home was always a special treat. Waiting for those green plantains to ripen was so hard, but that ripening time produced the very taste I wanted to eat! Given that background, Ripening Time was the perfect title!

KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? 

I first drafted this book in the autumn of 2021. I wanted to tell a story connected to a beloved food in my life, and I was also interested in creating a book structured around the days of the week. The ripening of plantains felt like the perfect fit. It took me another six to eight months after that first draft to finish the manuscript because I struggled to bring the story to a satisfactory ending. Sometimes the ideas are there, but the ending isn’t! Working with wonderful picture book writing coach, Rona Shirdan, helped me get that manuscript over the finish line! Sometimes we just need a solid outside voice to speak into our work. The manuscript sold to WorthyKids in the summer of 2022.

KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book?

There is an absolutely gorgeous spread that takes place on Friday in the story. The plantains are almost ripe and the family is dancing in celebration. I love all the vibrant colors Carlos Vélez Aguilera brought into this illustration. They bring such happiness. During school visits, I love to talk with the children about how we can feel the excitement and joy because of the colors! And this book is full of such joy. This illustration perfectly captures that emotion present across the entire book!

KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors?

The journey to publication can sometimes be such a strange thing, and I think it matters that we: 1) connect with community that understands the work that we do; people who can encourage us and we can encourage as well, 2) keep learning—whether through reading craft books and mentor texts, taking classes, attending webinars, etc. and 3) believe that the work we create matters in the world; that our work adds beauty to the world.

KLiC: What’s next for you? 

I just wrapped up my second season of my podcast Picture Books Are for Grown-ups, Too! It’s such fun, but it’s also quite a bit of work, so I’m excited to take a little rest from that. In addition, I’m thrilled that my next picture book, Beyond Alaska’s Window, illustrated by Monica Mikai, will release with Viking in 2026. Inspired, once again, by my life, it’s the story of a Jamaican family in Alaska who eats the same Jamaican meal every Sunday across the changing seasons. This story is so close to my heart, and I loved creating a book I wish the child version of me had a chance to read decades ago.

Patrice Gopo is the child of Jamaican immigrants and was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She is an award-winning essayist and the author of multiple picture books, including Ripening Time and All the Places We Call Home. Patrice lives with her family in North Carolina, where one taste of fried plantains immediately takes her back to some of the sweetest moments in her childhood. Please visit patricegopo.com to learn more.

Name: Patrice Gopo
Book Title: Ripening Time
Publisher Name and Date published: WorthyKids/Hachette; April 22, 2025
Illustrator full name: Carlos Vélez Aguilera