Nancy Tupper Ling

 CHILDREN'S AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Aside from the numerous awards Nancy Tupper Ling has earned over the years, Nancy stands out for her commitment to go beyond writing what she knows—she writes from the heart. With this focused approach, she creates beautiful poetry and engaging children's stories that resonate with readers.

Nancy's writing endeavors often contain a multicultural element. And this connection with other cultures started at a young age. Let's dive into our interview with Nancy to learn more about her and her writing career.

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

Growing up, I lived for the Scholastic Book Fair coming to my school. I’d go home with 6-8 books to add to my personal library since they were so affordable (future librarian in the making). 

The book that impacted me the most was Crow Boy by Taro Yashima. Today it sits, worn and torn, on my shelf. Long before the concept of diverse books serving as “mirrors and windows,” I loved this story because it transported me into the world of a boy named Chibi from rural Japan. A window was opened. 

Believe it or not, it also served as a mirror since I, too, was shy and didn’t always fit in. My heart was moved when Chibi was suddenly seen and understood for his talent of talking to the crows. I grew hopeful about the world around me.

2) What do you love about writing for kids?

My answer relates to why I create in general. It’s fairly simple: to touch another person’s life with my words. 

While I’m not a great knitter, when my daughters wear a sweater that I labored over; it brings joy. Many of us feel the same way whenever we’re creating. We wonder what we’re giving back to the world in this time that we have here. 

Also, having biracial children of my own, I tend to write stories that are multicultural in nature. Of course with my picture books, receiving some Ooos and Ahhs, a pause from a busy-busy day, a moment of meditation; a sense of wonder, any or all of these reactions from a young reader would be the cat’s meow.

3) In addition to writing for kids, you're an award-winning poet. How has poetry helped you become a children's author?

I see poetry as the railway tracks which led into writing for children. Having come to the world of picture books as a poet, I tried to apply a lyrical style to my stories. I’m not saying it was easy to pivot into the world of children’s writing from poetry, but it did seem fairly natural. 

Still, I had to learn to rely less on the beauty of the word, and allow room for things like illustrations and plots. 

No matter the genre, I’ve had to continually learn about each craft I’ve tackled. I always encourage others to write anything and everything because you never know what will land where and what will carry you forward.

4) What sparked the idea for your newest book, One Perfect Plan: The Bible's Big Story in Tiny Poems?  

So often we can be overwhelmed, wondering how we can possibly make a difference in this big world. In some ways, children are less inhibited. They take life minute by minute. Tackling the Bible is a bit daunting, too…but the idea of telling Bible stories through tiny poems focused on “one” seemed doable. 

I began thinking about how one action, one word, one life, and one death on a cross could change the world. And I carried this idea forward, envisioning David with his sling and one stone, that slayed his big enemy, Goliath. I wanted to be sure to include the women of the Bible as well, like Esther:

One queen—
emboldened by God to be brave
for a time such as this;
her people are saved.

The hope was that families could experience God’s redemptive story in one sitting, and by including references to original Bible verses, they will be inspired to read even more from God’s Word.

5) Your Junior Library Guild Gold Selection book, For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day, was a joint effort with another author to select poetry from different cultures. What do you hope readers take away from it?

Yes, the idea for the anthology, For Every Little Thing, with my co-author, June Cotner, began with the title “Counting Blessings” based on a poem by contributor, Barbara Younger. 

As we started gathering poems to include, I was inspired to write a poem called “For Every Little Thing.” Voila! This soon became the title poem. And as June and I put a proposal together, gratitude was at the heart of it. 

Our hope was to foster “appreciation for the small and big gifts of the world,” and by journeying through a child’s day, from waking up to falling asleep, our selected poems and prayers will awaken a sense of gratitude in readers of all ages.

6) What is one practical way parents can help their children practice the art of observation?

I love Mary Oliver’s quote about observation. She wrote: “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” 

In my mind, we should take time to be “noticers” with our children. Get outside, not just for sports, but walking in nature each day, if we can. And then, ask one another what we observe with all five senses: what did you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch today? That’s a great start!

NANCY TUPPER LING is the winner of the prestigious Writer’s Digest Grand Prize and the Pat Parnell Poetry Award. She draws her inspiration from the multicultural background of her family and the interwoven fabric of familial culture which is, on the surface, seemingly everyday. 

