{"id":338101,"date":"2025-12-10T19:39:33","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T19:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/lets-talk-picture-books-lets-talk-illustrators-385-aleksandra-szmidt\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T19:39:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T19:39:33","slug":"lets-talk-picture-books-lets-talk-illustrators-385-aleksandra-szmidt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=338101","title":{"rendered":"Let&#8217;s Talk Picture Books: Let&#8217;s Talk Illustrators #385: Aleksandra Szmidt"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-body-3138041999476371080\" itemprop=\"description articleBody\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEg_wvVm4YCPWQo9Rv-qIIZ5jXXfg3-YbR_gTvdtgSrYs9-UGbVRFSou_kBJ_qwuTD-RE67G-KclmRRqTgzFkMqyjbeaZ03s-KGtYwnx3vd5dXTfFUxwOHCsx-mdXD_oVRANX5DMCmLFd1m6B7P-XqvYeIDLK4r4ogUr28X1WvZZDAgBgRmeSQe26j5-DRI\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"1226\" data-original-width=\"1874\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEg_wvVm4YCPWQo9Rv-qIIZ5jXXfg3-YbR_gTvdtgSrYs9-UGbVRFSou_kBJ_qwuTD-RE67G-KclmRRqTgzFkMqyjbeaZ03s-KGtYwnx3vd5dXTfFUxwOHCsx-mdXD_oVRANX5DMCmLFd1m6B7P-XqvYeIDLK4r4ogUr28X1WvZZDAgBgRmeSQe26j5-DRI=w640-h418\" width=\"640\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<a name=\"more\"\/><span><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">About the book:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p>After a wildfire destroys their home, a brave koala and a little tree are on a mission to bring back the magic of their beloved land.<\/p>\n<div>They journey through the ashes, working together to survive and restore their world to its former glory, only to discover that the real magic is their love for their habitat and one another. <\/p>\n<p>Check out the endpapers:<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEgwDPk3y_LNSD4tY8txNPHOWiAuXqU4CIfzifmOEUOEk_475qsUpGaK1sHZn6QST72QBGJH2B_zR7fx_AG9EKb64UH5kT_eH6RPZu8G9v-aXqFoLK3whPlj89tKueb04s9WqImoL0Spe13U185uXI2RVJbODTNrVs3-EEZRLaCEWmaaYjtql9lr0Aa2wyw\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"805\" data-original-width=\"1181\" height=\"436\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEgwDPk3y_LNSD4tY8txNPHOWiAuXqU4CIfzifmOEUOEk_475qsUpGaK1sHZn6QST72QBGJH2B_zR7fx_AG9EKb64UH5kT_eH6RPZu8G9v-aXqFoLK3whPlj89tKueb04s9WqImoL0Spe13U185uXI2RVJbODTNrVs3-EEZRLaCEWmaaYjtql9lr0Aa2wyw=w640-h436\" width=\"640\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEjRkCWjxLp8YqhSc3kWp4y0v7otJjDwkSe4poStK4ZSmSZmzzHP4_Duux98rHBTTQXA8zUl482m-uVRbbzxNEQ2Ivx9mJ4utWPrA2PLkE5bc5zf-0Rahmr8oTdvO6PavbTNWnRZLssh1LaFBmBCUz3ZRGBJmNxZ0qTYC4ZkSkcZtKkNanDoiPz7kG0CN9w\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"805\" data-original-width=\"1186\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEjRkCWjxLp8YqhSc3kWp4y0v7otJjDwkSe4poStK4ZSmSZmzzHP4_Duux98rHBTTQXA8zUl482m-uVRbbzxNEQ2Ivx9mJ4utWPrA2PLkE5bc5zf-0Rahmr8oTdvO6PavbTNWnRZLssh1LaFBmBCUz3ZRGBJmNxZ0qTYC4ZkSkcZtKkNanDoiPz7kG0CN9w=w640-h434\" width=\"640\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<p>Let&#8217;s talk Aleksandra Szmidt!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipmqbAqjq4YJ4CSAXZexsM-Mw_8Ds80clQHyE2O-HC6wouTqy5npFDDvAr5UF1UdU_uWV_7eTmz0_6DL92XeDfqZOcWAym1rj9kX0S6QIDfEgu0609qePqQW9DtjXXMgQUQ0-Prws6A6oa\/s1600\/Header+--+LTI.png\"><br \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipmqbAqjq4YJ4CSAXZexsM-Mw_8Ds80clQHyE2O-HC6wouTqy5npFDDvAr5UF1UdU_uWV_7eTmz0_6DL92XeDfqZOcWAym1rj9kX0S6QIDfEgu0609qePqQW9DtjXXMgQUQ0-Prws6A6oa\/s1600\/Header+--+LTI.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"300\" data-original-width=\"1000\" height=\"96\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgM9zXoN6pikqyYv7f3wUbmVxquyu5clxJUvDHUBHWgwsLVz8c9PWPTaJ6Dj9CXDm9siO3lrO4Sy3dyIJ3bWe2JwIZnwNAiyelR-8pUj0OnJp2ko2iImMCXomPm-K_dRzMffnXVPzy2vYs\/w320-h96\/Site+banners.png\" width=\"320\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"color: #b4a7d6;\">LTPB: How did you become the illustrator of <i><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/1983\/9781916790988\" target=\"_blank\">The Koala and the Little Tree<\/a><\/i>? What were the first images that popped into your mind when you saw Alissa Malnati\u2019s text?