Q&A with Davon Miller

 

 

 

Davon Miller is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book A Bus Can't Drive Empty: An Alphaballiteration Adventure. His other books include the Mr. Tickety-Toc Clock series.

 

Q: What inspired you to create A Bus Can’t Drive Empty?

 

A: The idea for A Bus Can’t Drive Empty originated in my sixth grade Language Arts class, where we were learning about figurative language—similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and alliteration.

 

One assignment asked us to write an original sentence for each figurative language, and I remember feeling proud of the alliterative sentence I came up with. That moment sparked the idea, at age 11, to write an alliterative phrase for each letter of the alphabet.

 

I found the challenge both fun and rewarding, and those phrases eventually became the foundation of a story titled “The ABCs of Alliteration.” While it wasn’t a traditional narrative, it functioned as a variety-style book, with each letter represented through its own mini “short.”

 

I wrote and illustrated that story throughout sixth and seventh grade. I was proud of my work and shared it with one of my teachers, who gave me feedback that stuck with me—that alliteration is not just about the repetition of letters, but of sounds. I tucked that insight away for the future.

 

Years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I revisited the story I had created as a child. Reading it again inspired me to take the concept further by crafting a cohesive, fully developed narrative that maintained the playful spirit of the original.

 

Q: Did you work on the text first or the illustrations first—or both simultaneously?

 

A: The text of the story truly came first, but it’s also a partnership where both the text and illustrations elevate the story further. After coming up with the text is when I decide to draw and then I’ll eventually revisit the text to further shape the illustrations.

 

Q: Why did you choose zebras as your characters?

 

A: So when I was revisiting my initial story, “The ABCs of Alliteration,” one of the initial sentences I wrote about were the absence of zebras in a zookeeper’s “Zig-Zag Zipper.” I had all these zoo animals piled into a zipper, but I was questioning as to where the zebras were, which then led to this adventure as told in A Bus Can’t Drive Empty.

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book?

 

A: I hope children feel like they’re embarking on a fun adventure alongside the characters. More than anything, I want the experience of reading the alliterative sentences aloud to bring them joy and laughter—just as it did for me when I first created them and found appreciation for alliteration.

 

My goal is to inspire a love of language by showing how playful, creative word combinations can open new doors for storytelling.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m currently working on a story based on my hometown, alongside many other adventures.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: The development and origin of A Bus Can’t Drive Empty: An Alphaballiteration Adventure started around the same time that I worked on and published my first children’s book, Mr. Tickety-Toc Clock: Goodnight Mr. Clock, when I was 11 years old.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with Davon Miller. Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of A Bus Can’t Drive Empty: An Alphaballiteration Adventure by Davon Miller! And for one lucky grand prize winner, the ultimate prize pack includes a copy of A Bus Can’t Drive Empty, all five books from the Mr. Tickety-Toc Clock series, a Mr. Tickety-Toc Clock toddler tee and adult shirt, a themed coloring sheet, and a playful sticker from Davon’s first book series.