But she’s also very artistic, innovative and empathetic.īesides writing about a kid like that, I really wanted to explore and celebrate a fairly normal (what’s normal, though?) family–a family that’s doing a pretty good job raising their kids. I get all goofy and choked up when I talk about her, because I so admire how she manages to stay positive and cheerful and sweet-hearted with the challenges she faces, even given the supportive adults in her world.Ĭlementine is a little more impulsive, distractible, and active, than other kids, okay, fine. Clementine is based on my own two kids, especially my son who suffered with attention issues in school, so she feels very real to me. I’m also pleased that Sparrow Girl, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka (Hyperion, 2009), my picture book influenced by Mao Tse Tung’s war against sparrows, is being read in elementary schools to spark discussions of environmental justice.Ĭongratulations on the release of Clementine, Friend of the Week, illustrated by Marla Frazee (Hyperion, 2010)! Could you tell us about the genesis of this character/series? It’s a lovely edition, with full color illustrations now and larger, friendlier type.
Well, the biggest update news would be that the Stuart books–Stuart’s Cape and Stuart Goes to School–have just been reissued as one book, The Amazing World of Stuart, illustrated by Martin Matje (Orchard, 2010).
I’d always been a natural storyteller, and I loved language and challenges, and I’m a ridiculous perfectionist–all these things were helpful in getting my first manuscript accepted.Ĭould you update us on your back list, highlighting as you see fit? Once I became entranced with children’s books, I couldn’t get enough of reading them and learning about the craft. I fell in love with children’s books–it’s the only way to describe it.Ĭould you tell us about your path to publication–any sprints or stumbles along the way? Seeing how my own children loved books, and discovering how fabulous the books were. What first inspired you to write for young readers? I’d read anything about humans connecting with animals, anything about secret worlds or survival.Īmong my favorites were The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911), The Borrowers by Mary Norton (1952), Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1877), The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1938), and Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719).īack when I was young, there really weren’t many books written especially for kids–I often wonder which books would be worn to tatters if I were ten years old right now… I remember feeling that books were a refuge. What were you like as a young reader? Who were your favorite authors? What were your favorite books? She continues to believe that any day now she will get it right…”
Sara says, “ Sara Pennypacker has been writing books for children for seventeen years now.
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