<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<p>AS: The publisher reached out first and said that Alissa was interested in having me illustrate the book, but she wanted to make sure our visions aligned, so we had a long conversation about my job, the story, its tone, and the kind of feeling she wanted readers to experience. By the end of that conversation, I knew we shared the same vision: something gentle, meaningful, and full of heart.<\/p>\n<p>It was also around the time I was shifting my portfolio from digital work to a more traditional, painterly style, using watercolor, gouache, and textures that feel more like fine art. That was exactly what Alissa was hoping for: a book that felt artistic yet accessible, something that could be appreciated by both children and adults.<\/p>\n<p>When I first read the text, I knew it would be a challenge but also a wonderful exploration: to keep the book artistic but still warm and readable. I immediately pictured the quiet connection between the koala and the tree, and a color palette that slowly shifts from darkness into some kind of hope. I wasn\u2019t sure exactly what that would look like yet, but I wanted the art to carry that emotional transition: gentle, but powerful.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEim0naJd4MYNBv2R_UbjJzTooDlyoZuTc163S9dFICvlJmJpCeQaJSchY4I4U4sXwP3CufNiDLYu6M79Kn_rv2oyZs0g811gGDbGf5bgOFfgPmf4wOtXWnJAPUzYCEqdfqJYlaoM_ECgdQTpsiPbPV-t2khaTRnSn8lbn2Tde7ZmUu3JfalI2dZCEtlUh8\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"1230\" data-original-width=\"1816\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEim0naJd4MYNBv2R_UbjJzTooDlyoZuTc163S9dFICvlJmJpCeQaJSchY4I4U4sXwP3CufNiDLYu6M79Kn_rv2oyZs0g811gGDbGf5bgOFfgPmf4wOtXWnJAPUzYCEqdfqJYlaoM_ECgdQTpsiPbPV-t2khaTRnSn8lbn2Tde7ZmUu3JfalI2dZCEtlUh8=w640-h434\" width=\"640\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #b4a7d6;\">LTPB: What did you find most difficult in creating this book? What did you find most rewarding?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>AS: The most difficult and the most rewarding part were actually the same. I knew this book needed to feel artistic, and Alissa gave me incredible creative freedom; she simply said to do what felt right. That kind of trust is a dream for any illustrator, but also a little intimidating! I\u2019ve illustrated more than 40 books, but this was the first time I felt like I could use my full voice.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve always had a natural pull toward darker, more emotional tones in my work. Early in my career, I was often told to make my illustrations brighter and more colourful to fit the picture book market. But for this story, I wanted to stay true to my instincts and to let the mood and emotion lead the visuals.<\/p>\n<p>The first set of illustrations ended up being quite dark and atmospheric, and I wasn\u2019t sure how that would be received. To my surprise, Alissa and the publisher loved it. That felt incredibly meaningful, not because it proved anything, but because it reminded me that authenticity connects. The story touches on loss and hope, and I wanted the artwork to honour that depth in an honest way.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEiVBfqJVGEVeUzqsga68qy3hr6kKomuSWzoFBnJ8TVQkoOFI_otpzAG5opoX6k0zJoQxGoigbHj1agAojLk0NDzrs_h2aCGXWLcRcBHAETjvzC3lUBgfrUYS7zEchmOge5V8rHcnybk-ZXvk_hqXAXNyxKPty0_498X08bGmDd3KyYuIBYAVDd3NgcKkKE\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"1230\" data-original-width=\"1816\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEiVBfqJVGEVeUzqsga68qy3hr6kKomuSWzoFBnJ8TVQkoOFI_otpzAG5opoX6k0zJoQxGoigbHj1agAojLk0NDzrs_h2aCGXWLcRcBHAETjvzC3lUBgfrUYS7zEchmOge5V8rHcnybk-ZXvk_hqXAXNyxKPty0_498X08bGmDd3KyYuIBYAVDd3NgcKkKE=w640-h434\" width=\"640\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #b4a7d6;\">LTPB: What is the first thing you do when you receive a new project? How do you make a conscious effort to tailor your illustration style to each new manuscript?