Born on the wild West Coast of the South Island, Melanie Koster was brought up in a book-loving, story-telling family. She lives in Christchurch with her whānau of artists, inventors and tinkerers. Melanie is the author of The Reluctant Little Flower Girl and Milly Maloo and the Miracle Glue, and has been shortlisted six times for the Joy Cowley Award, finally winning the award in 2022 with Tama and the Taniwha, illustrated by her daughter Monica. Melanie works as a teacher aide at a local primary school, where she enjoys helping young writers hone their craft. Melanie talks to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us a little about Elephant Park.
Elephant Park is an ode to the elephant slide at Bishopdale Park in Ōtautahi Christchurch. The elephant is old and feeling tired and run down. Her tusks are broken, her trunk is cracked and she’s in need of a “nice cup of tea and a lie down”. A little boy invites her home for the weekend and with his dad’s help, Elly receives a makeover and a new lease on life.
What inspired you to write this book?
My early childhood was spent on the West Coast of the South Island but when we came over to visit family in Christchurch, my sister and I loved playing at Bishopdale Park (known affectionately by locals as The Elephant Park). We’d meet our cousins there and spend hours playing on the famous elephant slide. When we moved from Greymouth to Christchurch, I was delighted our new home was within cycling distance to both the Bishopdale Library and Elephant Park. My own children played there frequently when they were little too.
I may have also been inspired by Margaret Mahy’s The Boy Who Was Followed Home and There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake by Hazel Edwards. Both feature hippos in the home, so why not an elephant?
What research was involved?
First of all, I had to go down the slide, of course. It sure seems a lot higher and faster now than it was when I was a child! With the help of the wonderful staff at the library and Christchurch City Council, I discovered the playground was officially opened in 1974, making this year the 50th anniversary - a happy coincidence. We weren’t able to determine exactly when the elephant slide was installed, but it wasn’t too long after this.
Initially, the elephant in my story was a male but along the editing process was changed to a female. I had to do some quick research to find out if female elephants had tusks (Jenny was far into the illustration process at that stage). I was relieved to find that female African elephants do indeed have tusks, they’re just a little smaller than a male’s. The elephant slide originally had very long tusks, but they were removed at some stage (probably for health and safety reasons) and the poor thing’s left with little nubbins now! I was also grateful to my brother-in-law for advice on panelbeating terminology.
What was your routine or process when writing this book?
Pretty much the same as it is for any story, for me. I begin by mulling an idea around in my head for days before jotting a few notes down in my notebook. After letting those ideas sit and percolate for a bit, I then begin to form more concrete ideas and start typing. There’s a LOT of rewriting, editing and reading aloud to myself or the cats. Joy Cowley gave some great advice: to not be in such a hurry to send off a story to a publisher. Put it away for a while until you’re “out of love with it”. Then, come back to it and look at it more critically with fresh eyes. I try to always follow this, so my stories have several periods of sitting and simmering, then lots of tweaking before I end up with something I’m happy to send out into the world. It took six months before I felt Elephant Park was ready to send to Scholastic.
How did you work with the illustrator Jenny Cooper?
Jenny Cooper illustrated my very first book, so it was extra special to have her illustrate this one. She also lived close by to the Elephant Park when her children were little, so she knows the park well. The author and illustrator don’t usually have any interactions throughout the illustration process and this time was no different. When Scholastic sent me the initial roughs I was blown away at how cleverly Jenny had captured the lovable character of dear old Elly. I love the finished product and think it will inspire a whole new generation of kids to fall in love with the elephant slide.
If a soundtrack was made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.
The first song that comes to mind is The Baby Elephant Walk composed by Henry Mancini. I once played it on my flute at a wedding for the bridal procession down the aisle. I have no idea why the bride requested this song but it was great fun. Also, friend and children’s composer Julie Wylie produced a wonderful version of One Elephant Went Out to Play which is perfect with preschoolers around a parachute or rainbow ring.
What did you enjoy the most about writing this children’s picture book?
The best part was seeing Jenny Cooper bring the elephant to life. I’m also enjoying hearing people’s stories and memories of playing at Elephant Park in the 1970s and 1980s.
What do you hope children will take away from reading?
I hope that children (and adults) will recognise the kindness and empathy shown by both Noah and his father. Our Dad was such a kind, caring, fun-loving father, who loved to fix things. I wanted the book to echo this – with strong, male characters who exude kindness. Noah’s father is raising him to be strong and gentle. He’s a practical dad who repairs cars and is equally adept at whipping up a batch of pancakes; who embraces the powers of creativity, playfulness and imagination. (I also recalled reading an article about a panel beater in the UK who threw in his job working on cars to become a nail technician in a beauty salon.)
Secondly, the friendships children form often draw in parents and caregivers, building connections and strengthening relationships in the wider community. In Elephant Park as Noah and his father lead the elephant through the neighbourhood back to the park, we see the richness of a diverse community joining together, which Jenny has so beautifully illustrated.
What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
It’s too hard to pick just one! In my re-reading of favourite picture books featuring children’s playgrounds, I loved rediscovering these beauties:
Down the Dragon’s Tongue by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Patricia McCarthy (Frances Lincoln 2000) and Grandpa versus Swing by Tania Sickling, illustrated by Lael Chisholm (Scholastic NZ 2021, winner of the Joy Cowley Award in 2020). Both books feature grownups on playground equipment and use delicious language.
In the junior/older fiction category I adored Rachael King’s The Grimmelings (Allen & Unwin NZ 2024) and Heather McQuillan’s Avis and the Promise of Dragons and the sequel Avis and the Call of the Kraken (Cuba Press). I am drawn to magical, mysterious stories and love dragons so much I used to collect them. I also had the privilege of reading my sister’s manuscript which will be a real book in February 2025. Look out for Tales Through the Cat Door by Belinda O’Keefe (Bateman Books).
What’s next on the agenda for you?
I have a picture book being published by Bateman Books next year. It’s called The Wonderful Stranges and has been illustrated by my daughter Monica Koster (who illustrated Tama and the Taniwha, Scholastic 2023). After such a long gap between books (not for lack of trying!) I had to pinch myself when I realised this will be three books in three years. Other than that, I am continually working on a variety of projects – a mix of picture book stories, junior fiction and children’s poetry. No doubt there will also be the fielding of numerous rejection emails and trying and trying again and again!
Scholastic NZ