 She is the author of numerous books for children and adults, including One Perfect Plan: The Bible’s Big Story in Tiny Poems (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing/Penguin); For Every Little Thing (Eerdmans); The Story I'll Tell (Lee & Low Books); Family Celebrations (Andrews McMeel); Double Happiness (Chronicle Books), and more. She is also the founder of Fine Line Poets.

 

Additional children's book by Nancy:

Sarah Keeling

 CHILDREN'S AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Meet Sarah Keeling, an author and mom, who helps families carve out moments to pray for the world together. Sarah has a passion for those who haven't heard the gospel to hear about Jesus and wants to bring families along in this vision. 

Let's learn more about Sarah and her writing.

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

We love the Christian Heroes Then and Now series. There are too many great ones to pick a favorite, but we love Nate Saint, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and David Livingstone. I listen to them with my oldest son while we are driving to soccer practice. The stories are incredibly engaging, and we are always sad when they end. We love that these stories depict the real-life adventures of missionaries who trusted God daily. They show that missions work around the world is far from boring and requires lots of courage.

2) What do you love about writing for families?

Families are so fun! I love the dynamics of different personalities and ages coming together to learn about God. I think the Lord is so creative in how He weaves together families full of diverse individuals, and it is really special when we can experience family unity. It's a beautiful picture of the body of Christ!

3) What do you hope families take away from your book, Psalm Prayers for the Nations: Engage Your Family with 40 Scripture-Based Prayers?

I hope that God will soften and change the hearts of families as they pray for the many people around the whole who still need Jesus and give them a desire as a family to know Jesus better, too. I also hope they see that it doesn't require much time to pray together. Short and simple can still be very powerful, especially when we are praying God's word.

4) For parents trying to engage their kids with God's heart for the world, what is one tip you'd give that has worked well for your own family? 

Start small! Share about one missionary you know or one group of people who still need to hear about Jesus. Pray that God would soften your family's hearts for those people. He loves to do that!

5) What is a key way you help your children pray for those around the globe? 

Keep it simple! Create a routine that is easy for your family to manage. Add in a quick global-focused prayer while you are already praying with your kids before school, at the dinner table, or during bedtime. It doesn't have to be long to be powerful.

6) Tell us about the latest family resources available at your Etsy shop.

One of my favorite resources is the “Personal Psalm Study & Prayer Pages.” This includes worksheets and instructions on how to study and pray the attributes of God in the Psalms. This method is actually how my son, Mack, and I prepared for each prayer podcast episode. It’s super simple and doable, which is very important for me.

I’m hoping to continue to add more resources in the future, such as mini-studies created from the Hearts at Rest Podcast episodes.

This was our final author interview for our series! Be sure to swing by next week to catch our final Third-Culture Kid interview!

SARAH KEELING is a wife and mom who loves Jesus and is passionate about helping others connect deeply with Him. She published Psalm Prayers for Kids: A 40-Day Prayer Journal to help families pray the Psalms together and experience transformation. She is an advocate for the Bible-less, and she loves encouraging others by sharing what God is doing in her life.

Jill Roman Lord

CHILDREN'S AUTHOR INTERVIEW

With every children's book Jill Roman Lord writes, she aspires to point little ones to the Lord and hopes adults with kids perched on their laps find joy reading her books together.

Aside from crafting 30 children's books, Jill worked as a nurse anesthetist for 25 years. Jill has been an avid runner for 35 years. Her years of jogging alongside her dog sparked creativity and connection to God.  

Let's dive into our interview with Jill to learn more about her and her writing career.

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

Probably Dr. Seuss books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these books to my kids when they were little and they loved them! We all especially loved the I Wish That I Had Duck Feet book (Dr. Seuss/ Theo LeSieg). I remember thinking that I would love to write a book like that some time, that kids enjoyed that much. I especially loved the fun rhyme and that the rhymes were perfect every time.

2) What do you love about writing for kids?

I love helping instill biblical truths to children in a way they can understand, relate to, and enjoy. I love perhaps helping kids see another side of God or Jesus that they may not have seen before, maybe a characteristic that draws them closer into a relationship with Him. I love that my books might be their first glimpse of Jesus and His love for them.