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>AS: When I receive a new manuscript, I always start by reading it and if I\u2019m lucky, the illustrations already start appearing in my head. I try to sense the atmosphere of the story first: how it feels, what kind of light it has, and what emotion lives inside it.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEjZU_kErV4VNDt4XT-NSO6H4d88rIIcxM7441Oz0VwhCglC7tuCwoIq0vI2tRWuDmc0OkQKNVafQfDvSixkOcNl1yRisvXom3YqdsVpl53TDEOqcQqfRCaRl4wTUodhLW3EoyqP74Z7LImTfwFJt3wNO60mhvuGGh4DAAZbdpnrb_MgymvR-jzh8CTA0VY\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"5100\" data-original-width=\"7020\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEjZU_kErV4VNDt4XT-NSO6H4d88rIIcxM7441Oz0VwhCglC7tuCwoIq0vI2tRWuDmc0OkQKNVafQfDvSixkOcNl1yRisvXom3YqdsVpl53TDEOqcQqfRCaRl4wTUodhLW3EoyqP74Z7LImTfwFJt3wNO60mhvuGGh4DAAZbdpnrb_MgymvR-jzh8CTA0VY=w640-h464\" width=\"640\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<p>Usually, I do a few rounds of sketches for the client to approve before going further. But for <i>The Koala and the Little Tree<\/i>, I started painting in ink right away. I knew it might create more work later, but I felt that beginning this way would make the art feel freer.<\/p>\n<p>I let each story influence how my style shows up. I don\u2019t think I have one instantly recognisable style. Part of me would love that someday! But I\u2019ve realised I naturally shift depending on the manuscript. As my agent Christine once told me, maybe an illustrator\u2019s style isn\u2019t just about the medium, but about how we see the world. And that\u2019s something I try to remember every time I start a new book.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEim-DsyjL5XNzWANxdwJYKadg3j72Czk6nwrBLXodOl6E_RGxgU5v_k1VCwhUoEm5suNra-JEA0xNfua-CHkHzJ8ICmdVMHIn8aNPwh0rogE9_irrxTXbrPdSTPLpCWJvvImVTCVrc2F27ikTdpNWuSepGfy75fSTjP7pyzsmq3wyYjc78BcJ6mM2l12pk\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"1230\" data-original-width=\"1816\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEim-DsyjL5XNzWANxdwJYKadg3j72Czk6nwrBLXodOl6E_RGxgU5v_k1VCwhUoEm5suNra-JEA0xNfua-CHkHzJ8ICmdVMHIn8aNPwh0rogE9_irrxTXbrPdSTPLpCWJvvImVTCVrc2F27ikTdpNWuSepGfy75fSTjP7pyzsmq3wyYjc78BcJ6mM2l12pk=w640-h434\" width=\"640\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #b4a7d6;\">LTPB: What did you use to create the illustrations in this book? Is this your preferred medium? How does your process change from book to book?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>AS: <i>For The Koala and the Little Tree<\/i>, I worked mostly with ink and some watercolor, adding digital adjustments at the end. I wanted the textures to feel organic and a little imperfect, like nature itself.<\/p>\n<p>It was actually my first time illustrating almost a full book in ink. I chose it because of its unpredictability, it felt like the right medium to capture the energy and uncontrollable nature of fire. I love traditional materials because they have their own personality; they surprise me. Ink especially has this wonderful wildness.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEgGq2jdxrz-4rjAIvdBIHzdUG6jADTzyaVUY5yskTltCf13xXTpMi915DOIEJjBghvCtErClyfRgizSf1G6Y0V7Wgx_Td46qmVviKzdYIvmRID5Zf5HeptXJt-HAql5bmWF8E7pL--ex5KXCPYBftEeZPwXApLOKlS2CjmLkZEik-Nvg41d6dEykXW44Q8\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"4032\" data-original-width=\"3024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEgGq2jdxrz-4rjAIvdBIHzdUG6jADTzyaVUY5yskTltCf13xXTpMi915DOIEJjBghvCtErClyfRgizSf1G6Y0V7Wgx_Td46qmVviKzdYIvmRID5Zf5HeptXJt-HAql5bmWF8E7pL--ex5KXCPYBftEeZPwXApLOKlS2CjmLkZEik-Nvg41d6dEykXW44Q8=w480-h640\" width=\"480\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>My process changes from book to book, depending on what the story needs. Some stories feel quiet and call for soft colours and delicate lines; others need bolder shapes and brighter tones. I try to let each story guide me.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #b4a7d6;\">LTPB: What are you working on now? Anything you can show us?