YOUNG AT HEART
Every season, at least one established (often award-winning) author of adult books publishes their first title for children. This spring is no different, with a trio of recognizable names making an appearance. Q&Q asked them, why a kids’ book now?

Johanna Skibsrud, co-author with Sarah Blacker of Sometimes We Think You Are a Monkey, illustrated by Julie Morstad (Puffin Canada): “We feel incredibly lucky to have the book come out now, graced with Julie Morstad’s beautiful illustrations. An important aspect of the project for both of us is that our author proceeds are going toward two different children’s charities that mean a lot to us. My share of the proceeds will go toward the Himalayan School Project – an organization that supports the village school in Takani, Nepal, an area where girl trafficking is a pervasive problem. Sarah’s share of the proceeds will go toward Camp Oochigeas, an organization that serves children with cancer and their families.”

George Bowering, author of Attack of the Toga Gang (Dancing Cat Books):  “Attack of the Toga Gang is my first middle-school novel. I don’t much enjoy doing something I have already found out that I can do, so I have written in a lot of different forms and genres. I took four years to finish this one, and now I am started on my first hockey book. I also have a book’s worth of children’s poetry; I just haven’t managed the time to assemble the manuscript.”

Carrie Snyder, author of The Candy Conspiracy, illustrated by Claudia Dávila (Owlkids Books): “I studied children’s literature in university, and even before becoming a mother, unashamedly loved reading kids’ books. Writing for kids taps into my silly side, and I have to say it is the most fun and freeing writing that I get to do. It’s also very technically challenging…. Frankly, I’m hooked. I’m working on the next one, with an idea for one after that too.”