Vicky Fang is the author and illustrator of the Ava Lin series of chapter books for kids, including the most recent, Ava Lin: Super-Duper Happy. She lives in Mountain View, California.
Q: What initially inspired you to create your character Ava Lin?
A: When I set out to write Ava Lin, I wanted to write something that would make kids fall in love with reading. I wanted to write something that my kids would love to read! (Maybe I just wanted my kids to think I’m cool.)
But I saw the books my kids loved at that age: funny books, with illustrations, filled with lots of hilarious and relatable shenanigans.
The character of Ava Lin sat in my head for a long time, inspired by the funny things my kids did. The moments that made me laugh the most were the ones where they dove into situations that they didn’t quite understand, making completely understandable mistakes!
I wanted to capture that earnestness and optimism in Ava Lin. She’s constantly diving into situations she doesn’t quite understand, making hilarious but relatable mistakes, and finding ways to bounce back.
Q: What inspired the plot of book 3 in the series?
A: Book 3, Super-Duper Happy, is about Ava Lin trying to win a gold medal in the school walkathon AND get along with her grandmother (Popo, in Chinese.)
Both of these elements were also inspired by my kids’ lives—from their actual school walkathon and their actual grandmother! But like all of Ava’s adventures, her expectations don’t always match the reality.
Q: School Library Journal said of Ava, “Ava’s quirky habits, like keeping bits of food in her pockets and ‘meeping’ like an alien instead of saying yes, make her an especially endearing and believable six-year-old. A sweet and engaging story about friendship and kindness, perfect for any collection.” What do you think of that description?
A: I love this description! I’m so glad that Ava comes across as a believable character—she’s almost like a member of our family now. Whenever a silly misunderstanding happens, my kids say “That’s totally Ava Lin.”
I think books are such a wonderful way to explore situations and feelings that we all encounter, so I hope that Ava’s missteps in social situations resonate with all young readers!
Q: What do you hope kids take away from the books?
A: I hope these books help kids fall in love with reading. I also hope they relate to Ava Lin and see that it’s okay to jump into things with your whole heart, even if it means sometimes making mistakes. We all make mistakes! And there are so many super-duper experiences to be had.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Right now, I’m working on my next series, an early graphic novel called One Mad Cat. It’s about an easily annoyed cat who steps outside of her comfort zone to help solve mysteries for her friends.
It’s a totally new illustration style for me and I’m having so much fun creating stories with a cast of super cute characters. I’m looking forward to sharing it with readers in summer 2026!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I guess I’d like people to know that I have several other series for young readers, like Layla and the Bots, Best Buddies, and Friendbots! I love writing stories that inspire kids to be creative problem solvers in any aspect of their lives, with a good dose of fun and laughter.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
No comments:
Post a Comment