Sharing (Author Interview)
Sharing looks like a fun children’s book with a focus on one of the more challenging behaviors for kids. What age group would you say the book is for?
If you are the parent of a young child, then you know the importance - and possibly the struggle - of encouraging them to share. Whether it be with a sibling, the other children at school or out on the playground, sharing goes a long way and is a very important virtue that becomes a vital skill as one develops. Sharing is a skill learned over time and one that can sometimes be forgotten if not properly reinforced. This book is for ages 3 and up.
What do you think makes a great children’s book?
Great children’s books are fun to read. They also have good stories that can teach simple concepts, such as letters, practice pronunciation, and tales — OR they can teach about sharing, coping with distress, and the importance of giving.
You have a number of children’s books written, which is your favorite?
I love them all. Each is special to me because the ideas grew from watching my daughters grow up, and each book touches on their experiences. But if I have to pick one. “Figaro, The Flamboyant Frog” is my favourite because I relate to it as an artist. Figaro is set out to uncover people’s hidden talents, that is my personal goal in my academic research.
What are your ambitions for your writing career? Full time? Part time?
My aspirations are to keep creating more children’s books, and books for adults. Writing takes a lot of time, energy, and passion and it is always a full-time act.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I became a writer recently upon completion of my doctoral degree in Education from the University of Toronto in Canada.
When writing Sharing did anything stand out as particularly challenging?
The challenges were the illustrations. I completed each drawing by hand, and then I took a picture of each illustration, yet the photo did not exhibit the actual works. Thus, I had to work on several adjustments that took a considerable amount of time. For the subsequent books, I sketched the drawings but relied on digital art.
How did you come up with the story in Sharing?
I have two daughters, close in age. When little, they did not like sharing their toys (as many other children). I wrote this story and read it to them every night until it was grasped. This story was written a long time ago and found it one day in the vault. So now that my daughters are grown up and conquered the act of sharing, I am sharing this story with others.
What do you like to do when not writing?
I enjoy painting. I have been painting using acrylic on canvas for over twenty years. Some of my work is in the collection of the University of Toronto, and private collectors.