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>AS: Lately, I\u2019ve made a conscious effort to slow down and focus on the work that truly matters to me. I\u2019ve written and illustrated a very special book that\u2019s currently on submission with my agent, Dan. It means a lot to me personally, and I\u2019m keeping my fingers crossed for good news soon! Besides that, I\u2019m preparing for my first solo art exhibition here in New Zealand, which will take place next year, and I\u2019ve just launched my Print Club this December: a small monthly mail full of art and gentle magic sent straight from my studio.<\/p>\n<p>Even though I\u2019m focusing more on my own projects, I\u2019m always happy to illustrate stories that truly resonate with me; the ones that carry heart, emotion, and a quiet sense of hope.<\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"color: #b4a7d6;\">LTPB: If you got the chance to write your own picture book autobiography, who (dead or alive!) would you want to illustrate it, and why?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>AS: I would choose Jan Marcin Szancer. I grew up with his illustrations, and they\u2019ve always stayed in my imagination. There\u2019s something truly magical about the way he captured atmosphere; his worlds felt both grand and intimate at the same time.<\/p>\n<p>If he illustrated my story, I imagine it would be a bit dreamy, a bit nostalgic. His work carries that beautiful balance between wonder and melancholy, which is something I always hope to<\/p>\n<p>achieve in my own art too.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>A million thanks to Aleksandra for taking time to answer some questions! <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/1983\/9781916790988\">The Koala and the Little Tre<i>e<\/i><\/a><i> published in October from Little Steps Publishing!<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<p>Special thanks to Aleksandra and Little Steps for use of these images!<\/p>\n<div><br style=\"text-align: left;\"\/><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/1983\/9781916790988\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-original-height=\"1230\" data-original-width=\"915\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEgDEGeRvYIRYpXEIfM0TQjHgLM6AQOaMEkLUeMFseCPArPg3b1-R2s4hOyxdLFD3J2gdYjgyQc7yynHiabAPkl_M4HPfWai0o3iGq3xaEJHHD52yCvMXzP4a6hEFQBckrxiBbxG5I-O-Vim0n8KTsKryre0yMbpIDdUFOMf3KRLwuC4NysO5Tx7XjVHWgQ=w477-h640\" width=\"477\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjl2BwyWeaVZXwGN4p-al9JKbZOdjp7A-VUJd-RHZ4AsYLX8Cz5Fv1wyQNmBeZ_KWN_BzsuSW7AlwKOMyTkq52_rvcm5NNwxNEtNSaLCWz0zkLwCVQWyQlWmiJK1yNWqzvPSGck-_Wu2qY\/w200-h168\/1.png\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" width=\"75\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About the book: After a wildfire destroys their home, a brave koala and a little tree are on a mission to bring back the magic of their beloved land. They journey through the ashes, working together to survive and restore their world to its former glory, only to discover that the real magic is their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":338102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[162705,130454,125791,162706],"tags":[89102,1885,1752,680,352,1185,2892,21038,43304,351,11249,3893,119057,10501,3749,3698,162707,3061],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-338101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lets-talk-illustrators","category-digital-media","category-inks","category-watercolor-paints","tag-aleksandra","tag-art","tag-books","tag-children","tag-childrens","tag-design","tag-illustration","tag-illustrations","tag-illustrators","tag-kids","tag-lets","tag-picture","tag-picturebooks","tag-pictures","tag-review","tag-reviews","tag-szmidt","tag-talk"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Let&#039;s Talk Picture Books: Let&#039;s Talk Illustrators #385: Aleksandra Szmidt - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=338101\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Let&#039;s Talk Picture Books: Let&#039;s Talk Illustrators #385: Aleksandra Szmidt - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"About the book: After a wildfire destroys their home, a brave koala and a little tree are on a mission to bring back the magic of their beloved land. 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