Today we talk about The Adventures of Beatrice & Risky. SPIC & SPAN – WALLACE WHEELBARROW Book 2, a book by RICK REID published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author RICK REID to get to know him better, what inspired him to the writing of his children’s book The Adventures of Beatrice & Risky. SPIC & SPAN – WALLACE WHEELBARROW Book 2, as well as what parents will understand through his story.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write a children’s book?
I live in an inner-city cottage One day a friend, who breeds roosters, visits me and asks me if I would like one. ‘Your courtyard would be perfect,’ he added. So, I gained a rooster. Then about two months later a very beautiful, very young kitten, comes through the hedge. Probably abandon. I couldn’t resist and so I had a young Kitten whom I called Beatrice after an old great aunt of mine, and a rooster. Whom I called Risky The interactions between Beatrice and Risky were hilarious. They never fought with each other maybe just teased especially Beatrice who would grab Risky’s long tail feathers. I told these stories to a dear friend of mine who lives overseas and she said, “Rick, you should write a children’s book about these two. Plus you can do the drawings.” So Beatrice and Risky were created. Their personalities were very distinctive. Beatrice is very adventurous cheeky and a little bit naughty. Risky is very stern and thinks Beatrice is very silly. Risky is not like his name at all and thinks any adventure or anything out of the ordinary is very very silly. I have kept their personalities intact as it makes for better stories. But greatly enhanced their lives and adventures into enormous fun filled fantasy. In real life they do look after one another and have a strange friendship.
- How important do you think illustrations are in a children’s book
These books are created for emerging readers. 5- 8 year-olds, so illustrations are critical. Probably they represent about 80% of the storytelling. Remember the child is learning to read and the visuals help enormously. They can tell most of the story. For these books my illustrations cover the whole double page spread the entire page and off the edges. The caption boxes are sympathetic to the illustrations as well. Also like the first book we have two books in one the first story is about meeting new friends whereas the second story is more magical, fantasy. This is where illustration is essential, it may be difficult for a young mind to imagine leap frog without illustrations or to imagine a talking, self-moving wheelbarrow that can carry both Beatrice and Risky through streets, up hills, through forests even out on the water. The illustrations show how this happens. My illustration style is rather old school, hand wrought, Some pleasantly describe as scratchy.This makes it more approachable for a young reader and hopefully may encourage them to draw Beatrice and Risky themselves. I would love that. And in later books and I intend to do a page or two in the back with a “How to draw Beatrice. How to draw Risky” a bit of interaction is essential entertainment for the young reader. ‘Illustrations are King.’
- What would you like to hear from your young readers?
I would love to hear from my young readers. What did they enjoy most? Who was their favorite character amongst Beatrice & Risky friends. Which reactions between B&R did they find the most amusing and interesting. Would they like to see some of the characters, or friends from previous stories return in future stories? What kind of adventures would they like to see Beatrice & Risky take. Maybe to another country. Maybe to the moon. Maybe into Space. What do they like, and what don’t they like. I would welcome their thoughts, their questions.A young uncluttered mind is bound to have wonderful insights, and perhaps when they grow up they could write great stories for emerging readers. I am their servant and I would love to turn some of their thoughts into stories they would like to read. I promise I would reply to any readers who contact: rickreid@creativelife.asia
- What will parents understand through your stories?
When Beatrice and Risky first met at first there was curiosity, then there was tolerance. Tolerance turned to understanding and understanding turns into friendship. I want Beatrice & Risky to show politeness and tolerance to their new encounters and most of all kindness.These are the qualities I hope parents can pick up on. Whether they are creatures they meet from the animal world or magical things like brooms that can fly and talk or wheelbarrows that can take them for rides and have adventures in exotic place. I want the young readers take out to be understanding and kindness is the best way to live. But always mixed with lots of fun and laughs and excitement. I hope parents see these good human qualities the same way and our young readers take these on, as they grow up. The other things that I like to pepper through the stories are facts from nature. Lizards are green so they can hide in the greenery. Most frogs don’t drink through their mouths like Beatrice and Risky do, but absorb water through their skin.They catch flies with their long sticky tongues. Also there is little quiz in the Wallace Wheelbarrow story. Interaction all helps the young minds enjoyment of reading.
- Are you working on new writing projects that you can tell us about ?
Goodness Yes. There are another six books already finished in the emerging reader category. Then for the 0 to 5 years olds there are 6 picture books. No words, all the stories are told with pictures only. When it comes to the older (Read out Loud) group 9 years and above I have 24 books all finished and illustrated.These average about 2,000 words and 30/40 illustrations each.The stories are a bit more complex to suit the older readers. I should say. All of these from Picture books, Emerging reader books, to Read out Loud feature our two heroes Beatrice and Risky. I just love writing and drawing and will keep on doing it until I can’t. Also I am working on a few 9 second Tick Tok skits animation featuring our wonderful duo. I am hoping to have these ready by mid August It will be wonderful for the kids to see Beatrice & Risky walking and talking even singing, but they are not very good singers.
Europe Books thanks the author RICK REID once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book The Adventures of Beatrice & Risky. SPIC & SPAN – WALLACE WHEELBARROW Book 2. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my readers, may this book be a great source of inspiration for everyone and may it bring you a great experience to enjoy. And remember that, no matter how adult you are, books for children have a lot to teach us all! Written in simple and clear concepts, illustrated children’s book have the ability to give us important life lessons or they put us back in touch with our forgotten child side which just needs to be awakened.
So, my dear readers, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!