Natalee Creech

CHILDREN'S AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Natalee Creech spent years teaching in South Korea before embarking on a journey to become a librarian. This winding path led her toward achieving her true dream: becoming a published children's author. 

Let's jump into our interview with Natalee to learn more about her.

1) Which children's book has most impacted you? Why?

This question seems like it should be easy to answer, yet I found it incredibly difficult! I’m not sure there was one particular book that impacted me more than others. Rather, I think there is probably a cumulative effect of all the books from my childhood in ways that I may not even be aware of. One important effect I do know is that I’m an author today. If my parents hadn’t read to me and my siblings every evening, I doubt I would be an author today. 

If I have to choose a particular book, perhaps it would be Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson. I remember being shocked when Leslie died because I didn’t think that could happen in children’s books–and it happened so suddenly! 

I also loved all Beverly Cleary’s books. Ramona’s thoughts and antics were completely relatable to me and as an older sister myself I absolutely identified with Beezus. As an adult, I still love to read children’s books and some of my favorites are by Gary D. Schmidt. His writing, especially when dealing with difficult topics, is always woven through with threads of grace and redemption.

2) What do you love about writing for kids?

Everything! I love the challenge of saying a lot with a few words. I love the interplay of text and image. I love the challenge of trying to teach without being preachy and trying to entertain while speaking truth. I love that children’s books open up the world to them and allow them to walk through hard experiences in a safe way. And I am completely humbled by the thought that my words may be imprinted on young hearts.

3) Your picture book, Nothing: Nothing Can Separate You From God's Love, was a finalist for the 2020 ECPA Christian Book Awards. What do you hope young readers take away from this book? 

I hope they take away a conviction as strong as Paul’s that nothing can separate them from the love of God. I hope they internalize that message of being loved, forgiven, and a child of the king. And I hope they know that it is never too late to run back to God.

4) As a children's author who has also written poems for children, how can parents instill an appreciation for poetry from a young age?

I think a love of poetry begins how all language acquisition occurs–by hearing it. Poetry should be read out loud because there’s as much to appreciate in the rhythm and sound of the words as in the meaning. 

Start simple.

For the youngest children, poetry begins with nursery rhymes, songs, and finger plays. In these songs and poems, children hear the rhythm of language coursing through the lines. They learn to instinctively sense when a rhyming word is going to come and what it will be. They sense from the rhythm how many syllables that word should be–even if they have no idea what a syllable is! 

Let them experiment.

As your children memorize nursery rhymes, invite them to play with the words. Substitute your child’s name for the character’s name: "Mary had a little lamb" becomes, "Sarah had a little lamb." What if you changed lamb to another animal? What other parts of the nursery rhyme would you then need to change? 

Point out what you appreciate or notice about a poem and invite them to choose a favorite part.

As your children get older, continue to read poems to them and draw their attention to what strikes you about the poem: I love the way the poet used so many words with a /k/ sound–it really made me think of trains on a track.

When you read a poem together ask what their favorite line is. Maybe they will offer an explanation, but also be okay with them simply appreciating a particular line or phrase without having to “justify” it. 

Have some poetry anthologies or collections on hand so you have a ready source of poetry.

Libraries are great for sampling what you and your children are drawn to before purchasing.

Another option is a website that will send you an email with a daily poem.

Challenge yourselves to memorize entire poems.
The poems you choose to memorize should be worthy of imprinting in your heart and mind, so choose carefully.

5) What inspired the idea for your newest book, Something? 

Something is a companion book to Nothing. Whereas Nothing is about God’s love for us, Something is about loving others, so I think they go together well.

(Interestingly, this set of books began with a manuscript called Everything, which is not yet published!) Something is based on Matthew 25:35-36 and is about paying attention (using your kindness radar) to notice when people are hurting, and then acting in big or small ways to do something about it. 

6) As a former librarian and teacher, what tips can you share with parents on how to cultivate a love for reading in their children?

Ooh, I could talk about this for a long time! 

• Have plenty of books around the house. Books can be expensive but check out Friends of the Library book sales at your library (some libraries have a permanent sale shelf!), second-hand stores such as Goodwill, yard sales, online sites such as abebooks.com, etc. Use the library to test-drive new books and if you and your child both love a book buy it new. These are the books you will want to read again and again. 

• Get a library card and make frequent trips to the library for fresh material. Library cards are free and many libraries have done away with late fines. Build a tradition around going to the library and make it an important part of your family’s culture. When I was a child in rural Ontario, we would walk to our local library on Friday nights, check out the maximum number of books allowed—eight—and then stop at the “candy store” for a treat on the way home. It was a tradition that we looked forward to every week. 

• Let your children see you reading for pleasure. Talk about what you love in the books you read together. You are an important role model! If you love and treasure books and stories, chances are your children will too.

• Read with your children and do not stop reading with them once they can read independently. For most children learning to read takes time and practice. If you turn every book into a reading lesson, reading will soon feel like homework rather than an experience to be savored. Your child will get incredible benefits by listening to YOU read. Children need to hear fluent reading to hear the beauty of intentional language. 

• Allow your children to choose the books they are interested in reading. Even if it’s the same book they’ve read one hundred times before. Even if it’s a book you consider to be fluff. If you want reading to become an activity your children love, let them take ownership of it.

Be honest: as an adult would you rather read a book you choose, or one someone demands you read because they think it will be “good for you?” Allow your children to sample a variety of genres and formats and to dive deeply into those they prefer. (Let me be clear: I’m saying don’t forbid an entire format such as graphic novels or audiobooks because they’re not “real reading.” You should still ensure appropriate choices are being made.)

• Make a point to minimize access to television and electronics such as video games and tablets. Reading a novel is something that takes sustained focus. If children have not experienced slower-paced activities such as playing board games or doing a large puzzle they will naturally feel that an activity such as reading a novel takes too much concentration or is “boring.” 

• Hook them with the first few chapters. For older children sometimes all it takes is reading the first chapter aloud to get them interested in what happens next. This works best with books that end chapters on cliffhangers. 

• Make reading feel special. Read in various places–a hammock, a tent, a blanket fort, or with a pile of blankets and pillows in your coziest room. Make a special snack or food to enjoy while reading. (This is why it’s important to own lots of books!) Friday nights can become Pizza & Paperbacks or Brownies & Books nights. Make a fun tradition such as unwrapping “new” books for the family on a certain day of the month. Coordinate a seasonal book exchange with families from your church or school.

Be sure to keep an eye out for more author interviews! Swing by on September 10th to meet the next author in this series. 

Also, catch a new interview series with Third Culture Kids! Last month, we met Max in Morocco. This month we'll talk with Archie in the United Arab Emirates. A new TCK interview posts the first week each month. This is a fun series to dive into with your entire family! 

NATALEE CREECH is a children’s author who is equally at home in Canada, (where she grew up) in the U.S., (where she studied education), and in South Korea (where she taught for many years). Regardless of where she lives, she is probably sneaking more children’s books into the house, much to the delight of her children and the dismay of her husband. Oreo, the family cat, remains indifferent.

Natalee's books