3) Your picture book, That Grand Easter Day, won the 2019 Selah Book of the Year. Why do you think this book resonates with young readers?

This is a fun book walking kids through the Easter story in a repetitive manner similar to the house that Jack built. When it’s read, they can anticipate what the next words will be and join in. Also, the pictures are fabulous! They’re almost a Disney-character style which I love. (I can say this as I literally had nothing to do with the illustrations.) Perhaps the combination of beautiful pictures and a fun rhyming story draw the readers in.

4) As a children's author who uses rhythming text, how does this type of writing engage young readers? 

Good rhyme is generally fun to hear if it doesn’t drone on and on. Kids that have a hard time sitting still for a whole story, may be able to sit still for a short rhyming book. Rhymes may help children learn individual sounds in words which are important in learning to read. I just hope to write stories that kids will enjoy hearing and will ask for over and over again. At the same time, I’m hoping the caregivers will enjoy reading them as well.

5) What inspired the idea for The Silent Noisy Night, which received third place in the 2019 Selah Book of the Year awards?

One Christmas season, I was imagining what it must have been like being there, in that stable in Bethlehem, when Jesus was born. I imagined all the animals that scooted over to share their space and it kind of took off from there. I didn’t know exactly what it would look like when I started writing, but it turned out to be a huge celebration by all of creation. This book has been sold in Walmart stores and most recently at Cracker Barrels. The pictures are amazing which really helped make it a fun Christmas book for children.

6) How does your theme Bible verse (Psalm 40:8 which reads, "I desire to do your will, O my God, your law is within in my heart") guide your writing for children?

I truly try to wait for God’s inspiration in all of my writing. If it’s not His will, why do it? While not all of my stories have gotten published, I believe writing them draws me closer to God, helps me depend on Him, and I trust He’ll see the ones through that can touch other people’s lives. 

I learn with every story to trust God’s timing, His perfect will. Some of them seem to simply be stepping stones to other stories. It keeps me writing for Him. Keeps me focused on Him and trusting and in constant communication with Him. I feel that God has given each of us gifts and talents to use for His will and His glory. We’re not helping anyone if we keep them to ourselves. I’m just trying to do my part, using the gifts He has given me to let Him touch other people’s lives in whatever way He chooses. Hopefully my writing will somehow bring others closer to God.

JILL ROMAN LORD is an author of about 30 books, a freelance writer, and nurse anesthetist. With over two decades of writing, Jill’s children’s books have won numerous awards, including the prestigious Selah Book of the year award in 2019 and the Serious Writer Book of the year award in 2022 for Dream Big, My Precious One. She enjoys running, sipping coffee, and indulging in dark chocolate. It is her passion to help children grow closer to Jesus through her writing.

 

A sampling of Jill's books:

Diane Stortz

 CHILDREN'S AUTHOR INTERVIEW

With 50 years of experience in the Christian publishing world, Diane Stortz has written numerous books to spur children to read God's Word. As Diane transitions into a new season—retirement—we have a chance to glean some insight from her long writing career. 

Let's jump into our interview with Diane to learn more.

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

Oh, it's way too hard to pick just one! Several stand out, each for a different reason. The first is a picture book in the children’s section of the public library in Anaheim, California, that I checked out when I was six. I’ve long forgotten the title, but I can see the book in my mind, and I LOVED it. 

The second is The Very Best of Friends, a picture book by Margaret Wild, illustrated

by Julie Vivas. It has several themes, but one is the power of forgiveness—yet the word forgiveness is never used. It’s a perfect example of “show, don’t tell.” 

A third standout is a book I had a hand in creating when I was an editor, The Young Reader’s Bible. It has the characteristics of a true easy reader and artfully told stories that read well out loud. I think this is the book that showed me it’s possible to write well, appeal to children, and stay true to Scripture.

2) What do you love about writing for kids?

I enjoy sharing Bible stories and biblical concepts in truthful yet age-appropriate ways. Sometimes it’s hard work, but so worth it. I also love the challenge of developing a book parents will see as a good value and kids will love reading that also fills an open space in the market and publishers want to publish. And working with editors, designers, and artists has been a joy. I love the whole process.

3) What sparked your idea for I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God?

