Our picture book debut!

Pre-order Slowly and Shirley

Publishing date: 7/27/27
Balzer + Bray, Macmillan

Slowly and Shirley is a picture book about two old turtles who write each other letters every day. It’s a story of loyal friends, grand adventures, and the small cozy moments of life.

The illustrations were created by building handmade miniature sets, tiny props, and puppets… and then photographing them!

Grace Townley and Spencer Lott co-wrote and co-illustrated this book together over the course of several years.

Grace Townley adjusts a handmade miniature croissant while photographing an illustration for the book, Slowly and Shirley.

Grace adjusts the placement of a croissant (made from clay) in Shirley’s favorite cafe.

Behind-the-scenes photo setting up the illustration for Slowly riding up a volcano on a horse. Illustration from Slowly and Shirley, a book by Spencer Lott and Grace Townley, who built and photographed all the scenes and puppets.

Spencer sets up the most complicated shot of the book: a turtle on a horse, galloping toward an erupting volcano. (The volcano is made from painted crumpled paper, the explosion is wool roving, and the lava drips are red hot glue).

Slowly rides up a volcano on a horse. Illustration from Slowly and Shirley, a book by Spencer Lott and Grace Townley

The volcano shot that made it into the book!

Slowly in his living room, writing a letter to Shirley. Illustration from Slowly and Shirley, a book by Spencer Lott and Grace Townley
Slowly in his living room, writing a letter to Shirley. Illustration from Slowly and Shirley, a book by Spencer Lott and Grace Townley

Slowly in his living room, writing a letter to Shirley.

Events and Appearances

Grace Townley and Spencer Lott presenting at an event 
We love sharing our work!

Spencer and Grace give presentations on their creative process, share a behind-the-scenes look at building tiny worlds, and of course,  puppet demonstrations!

Current offerings:

  • Artist/Illustrator presentations (students and families)

    • How Slowly and Shirley was created

    • Behind-the-scenes looks at how the illustrations were built, step by step.

    • Puppetry demonstration!

  • Puppet-focused presentation (students and families)

    • Fun behind-the-scenes stories from Spencer’s background as a television puppeteer (Sesame Street, SNL, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, etc)

    • Spencer’s unique path to becoming a puppeteer

    • Puppet building craft and demonstration

  • Artist presentations (adults)

    • Spencer and Grace explore how their backgrounds influence the work they create

    • They discuss the challenges of photographing handmade miniatures and puppets, versus using traditional illustration.

    • And of course, behind-the-scenes stories from Spencer’s work as a television puppeteer (Sesame Street, SNL, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, etc)

Arrange a visit from Spencer and Grace!

Please complete the form to request an artist visit.