Doodling His Way to Fame

Do you like drawing fun little characters in notebooks or on sheets of paper? Twelve-year-old Joe Whale does—and he’s turned his love of doodling into a career as an illustrator. 

Joe, who lives in Shrewsbury, England, has been passionate about art since he was a small child. 

“I was doodling on a whiteboard after I did my work in school,” he told Scholastic Kid Reporter Varun Kabra in a video interview.

The doodling got Joe into trouble with his teachers. Fortunately, his parents recognized his talent and signed him up for an art club. After his art teacher posted some of his doodles on social media, Joe was asked to draw a black-and-white mural on a wall of a local restaurant. Soon, he had gained a huge following on Instagram and a new nickname: the Doodle Boy.

Joe’s artwork eventually got the attention of Scholastic. The company hired Joe to work with author Eric Luper on a series of playful books called Bad Food. 

“Eric is super funny, and he structured the stories around what I like to draw,” Joe explains. “I am free to create what the character looks like in my imagination. It’s been super cool to work together.”

The books’ main characters are three food friends who attend Belching Walrus Elementary School. There’s Slice, Scoop, and Joe’s favorite, a laid-back tater tot named Totz. 

“I really like his personality and the way he raps,” the young illustrator says. 

Joe recently made a deal to create doodles for Nike. His message is to have fun with your art because you never know where your imagination will take you. 

“If you’re doodling, be creative,” Joe says. “Most important, have fun doing what you love.”