Truthfully, I’m not sure! Reading through the Bible with a women’s group many times, I discovered the joy of reading Scripture simply to get to know God better. God’s many different names and descriptive titles in the Word are one of the ways he tells us who he is and what he does. Sometimes, but not always, they are linked to specific events, such as when Hagar calls God “the One who sees me” in Genesis 16. I began to wonder if Bible stories could help children understand God’s names as a way of getting to know him better and trusting him more. And at the time there weren’t many children’s books about God’s names.

4) How does your book, Stop-and-Go Devotional, help busy families grow in their faith

together?

God gave parents the responsibility of teaching children to know him, but parents often feel ill-equipped. Following an easy-to-use devotional is one way parents can learn and grow spiritually as they lead their kids. And Stop-and-Go Devotional is designed to use in snippets and snatches of time throughout the week: maybe the Bible story at breakfast, talking about one of the questions on the way to soccer practice, the prayer or Bible verse at bedtime or going out the door to school, and the activity on the weekend. This plan also works if a family has children of varying ages. 

5) In addition to writing for kids, you have written devotions and books for parents and grandparents. What role can grandparents play in shaping their grandchildren's faith? 

The most obvious answer is prayer, of course, and we should never overlook or neglect it. Some grandparents are estranged from adult children and their families, and prayer is their only recourse, but God is faithful. Our actions matter too. When my grandsons who live nearby see my husband and I at church week after week, they realize that worship is important to us, for example. And be alert to opportunities to pray with grandchildren or talk with them about God’s love and his Word. My father died recently, and talking about burial with one of my ten-year-old grandsons opened the way to share with him what the Bible says about the new bodies we’ll receive when Jesus returns.

6) What is one practical way parents can make the wonders of God’s love known to their kids today?

Deuteronomy 6 has the prescription: Love and enjoy God yourself and talk about him. Point out God’s love and mercy as you go through the day with your children. Enjoying nature, the world God made, is a good place to start, especially with the littlest ones.

Be sure to keep an eye out for more author interviews! Swing by on October 15th to meet the next author in this series. 

DIANE STORTZ writes best-selling books for children and adults. Her goal: making God’s wonders known to the next generation.

Her books include I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God, I AM Devotional, and I AM: The Names of God for Little Ones; God’s Words to Dream On: Bedtime Bible Stories and Prayers; and Say & Pray Bible (all Tommy Nelson); The Sweetest Story Bible (Zonderkidz); and A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year (Bethany House).

In 2008 Diane coauthored Parents of Missionaries: How to Thrive and Stay Connected When Your Children and Grandchildren Serve Cross-Culturally.

Diane and her husband, Ed, a retired juvenile court probation officer, have two married daughters and five grandchildren—all boys!

A SAMPLING OF DIANE'S BOOKS

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

Amanda Brindley

CHILDREN'S AUTHOR INTERVIEW

As a debut children's author, Amanda Brindley invites families to slow their pace and tune in to the simple wonders in nature all around us. And she helps families with highly sensitive kids feel seen through her picture book, Doodle's Mountain.

"A delightful read-aloud for small children," writes Amanda's publisher, Bandersnatch Books. "It engages them in a playful response to overwhelming environments, evokes wonder, and encourages readers to be in awe of beauty."

Let's jump into our interview with Amanda to learn more about her and her first book.

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

I love Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. It’s set in New England, where I grew up, but also includes her travels to foreign places and her adventures. The story expresses a high value for beauty explicitly but offers gratitude and inspiration.

Every time I read the middle section of that picture book and watch Miss Rumphius aching to plant more lupines from her bed, and then see her venture out when she’s feeling well in the spring to find that the lupines have spread on the wind, I feel the truth of more at work in the world than me or than what I can fully understand. It inspires me to look for the Holy Spirit at work in my own life. 

Miss Rumphius meets her discovery with gratitude and then with action—she orders an enormous bushel of seed and goes walking for miles, spreading the seeds until the whole town is covered in lupines. This story of beauty unfolds gently, with soft, immersive illustrations, and unexpected inspiration. Anytime I read it, I’m encouraged to notice the world more closely and to wonder what I might do to make it more beautiful.

2) What do you love about writing for kids?

