Kristin Kelly loves to write stories and make books. As a child, she made books to read to her toys, as a parent she made books to read to her children, and as a teacher she made books to read to her class when she could not find the right book to share an idea or teach a concept. Kristin thinks books are the paper equivalent of understanding, love and connection. Kristin won the 2023 Joy Cowley Storylines Award for this story, The Squeakling, which is loosely based on her own family. Kristin talks to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us a little about The Squeakling?
The Squeakling is a book about how two much-loved dogs react to a new baby being brought into their family and becoming the centre of attention. Max and Spike plan strategies to win back the affection of their humans, Hey Babe and Sugar, but they fail repeatedly. Out of ideas and full of sorrow, they think their only option is to leave home. The story peaks when the dogs are almost lost, but the squeakling is instrumental in their rescue and they come together as a loving family at last. From that point on, attention is more evenly shared!
What inspired you to write this book?
When my granddaughter Zelda was born I went to Sydney to help out the new family. Their dogs, coincidentally named Max and Spike, were sidelined by the new baby’s needs. I saw them one day curled up despondently together, like a pair of old forgotten socks, and wondered how they were feeling about their new situation. I thought they needed their story to be told.
What research was involved?
Research and media have widely covered that millennials have been choosing to have dogs rather than children. Dog ownership took a strong hold over the Covid pandemic, and research found that millennials have the highest rate of dog ownership in New Zealand, around 35%. While millennials identified strongly as ‘pet parents’, having a dog does not exclude having a baby forever, and this generation is now at last having children. This book is for them (and their dogs).
My routine or process for writing this book.
I jotted down my thoughts by hand at first to see if I could find a story arc and fleshed it out with ideas as they emerged. You know you have a story worth telling when it won’t leave you alone! I then re-wrote the draft so it would scan the 32 pages of a children’s book. I often read a story aloud, and imagine I am reading it to my class. This helps me to find weak spots and picture how children will react.
How did I work with illustrator Ronja Schipper?
Ronja Schipper was paired with me by Scholastic and she brought a fresh take to the story which surprised and delighted me. I had no idea Max and Spike looked like that! I haven’t met Ronja yet, she is in Auckland and I am in Whangarei, but we have an online relationship and plan to meet in October.
What do you hope children will take away from reading this book?
I hope children will take away that we all thrive with love and inclusion. I would love The Squeakling to help children notice when others are feeling left out and need some attention. On a practical level, I also hope they learn that dogs need gentle handling (like all of us).
If a soundtrack were made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.
Mister Cellophane from the musical Chicago for the middle of the book. It encapsulates that feeling of being invisible when all you want is to be noticed.
I’ll Be There For You by the Rembrandts for the last pages of the book, one of the best ever songs about togetherness.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Writing the scenes where the dogs were trying to win back the attention of their humans and imagining their thought processes was a lot of fun.
What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?
When the author’s copies of the completed book were delivered, I sat on my back deck in the sun with a coffee, holding the book, reading through the story, grinning from ear to ear with pleasure. That’s how I celebrated! The satisfaction was immense.
What is your favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
Probably The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. I loved the moral strength of the main character, the pace of the story, the setting, and that it was based on a true story. It also has a satisfying ending.
What’s next on the agenda for you?
I’m currently working on three books, one based on a child with allergies, one based around a shared lunch at school, and the other based on a couple of working dogs on a farm. They are all books written for specific children in my life, which I find easiest. The audience is already in my mind.
Scholastic New Zealand
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