I love kids and writing is one way to reach them. I’m a nanny and I’ve always gotten along well with little children and babies. In our modern world, and in the mundane day-to-day, I see how often children are considered an inconvenience because they dawdle and whine and stop to look at every blade of grass and don’t understand the speed at which we must run to the next thing. They waste food and make everything dirty and can’t see why that’s a problem. They want desperately to help with activities that are far beyond their abilities. We grown-ups tend to tire of the endless energy and curiosity and words that children offer. 

I tend to see a child as a whole little world unto herself, a chance to reignite my own awareness of what God has made and called good. I’ve only noticed birds and grass and dirt and leaves and trains and owls as things of wonder and beauty because of children I’ve known. They see the world, literally and figuratively, from a different vantage point than adults. They’re not worried about money or efficiency and, while we all have to grow up and be responsible within all the complexities of life, children aren’t there yet, and they have something beautiful to tell us: the world is bigger than our grown-up concerns. 

We might relax more if we pay attention to what is working far outside of our control and let ourselves stare at clouds or bugs, play in the dirt, or bake bread for the love of it. The world is a place to work and play, and children will teach us to play if we let them. I love being with children and helping them learn about their world and writing for them is a way to encourage and reach children and caregivers I’ve never met.

3) What is it about writing picture books that most sparks your interest?

Picture books offer a visual and verbal story tied together which is unique in the world of reading. They are meant to be read aloud and they’re often poetic in their form which makes them easy to memorize. 

As a nanny, various picture books have shaped the language we use to communicate. Sandra Boynton’s silly board books, memorized by accident, can lighten a difficult moment for a toddler in an instant. I love that picture books make the unknown world recognizable and already familiar for children. 

Picture books spark playfulness and joy that might otherwise get lost. They’re a wonderful point of connection between kids and caregivers, an opportunity to sit side-by-side and pay attention to the same images and words in the quiet. The best picture books become part of a shared family vocabulary, like dear friends waiting to be revisited.

4) What sparked your idea for your picture book, Doodle's Mountain?

Eight years ago, I was eating goldfish crackers with the almost-two-year-old boy I nannied. We were talking about the birds and squirrels in the backyard, looking out the window, and heard a truck pass loudly on the highway. He said, “Shhh…” to the truck, finger on his lips. The moment I laid him down for nap I scribbled out the first draft of this story on a sheet of notebook paper.

5) What do you hope readers take away from Doodle's Mountain?
Doodle’s Mountain is a story about a highly sensitive child’s experience of family vacation. I hope that resonates with families who have highly sensitive children and gives them a touchpoint for connecting in difficult moments. 

The deeper message of the story is for all of us, however our personalities affect our day-to-day lives. I hope the story sparks wonder in readers, encourages quiet, helps people to see beauty in their own surroundings, lives, children, work, and adventures. 

The mountain is saying, “Shhh…” to all of us and I hope that means something personal to each person who reads the book. W.B. Yeats said, “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” I hope this book will be one sharpening tool for those who read it.

6) What is a way families can incorporate mindfulness for highly sensitive children they may encounter at home, school, church, or in their neighborhood? 

Highly sensitive children have a smaller capacity for stimulation before they’re overtired and need a break. Every child has a point where they need a break. The best thing any parent, Sunday School teacher, teacher, or caregiver can do to help highly sensitive kids is the same thing they can do for any kid: pay attention.

Each child differs in how much noise and activity they need and can handle. Each child differs in how he will tell you he’s getting overstimulated. One of the best things to give a child is the language to talk about emotions. 

Toddlers have a capacity for this if they’re given the tools. Oftentimes disobedience, meltdowns, or acting out are rooted in being overwhelmed (in toddlers). This doesn’t mean they should be allowed to do whatever they want, but as a parent or primary caregiver, you can offer a child tools to express emotions without meltdowns. Help them identify emotion: “you’re feeling frustrated right now because…” or “you feel disappointed because you wanted this and it isn’t time now.” You can instruct them to say, “I feel disappointed,” instead of screaming or whatever other inappropriate behavior they’re engaged in. 

Children don’t want to feel out of control in their bodies, which is exactly what happens when they become overstimulated. Obviously, this isn’t always the case, but for highly sensitive kids it can happen much more quickly.

Once you have an idea with your child of where that line is and what might be too much, you can prepare him for any scenario where you know it might overwhelm him and help develop strategies for staying calm. Those are going to vary for every kid, but might include a hug, a hand to hold, a toy to fidget with, closing his eyes for a couple of minutes, breathing deeply, or thinking about something positive. Often what kids are seeking in a meltdown is connection to a caregiver who is going to reintroduce stability and take control.

The world is loud, so giving the children in our families and communities the tools they need to engage it well is a much better strategy than protecting them from what might be difficult for them. We want to enable our children to reach their fullest capacity, helping them navigate and grow from challenges even at a young age!

Be sure to keep an eye out for more author interviews! Swing by on Augst 13th to meet the next author in this series. 

Also, mark your calendar to catch a new interview series with Third-Culture Kids launching in August! I'll interview kids living in different cultures. It will be a fun series to dive into with your entire family!

AMANDA BRINDLEY grew up in Maine, where she started writing stories in the wee hours of the morning when she was six. As a child, she loved ice cream shops with cows to visit and old libraries full of books. She grew up to also love wildflowers, mountains, road trips, camping, gardening, and spending time with friends and their small children in New England and beyond. She’s a nanny to her cousins, two little girls who keep her laughing, busy, and looking out for owls and trains like only a two-year-old can. She lives in Ohio, but listening to the crashing waves and breathing in briny ocean air as the tide recedes is still her favorite thing in the world.

Amanda's book:

Jasmine Ganter

CHILDREN'S AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Meet Jasmine Ganter! Our first poet to be featured in our author interview series! Let's learn how we can fold more poetry into our lives.

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

This is tough one. It’s like asking for a favorite child. The three that come to mind are The Rough Patch by Brian Lies, The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt, and The Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems.

The Rough Patch I first read when my first child was young and I was just getting into reading picture books seriously. It made me realize picture books could be meaningful and still engaging for a child.

The Tale of Three Trees I stumbled upon and didn’t know the plot or twist ending. It showed me how a simple allegory story for children can be very powerful.

The Elephant and Piggie books showed me how a kids' books with simple words, but engaging characters, could be memorable and giggle-inducing for children and adults alike.

2) What do you love about writing poetry for kids?

I like the challenge! As someone said when critiquing my acrostic, rhyming poem (due for publishing with Writers’ Loft MA), “You are very ambitious!” Not sure if they meant I was foolhardy or brave, but I took it as a compliment.

3) What is it about writing poetry that most sparks your interest?

I like seeing how much I can do with a short amount of words. I love molding words into something more than just words.

4) What do you hope young readers take away from your poetry? 

I hope they take a bit of fun, some memorable meaning, or encouragement from my poetry.

5) What is one way you've integrated poetry into your family rhythms with your own kids?

Ha. Poetry, rhyming, or even little chants are our favorite things to make up together. We especially love making up new lyrics to nursery rhymes or lullaby songs we know.

Some of them we make up are as simple as a call and response having an end assonance type rhyme. (E.g. “Fold your hands and close your eyes.” “Say your prayers and say goodnight.”)

6) What book would you recommend parents use to introduce their little ones to poetry? 

My friend Nancy Tupper Ling has some great ones published or to-be-published: For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day, One Perfect Plan: The Bible’s Big Story in Tiny Poems, and Bless the Earth: A Children’s Book of Prayers and Poems Honoring the Earth.

I also recommend classic compilations like A Child’s Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa.

And of course please check out the Writers’ Loft MA’s children’s poetry anthology, Gnomes & Ungnomes: Poems of Hidden Creatures, with a creative and poetic take on cryptozoology (crypto=hidden, zoology = study of animals). Think mermaids, Bigfoot, and basilisks.

Be sure to keep an eye out for more author interviews! Swing by on July 9th to meet the next author in this series. 

Also, mark your calendar to catch a new interview series with Third-Culture Kids launching in August! I'll interview kids living in different cultures. It will be a fun series to dive into with your entire family!

JASMINE is a Navy wife
Living her best boy-mom life
Waiting for the girl she seeks
No more biotech filling her weeks
Now that she’s a homeschool mom
She'll write and write to find calm
If she can find the extra time
She’ll sit by a fire and write in rhyme

Jasmine's poetry:

Gnomes and Ungnomes: Poems of Hidden Creatures (Writers Loft Press, 2023)